Page 17 of Guarding the Singer

Cali had more than her share of comments about him.

Her best friend had made no secret about her hopes for the night.

Cali had an active imagination. And a good eye for handsome guys.

And while Selene had begged off of the idea that she had an interest in William, Cali had eyes.

And she called her out on stuff.

It's why she loved Cali and why she avoided her at times.

She wanted... no, she needed her friend to call her out, but at the moment, she was alone with William.

As alone as she could be in a room that was likely far beyond the number of people allowed.

But the other people in the room didn't matter to her.

She really should just stop talking about other women in front of him.

That was the last thing she wanted.

She wanted him.

That thought was as immediate as it was true.

She didn't have time for guys.

That's what she'd been telling herself for the last few years and it was true. Time? She didn't have it.

She had career goals and goals took focus and time.

It was that effort that had kept her from really considering men as something more than friendships and working with them. The news? No, correction, the gossip columns and social media entertainment people? They loved to see her within a few feet of a guy and then BOOM, she was getting married.

She rolled her eyes inwardly.

"I guess," she murmured softly, “it's hard to see what's right in front of you."

He frowned, his gorgeous brow furrowing as he leaned in. "What was that? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you?"

She pursed her lips together and smiled. "Would you like to leave?"

His expression changed by degrees. Why? She didn't know.

"With me?" She smiled at him. "We can go somewhere? Walk?" Her own face lit up at the idea. She hadn't even planned on asking that, but when the word passed her lips, she knew that was the perfect idea. "Can we go for a walk?"

He shook his head, and her spirits started to flag, but then he spoke. "Sure. Why not?"

William took a step back and looked down at her skirt. "Are you going to be okay in your shoes?"

With a smile, she grasped her skirt at the sides and lifted it up a little. Looking down she lifted herright foot and wiggled it around where she could see it. When she put her foot down, she looked up at William and saw the barely restrained grin on his face. "The skirt is long enough and full enough that I wear sneakers."

"So we're going walking?"

She nodded. "Absolutely."

He turned to her side and held out his arm for her to take. "Miss?"

She rolled her eyes. "What was my name?"

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