he could deflect his gaze, Kassidy looked him straight in the eyes. Caught, Drew thought. Trapped by a stare.
In punctuation of the moment, she delivered a slow wink that set fire to his senses.
As soon as the exercise ended, the tech crew moved into place, ready to resume the sound check.
“Drew, wait a sec…please?”
Drew turned at Kassidy’s summons. She joined him, and he caught the faintest, most tantalizing traces of cinnamon and vanilla in the air around them.
She met his gaze, direct and intent. “Do you happen to feel like some coffee and dessert after the show tonight? I’m sure we could scout a place.”
Brave it, Wintower. Find out where this is leading. If you don’t, past history or not, it’s going to keep dogging you and eating at you. Not every woman is going to behave like Roxanne…
His blood sped. “Just us?”
“Just us.” The barest beat of silence beat by, an alert of sorts, an inch forward toward discovery. “I think it’s about time—don’t you?”
Slowly he moved forward, laced his fingers through hers for a moment. “I’d enjoy spending the time with you. Very much.”
****
An hour later, rehearsal concluded. Drew flopped onto an aisle seat of the theater and pulled out his phone to answer a few e-mails. The girls would soon disburse to their hotel for a bit of rest before being called upon to complete a mini radio station blitz. Siobhan was the first to exit costume and makeup, and she dashed along the main aisle until her footsteps came to a stop next to his spot.
“What’s up, twinkle toes?” He moved his feet so Siobhan could wriggle past and claim the chair next to his. His text-crafting fingertips didn’t break stride as they flew across the keys of his cellphone.
“Nothing much, shark. You?”
His lips twitched into a grin. A rumble of laughter followed, but still he didn’t look up. “C’mon. Shark? Is that the best you’ve got, pixie dust spreader?”
She clucked her tongue. In his peripheral vision, he detected her frustrated flounce. He didn’t quite look her way, but he knew he had temporarily bested her. That fact tickled his heart and expanded his grin into a full-blown smile. He re-stretched his legs, finishing his cyber communiqué.
“Oh, just give me a minute. I’m sure I can come up with something. I’d call you slick, but it seems someone else has already pinned you with that moniker.”
Well, score one for Siobhan Douglas. Drew opted not to answer that direct dare about his behavior on stage with Kassidy, but that didn’t mean Siobhan would remain silent.
“I have eyes. I have instincts. I saw what happened just now. There’s a lot riding beneath the surface for the two of you, marshmallow.”
After clicking send on a message to Ganneton HQ, Drew pocketed his phone, wondering if his reticence would end the moment. Then he decided two could play at this game. “So…you’re coming at me with marshmallow, huh?”
She bobbed her head and jabbed a finger toward his chest. “You’re a marshmallow. And you better stay that way if you intend to remain a part of KC’s life.”
“Kassidy Cartwright doesn’t need a marshmallow. She needs an equal.”
“Agreed, but keep in mind she’s a softie, and she’s quite taken in by you.” Eyes of crystal blue went sharp and narrow. “ Don’t hurt her.”
“Rest easy. I care. A lot. I’d never play around, but for now I’m trying to figure things out.” Drew allowed that pointed statement to come to rest between them. “Give me the benefit of some trust, fairy girl.”
Siobhan didn’t react to the continuing game of random nicknames. This was indeed serious stuff.
“I don’t doubt you, but in order for your relationship to have a chance, you’re going to need to come to terms with the most important aspect of her life. It’s not music, it’s not performing, it’s not even her friends and family. It’s God. She holds fast to her faith. She recognizes how much
In punctuation of the moment, she delivered a slow wink that set fire to his senses.
As soon as the exercise ended, the tech crew moved into place, ready to resume the sound check.
“Drew, wait a sec…please?”
Drew turned at Kassidy’s summons. She joined him, and he caught the faintest, most tantalizing traces of cinnamon and vanilla in the air around them.
She met his gaze, direct and intent. “Do you happen to feel like some coffee and dessert after the show tonight? I’m sure we could scout a place.”
Brave it, Wintower. Find out where this is leading. If you don’t, past history or not, it’s going to keep dogging you and eating at you. Not every woman is going to behave like Roxanne…
His blood sped. “Just us?”
“Just us.” The barest beat of silence beat by, an alert of sorts, an inch forward toward discovery. “I think it’s about time—don’t you?”
Slowly he moved forward, laced his fingers through hers for a moment. “I’d enjoy spending the time with you. Very much.”
****
An hour later, rehearsal concluded. Drew flopped onto an aisle seat of the theater and pulled out his phone to answer a few e-mails. The girls would soon disburse to their hotel for a bit of rest before being called upon to complete a mini radio station blitz. Siobhan was the first to exit costume and makeup, and she dashed along the main aisle until her footsteps came to a stop next to his spot.
“What’s up, twinkle toes?” He moved his feet so Siobhan could wriggle past and claim the chair next to his. His text-crafting fingertips didn’t break stride as they flew across the keys of his cellphone.
“Nothing much, shark. You?”
His lips twitched into a grin. A rumble of laughter followed, but still he didn’t look up. “C’mon. Shark? Is that the best you’ve got, pixie dust spreader?”
She clucked her tongue. In his peripheral vision, he detected her frustrated flounce. He didn’t quite look her way, but he knew he had temporarily bested her. That fact tickled his heart and expanded his grin into a full-blown smile. He re-stretched his legs, finishing his cyber communiqué.
“Oh, just give me a minute. I’m sure I can come up with something. I’d call you slick, but it seems someone else has already pinned you with that moniker.”
Well, score one for Siobhan Douglas. Drew opted not to answer that direct dare about his behavior on stage with Kassidy, but that didn’t mean Siobhan would remain silent.
“I have eyes. I have instincts. I saw what happened just now. There’s a lot riding beneath the surface for the two of you, marshmallow.”
After clicking send on a message to Ganneton HQ, Drew pocketed his phone, wondering if his reticence would end the moment. Then he decided two could play at this game. “So…you’re coming at me with marshmallow, huh?”
She bobbed her head and jabbed a finger toward his chest. “You’re a marshmallow. And you better stay that way if you intend to remain a part of KC’s life.”
“Kassidy Cartwright doesn’t need a marshmallow. She needs an equal.”
“Agreed, but keep in mind she’s a softie, and she’s quite taken in by you.” Eyes of crystal blue went sharp and narrow. “ Don’t hurt her.”
“Rest easy. I care. A lot. I’d never play around, but for now I’m trying to figure things out.” Drew allowed that pointed statement to come to rest between them. “Give me the benefit of some trust, fairy girl.”
Siobhan didn’t react to the continuing game of random nicknames. This was indeed serious stuff.
“I don’t doubt you, but in order for your relationship to have a chance, you’re going to need to come to terms with the most important aspect of her life. It’s not music, it’s not performing, it’s not even her friends and family. It’s God. She holds fast to her faith. She recognizes how much
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