Page 43 of A Sweet Mess

Everyone was coaxed into a languid mood, and happiness laced through the idyllic evening. Landon finally allowed himself to relax. His wine-addled brain reasoned that he’d had it all wrong from the beginning.

Of course we could make love to each other.It wouldn’t ruin their careers because no one would know. He would have her—their attraction couldn’t be fought—but he would protect her by keeping their affair a secret.Simple.

Weeks of frustration released its death grip from his lungs. Leaning back against his chair, Landon watched Aria for a few seconds as she sipped her third glass of wine. Then, he brought his lips to Aubrey’s ear.

“I think she’s ready.”

“Ready for what?” Aubrey whispered.

“Just watch and enjoy.” He grinned and turned to the other side of the table and did his best impression of a medieval king. “The night is young, and we must have music.”

“Absolument.We must have the greatest of all music.” Lucien joined in without hesitation, winking at Aubrey. “Opera.”

“Idiots, both of you.” Aria rolled her eyes and leaned toward Aubrey. “They think they can make me perform like a parrot whenever I get tipsy. But I’m far from tipsy tonight.”

“Will flattery work, then?” Landon said. “Signorina Santini, your sublime voice will make us mortals weep and the heavenly angels sigh.”

“Your voice is as beautiful as you are,ma chérie.It’s indeed a gift from God,” Lucien said, grasping Aria’s hand to shower it with adoring kisses. She laughed and slapped at the Frenchman’s shoulder.

“I’d love to hear you sing.” Aubrey’s soft request was shy but sincere.

“Fine. It’s a democracy, no? Three to one means I must sing.” Aria smiled at Aubrey but narrowed her eyes at Landon and Lucien. “Pick a song for me.”

“How about ‘Un bel dì vedremo’ fromMadame Butterfly?” Lucien suggested.

“Well, I guess you can never go wrong with Puccini.” Aria shrugged, giving in with a grin. “It’s one of my favorite pieces. It pushes at a mezzo’s range, but I love to sing it.”

Landon caught Aubrey’s hand in his and smiled. “Now let’s enjoy the fruit of our efforts.”

12

The fruit of their efforts was breathtaking.

At first, Aubrey was too distracted by the warmth of Landon’s hand holding her own, but soon, the performance sucked her in whole. The vivacious woman disappeared, and sorrow bled into Aria’s rich, velvety voice, and the soulful music pulsed in Aubrey’s heart and seeped into her veins. When the last note faded, the air vibrated with energy and then stilled into a silence so clear and pure that Aubrey was afraid to break it. She was awed and humbled by the beauty of the music, and helpless tears streamed down her face.

“You’re beautiful, Aubrey Choi,” Landon whispered, smoothing his thumb across her wet cheek.

With her heart brimming with joy and vulnerability, Aubrey’s feelings for him broke through the surface and shone on her face. She should look away.Hide.But his dark, heated gaze drew her in deeper and deeper until everything else fell away, leaving the two of them in their own world.

She jolted out of the trance when she heard Aria shuffling about, haphazardly piling her purse and cardigan into her arms.Tears trailed her cheeks as well. Maybe she was overwhelmed from putting so much of herself into the song. The longing in her voice had felt so real. As though she truly waited for the day when her lover would return to her.

“Are you leaving?” Aubrey placed her hand on Aria’s arm. Aria nodded without meeting Aubrey’s eyes as she stirred the contents of her purse. “Thank you so much. It was beautiful. I’ll never forget it.”

Aria managed a wan smile, but it disappeared in an instant when she saw Lucien approaching her with his hand outstretched. Her graceful features contorted with pain and fury.

“Aria,” Lucien said, dropping his hand to his side. “Please don’t.”

“Please don’t what?” She glared at his distraught expression and laughed bitterly. “You can take your sorry excuses and take a flying leap into hell.”

With angry steps, Aria sped out the door. With distracted nods to Aubrey and Landon, Lucien ran after her shivering figure as it faded into darkness.

Aria and Lucien?Aubrey didn’t want to speculate, especially since Aria was so unhappy. She just hoped they could work things out. They were both such amazing people. Landon heaved a sigh beside her as he watched his friends leave. Then he closed the door with a softclickand faced her.

Aubrey’s throat worked to swallow the sudden lump in her throat.Okay. So where were we?They’d been burning off the oxygen in the room with sexual tension.Right.Something seemed to have shifted in him this evening. All through dinner, Landon had found ways to touch her—their shoulders brushed, their elbows rested side by side, and their knees pressed together under the table. Even now, his expression was hungry and unapologetic. Operation Friendship was in trouble. Big fucking trouble.

Run.

“Good night,” she said, much louder than necessary.

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