Page 15 of Stolen Voices
As the last note leaves my lips, I let go of the memory and the single tear that falls every time I sing this song. I miss her so much.
The air shifts, and the hairs on my arms stand on end like how I feel when I think I’m being watched. With my eyes closed, I lie as still as I can, waiting and listening.
The floorboards creak, and my ears perk up.Did that come from inside or outside the room?The floor creaks again, and my muscles tense.
“Good morning, Calliope,” a deep voice rumbles.
I jump with a scream, and roll off the couch. With a thud, I land on the hardwood floor stomach, and knee, down.
“Shit, Callie, are you okay?” The sound of footsteps gets closer, and the rugged voice I haven’t heard in months registers.
Before he can touch me, I prop myself on my knees and sit back on my heels with a hiss. “Elijiah Miller,” I push my hair off my face, and glare at him. “What on earth are you doing in my dressing room?” My breaths are choppy as I stare up into the mismatching eyes that haunt my dreams.
Eli steps back and smooths his charcoal tie down his chest, carefully pondering his next words as he shoves his hands inside his slacks pockets. “I got here early and was having a look around.”
“A look around doesn’t mean to hide in my bathroom and spy on me.”
“I wasn’t spying on you.”
“Then what were you doing?” My knee throbs, and I wince as I push myself to my feet and cross my arms over my chest, waiting for his answer.
“Fuck, you’re hurt,” he blurts, noticing my unease.
“I’m fine.”
He points at me and narrows his eyes. “No, you’re not.”
Confirming my injury would be a mistake. Eli Miller thinks I’m nothing but a spoiled princess. The last thing I want is to prove him right.
I wave him away. “It’s not from falling off the couch. Now, answer my question.”
“How’d you hurt yourself?”
“Answer me first. Why were you snooping around my dressing room?”
Eli rolls his eyes at me. “I wasn’t snooping.”
I glare at him, and he rocks onto his heels, looking sheepish.
“It was an accident. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. You came in, dropped onto the couch, and started singing before I could announce my presence. Now, tell me, what’s wrong with your leg?”
“None of your damn business,” I spit back.
A smug smirk pulls at his sexy mouth.
Does he enjoy pissing me off?I ball my hands into a fist, waiting for him to say something snarky.
“Wrong. You are my business,” he says, surprising me. What’s more shocking is that the way he says “my business” sends electricity shooting through me.
Eli unbuttons his jacket and shrugs it off his broad shoulders. My mouth dries, and my heart rate speeds up as I try not to stare at the way his dress shirt molds to his hard body.
Gah, why does he have to be so sexy?
“Where’s Hudson?” My question comes out all breathy, and I want to die of embarrassment at how he so obviously affects me.
“He has personal business to attend to. I’m all you’ve got.” Eli drapes his jacket over my costume rack.
“Great,” I mumble under my breath. “Just what I need. Another babysitter.”
