Page 36 of Trouble Walked In

The tension between them was palpable, and it was giving him a headache. He couldn’t stop thinking about that morning. He had a feeling she couldn’t either because she refused to look at him.

It had been a real rush to stand naked in front of her and to see her reaction. First shock, then interest, then something more. It had made him feel powerful in a way that had nothing to do with physical strength.

When he’d caught her touching his sheets, he’d imagined a scenario with the two of them lying naked in that bed and almost went back in the bathroom for another shower.

"Here?” he said as they approached the first intersecting road he’d seen.

“No, the next one,” Lizzie said without looking up.

He noticed a small sign indicating the thruway toward Rochester as they passed by. “That was the thruway entrance back there. You’re doing this on purpose.”

Lizzie didn’t look up, but he thought he detected a subtle twitch in her lips. “Just drive.”

“You’re deliberately making this take as long as possible.” He glanced sideways at her.

“Not as far as you know.”

Something inside him snapped. He pulled out his phone and triggered the voice activation. “Directions to Belhurst Castle.”

Lizzie looked up, eyes wide. “We aren’t done.”

“Yes, we are.” Renic shook his head and gripped the steering wheel a little harder. “I thought this would be a chance to actually talk. I guess I should have known better. You don’t want to talk to me. All you want is to keep me from talking to Della. What I can’t figure out is why.”

The GPS beeped with directions. “In four miles, turn right.”

“Why?” Lizzie looked at him with the stare she used to drive away backstage leeches when the girls were younger.“Because I’m not letting you manipulate Della into doing something she doesn’t want to do. Not again. You turn on that damn charm and it’s like it’s some sort of beacon that hypnotizes everybody into doing what you want.”

She thought he was charming? “I think that was almost a compliment.”

She snorted. “Youwouldthink that.”

“It seems to me the one doing the manipulating here isyou,” Renic said. “You dragged me out to the middle of nowhere to hunt twinkle lights, of all things. You don’t need more lights. You just can’t admit that I’m right.”

“Right about what?” She crossed her arms and stared out the front window. For once she wasn’t looking at her phone.

“Della is throwing her career away if she doesn’t do this tour. How many times do we have to go over the same ground before you admit we want the same damn thing? She’ll blow up the rest of her life if she doesn’t come back.”

Lizzie shifted in her seat. “What’s so bad about her wanting to do something different for a change? She’s beenon stage since she was eight. Maybe she’s just exhausted. Maybe she’s just tired of being what everyone else wants her to be.”

He gripped the steering wheel even harder. There was some truth to what she said, but it wasn’t the whole story. “You know she’s happiest on stage. I’ve never met another artist who emotes like she does. She doesn’t just sing. Sheisthe music. Do you really think she’ll be truly happy if she turns her back on it?”

Lizzie made a frustrated little sound, but he wasn’t sure if it was denial or agreement.

His gut told him to push one more time, so he did. “Come on, Lizzie. Help me get her back where she belongs.”

The GPS beeped. “In three miles, turn right.”

“You really think you know what’s best for everyone, don't you? You think you have all the answers.”

“Lizzie…”

“You know what? It really drives me crazy that sometimes you do.” There was something bitter in her tone, maybe even resigned. “Fine. I admit that you’re right. Della’s most alive on stage. She’s always been that way.”

Renic kept his expression calm, but inside he wanted to shout. They were finally getting somewhere.

“But you’re wrong, too.”

The surge of hope fizzled. “How so?”

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