Page 33 of Between Takes
I glanced at him and nearly touched his nose with mine. His face was far closer than I’d anticipated. I shrank back, trying to keep my distance while nodding.
“Is it always like this?”
“This is my first gig down here, but yeah, this seems pretty normal.”
At least in Glasgow it was. Music venues in Edinburgh were few and far between now, forever getting gutted by big companies until you could count the good ones on a single hand.
His grip on my waist tightened as someone wobbled dangerously close to me. The feel of his fingers almost digging into my soft skin conjured images I’d have preferred stay buried. One involved our clothes on the floor and a soundtrack to rival the fake ones recorded on set.
“Someone could get hurt.”
I studied him from the corner of my eye as his gaze travelled the room and glared at anyone who got too close. A buzz of energy licked at my nerve endings and made it impossible to ignore the press of him. Did he feel it too? With the way he bared his teeth at people and seemed not even slightly flustered, I’d hazard a guess that the answer was no.
Pushing my shoulders back, I stepped away from him. His fingers dug in, trying to stop me. His head whipped around to me, his eyes questioning me with concern.
“Too hot,” I lied.
He seemed to accept it with little thought.
His attempts to keep people away backfired spectacularly. The lights were up, and people were now rubbernecking to confirm the whispers of their friends. I really hoped they didn’t start approaching him. I was tiny compared to some of these people. Even a good number of the women rocked stilettos, giving them a three- to four-inch height advantage on me. I didn’t stand a chance.
“We can leave if you want?” I really didn’t want to, but it was a far better alternative to getting caught up in a crowd vying for his attention.
Shaun frowned, his eyes fixed on me. “Do you want to leave?”
I shrugged. “Not really, but if you’re uncomfortable, I’ll—”
“I’m fine. You’ve had a hard week too. Ignore the stares; you’ve earned tonight,” he said, his voice low but strong.
My eyes roamed his face, an odd mix of shock and pleasure freezing me to the spot. His tone was yet another sign of appreciation, but combined with the furnace of aches his hold had inspired and the earnest light in his eyes, it took on a deeper meaning. A meaning I had no business reading in my boss’s words.
“Hello, you wonderful people. Have you missed me?” A lilting and cocky Welsh voice asked, his words floating over the quickly hushing crowd. I tore my gaze from Shaun and turned to face the stage, every inch of me tense and hyper aware of how close his arm came to brushing mine.
Murmurs of half-hearted agreement flickered across the crowd.
“I can’t hear you! Did you miss me?” The crowd roared an affirmative, and the singer grinned. A chorus of sighs ricocheted through the room. “We’re Lovers Knot, but you already know that, and tonight we’re going to rock your world.”
