Page 39 of Someone to Have
Then his mouth is on mine, warm like the sun on a summer afternoon and impossible to resist.
Desire floods me, crowding out the disbelief that this moment is happening. Eric Anderson is kissing me like I matter. Like I’m not invisible or second best or the shy girl who always watches from the wings. I can hardly breathe, barely think. But I don’t want to think right now. All I want is to feel.
“Taylor, are you…”
Bryan’s voice trails off as I pull away from Eric so fast my elbow smacks a stack of old hat boxes. They clatter to the floor, the crash jarring me back to reality. My body screams in protest. Not a fan of reality at the moment.
“Am I interrupting something?”
“Of course not,” I answer, earning a scowl from the man whose lips were just plastered against mine. The spell between us shatters, and I force a smile that feels painfully stiff. “Did you need me?”
“I wanted to say congratulations.” Bryan glances between Eric and me, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his face. “You’ve been hiding that voice.”
“I like to sing,” I answer, which sounds stupid.
Bryan nods. “We have a few more auditions, but this production is gearing up to be fantastic.” His smile tilts, almost like he’s humoring me. “I think you and I will be spending a lot more time together in the coming weeks.”
“Oh.” My gaze flicks to Eric, who’s studying a spot on the wall over my shoulder, his back to Bryan. “I can’t wait.”
“You kissed me,” I whisper when Eric and I are alone again. My voice catches on the words.
He crosses his arms over his chest and gives me an almost condescending smirk. The casual way he leans back, all broad shoulders and irritating cockiness, makes my cheeks burn.
“You’re welcome.”
“Excuse me?”
“Part of the coaching package,” he says, his gaze hard. “I knew when he called for that break in auditions, Limpdick would come and find you.”
My mind is reeling. The words make sense individually, but strung together they’re all wrong. Like a lie I feel in my gut, but can’t call him out on.
“You did?”
He breathes out a hard laugh, like he’s laughingatme—not with me. I’m used to it, but that doesn’t make the humiliation that skitters up my spine any easier to take.
“It’s a basic lesson in catching a guy’s attention, Tinkerbell. Nothing gets the old competitive juices flowing like thinking a woman is out of reach.”
I stare at him for a moment, trying to figure out if he expects me to buy this line of bullshit. The knot in my chest squeezes harder with every second he doesn’t crack a smile. At least I think it’s bull. That kiss felt real and spontaneous and…
“Don’t look so shocked. I told you I’m committed to this.” He leans in and offers a slow wink, but there’s no amusement in his dark eyes. “The guy you want is now going to see you as a woman other guys want. It sweetens the pot so to speak.”
“That’s offensive,” I mutter, even though my certainty about Eric being into the kiss is waning by the second. The sweetness of it slips throughmy fingers.
“Have you dated anyone since you’ve been trying to get Limpdick to notice you?”
My teeth are clenched so hard it’s a wonder Eric can’t hear them grinding. I’m wound as tight as a rubber band ready to snap.
“Do you have to mess with his name every time you say it?”
“Answer the question, Tink.”
I glare at him. “No. I haven’t dated anyone. That’s kind of the point of a crush. I want to datehim.”
A muscle ticks in his jaw. The air between us is heavy–I feel the weight of the truth I’m not willing to admit to myself, let alone say out loud.
“So you’re one step closer.” He shakes his head. “Two steps because he won’t be able to ignore you now that he’s heard you sing.”
I know that’s a compliment, but it’s hard to be grateful when I’m so conflicted about what just happened. If he’s telling the truth, and I have no reason to think he’s not, then Eric did me a favor.
