Page 58 of Guarding the Singer

Selene nodded and started down the hallway. William wondered if she was still holding his hand because of their 'relationship' or because she wanted to.

Then he realized that he didn't care.

When they reached Mandy, the assistant looked down at their joined hands and something tensed in her brow. "Uh... I have a place that he can wait for you."

Selene shook her head. "He's coming with me."

Mandy's backbone got a little longer, but she didn't argue. "Ohkay..." She looked back at their joined hands before she adjusted her clipboard in her arms, her shoulders rising with tension. "Come with me then."

William made a mental note to ask Cooper if Mandy had been read into his job as they followed her through the service hallways.

PART VII

By the time they got back to her brownstone, Selene was exhausted.

After filming, she'd gone into a fitting with the costume designer for one of her final costumes. A sparkling gown for a scene on the stage at Lincoln Center. It was one of her dreams when she'd been a young singer. She'd dreamed of going to Julliard. Maybe find herself performing opera or classical music, something grand.

The more popular she'd become doing pop music, the more people liked putting her down for not doing 'real' music.

This movie?

Well, it was a chance to do something she'd wanted to do.

Two things.

Perform 'serious' music and do it on the Lincoln Center stage.

It may not be a performance with ticket holders, but it was a performance.

And she wanted to open some eyes.

She just hoped-

A knock at the bathroom door turned her head. "Yes?"

"Are you hungry?"

She considered being delicate for a moment.

A single moment.

Then she went with real.

"STARVING!"

She heard William's laughter and smiled in response.

"What do you want?"

Selene looked down at her feet in the shower and saw that they were red from the heat of the water.

She knew she needed to get out before she boiled herself.

That would be a news story.

"I'm done in the shower!" She shut off the water. "Think about what you want, and I'll be out in a second!"

"Okay. Take your time."

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