prepared to take full advantage. While she filled up on poached eggs and a few toasts, Eric watched with amusement. I tried to find solace in the love I saw in his eyes, but being under Kristine’s hand again left me fearing for what was to come.
Remembering my penchant for muffins, Kristine plucked one out of the basket on the table and walked away, picking crumbs off and popping them in my mouth. She gazed at Eric to ensure he’d caught the confirming move. “I’d better get going.”
“I’ll bring you.” He walked up to me, gave me a quick kiss and winked. “I wouldn’t want you getting lost.”
My heart melted and I longed to kiss him forever. He was so incredibly handsome, and when he looked at me that way, I knew I wanted to be his for the rest of my life.
A warm sensation enveloped me and I knew that he was having the same effect on Kristine. Was that what had appealed to her? His great looks? But he’d been scarred back then. Had he always worn a mask when with her? Had she loved him despite the disfigurement?
When she arrived at the Met Kristine hesitated a moment before remembering where my dressing room was. We crossed the path of a few cast members, but she haughtily ignored them and walked on.
I was devastated as she came upon Judy and turned away from her greeting, leaving Judy red-faced and huffing away.
She’s a friend. Can’t you at least say hello?
“She’s a two bit dancer in the show. As lead I hardly think it’s appropriate to cavort with such common performers.”
I wanted to knock her head into a wall. How was I ever going to repair the rifts Kristine was creating?
She entered my dressing room and quickly slammed the door before heading to the rack of costumes. Yawning and thoroughly unimpressed by all of them, she flicked hanger after hanger, giving each gown a disdainful grimace. “This shoddy workmanship would have never been tolerated in my day.” She obviously had no idea what gown to wear for the first act.
It’s the green one with the billowy sleeves and scoop neckline.
“I know.” She yanked it off the rack and threw it on the back of the chair.
A gentle knock rapped at the door and while Kristine’s excitement grew, so did my apprehension.
The door creaked open and Aaron peered in. “Is my star back and ready to wow the crowds of
New York
anew?”
“Aaron, darling.” Kristine waved him in. “I’m so happy you came to see me before I went on. I’m worried about the effect my Christmas break might have had on my voice.”
Though he entered the room, he seemed reluctant to get close. Kristine took a step towards him and he backed away. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. Besides, the holiday crowd is always a bit more forgiving.”
While his eyes remained on me, his hand reached for the back of his head and he rubbed lightly. Poor Aaron. The last time I’d seen him he was an unconscious heap on the floor. Did his head still hurt from the bump he received on the head from Chace?
“Chace was only trying to protect me, Aaron,” Kristine said. “I do hope you’ll forgive him.”
“I’ll admit if he wasn’t first chair violinist, he might have been out on the street.”
Kristine feigned sadness. “Please forgive him, Aaron. He’s young and meant no harm.” She held an intense gaze on him. “You know, I really missed you, Aaron.”
He smiled and relaxed. “You’ve only been away a few days.” He chuckled and reached out for my hand.
Kristine eagerly accepted it and pulled him closer. “I was hoping you’d missed me as well.”
His smile broadened and he pulled me into his arms. “You know me too well, Annette. I thought of little else since I last saw you.”
“Really?” Her voice remained soft and lacked the heavy sexual undertone she was apt to use. She brought my hands to play along the nape of his neck and up into his hair. “Then I guess my Christmas wish came true.”
“You know, I was
Remembering my penchant for muffins, Kristine plucked one out of the basket on the table and walked away, picking crumbs off and popping them in my mouth. She gazed at Eric to ensure he’d caught the confirming move. “I’d better get going.”
“I’ll bring you.” He walked up to me, gave me a quick kiss and winked. “I wouldn’t want you getting lost.”
My heart melted and I longed to kiss him forever. He was so incredibly handsome, and when he looked at me that way, I knew I wanted to be his for the rest of my life.
A warm sensation enveloped me and I knew that he was having the same effect on Kristine. Was that what had appealed to her? His great looks? But he’d been scarred back then. Had he always worn a mask when with her? Had she loved him despite the disfigurement?
When she arrived at the Met Kristine hesitated a moment before remembering where my dressing room was. We crossed the path of a few cast members, but she haughtily ignored them and walked on.
I was devastated as she came upon Judy and turned away from her greeting, leaving Judy red-faced and huffing away.
She’s a friend. Can’t you at least say hello?
“She’s a two bit dancer in the show. As lead I hardly think it’s appropriate to cavort with such common performers.”
I wanted to knock her head into a wall. How was I ever going to repair the rifts Kristine was creating?
She entered my dressing room and quickly slammed the door before heading to the rack of costumes. Yawning and thoroughly unimpressed by all of them, she flicked hanger after hanger, giving each gown a disdainful grimace. “This shoddy workmanship would have never been tolerated in my day.” She obviously had no idea what gown to wear for the first act.
It’s the green one with the billowy sleeves and scoop neckline.
“I know.” She yanked it off the rack and threw it on the back of the chair.
A gentle knock rapped at the door and while Kristine’s excitement grew, so did my apprehension.
The door creaked open and Aaron peered in. “Is my star back and ready to wow the crowds of
New York
anew?”
“Aaron, darling.” Kristine waved him in. “I’m so happy you came to see me before I went on. I’m worried about the effect my Christmas break might have had on my voice.”
Though he entered the room, he seemed reluctant to get close. Kristine took a step towards him and he backed away. “I’m sure you’ll do fine. Besides, the holiday crowd is always a bit more forgiving.”
While his eyes remained on me, his hand reached for the back of his head and he rubbed lightly. Poor Aaron. The last time I’d seen him he was an unconscious heap on the floor. Did his head still hurt from the bump he received on the head from Chace?
“Chace was only trying to protect me, Aaron,” Kristine said. “I do hope you’ll forgive him.”
“I’ll admit if he wasn’t first chair violinist, he might have been out on the street.”
Kristine feigned sadness. “Please forgive him, Aaron. He’s young and meant no harm.” She held an intense gaze on him. “You know, I really missed you, Aaron.”
He smiled and relaxed. “You’ve only been away a few days.” He chuckled and reached out for my hand.
Kristine eagerly accepted it and pulled him closer. “I was hoping you’d missed me as well.”
His smile broadened and he pulled me into his arms. “You know me too well, Annette. I thought of little else since I last saw you.”
“Really?” Her voice remained soft and lacked the heavy sexual undertone she was apt to use. She brought my hands to play along the nape of his neck and up into his hair. “Then I guess my Christmas wish came true.”
“You know, I was
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