Page 35 of Passion’s Song

Who was this woman?

This was a totally different side to April, one Damien would have never guessed existed. He was used to seeing her in elegant evening gowns, playing to a crowd that was just as elegantly attired and who accepted the classical music that strummed from her fingers as if it was their due. This crowd bobbed their heads to the funky, eclectic beat, appreciation evident in the way they focused all their attention on the musicians.

They played for a half hour, with each member of the trio getting their chance to shine with a solo performance. But it wasn’t about outshining the others. They grooved together, cheered each other on.

When they brought the jam session to a close, the crowd responded with as boisterous an applause as a group this mellow could muster. There were even a few whistles.

Damien just continued to stare at the woman he’d known since the tenth grade. At least he thought he knew her. But after seeing this side of her, it made him doubt everything he’d ever known about April Knight.

He stood as she made her way over to him.

“So?” she asked, her brow arched in amused inquiry.

Damien held his hands out. “I’m speechless.”

“Uh-oh. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?”

“A very good thing,” he said. “Honestly, April, I don’t know what I expected when I walked in here tonight, but it wasn’t that. That was the coolest thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”

The smile that broke out across her face was bright enough to light up this dim lounge.

“Thank you,” she said. “I love playing here.” She gestured with her head. “Let’s go have a drink. Since you’re a guest of mine, it’s on the house.”

They walked over to the bar at the rear of the room. Instead of the standard mirror, the wall behind the bottles was covered with sheets of brushed bronze metal.

April ordered two glasses of red wine.

“When did you start playing with this group?” Damien asked.

She tilted her head to the side. “About a year ago maybe? I’ve known Evelyn and Rolando for years. They’re both classically trained, as well. They still play with orchestras, but when they’re home, we try to get together for a show.”

The bartender handed over their wineglasses, and once again, April motioned with her head for Damien to follow her. He walked a couple of paces behind as she led him toward a tufted chaise longue tucked away in a corner. He stared at her ass in unabashed admiration, completely drawn in by the way the soft denim cupped the delicately rounded cheeks.

Damien tried to summon a measure of guilt for staring at April this way, but guilt was the last thing he felt at the moment. He was intrigued.

And turned on.

There was something about discovering a mysterious new side to a woman he thought he knew so well that aroused his curiosity. And his libido.

And after witnessing that scene play out between April and Jason at the picnic earlier today, Damien’s curiosity was definitely aroused.

Neither he nor April had mentioned it, but it had been on his mind ever since Jason spoke. He’d had an inkling about the way April had felt about him back in high school. He wasn’t conceited, but Damien knew he’d inspired crushes in a few girls back in those days. He played football. He was popular. Of course girls crushed on him.

With April, however, it had felt different. Damien was sure her infatuation stemmed from something deeper. She’d admired the work he did in the classroom over the way he performed on the football field. The better he did in class, the higher her regard for him.

The thought that she pined for him, though? In the same way other girls had?

He’d hoped for it, but honestly, Damien never thought he was good enough for her. So he’d never bothered to pursue anything that even remotely resembled a romantic relationship with April.

Today had been a day of discoveries. He was eager to see what else lurked just beneath the surface.

When he sat next to her on the cushioned chaise, Damien deliberately sat closer than necessary, so that their thighs rubbed against each other. It was a test of sorts, to see if he’d read her vibe correctly, or if he was completely off base.

He wasn’t.

Instead of moving away, April leaned against him as she sipped her wine.

“Is this why you’re okay not playing with an orchestra?” Damien asked her. “You can get your fix here?”