Page 28 of Your Coffin or Mine
She rubs at the side of her cheek, suddenly looking exasperated. “I tried to take a bath, but there isn’t any hot water. I was on my way to find him and heard the music. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“I am sorry. The renovations to the castle have been a difficult undertaking, to say the least. The castle is an old one and was a keep for far longer before that. Doyle may have given you the best view of the garden, but we hadn’t quite finished with all the renovations before you arrived.”
“I thought everything seemed a bit unfinished. Is that why I haven’t seen any staff yet?”
“Yes. So, come have a drink with me. I haven’t played for anyone in years.” I gesture to a wine cabinet before drifting my hand toward two cushioned chairs with a table separating them. “Besides, Doyle is otherwise occupied at the moment.”
Indefinitely, as he’s most likely dealing with Frankenstein.
She shrugs, and my eyes track her movements as she heads toward the piano seat instead, leaning in to squint at the music. At least she didn’t immediately storm away.
I grin when she cautiously sits down on the edge of the cushioned bench. She looks like prey who is ready to scamper away at a moment’s notice.
“Mozart?” she asks, and I move to sit beside her, delighted that she seems content to stay by my side and doesn’t shy away. She pushes down a key with a delicate finger, then the one next to it.
“Do you play?” I ask, noticing her interest. Her hair shimmers in the light and my palms begin to sweat with the need to touch her.
“No, but I used to listen when my grandma would play. I only know one tune.”
I curl my hands into fists, needing to know what has caused the happy expression on her face. “Play it for me then.”
She snorts. “No way.”
“Why not?” I ask, cocking a brow when her shoulders turn inward nervously.
“Because it’s silly.”
“Why would anything you play be silly?”
Her blue eyes flick to me before looking away once more. “You know the movieBig?”
I frown and shake my head.
“Yeah, it’s kind of old. Anyway, this kid gets turned into an adult and he goes to the mall and plays this song on a keyboard. You know, like this piano on the floor in this massive toy store.”I stare, mesmerized, as she talks with her hands, light infusing her face as she remembers this film that she’s obviously enjoyed many times. “The guy is really like twelve or something and ends up sleeping with this girl.” Her eyes catch on mine and her face heats. “Not that that’s important.”
The irony isn’t lost on me. I wonder how she would react to knowing exactly how old I am.Would she run in fear?
“Play it for me then,” I repeat, sliding over to give her more space while waving at the piano keys.
“What?”
“The song from the movie.”
She looks at the keys to avoid me. “No way. I heard you. You sound like a freaking maestro or whatever.”
I start to roll my eyes but catch myself. I place my hand over the back of her slender wrist, soothing her skin with my thumb, and her heat sends a tingle through my fingertips. “Please?”
Her lips part in surprise, and I just know someone somewhere is cackling with glee. Me saying please is absolutely unheard of.
“Fine,” she finally says, yet the smile on her face is at odds with the way her brows are furrowed.
Her fingers shake slightly, but they move along the ivory keyboard, playing a light, cheery tune. She giggles in delight, and I find myself drawn under her spell, craving to watch her eyes crinkle again and again.
Wanting her to fall under that spell with me, I chuckle. “So, you’re a maestro yourself.”
Those blue eyes of hers widen and her head tilts back. Her arms wrap around her middle as she laughs, and I have never seen anything as beautiful as she. Maybe that’s what it is: she truly is full of life. And I cannot look away.
“Your turn now.” She slides over for me this time, and I frown, shaking my head.
