Michelle Mankin: Irresistible Refrain

“Where are you?”

“I gotta go, Lacey.”

Dead air in my ear.

I didn’t miss that he hadn’t accepted my apology.

My cell rang at two in the morning. It quit before I could locate it. I stumbled back to the bedroom and crawled back under the covers.

Just as it started again.

Shit. Shit .

I found it this time, between the cushions of the couch. It must have fallen in there earlier after I’d called War. I redialed the missed call.

“Hello.” I recognized the musical voice right away.

“Bridget? Is everything ok?”

“Everything’s fine.”

Very few things are fine at two a.m. “What’s going on?”

“Listen Lace,” Bridget sniffed. “Could…would it be ok if Carter and I come and stay with you for a little bit?” I remembered Carter was her five year old son.

“Sure,” I told her without hesitation. “But I’m in Canada now. Do you have a passport?”

“Yes.” Another sniff.

I heard a boy’s voice. “Mommy, why are you crying?”

“I need to go now. I’ll call you back when I have the flight information. And Lace?”

“Yeah?”

Thanks. You don’t know how much this means to me.”

“No problem. That’s what best friends are for.”

Dizzy and I sat in the club chairs waiting for Lace.

I saw her silhouette as she passed by the gold framed lobby windows. Finally . My heart began to pound hard against my ribs. I couldn’t wait to be close to her again, maybe very close if things went the way I hoped.

She breezed into the marble foyer and stopped in front of the table that always held a large vase of fresh cut flowers. She wasn’t alone. She was with him. Again . My rapid heart rate screeched to a sudden stop. My gut twisted into a tight knot. I had wanted to give her the time she needed to regain her confidence before making my move. But maybe I had waited too long.

Dizzy jumped up and flew across the room to greet her. I’d spilled my guts out to him weeks ago before leaving for Vancouver. I’d told him the way I felt about her, and what I was planning to do. He’d been cautiously supportive of my decision, but he hadn’t given me any indication how I would be received by her today.

I held back, hands in my jean pockets almost shaking with the control it took not to grab her, throw her over my shoulder and just run off with her. I watched the brother and sister reunion. She looked good. Fantastic in fact. Cheeks glowing and rosy from the cold, wearing the same vintage pea coat she’d worn on the tour. The short hair still gave me pause. But I could see that the style was actually extremely flattering. The waifish cut emphasized her beautiful amber eyes which had always captivated me.

Hell, all of her captivated me.

Those eyes widened as she spotted me. Her gaze locked with mine and her face drained of color. The guy at her side that I’d momentarily forgotten seemed to sense her distress and moved closer and glanced in my direction.

Justin Jones. Avery’s twin.

Fuck me.

I was getting a taste of my own medicine I guess. At least Marcus Anthony wasn’t around to gloat. For once in my life, I empathized with the dude. But just as I’d seen him do with Avery, I was going to do whatever it took to get Lace back.

I gave Justin the ‘you better move away from my woman or I’ll take you out in the back alley and work you over,’ return glare.

He raised an auburn brow. I’d seen Avery do that same thing when something amused her.

I sauntered toward Lace, wedging myself between them.

Amuse yourself with a view of my backside motherfucker. That’s all you’ll be getting. You can’t have her.

“Bry,” she breathed. The sound of her voice had the usual effect, only worse because it’d been so long. Too long. I wanted to close my eyes and fill my lungs with her addictive sweet vanilla scent.

“Lace.” I put my hand on her arm instead. I had to touch her. I needed to feel her warmth. Her skin against mine.

She swallowed. “What are you doing here?”

I heard the trembling uncertainty in her voice.

“Mary flew all of us up for a meeting,” Dizzy quickly explained, his eyes flicking briefly to me.

Good save Dizzy. I shot him back a grateful look. Damn, I needed a cigarette bad right now, but I’d been trying to quit. I’d actually been in town for two weeks, getting my plans together. And keeping an eye on her. Stalking would be too strong a word, but I pretty much knew her routine by now. I’d thought she might have even spotted me once at the Armani Exchange, but if she had, she gave no indication now.

“Oh, I thought…” Disappointment dimmed the light of expectation in her expression. Her response gave me a boost of hope.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to everyone?” Justin asked from behind me.

This dude was pissing me off. I wanted him g.o.n.e. I turned to him, my eyes narrowing, but Dizzy got in between us. He offered him a civilized hand shake, averting a full blown conflict. While the two of them played nice, I zeroed in on Lace, moved closer, using that voice on her, the tone that always made her eyes darken. “I need to talk to you.”

It worked again. Her pupils dilated and she licked her lips. “Alright,” she whispered.

Thank, God. All my plans hinged on her agreement. The hands had been dealt. My heart was the ante. It was time to lay my cards on the table. I touched her shoulder and felt her body vibrate beneath my palm. “I have some things I have to do first, but I’ll meet you here around six, ok?”

She nodded.

“Dizzy,” I called. “Got everything you need?”

“Right here.” He patted his coat pocket discretely.

“Good, thanks.” I shifted back to her, tracing her smooth cheek with my thumb. She shivered. “I’ll see you tonight.”

I watched him leave the building with that easy saunter of his. I trembled with the control it took not to chase after him.

What was going on?

What was he up to?

Why the delay? What was going to happen at six?

I turned to Dizzy, the questions on my lips.

“Uh-uh,” my brother shook his head, reading my expression. “I’m sworn to secrecy.” He hugged me. “Don’t look so worried.”

I drew back and took in a deep breath.

“He’s the one.” Justin hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “The guy you said you’d never get over.”

I’d forgotten that he was even there.

“Looks to me like the feeling’s entirely mutual.”

“I hope so,” I sighed.

He smiled and kissed my cheek. “Call me later.”

“Alright.” I managed a small smile of my own before turning back to Dizzy. “That all your luggage?”

He nodded. “Just that and my guitar.”

“Ok.” We weren’t going to need a bellhop. “I’m on this side.” I gestured to the left. He grabbed his bags and started to follow me down the corridor. We passed the tiny gift shop and I led him to a narrow hallway that had just two small elevators. “How are King and Sager doing?” I asked trying to make small talk. I needed a distraction. What I really wanted to do was grill him about Bryan.