Page 56 of Angels Don’t Date

“What a diva,” he said, shaking his head. “A real professional would have put the balance of the piece before his own showboating. You must have been miserable working with him. I’ve heard rumors about how absolutely awful it is to work with him, but now we know for ourselves. Better enthusiasm. Good. All right, and now for the wolf. Try not to show too much contempt. We don’t want the audience to feel like he was unfairly hated.”

“And now we’re back,” he said, turning to the camera and smiling. “For the amazing duet between the princess…” the camera panned to me, then back to himself. “And the wolf. Tell me Princess, Katriana, how many hours did you spend rehearsing each day?”

“Um, six to eight?”

He gave a shocked expression even though he already knew all about it. “Just for rehearsal? And then the music videos must have taken hours.”

“And the recording. It was more intense than I expected, but the results are amazing. The people who worked on these should be very proud. I hope you’ll have all their names in the credits, because their work was exemplary. Costume, makeup, lighting, and of course the camera people. And then the editing? I can’t imagine how much time must have gone into these, and they’re absolutely brilliant. Each one is a masterpiece whether you liked the music or not.”

Pearly White gave me a slow smile. “Do you think so? I have to agree. I’ve been working in television for a long time, and if the video editor’s skills were for sale, I’d purchase them in a heartbeat. Richard the Lion did the technical editing of each music video. Apparently, he does that for the angelic promos, and he has an eye.”

I stared at him while my stomach tangled. “Wow. That’s probably why his account has such amazing cinematics.”

“Mm. Undoubtedly. Well, let’s not jump ahead to the angel when we have the wolf’s performance to enjoy.”

That music video was more fun to watch than the one with the fairy. It wasn’t great music, or memorable in any way, but I was clearly having more fun, and it showed. Ah. That’s why Richard talked to me about having fun, because he’d seen how much fun I hadn’t been having with the fairy through the camera lens.

The kiss at the end made my skin crawl, but other than that, it was an okay video about two predators fighting over the night and contemplating working together. Claws and Fangs.

When the lights came on, Pearly White gave me an expectant look. “That kiss! Was it part of the video or a spontaneous thing?”

I shook my head. “It was a surprise.”

“A pleasant one, I hope.”

I only laughed and tried to keep smiling.

“All right folks, we’ll be back after this.” He dropped all expression and studied me. “Be braced for the last video. It’s much more sensual than you’d expect from an angel. He must have stayed up all night editing. It’s like a fever dream meets a fairy tale. And so ridiculously sensual. He could be the incubus in this thing. I’m not sure he should publicly display this sort of blatant desire, but since he gave it to me, and it’s going to drive ratings, I’m taking it.”

“But that’s not…” I stopped abruptly when the camera turned to him and his tv smile.

“Welcome back. Thank you for joining us on this epic duets showcase. You, and the princess will have to decide who the true winner is…and who gets to go home. The angel doesn’t perform often publicly, so sit back, and enjoy the show. Does he steal the spotlight, or does he make his princess shine?”

The camera flashed to me and I gave a smile that hopefully was less sickly than I felt. The lights went off and the last music video came on.

Chapter

Nineteen

It started with him walking through an orchard looking like a vision of golden desire. That’s the word. Desire. His eyes when they met the camera were melting blue pools that stripped away every one of your inhibitions. And there I was, looking ready to be stripped.

I closed my eyes because no one would know if I didn’t watch this, and frankly, I’d already seen him in the tub and didn’t need more fuel for my brain. Except if we were married…My eyes popped back open to see him take my hand and slide his fingers over my wrist. Such a nothing, but it was so…

I shivered, but I couldn’t look away. The entire thing was a seductive dance, and he was representing hard for the golden team. Wow. Also, he didn’t sing as much as I expected, mostly took the harmony parts, and I sounded absolutely fabulous. Everything was in my best range, and I killed it. The angelic support didn’t hurt, but mostly it was about our duet, two voices blending, him supporting me, wanting me, needing me to know I was wanted, worthy, and absolutely everything. It was a love song that made me ache more stupidly than I ever had before.

The end, singing together in the bower while the dawn came up, it was very suggestive, and I was blushing by the time the lights came on and Pearly White turned to me.

“Do you have any thoughts on that? You look at that and think, ‘the editing!’” He chuckled darkly and turned to the camera. “I think that video spoke for itself. When we come back, we’ll get to see who you, and the Princess choose to stay and give a red, red rose.”

When the cameras clicked off, I slumped back on the chair, heart beating too fast, blood pumping beneath my skin, probably blushing everywhere.

“I warned you,” Pearly said, studying me with cold, analytical eyes.

I shook my head. “Because you knew what my reaction would be. How could he post a video like that? The entire world will think he’s a seducer!”

He shook his head. “On the contrary. If you’re watching it from any other point of view you are absolutely the one who seduced the angel and brought about his downfall. Everyone will be hoping that you make him an honorable husband.”

I got up and walked out of the room, barely not running. Of all the ridiculous… And apparently we were already married.