Page 118 of Total Exposure

But I put up a hand and cut her off as I stand up. “Another time, huh?” I say it without malice. Just matter-of-factly. “This night isn’t yours, Augustine. It belongs to someone else. So… just another time, OK?”

She sucks in a breath, but nods her head as I pass her, pulling the curtain aside so I can enter the hallway and find my way backstage.

There’s only one person I need tonight.

And she’s got nothing to do with my past.

Chapter Forty-Nine - Evangeline

Mei Ling sits with me in my dressing room after the performance. Just her. Only her. I know Ixion came because he was up in the box I saved for him. I watched him watch me as I played my way through a spectacular comeback show.

And he has the pass to come back here and see me.

But he’s not here.

“He’s coming,” Mei Ling says, patting my hand.

She is more of a mother to me in this moment than my own mother was my entire life. And I have known her less than a day.

It’s a very sad realization. To understand that your parents never loved you. They only loved the opportunity that came with you.

I think this was my problem. And even though Ixion was the one who broke the prison walls I’d built around myself, it was Mei Ling who led me back out into the light.

I was going to play the show before she showed up, but I wasn’t going to enjoy it.

She changed everything.

A soft knock at the door has my heart beating out of my chest with excitement.

The door opens a crack as the stage manager pokes his head in and says, “Ixion Vanir to see you, Miss Rolaine.”

I stand, smooth my dress with both hands, and nod. “Please, show him in.”

Mei Ling gets to her feet, but I turn and say, “You can’t leave yet.”

She smiles at me and says, “I’ll be right outside if you need me.” And then she leans up to kiss me on the cheek and turns away just as the door opens again and Ixion Vanir appears.

He smiles at Mei Ling, who takes his hand and gives it a squeeze. “Thank you,” she tells him.

Ix shrugs, like this is all just a normal part of his day, but graciously replies, “You’re welcome,” as Mei Ling leaves us to figure things out, closing the door behind her.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” I say, pointing at my long-lost violin.

Ixion smiles at me. It’s a familiar smile, but strange too. I saw that smile in the greenhouse. In the coffee shop. But this is the first time he’s smiled at me being… me. And not the scared little girl who couldn’t stand the heat of a gaze.

The first time he smiles at me being him, too.

“Hey,” Ix says. “What the hell am I gonna do with millions of dollars anyway? My apartment up in Wyoming goes for six hundred and fifty dollars a month and my Jeep still runs, so not in the market for a new car yet.”

“How did you know she had it?” I ask.

“Dan called your phone and left a message. Said you’d asked about the violin and he knew who had it. I might’ve been prying into your personal life and found that message. And then I might’ve called Dan back and told him to wrap that shit up, we were taking it home.”

I shake my head and look down at my feet, but quickly recover and meet his gaze as I say, “I never want you to stop looking at me, Ixion.”

He nods back. “Well, I guess you’re in luck. Because I don’t think I can. I think you might be stuck with me, Miss Rolaine. And even though I have a shitload of money, I’m not really much of a catch. I was in jail this morning, ya know.”

My laugh escapes as a huff of air. “Jordan told me. Told me what you did, too. Beat the shit out of a truck. Twice.”