Almost in Love (19 page)

Delilah rose slowly from her seat in the auditorium and met them on stage. Jasmine and Will got louder, arguing over by the piano, both leaning forward, hands on hips.

“What’s got into them?” Zac asked.

“Lovers’ quarrel,” Delilah answered.

“Those two?” Barry asked. “They’ve done nothing but fight since rehearsals began.”

“Love, hate, same deal,” Delilah responded.

After several minutes where Jasmine’s voice got higher in volume, which seemed to trigger Will’s voice to get lower, Delilah finally put an end to it.

“Excuse me!” she said dramatically. “I am a professional. That means the show must go on!”

Will returned to the piano. Jasmine turned on her heel and approached the stage.

“Sorry about that,” Jasmine bit out. “I think you guys know what to do in this scene. Bare, if we could maybe get a little more kick-up-your-heels gleefulness into the scene. Maybe a few more of these lunging kneels.” She demonstrated, going from one knee, then moving forward onto the other knee. “Yeah?”

“Sure,” Barry said. “Exactly where in the song do I add that?”

“Let’s run through the song,” Jasmine said. “I’ll move along with you.” She turned. “Will, play ‘A Paradox’ if it’s not too much trouble.”

“No trouble at all,” Will said. “I can play it multiple times, and they will all sound exactly as the composer intended.”

“God forbid you get creative,” Jasmine muttered.

The music started, and they ran through the song. Amber took a seat in the auditorium, and Barry amped up the energy. She was here, and that meant she wasn’t done with him. He hadn’t pushed her away. He was the swashbuckling Pirate King, and she was his to plunder anytime, anywhere. A heady notion. A magnificent fact. He would claim her body as he always did, and one day, he’d claim her heart too. She just needed time. He was so relieved, he didn’t care how much time it took. He’d wait her out, just as long as they were together.

The song ended. Jasmine, Toby, Edith, and Amber clapped.

“Very nice, Bare,” Jasmine said. “The best I’ve seen from you. Zac, Delilah, you both were great too. I don’t think we need another run-through. Moving on!”

Edith went to call for the cast who were in the next scene. It would be Mabel and the police brigade. He stepped backstage and met Amber on her way in. He gave her a dip and a kiss with some heat behind it.

“Yo-ho-ho,” she said.

God, he loved this woman.

“I perform better when you’re here,” he said.

“Oh, do you?” Zac said flirtatiously. “Don’t like a solo performance? Of course it’s always better with another person or two. If you ever need a third—”

“We don’t,” Barry said quickly just as Kevin came up behind Zac and gave Barry a murderous look.

Kevin pulled Zac out of the wings to the hallway.

“That was a little weird, wasn’t it?” Amber asked.

“Little bit.” He couldn’t resist kissing her again. Her lips were soft and yielding. He pulled back. “Where’ve you been? I missed you.”

“At the art studio,” she said. “I painted the largest canvas I’ve ever done.”

He smiled. “I can’t wait to see it.”

She blinked rapidly. “So you’re not mad at me anymore?”

“No.”

She threw her arms around him, and he held her tight.

“I’m so glad,” she sighed. “Just…be patient with me, okay?”

He stroked her hair, so relieved to have her back in his arms. “Okay.”

~ ~ ~

Amber loved her new art studio. Last weekend, she’d moved all her supplies in. It was glorious. She quickly got into a routine of painting all day, having dinner with Bare, and then going to rehearsal. Bare never wanted to interrupt her art, so he asked her to text him when she was done and they’d arrange to meet for dinner and go to rehearsal together. She didn’t let herself think about the year lease on the place because that only made her anxious. She focused on the moment, and that let her be creative, filling her with joy.

Today, Friday, she was putting the finishing touches on the largest canvas she’d painted so far. It was an abstract, her favorite kind, with red, blue, green, and gold. Almost a tie-dyed effect. She stopped with a laugh. It looked a little like Bare’s rainbow tie-dyed boxers. She added some purple so she wouldn’t always be thinking boxers. She’d never sell this piece. She wanted to hang it right here. It was warm, bright, and cheerful, and it would inspire her further.

She hadn’t sold much art over the past month or so. Maybe it was time to get another portfolio together and hit up some galleries. She hated doing that, though. She always felt so pathetic as they scrutinized her art and handed it back to her. Some part of her wanted that gallery showing desperately. If only to show her mother that you could be recognized as an artist without throwing away everyone that mattered in your life. When Amber had graduated from art school, her mother had sent a hand-painted graduation card. Inside the card was an invitation to see her mother’s gallery showing in Paris. Amber had torn it to bits. But the memory, her mother’s loopy handwriting, her cheerfully scrawled, “I made it!” across the fancy French announcement was burned in Amber’s brain.

She pushed her mother out of her mind. Nothing killed the creative spark like thinking about her mother. She went back to painting. The work flowed without interruption, and she hummed along to the music on the small speaker dock she’d bought.

A while later, the timer on her cell chimed that it was close to dinnertime. She picked up her cell and texted Bare about dinner. He texted back: I’m growling.

He didn’t mean his stomach. She smiled and texted back: Here, now.

She met him at the door naked. They never made it to dinner.

~ ~ ~

Amber helped with costume changes backstage while the cast ran through a final dress rehearsal. She couldn’t believe the weeks had passed so quickly. The show was tomorrow. She was so glad she’d joined the crew. It was magical watching the show come together, everyone working together, getting the timing of the dialogue down, the singing, the dancing, and the movements on stage. Not to mention the lighting, sound, and music. Even Toby, as cranky as that man was, seemed satisfied. But best of all was watching Bare shine every night as he more fully inhabited the role of the Pirate King. She liked to think their time together helped put some of that swagger into his step. The man was insatiable. He wanted her morning, noon, and night. And she was happy to oblige.

She still had to beat the ladies off Bare with a stick after rehearsals, and the lead guy, Zac, had become more flirtatious of late, but between her and Steph, they were able to keep hands off her man. Who would’ve thought the dancing cow guy would turn heads like that?

Bare turned, right in the middle of a song, sought her out in the wings and threw her a wink and a smile. Even in the middle of a performance, he paid attention to her. No guy had ever cared that much about her. She was beginning to think maybe, just maybe, she was in love. Bare hadn’t said the words to her again, but somehow she felt them with every look, every touch. Did that mean they had a future? Her heart raced just thinking about it. She forced her thoughts back to the moment. It was the only thing that kept her calm. Moment by moment. Now was good. She’d deal with the future when it came.

Kate had sat in the back row watching dress rehearsals all week and fallen deeply in lust with Zac. A losing proposition there, but her sister was swayed by his handsome face. She slipped out to join Kate in the auditorium for a few minutes while Zac sang his heart out to Mabel, declaring his love.

“Do you think Zac ever sleeps with women?” Kate whispered when Amber sat down.

“No,” she whispered back.

Kate couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. “He’s so good with Mabel. It looks so real.”

“He’s acting.”

“You think he would act with me?”

“No.”

“Barry is amazing.”

“No.”

“I didn’t ask a question.”

“I’m not sharing.”

Kate snorted. “You know how you kick me out sometimes so you can hook up?”

Amber didn’t reply. She wouldn’t have to kick out Kate if her sister ever actually went anywhere or did anything.

“Last time I hung out with Ian,” Kate said. “We heard you scream.”

Omigod.

Kate went on. “Ian said that means full-tilt boogie orgasm. Was it?”

Omigod. Amber stared straight ahead.

“I told Ian I wasn’t saving myself anymore, but he didn’t believe me.”

“Good.”

“He said if I saved myself this long, I must be pretty serious about it and that was between me and my future husband.”

“Good for him.”

“I’m starting to hate him.”

Amber laughed. The song ended, and the few people in the audience clapped.

“I can’t wait for Saturday night,” Kate said.

“Yeah, that’s usually the best performance. Friday night works out the nerves. Saturday night really shines.”

“Plus the cast party.” Kate smiled widely. “I can’t wait to party with Zac.”

“Forget Zac. Talk to some of the guys in the police brigade.”

“But they’re not as cute.”

“Forget cute. They’re nice. Like you.”

“You don’t think I’m cute,” Kate pouted. “You said I look slutty.”

“That’s because you stopped wearing underwear, and you keep trotting around in my summer pajamas, which are practically see-through. You do have new outfits.” Amber stood. “I’ve got to help out backstage.”

“I’m a twenty-one-year-old virgin,” Kate said. “I may perish from a lack of male stimulation.”

Amber barked out a laugh. “You won’t perish.”

“Sure, you can laugh. You’re getting the full-tilt boogie treatment.”

Amber shook her head and left. She really hoped Kate ended up with the right guy when it finally happened for her. Her sister’s single-minded determination to end her virginal situation could end in disaster.

~ ~ ~

After rehearsal, Amber helped the cast out of costume and worked with Edith to hang everything in its place on a rack in the band room. Steph was in great spirits as she handed over her dress.

“I’ve been doing this for years,” Steph said, “and I think this is the best production we’ve ever put on.”

Edith turned. “I think so too.” She lowered her voice. “Bare brought everyone up a notch. He’s a wonderful Pirate King.”

Amber’s heart filled with pride for her guy.

Edith spoke louder now as more of the cast filtered into the room. “The whole cast is so professional. It’s sure to be a hit.”

“You ladies want to join us at Garner’s?” Zac asked, handing over his costume. “One last hurrah before the show?”

Bare came up and wrapped an arm around Amber’s waist, his hand spanning her bare midriff. “Sure.”

“We’ll be there,” Amber said.

“Excellent,” Zac said with a quick brow raise to Bare before strutting out of the room.

“He never gives up, does he?” Amber asked. She took Bare’s costume and hung it with the others.

“He can’t resist the Pirate King.” She could hear the smile in his voice.

She turned. “Me either.”

She went up on tiptoe to kiss him. His hand cupped the back of her head, and the kiss ignited.

Edith cleared her throat. “I’ll finish up here. You guys move along.
Please.
”

“Seriously, guys,” Steph said. “There’s a rumor you got down and dirty backstage behind one of the pillars from Daddy Warbucks’ mansion.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Amber said even as she felt herself flush. It was behind the newsstand from
Guys and Dolls
. The cast had taken a fifteen-minute break, hitting the vending machines in the cafeteria, while Bare hit on her backstage in a fierce, urgent coupling that ended with his hand clamped over her mouth to muffle her scream as she came.

Bare’s hand trailed down her back as he leaned down to growl in her ear, “Maybe we should skip the bar.”

“Come on, Bare,” someone called.

“Your public awaits,” Amber said.

They exchanged a hot look that made her throb, knowing they’d come together again soon.

The bar scene was hopping on a Thursday night. Their group huddled together in one corner of the room.

“You guys, this has been fantastic,” Toby said, making a rare after-rehearsal appearance. “I just want to thank every one of you for really giving it your all. You should be proud of yourselves.”

“Aw, thanks, Toby,” Zac said.

“Hear, hear,” Bare said, raising his beer bottle.

He had her on his lap, one hand resting on her upper thigh. She was loose from the beer, enjoying being with everyone, but still eagerly awaiting his growled command.

“And I want to see you all next summer when we do
Grease
,” Toby said. “We haven’t done it in seven years, and the audience loves it.”

Everyone was in high spirits, much of the cast had grown close over the past six weeks. The Major-General’s daughters were feeding French fries to the police brigade. The pirates were stealing kisses. Except her Pirate King, who only kissed other women when required on stage. She didn’t mind the quick pecks he gave the other girls. How could she when he was all over her every night? And every morning. She fidgeted on his lap, restless for that urgent coming together she’d grown to crave.

“Soon, love,” he whispered in her ear. “Just a little longer.”

She wasn’t surprised he read her correctly. They’d grown incredibly in-tune to each other’s bodies. He gave her thigh a gentle squeeze and turned to talk to the Major-General, who was happy to regale them with tales of his time off-Broadway decades ago.

She slid onto the barstool next to Bare, unable to sit on his lap without wanting more. His hand laced with hers, keeping their connection, as they chatted with the cast. Zoe chimed in with stories of her singing gigs in the city. Zoe was still hoping to make it big with her singing career, but hadn’t yet gotten her big break. In the meantime, she worked as a waitress at Garner’s, where Daisy had gotten her a job.

It seemed everyone had a tale of some brush with greatness in New York City. Not Bare. He didn’t have that driving ambition for it. His performance was for the joy of it. She understood because that’s how her painting had been for a very long time, for the joy of it. Until she’d tried to make some money at it. That had taken the joy right out of it, feeling like a failure because she couldn’t sell. And then suddenly she did. She had that one collector that made her feel like she was a success. She hadn’t sold much lately, but it hadn’t fazed her. She had her art studio, she had Bare, and the creative joy was back.