Page 87 of Sing For Me

I close my eyes, knowing that this is only the beginning. Karen might have saved us just now, but I know it won’t be long before she’s joining in on the grilling along with everyone else. I can’t remember why I ever thought this would be less invasive than the paparazzi camp-out at home.

I’m just about to apologize and suggest we turn around and leave, when Eva turns to me, her face lit up with a smile. “Your family is great, Will. Really.”

“If by great you mean loud and nosey.”

Her smile dims a little. “I’m sure it isn’t always easy, having such a big group up in your business.” She swallows. “But I think you’re really lucky. Not everyone has so many people in their life to care about them, you know?”

And now I feel like shit. Sometimes I forget that Eva’s entire family consists of her and her sister.

“I’m sorry. You’re right.” I take a deep breath. “I’ll try not to complain so much.”

She raises up on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek and my body immediately goes into interest mode. “How about this—I promise to tell you if I’m getting overwhelmed and you can promise that you’re going to trust me to tell you.”

I pull our joined hands behind her back, so my arms are wrapped around her and her’s are trapped in my grip. “I can do that.” I lean in to rest my forehead against hers.

The sexual tension that had brewing between us after that amazing hour in the hot tub came to a crashing halt the next day, after the paparazzi disaster. We’ve spent practically every minute together, even sleeping in the same bed at night, but nothing else has happened. I’ve been trying to be patient, not wanting to push, but alone together in the quiet of this room, it’s hard to not want to kiss her.

“We could check out the bed,” I suggest. “Make sure it’s comfortable.”

“Do you have a secret fantasy about making out on top of many creepy pictures of your own head?”

I burst out laughing. “Can’t say that I’ve ever considered it but if it sounds good to you I’m not going to complain.”

“We should probably get ready for the barbecue,” she whispers. I pull back and can see the indecision on her face. She’s still not comfortable with whatever there is between us.

Don’t push.I force myself to release her hands then take a step backwards, and then another. Even though everything in me is demanding that I pull her back into my arms and refuse to let go.

“I’m right across the hall here,” I tell her. “Bathroom is down at the end. My apologies to your inner diva that you don’t have an en-suite.”

She makes a face at me. “My inner diva is actually pretty terrifying. You should have seen what I did to the hair and makeup girl who messed up my look before the MTV Video Awards. You’d better watch it or she might come out to mess with you.”

“Diva Eva doesn’t mess around, huh?”

The firm press of her mouth tells me she’s trying not to smile. “Consider yourself warned. Now get the hell out of my way so I can get ready.”