A Reckless Note

Chapter Nineteen

Kace leads me into a room where rows of chairs await hundreds of guests while the stage to our left awaits Kace and Chris. Actually, Chris is already on the stage, kneeling at the edge, talking with Sara, who stands just beneath him. A few other men in black jeans and matching black T-shirts are also present with Chris, fiddling about with the performance set behind him. Kace slides an arm around me, possessiveness to his touch that sends a shiver down my spine. His mood though is light, as he points to one of the men on stage: a tall, good looking man with blond hair and about the same age as Kace. "That's Micky," Kace informs me. "He's my guitarist. He travels with me and has for five years. Micky, this is Aria."

Micki gives me a mock salute, a bright blue tattoo of a guitar on his forearm. "Hey Aria," he says. "Welcome."

Kace points at a tall muscular black man with a buzz cut. "That's Marvin Gay. My producer."

I blink up at him and then at Marvin. "Marvin Gay?"

"My parents loved them some Marvin," Marvin says, holding his hands out to his sides. "And so here I am. Making music with Kace."

He's friendly and easy to instantly like. I laugh and Kace points out one more person. A tall dark-haired man—and I mean tall, like six feet four—with curly dark hair who I age in his mid-forties, based on the salt and pepper of his goatee. "That's my manager, Sam," Kace adds, "otherwise known as Bear and not because he's tall. He's a real cranky ass."

"Don't believe him," Bear says. "I'm a honey bear. Sweet as can be. His bastard agent, Nix, is the one to watch out for."

"He kind of is," Kace whispers conspiratorially, "but he's not here." He motions to Sara to join us, which prompts Chris to cup her head, the bright colors of what I now know is a dragon tattoo, or rather full sleeve, on display, as he kisses her and then murmurs something to her. I watch them, the way they lean into each other, and there's a raw sensuality about them, but also a deep bond beyond that sensuality that I can't seem to help but envy.

"Sara will take good care of you when I'm on stage," Kace informs me, and then leans in, nuzzling my neck. "I promise to take good care of you when I'm off."

My cheeks burn, and based on his laugh, all low and sexy, he doesn't miss the redness. "You are such a contradiction, baby."

I have no idea what this means, except for the fact that I made out with him in the hallway and then blushed at his suggestive words. "I like it," he adds, the playfulness of the moments before shifting to something far more intense, something I can't quite name, but there is a crackling current between us that literally steals my breath. I want this man and he is so beyond dangerous, but I just can't seem to care. I wonder if that's how Gio feels about Sofia. I wonder if that led him down a path of temptation and destruction. Will it do the same to me? Will Kace?

The spell between us is broken as Sara appears before us in a stunning silver knee-length dress, greeting us with a bright smile. "Ready for this, Kace?" she asks.

"Always," he assures her, and then glances down at me, his hand warm on my lower back, his gaze sweeping my mouth and lifting. "See you soon," he says softly, and somehow he manages to turn those simple words into a seduction.

He releases me, heading to the stage, and I'm far too cold without that man's hands on my body for my own good.

"We're in the front," Sara announces, motioning me toward the chairs.

I follow her lead and we settle into our spots at the end of the aisle. Kace has now started to play a few random notes, testing his tuning. The sound of his violin vibrates through me, nestling deep in my soul and threatening to stir a million memories.