Page 28 of Reluctantly His

And there was no way I was going to avoid the glances and the questioning looks that would follow me the second he stepped into the room.

I had no interest in fielding those questions.

I would just go in, play, and leave.

If I couldn’t get rid of him, I would just have to deal with him and treat him like every other staff my father had hired. No, that wouldn’t work. I was always polite to our hardworking staff.

If I was going to keep my distance, I would have to treat Reid like the girls I went to school with treated their staff.

“Fine. You may guard me. For now.”

He chuckled. “Thank you for your unneeded permission, princess.”

My lips thinned. “I’ve asked you not to call me that.”

He leaned in so close, I could smell the coffee on his breath. “You also asked me to fuck you harder with my tongue.”

My mouth opened, then closed. I was not equipped to spar with a man like Reid.

Staring straight ahead as I ignored the furiously heated blush creeping up my neck, I murmured. “I’m going to be late for the performance.”

On the drive to the concert, he tried asking me a few questions about what to expect, but it was not my job to keep him informed. It was his job to anticipate and react accordingly.

I hated acting like a spoiled little brat, but maybe if I kept it up, he would simply quit. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why he hadn’t just left. Surely this was far below his pay grade.

When we arrived at the Lincoln Center for performing arts, I waited for him to open the door, and then I got out, motioning for him to grab my cello as I started marching off to the hall where I was performing.

It wasn’t the main stage, it wasn’t even in the main building, but that was fine.

I led Reid to the small outpost building that we were playing at. Most of the building was taken up by the stage and seating, but there were a few dressing rooms in the back where I would go to store my things and take a breath.

I needed to calm my nerves and center myself before my performance.

The hallways I was walking down that led to the dressing rooms were empty as the other performers hadn’t arrived yet. Then, someone called my name.

I turned to look in that direction just to see one of the orchestra directors I had worked with previously coming toward me.

Reid stepped between us with his legs spread and his hand on his sidearm in an aggressive stance.

I inwardly groaned. So much for not drawing attention.

“I know him,” I said as I stepped around his shielding back.

“Director Hansen,” I greeted the elderly gentleman with a bright smile. “How are you?”

“Oh. Well, dear, I’m good, of course. Thank you so much for asking. I’m actually here to see you specifically. I was recently informed of a position that has opened up in the New York Philharmonic. You are the only name that came to mind. I wanted to check with you to see if your situation has changed any.”

I gave the man a gentle smile.

He really was so sweet for thinking of me.

I just wished he would stop. This was not the first time he had come to me with a possible job opportunity. But every time he offered me a career that I wasn’t even bold enough to dream about, it hurt.

Tonight we were filling in for a last-minute cancellation at a charity concert.

Getting paid for what I loved would be considered a disgrace to my family, but donating my time for a worthy cause was somehow seen as worthwhile.

It didn’t matter. At least I got to do what I loved.

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