Page 60 of When He Hunts

Well, that was somewhat reassuring. Not like she had time for any vocal warmups, so she’d be going into this thing raw. Which probably meant the first few notes would be rough. Hopefully, not too rough. She wanted Ronan to think she was good. Was it so wrong that she wanted to impress her fake husband?

She crept toward Cameron. Mumbled her request. Then went back and stood in front of the microphone. It was one of those tall microphones attached to a black pole. The pole was positioned way too high for her, so she pulled the microphone off the pole and held it in her hand. Then she scooted the pole to the side.

The couples were watching her. But she didn’t really care about them. She cared about the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome man with his hands crossed over his chest and a faint smile on his face. He had one eyebrow raised, and his head cocked to the right as he waited for her to begin.

The piano player’s fingers rolled over the keys. The music drifted into the air.

When you sing or when you act, you can become someone else. Nothing else matters. All the pain leaves. Pain and fear disappear.

Her breath whispered out. Her heart drummed too fast.

And she began to sing. Soulful. Bluesy, because that had always been her favorite style. Her voice was a little husky at first, then stronger. Sweeping around the notes and purring with sensuality as her confidence grew.

Ronan’s eyes widened. He lost his faint smile. His lips parted. His mouth might have dropped open. She never looked away from him. She couldn’t. This song was about a lover she didn’t want to leave. A man she couldn’t lose. It was for him.

Because she was falling in love with her hitman.

He could not move.

Couples danced around him. Waiters bustled past as they kept the champagne flowing.

Ronan remained locked to the spot.

Holy hell, the woman can sing.

He had gone up to the stage on instinct. Some foolish part of him had just wanted to do something to make her happy. Especially after that piss-poor conversation with Gray. He hadn’t told her about that talk. Didn’t plan to do so.

Use her as bait? Throw her into the lion’s den and let him rip her apart?Dumbass plan.

She’d been sitting at the table, smiling her enchanting smile, and he’d thought…why the hell not? Why not cross another item off her list?

It had been easy enough to slip the performer on stage some cash. The fellow had been heading off for a break, anyway. And the crowd was small. Couples—lovers—totally involved with each other. Not like he had to worry about someone snapping pics or recording Luna.

The island was supposed to be phone free.

So he’d paid the cash. Gotten her on stage.

Only nowhewas paying the price. Because Luna wasn’t just good. She was fantastic. Her voice tempted and taunted and promised so many things as she sang with unbelievable control. Lights were behind her, shining around her, and her body was on perfect display. He’d known the dress would be trouble the minute he saw it.

The haircut suited her. The haircut before had suited her, too, though. This one made her jaw and cheekbones look a bit sharper. Gave her more of that enchanting, witchy vibe that he found far too hot.

Luna had been made to perform. He could see that. She didn’t tremble or hesitate. She poured emotion into her voice, and she utterly captivated him. It was all he could do not to stalk toward that stage, pull her into his arms, and carry her off.

She’s singing for me.Her deep, emerald eyes were on him, and he could not look away from her.

She held the final note. Held it so long and then let go with a soft sigh.

The couples had stopped dancing. They erupted into applause for her.

He didn’t clap. He was too damn spellbound.

Her smile flashed. The nervous, shy one. The one that showed she still had so much innocence about her, despite his best efforts to acquaint her with sin. She did a quick, ducking bow. Waved to the crowd.

People were asking for more, but she shook her head and turned for the piano player. Luna bent to speak quickly with him. As she moved to step away from the pianist, his hand flew out and curled around her wrist.

Ronan immediately took a step forward.

Only to find some blond asshole in his path. “Holy shit,” the man proclaimed. “Is she with you? Because that woman cansing.”

---