Private Melody by Altonya Washington

please.” She stalked back to the stove and made a pretense of checking the eggs in the warmer. “I’m about to have breakfast with an incredible man and…see where things go from there.”
    â€œAnd the direction you’re hoping for is the bedroom.”
    She slammed her hand to the counter and turned. “Damn you.” Her temper peaked when she felt the pressure of tears.
    â€œDamn,” he hissed when she rushed from the kitchen. Leaving the stool, he caught her before she cleared the doorway. “I’m sorry.” He pressed both hands to his chest in a show of sincerity. “The last thing I want is to upset you.”
    â€œOh, that I believe, since feeling upset is a lively emotion. Feeling alive is the last thing any of you want me to experience.”
    â€œDo you really believe that?” His voice was hushed.
    â€œProve it, then. Let me have this—don’t interfere.”
    â€œKey—”
    â€œYou promised you’d back off.”
    Brody smoothed a hand across his low-cut Afro. “That promise was in reference to the pills.”
    â€œHmph.” Kianti shoved both hands into the back pockets of her snug capris and began a slow pace of the kitchen.
    â€œPout all you want, but we plan to be focused in hard and heavy on every other aspect of your life.”
    â€œStay out of this Brody—that goes for you and your cronies. There isn’t even anything going on. The man lives in Vancouver, for Heaven’s sake!”
    â€œAll right. All right.” Brody bowed his head and decided to give it a rest. He walked over to kiss her cheek and turned her toward the stove. “Your bacon’s done,” he said, before leaving.
    Kianti watched him pull keys from his khakis and go. Then she went to handle the bacon. Brody’s cautions returned though. Exactly what did she think she was doing? She’d done a fine job of ignoring the question, which had made a nice little camp in the back of her mind.
    She thought back to her behavior when Therin visited the day before. She’d never been shy with men. She believed in being up front about what she wanted, as opposed to playing coy games to go after it.
    Where Therin Rucker was concerned, God, she wanted him. Perhaps that was simply because her sex life was so lacking. Perhaps it was because he was so very appealing.
    Perhaps she wanted to test how ready she was to live life to its fullest without the aid of her trusty meds. And what if she wasn’t ready? A relationship—hell. Any sort of involvement with the very sexy ex-ambassador or anyone else, for that matter, would be out of the question.
    Then there was her playing—her passion. Was she really ready to risk that by unchaining herself from those pills?
    And what of Therin himself? Didn’t he deserve to know of her condition? Kianti shook her head and began wiping down the already spotless countertop. She didn’t need to think of that just then. Perhaps she wasn’t as ready to live this part of her life as she thought.
    Â 
    Therin whistled a soft tune and was grabbing his keys from the message table when his phone vibrated next to them. He grumbled low, spotting Vaughn’s name on the faceplate. Silently, he debated on whether or not to reply. Last thing he wanted was more drama filtering into his time with Kianti.
    â€œYeah, V?” He answered anyway, while checking his watch.
    â€œHey…you talk to the general yet?”
    â€œMmm, the general…that’s a no.”
    â€œWhy not?” Vaughn laughed shortly.
    Therin settled partially on the desk. “Other things on my mind.”
    â€œAh…the lovely and gifted Kianti Lawrence.” Vaughn’s laughter was easier then. “Look, man, you know I approve of you takin’ time out to enjoy yourself but have you thought about how complicated this could be?”
    Therin wouldn’t admit that was almost all he could think