Page 232 of Prickly Romance

My head bows over the piano and I play with my eyes closed, focusing on nothing but the music and conveying the feeling to the audience.

A disturbance to my right pulls me out of the zone.

I glance up and notice a line of beefy Asian security guards climbing up the stairs and heading right for me.

My fingers freeze on the piano.

Not again.

Akira is at the head of the line. She and the others form a circle, their backs to me.

I hear the murmurs and gasps of the onlookers, but I’m too busy trying not to hyperventilate.

Especially when Sazuki enters the circle.

I lift my head to look at him, hardly believing my eyes.

“What are you doing?” I whisper.

“Going after what I want,” he says.

Shock climbs up my throat, fighting for dominance against the heat that’s surging through my veins.

“In front of everyone?”

“Technically, it is just us here.”

“Sazuki…” I can’t believe he’d disrupt the foundation’s opening night forme.

Our eyes lock.

Mine fill with tears.

His brim with quiet determination.

The bouncers standing around us don’t make a single move. From beyond the circle, I hear a voice that sounds suspiciously like Vanya’s encouraging everyone to get a drink.

Sazuki kneels in front of me.

“I’m not ready to get married,” I blurt.

His eyes twinkle at me. His dimples pop out in full force.

“Give me your hand,” he says.

I wince and offer it to him.

“Have you heard of the Legend of the Red String?” Sazuki asks, holding up a thin red thread.

“Um, no,” I squeak.

I’m feeling lightheaded.

If he doesn’t hurry this along, I’m going to pass out in his arms.

“According to the myth, everyone has an invisible red string tied to their little finger. This string will lead you to the one with whom you will make history.”

He places the string around my finger and ties it gently.

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