Be Mine (11 page)

“That was a close one,” laughed Ellen as Penn pulled her flush to his muscular body.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ve got your back.”

Tom had left Lexi specific instructions for their evening together. She was to come to the small atrium concert hall where she first saw him play. He’d already given her a ticket for the show. He would play and then they were off for a romantic dinner.

Lexi dressed appropriately. Because she’d already worn red, she chose a soft pink silk dress. It wasn’t as sexy as the red dress, but it was beautiful and made her feel soft and pretty. Instead of pulling her hair back, she curled it and let the soft ringlets fall around her shoulders. Lexi knew it would be a smaller audience, and she wanted to be a distraction for him during the concert – again.

She hurried across campus from her dorm and took a deep breath once inside the old building, happy to be out of the snow.

Outside the atrium was empty, with the exception of the older man she immediately recognized from the Will Call window.

Lexi approached him with caution, still looking around for someone, anyone who was there for the concert. “Am I in the right place?” she asked with a giggle of embarrassment.

“I suppose,” he replied. “Do you have a ticket for tonight?”

“Yes,” she said, pulling the ticket Tom had given her from her purse.

The older man nodded. “You’re in the right place. One moment and I’ll seat you.”

He walked away and picked up a house phone, quickly spoke a few words under his breath and returned to her.

“Let me seat you, my dear,” he said as he gave Lexi his arm to escort her into the atrium.

He opened the door and Lexi gasped at the empty hall. There was one lonely chair sitting in the room. On the small pedestal stage sat Tom in his tuxedo. A single light shone on him and romantically lit his handsome face.

The old man ushered her into her seat, giving Tom a nod that all was right in his world.

Lexi remained silent, too amazed at what was happening to say anything that could possibly make sense.

“Good evening, Miss Scott. Tonight I will be playing selections just for you. I want you to know, no matter where I play, no matter whom I’m playing for, no matter who’s in the audience, I play only for you. Every time.”

“Tom,” she whispered.

He nodded and picked up his bow, carefully cradling his cello between his legs and began to play.

It was the most beautiful thing anyone had ever done for her. So beautiful, Lexi couldn’t keep the tears from falling. She gently blotted her face with the back of her hand, and Tom continued to play, swaying with the hypnotic sound he created.

Lexi found herself drawn to him as the music rang through the atrium. She needed to be near him. She was ill equipped to stay away. The Rachmaninoff Vocalise was a mere five minutes in length. But to Lexi, it felt like an eternity. She longed to be where his cello was – inside his arms. As he finished the final haunting note, she went to him.

When Tom Brooks opened his eyes, the beautiful Lexi Scott stood directly in front of him.

She batted her tear-filled eyes and whispered one word, “Bravo.”

Tom stood and placed his cello in a stand turning to Lexi. “Since I met you, I can think of nothing but you, whether I’m playing or not.”

“Kiss me,” she whispered. Tom quickly obliged, taking Lexi in his arms, bringing her tightly into his body. He pressed deeper into her gorgeous mouth, refusing to let her out of his tight embrace.

“I have a confession,” Lexi whispered as Tom moved to kiss her neck.

“What’s that?” he asked, brushing his lips over her collarbone and back to her lips.

“The first time I saw you, I thought that maybe you knew how to hold a girl because of the way you held your cello. It was passionate.”

“And now?” he asked, taking her face in his hands as he waited for her answer.

“Now I know for sure.”

“Yeah?” he smiled. “Are you saying I’m a passionate, adorable asshole?”

“Passionate and adorable,” she smiled.

“And completely in love with you,” he added as he sat her down on his lap.

Sliding his knees apart, Lexi dropped between Tom’s legs as he pulled her close. “I could play this for the rest of my life,” he whispered.

Under protest and emotional duress, Mike decided to do as Lexi had proposed. He would attend the concert and meet the woman who thought he had a wonderful smile, and after explain he had somewhere to be.

He decided it was genius if he stopped to think about it. If the plan to meet Sarah fell apart, he now had a plan B with his mystery girl.

Plan B was something Mike had always prepared for in business. But love was new to him, and even Plan A was a novelty. Regardless, by the end of the evening, he would at the very least have a clear head where the ladies were concerned.

As he walked into the concert hall, he was reminded of the first night he longed for Sarah Brooks.

He walked down the long aisle to the front of the house and found his row. There was only one seat available, and so he double-checked his ticket.

Confirming he was in the correct place, Mike realized no one was meeting him. Unless of course the elderly man in the next seat thought he had a great smile and wanted to be romantically involved.

Mike shook his head in confusion and pulled out the note that accompanied the ticket.

If you’re up for a little romance, meet me here Friday night.

He was here. Where was she?

“Mr. Montgomery?” The voice startled Mike.

“Yes?”

“Sir, I have something for you.”

Confused, Mike stood to meet the usher, who handed him a single sterling rose boutonniere. “It’s for your lapel, sir,” the usher explained, motioning to Mike’s suit jacket.

“Yes,” he mumbled. “Yes, of course.”

“This is for you as well, sir.”

The usher handed him a small folded note. Mike sank back into his seat on the aisle and opened the small piece of paper.

Mike, I’m playing for you tonight. Meet me after in my dressing room. I’ve left your name with Ben the guard. He’ll be expecting you. – Sarah

Mike’s heart began to beat wildly out of control. How had she known? How did she find out? And did he even care?

Mike pinned the boutonniere to his lapel as the maestro took the stage. Directly behind him in a dazzling purple gown that matched the roses he’d sent, was Sarah.

Literally gliding onto the stage to begin the concert, she was met with a roar of applause. She took her bow, shook hands with the maestro and the concertmaster and then stopped to blow a single kiss – directly to Mike.

He felt all the blood rush to his face, as everyone around him turned to see to whom she was dedicating her performance.

The older gentleman sitting next to Mike leaned in and got his attention. “You’re a lucky man, son.”

“I couldn’t agree more, sir” Mike replied, unable to take his eyes from the stage and the dazzling woman who’d stolen his heart.

As Sarah began Beethoven’s Violin Concerto in D major, Mike could hardly contain his pride and love for her. In fact, he was barely containing the tears in his eyes.

As hard as it was for him to comprehend, Sarah Brooks was playing for him. Just for him.

The concert passed too quickly. The crowd was quick to its feet applauding her amazing performance. Mike shouted, “Brava!” He smiled at her when she caught his glance and winked at him. Again, everyone around him turned to see to whom she was paying so much attention.

It wasn’t something Mike was used to, as he shied away from most publicity. Still, people seemed to know who he was as evidenced by the muffled chitchat he overhead walking up the aisle.

“That’s Mike Montgomery.”

“Who?”

“You know, the design guy.”

He didn’t know if it was because he was giddy with confusion, or just flying sky high, but he quickly became lost in the auditorium, and needed help to find Sarah’s dressing room.

“Excuse me,” he asked the usher who’d delivered the note. “Can you tell me where I can find Ben?”

“I’m happy to escort you there, sir.”

“Thank you.”

As Mike made the turn down the hallway, the usher leaned into him. “That’s Ben. He’ll let you backstage.”

“Thank you,” Mike sighed, becoming more nervous by the second.

“You must be Mike Montgomery,” Ben smiled.

“Yes.”

“I gotta tell ya, you’re a hard man to track.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I watched that billboard go up yesterday morning. My brother-in-law was the foreman for the installation. I had to ask who would go to so much trouble for a valentine. The name on the installation report was yours.”

Mike nodded, realizing how Sarah had managed to piece it all together. “And you told Sarah,” he said matter of factly.

“No, sir. She told
me
you were coming back after the show.”

“But how?”

“I don’t know, son, but you better be makin’ tracks to her door. Ladies don’t like to be kept waitin’.”

“Good point, Ben. Good point.”

Mike took a deep breath and knocked.

Just as Sarah opened the door he looked away, suddenly wondering if all of his advances had really worked or if she were simply being nice now that his big finish was no longer a secret.

“Hello, café breve,” she smiled. “Come in. That is, if you can make it past this embarrassingly large arrangement of purple roses.”

“Good evening,” he hesitated, but knew what she wanted to hear. “Non-fat, no foam latte.”

“It’s nice to see you again,” she said as she closed the door.

“Thank you for the ticket. Your performance was…spectacular.”

“You’re welcome. But I have a sneaking suspicion that even if I hadn’t sent you a ticket, you might’ve found your way to me tonight.”

“Yes,” Mike said as he looked to his feet.

“Can I just say, this is the most romantic, thoughtful thing…
things
,” she said emphasizing the plural form. “That anyone has ever…ever done for me.”

“I find that hard to believe,” Mike replied. “You’re the most beautiful, talented woman I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I’m sure many men have vied for your affections.”

“You’d be surprised, Mike,” she laughed as she walked behind a dressing screen and began to take off her gown.

Mike immediately turned his back, wanting to respect her privacy.

“I’m glad we’re going to have this time together to meet properly,” Sarah continued. “And not in secret, between the shadow and the soul.”

“Yes,” Mike whispered.

“Mike?” she said, as she emerged dressed in a sexy, short black cocktail dress. “I’m curious.”

“Um hm?” he replied as she walked around his turned back and silently asked him to zip her into the clingy dress. “How did you know that Beethoven was my favorite?”

“I didn’t. He’s
my
favorite.”

“Really?” she whispered as she turned to face him.

“And the roses. Sterling roses.”

“They mean love at first sight,” he replied as she moved in a little closer and carefully slipped her feet into her black pumps one at a time.

“How do you think two people could be so well matched and yet never know each other?”

Mike looked into her eyes and spoke without thinking. “I’ve loved you from the moment I saw you. I used to come to Starbucks every morning praying that you’d be there. I didn’t need to talk to you. I just wanted to…”

“Go on…please,” she begged taking a tiny step closer to Mike.

“I just wanted to be near you,” Mike breathed, matching her advance.

“And now you are,” Sarah whispered as took another step.

“Sarah,”

“Yes?”

“If you come any closer to me, I’m not going to be able to control myself. I’m going to kiss you.”

Sarah moved in and embraced Mike at the waist. He pulled her close to him and closed his eyes, leaning his forehead to hers with a sigh.

“Mike.”

He opened his eyes and found himself staring into the beauty of his dream.

“Don’t tease me,” she whispered.

Stroking her cheek with the back of his hand, he watched her release her head, giving in to the moment. Gently lifting her chin, he brushed his lips across her mouth, breathing her in. She sighed, and he went deeper. Parting her lips with his tongue, he released the desire he’d guarded so closely for so long. He couldn’t get enough, pulling her tightly at the waist to meet his hips.