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“Yeah.”
“I saw lover boy waiting outside the door. He’s hot. Too young for me. But, hot.” She fanned herself, grinning. “He is very hot.” She opened the door, preparing to leave.
Maylis’s cheeks burned, but she kept her attention on the mirror and concentrated on brushing out her hair. “It’s a show, Tina. Relationships come and go in these situations all the time. You know that.” Inside, Maylis cringed at the words coming out of her mouth. She was afraid she was falling for Aiden in an awful heartbreaking way with no way to protect herself.
Tina giggled. “I guess what Jay said about you was right,” she said softly. “I’ll, uh, see you over there.”
“Jay?”
“Lighting. Said you guys were crazy for one another. Coming?”
“I’m right behind you.” Maylis pinned her hair back, trying to picture Jay. She couldn’t. She went to her locker and took out her orange purse and slipped it over her head then grabbed her puffy coat. She stepped out of the dressing room into silence filling the back of the theater. She pulled out her phone and checked the time. Almost eleven.
Aiden was nowhere to be seen.
She went to the men’s dressing room and tapped on the door, but there was no answer. She pushed open the door, but no one was there. Aiden was probably getting them seats at the diner.
He’d know where to find her. The hair at her nape raised, but she ignored any misgivings.
12
Aiden satbehind the wheel of his beamer and watched, through a windshield spattered with sleet, Maylis come out the back door of the stage. She wore a puffy coat and nothing on her head. For once, her hair hung down her back. His fingers tingled for want of running them through all that luscious silk. But he couldn’t unhear her words.It’s a show. Relationships come and go in these situations all the time. You know that.Last night hadn’t meant a fucking thing to her. And Jay, the lighting guy? What the hell?
His cell phone chimed in the silence. He didn’t bother picking it up. He could see Maylis’s at her ear as she crossed the street to the diner where the other company members had already disappeared inside.
Contrary to popular belief, Aiden was not a player. Sure, he’d dated. Lots. But he knew as well as anyone what he’d experienced with Maylis was different. How could she have told Tina those things? And how long had Maylis been seeing Jay? The man was halfway decent he supposed. He’d done a hell of a job showcasing the heroine inVictory.
The director hadn’t said a word regarding the Broadway scouts since their blowout in the early days of rehearsal. The bastard had probably lied to him just to make Aiden fight for his part.
All right. He owed him points for creative genius. Aiden had lost his mind with fury when he’d believed Maylis was Tamera. And, looking back, realized how stupid he’d been.
Maylis was nothing like her sister. He hadn’t shared why he’d only gone out with Tamera a few times. The bitch was crazy. She’d stalked him, fucked his guy friends, and threatened his women friends. She’d been a psychopath. He’d almost dropped out of school, but then she’d disappeared.
He frowned at the sudden thought. Where had she disappeared?
His phone rang again. He glanced at it. Maylis.
He fired up the car and hit the gas. Fuck the dinner. And fuck Maylis. He just had to get through Sunday night. Six more tortuous performances. He’d put his house on the market and clear out. He didn’t need Maylis. He didn’t need anyone, he told himself, rubbing a palm over his chest.
His next stop was Boston.He was an actor.
13
Maylis forcedher hold on Aiden’s hand to remain light for their final bow inVictory is Mine.He dropped her hand the instant they reached the wings. The director was hosting the final cast party at his home in the upscale neighborhood of Birchwood. The director covered many of the local shows and, as in this case, the more higher profile Lyric productions.
She’d attended one or two cast parties at his home before. She wasn’t sure of the square footage, but she’d heard there was at least four bathrooms—each of which would probably fit the entirety of her teeny efficiency.
“Maylis, good you could make it,” he said when she entered the living room.
She’d opted to drive herself. She wasn’t up for a long, late night. All she wanted was to hunker down in her box of an apartment and not talk to anyone for a couple of weeks. As a lead in this latest Lyric show, she had no choice but to attend. She briefly wondered if Aiden would feel the same. Just then she caught sight of him across the room, speaking to Tina. Surprise lit Tina’s features, but she quickly shifted her attention back to Aiden.
“Come with me,” the director said, startling her back to his attention. “I have someone who is vying for an invite.”
Maylis followed him through the house to another room that had bookcases lining the walls and a fire blazing in the fireplace. She’d never seen this room before. Standing near the fireplace, drink in hand, was a slender man in a light gray suit.
“Thomas, this is Maylis Smith. She’s a regular in many of my productions. Treat her nice.” The director turned to her. “What do you want to drink, Maylis? I’ll grab it for you.”
“Tea, if you have it. I’ll be driving back to Lenox tonight.”
