Page 65 of Thin Lines (Donati Bloodlines 2)

He couldn’t possibly be telling the truth.

He was too good—too practiced.

Emma’s gaze moved from Calisto’s hands to his face.His strong jaw was dotted with a few days’ worth of stubble, hardening hisalready sharp appearance. His lips curved into a wicked smirk as the notes camefaster, harder. He tilted his head to the side, his grin deepened, and hisfingers never missed a key.

Not one.

“As much as I hate it,” he said too low for anyoneelse in the room to hear. “I do love it.”

Emma didn’t know what to say to that, so she saidnothing at all.

She let the music sing instead.

It spoke far better than she could.

“My mother loved this one,” Calisto said, stillwatching Emma. “She never could get through it all without stumbling near themiddle of the piece, but she said she didn’t have the fingers for it.”

He clearly did.

Emma smiled. “Did you ever play it for her?”

“A few times.”

“She must have loved that, Cal.”

Calisto didn’t answer. He went back to the piano andfinished the piece strong and wonderful. He didn’t even turn to look at Affonsoand Ray who had started clapping the moment the music ended.

Emma was still watching Calisto.

“She did love it,” he said.

“Good.”

“But so did he. And I stopped playing for her becausehe was always around those last few months. I couldn’t give her what she wantedwithout giving him what he wanted.”

Emma frowned. She didn’t understand what Calisto wastalking about, but she got the gist. It still didn’t explain the whole story,she knew. He was still hiding something.

“You didn’t have to play.”

Calisto’s hand dropped down from the keys. Being sideby side like they were, no one could see his fingers dance over hers on top ofher lap. It was sweet enough to make her breath catch. Calisto’s gaze neverleft hers.

“I did,” he said. “Because you asked me to, Emmy.”

Oh.

“Thank you for putting up with the noise tonight,Sherry,” Emma said to the cook.

Sherry smiled her toothy grin. “Ah, it’s no problem.I’m just happy to see you doing something other than sitting around, Mrs.Donati.”

Emma made a face. “How long is it going to take beforeyou just call me Emma?”

“A little while longer.”

“Too bad. Mrs. Donati makes me feel like I’m—”

“Your husband’s age?”

“Yeah,” Emma said, laughing under her breath.