Just then a white van pulled into the parking lot.
“We watch them unload the new equipment for the music room.”
“Seriously?” she asked as a man rolled up the back door of the van.
“I walked into the music room last week and I couldn’t believe how sad it looked.”
She shook her head. “I know, but I don’t have anyone to teach the kids.”
“You have the money to hire someone now.”
She smiled. “You’re right. I totally do.”
Leaping toward him, she wrapped her arms and legs around his body as she showered kisses all over his face. “I love it. The kids will love it. Oh my God, I have so much work to do to get this ready and find a music teacher.”
“Is that bad?”
“No.”
His fingers skated under the hem of her dress, burning a trail of heat up the back of her thighs and she whimpered next to his ear.
“You can show me just how much you appreciate my donation when we don’t have an audience,” he whispered, letting her legs slowly slide down his body until she was standing again.
“Wait,” she said, the minute her feet hit the ground. “You used your own money for this?”
“Of course,” he said, grabbing her hand again and pulling her to the van.
“It’s too much.” She shook her head. “You can’t do this.”
“It’s not enough and I already did,” he shot back. “Now let’s show them where to put it.”
“What are we going to do with the old stuff?” She hated the idea of dumping it all in the trash, even if most of it was worthless and didn’t work.
“They’re taking it with them. They’ll refurbish what they can and throw away anything that isn’t salvageable.”
An hour later, she sat on a stool watching Alec tinker with the drum set. “I can’t believe you didn’t play in a band at some point. You’re pretty good, you know.”
He looked up as he twirled the drumsticks through his fingertips. “You think so?”
“Yeah. For a guy who sits behind a desk all day, you have some talent,” she teased.
“Who said I sit behind a desk all day?” he asked, crossing his legs at his ankles and leaning back in the small wooden chair.
She lifted one of her shoulders, shrugging before she crossed the room to be next to him. “Working at a talent agency seems like a desk job, but what do I know? I don’t really run in your circle, brushing up with the talented and the famous on a daily basis. You probably live a surreal life filled with actors and musicians. I barely recognize the latest Top Forty songs.” She laughed, holding her hands out in front of her. “Or even one that’s been on the radio for the last six months. Did I tell you I’m hopelessly and irrevocably tone deaf? I couldn’t hold a note if I tried. It’s sad, really.”
His jaw noticeably clenched, he looked away momentarily and her stomach dropped. She didn’t mean to offend him. He was hard to read, but as she searched her mind she couldn’t pinpoint anything in particular. All her commentary seemed more or less innocuous and directed mostly at herself. Bending over his back, she placed hands on his shoulders. “Did I say something wrong?”
He dropped his drumsticks on the ground, then he pulled her into his lap. “No,” he said as he positioned her back against his chest, his hands on her thighs, rubbing aimless circles on her skin, moving higher and higher, but not high enough. He pushed her hair behind her ear before leaning forward to trail liquid kisses along the side of her neck.
She shook her head. She needed to stay focused. “You always change the subject when I ask any personal questions.”
“I do?” he asked, wrapping one arm around her ribcage, angling her so no space remained between them.
She leaned forward, refusing to let him ignore her questions once again. “Yes, you do, no matter how innocuous the question.”
“I didn’t realize that,” he rumbled against her ear, sending vibrations rolling through her already aroused body. How did he do this to her so easily? There must be some sort of school for seduction and he obviously passed with flying colors.
Spreading her thighs until her legs straddled his, his fingertips slid up the inside of her legs, stopping only when he reached the edge of her panties. With painstaking slowness, his fingers brushed against the fabric, softly massaging her mound through the thin lacy material with enough dedication to drive her absolutely insane with need, but not enough to produce the result she was already beginning to crave.
“Are you always so evasive?” she asked, desperately trying to stay focused.