Page 10 of Accepting Love

I suddenly realize we’ve been talking for a long time. I’m supposed to be practicing. I jerk back and look at him. “I have to practice.”

He smiles again. “Okay.”

“I have to play that piece on Sunday afternoon and it’s rusty. I haven’t played it in a few years,” I explain.

He nods. “Okay. Though, pardon me for saying something asinine, but it didn’t sound rusty to me. It was angelic. The heavens descended to listen. It nearly brought me to my knees. I couldn’t breathe. If you do that again, I’ll probably float away.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Zane…”

“What? I’m just saying…”

“Well, it was rusty, and I need to practice. You have to leave. You’re using up all the oxygen.” I push him toward the door.

He chuckles and stops me. “How long will you practice?”

“Three more hours.”

“Will you take a lunch break?”

“Yes. At noon.”

He cups my face. “I’ll leave the room but not the house. I’ll go find Audrey and talk to her about the acoustics while you play. I bet she won’t mind if I stay for lunch.”

I groan. “She’ll be delighted.”

“What about you? Will you be delighted?”

I groan again. “I’ll be distracted.”

“I can live with that.”

“So what? You’re just going to stay? For how long?”

“I was thinking until I’m like ninety if you don’t mind.”

“Come on. Be serious.”

“I’m dead serious. But to be reasonable, I’ll go home for a while after lunch while you practice and then come back. Did you have plans this afternoon or evening?”

“No, but…”

“Then it’s settled. Somewhere in there we’ll figure out what happens next.”

He’s so bossy. So Dominant. So everything. He’s like a book boyfriend who stepped off the pages into the room and now he can’t get back in the book. Part of me doesn’t want him to go, but he doesn’t belong in my world. If he stays, I’ll get hurt.

Zane turns me around and points toward the piano. “Make heavenly tunes, Little one.” He nudges me forward.

I can’t believe I’m doing his bidding. I caved to his wishes. He’s that Dominant. He’s so powerful. If I let him, he will take over my life.

That’s exactly what I’ve always dreamed about, but something I can’t let myself hope for. I have a million arguments and concerns, but for now, I’m going to concede defeat because I really do need to practice.

I know when I sit down on the bench, I will lose myself in the music and forget any of this happened. At least for a while.

And then lunch. Why am I already looking forward to lunch?

Chapter4

Zane

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