It felt weird being in the same room with him and yet so far. In fact, it hurt like hell. He still had it; that pull, that energy and magnetism that had all the women in the room thinking dirty thoughts. Knowing she’d walked away from all that had her reaching for more and more of her wine to distract herself from her hidden despair.
“Enough, Mandy,” Marcus said gently in her ear just as she indicated to a passing waiter for a refill of her glass.
“Not nearly,” she murmured, but then nodded with a deep sigh. Marcus was right; getting sloshed wasn’t the answer. There was music playing. Some other high-profile band was performing and people were dancing where a section had been cleared for just that purpose.
Mandy took Marcus’s hand, her smile adventurous. “Let’s dance.”
Marcus grinned. He could be spontaneous too, his smile said. And Mandy knew he could move surprisingly well. The music was upbeat, modern, and seemed to put everyone in a party mood. Marcus and Mandy got on the floor and for a few minutes, Mandy gave in to the music. When it slowed into a classical number, she went into Marcus’s arms readily. Her hands on his shoulders and his on her waist, they moved easily to the waltz.
She looked up when she felt Marcus’s gaze on her face. She wasn’t sure what she read in his eyes: regret, resignation, defeat? Could he tell that even now all she could think of was Ethan and wishing he was the one who held her in his arms?
“Someone’s coming this way,” he announced in a low tone, and this had Mandy’s heart tripping over itself. Oh my God. She didn’t dare look over her shoulder. But the figure who appeared by Marcus’ side was dark-haired, not blond. His grin was wide and charming.
It was Jaime, and Mandy felt no less amazed at seeing him. He courteously asked to cut in and Mandy nodded to Marcus, unable to say anything in reply. Marcus told her he’d be close by if she needed anything.
“Mandy’s safe with me, dude, you’ve got my word,” Jaime said, his dark brows arching at Marcus, whose expressionless face gave no clue to his thoughts as he nodded slightly and backed away. Jaime turned to Mandy with a comical look that had her smiling despite herself.
“Amiable fellow,” Jaime commented, slipping his arm around Mandy’s waist while holding her free hand, her other resting on his jacketed shoulder. “New man?”
“Old friend,” was Mandy’s cryptic reply.
“You look simply ravishing, sweetheart,” Jaime said, his dark eyes gleaming. “Saw you while we were on stage and made up my mind to come over the first chance I got.”
“That’s very nice of you. I didn’t think you even noticed I was here.”
“You can bet we did. You in that red dress...suddenly all the girls in the room don’t even have faces. You’re a very nice distraction, Mandy Sloane. I think I missed you,” said the delightful devil.
“I would have thought you’d all be glad to get me out of the way,” Mandy said lightly, fingers tightening fractionally where she gripped his broad shoulder.
Jaime’s eyes sobered for a moment. “Sometimes people do selfish things in the name of the greater good. The band’s soared in ratings, airplay, and sales. But we have a bassist who’s broken in spirit and has lost his faith in life and love. Not something I like having on my conscience.”
Mandy’s heart constricted at his telling words. She wasn’t sure how much he knew about her breakup with Ethan – and how much he felt he was responsible for it.
“You were good for him, Mandy,” Jaime said simply, his eyes boring into hers. “In ways I didn’t want to admit then. I kept thinking how far he’d come after his time with Zuriel when he was barely more than a kid. He was infatuated with her at sixteen. Their love affair ended when he was twenty. Five years later, he was finally getting to that space in his head where he could figure out where his journey would take him. Then you came along.”
Jaime shook his head slightly. “Ethan is a survivor, Mandy. Him and Zuriel…all those years ago when he didn’t know better, it was a pretty abusive relationship in the subtlest way you could imagine – with Ethan on the receiving end. Drug addiction, near death experiences, and an innocent fan getting beaten up…it was crazy. He wasn’t happy but because it was good for the band, we all just stepped aside and let it happen. I’m not about to make that same mistake again. Ethan is my brother, my friend. If anyone should get his life fucked up, it wouldn’t be me.”
“Why are you telling me this? Did Ethan put you up to it? Because I…”