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“All right, all right. You guys sound like a herd of starving cats.” I turned to Noah. “One last song.”
“I’m all ears,” he said. “Almost literally.”
“Aren’t you cute.” I guided him to a chair.
I pulled out my violin and sat on the arm of that chair while Felicia sat cross-legged on the ground. She began to play and sang the song herself, which, in her raspy, feminine timbre made it all the more beautiful in my opinion. I played background to her guitar, the strings carrying the poetic, raw lyrics on a soft undercurrent.
As I played, I really listened to Felicia’s voice and the song’s message. A new life. Turning the page. A fork stuck in the road. I saw my road before me; one path with Noah in New York City, the other touring Europe, making music.
Or maybe I don’t have to choose. Maybe I can have both.
We said goodbyes, hugs and kisses were exchanged, and Melanie arched a brow at me. She mouthedI love you, and I returned,I know.
On the street below, Noah and I were alone for the first time in what felt like ages. He wasted no time but swept me up in his arms and kissed me hard. I fell back against the wall and gripped his hips, pulling him to me. My violin case slipped to the ground between us.
“Except for my sister, I’ve never admired a woman before,” he whispered in between biting kisses. “That’s fucking terrible, but it’s true. But you…” His hands ceased roaming my body and gripped my face. “Jesus, Charlotte. That was torture.”
“Torture?” I leaned forward, nipped his lip, and he pushed me back, hips grinding into me. We were separated by too much clothing.Thatwas torture.
“Talent is a turn-on,” he said, brushing his lips over mine in a maddening tease. His breath came hard, and I could feel his erection straining against his jeans. “And you’re beyond talented. I’ve wanted you all night.” He kissed me again. “But not here. I want you in bed, naked. I want to sink into you, Charlotte…”
Oh my God… Noah’s words alone were unraveling me right there on the street. “Then you’d better stop talking, or we’ll never make it.”
Reluctantly, he stepped back, breathing hard. “Christ, you’re right. Where are we? What time is it?”
I laughed and fought to calm my racing pulse. The night was deep, and a wind had picked up, cooling my hot skin. “We haven’t even left Regina’s block.” I fished my cell phone from my purse. “And it’s almost two a.m.”
“Damn,” he muttered and pulled out his folded cane that he’d tucked into the back of his jeans. “Not many cabs at this hour.”
“The subway is a few blocks up.”
I picked up my violin case and offered him my arm, my heart still pounding from his kisses and words that were almost as potent.
“There was something that came up tonight I’d like to talk to you about,” I said as we walked along streets that were silvery with recent rain. “Something Melanie told me about. A touring orchestra she thinks I should audition for.”
“Oh yeah?” Noah asked. His voice sounded carefully neutral. “Where does it tour?”
“Europe,” I said. “I don’t have all the details, but it sounds like I’d be gone all through summer if not longer. If I even got in. I mean, hell, who knows what would happen if I auditioned. I might not get it. Iprobablywouldn’t get it.” Except for the first time in a very long time, I thought that might not be true.
“You probably would,” Noah said, his voice low. “But the only way to know for sure is if you tried. Is this something you want?”
“I don’t know. I think maybe it is.” I stopped and faced him. “But you could come with me…if you wanted.”
“Charlotte, I…”
Noah stopped talking and cocked his head to the side. I started to speak but he hushed me. He listened for a moment, then said in a low voice, “Let’s keep moving.”
We started walking again but Noah kept his tapping cane off the sidewalk, and I heard what his keen hearing had already picked up: footsteps behind us. I let out a little breath, and Noah’s hand on my arm tightened.
“Don’t stop, don’t turn, don’t say anything. Could be harmless, but just keep going.”
I nodded. My heart had climbed into my throat and then sank when the next street sign came into view. We were a good two blocks away from crowds and lights and safety.
Then a hard, scratchy voice broke the silence, making me jump.
“That’s far enough.”
Three simple words and yet promising so much danger and violence. We froze, and Noah’s grip tightened on my arm until it was all I could feel; my body was numb with fear.
