Wrong For You (Before You Series Book 3)(73)
The woman laughed. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot that part. Taylor Reed,” she said, holding out her hand. “I’m such an idiot sometimes. I recognized you from your picture on the Foundation website, but I guess you’ve never seen a picture of me or anything.”
As she shook her hand, Violet took in Taylor’s dark blue eyes, so similar to Alec’s that her heart squeezed uncomfortably. “I can see the resemblance.”
Taylor shrugged. “I guess, but I just learned we’re only half-siblings and cousins or something totally fucked up like that.”
“Alec told you about that?”
Taylor laughed again, her light melodic laugh that made her even more approachable and likable. “I can’t believe he thought it was some dark, ugly secret he needed to protect me from. He can be so overbearing and know-it-allish, but with the best possible intentions.”
Annette cleared her throat and elbowed Violet in her side. “This is Annette, my best friend from home.”
“Nice to meet you,” Taylor said. “I’m Alec’s sister.”
“Nice to meet you, too.”
Taylor’s eyes flickered back to Violet. “Now I know why you wanted two tickets.”
“I told you I wanted to bring somebody.”
“Right, but I didn’t like that answer…and neither did Alec.” She tossed a coy wink in Violet’s direction.
Annette raised her eyebrows comically. “See. He thought the same—”
“Shut up,” Violet said under her breath. She didn’t want Annette to reveal her jealous filled retreat from the ballroom when she assumed Taylor was Alec’s date.
“What?” Taylor said, looking back and forth between Annette and Violet.
Violet gave Annette the evil eye, but apparently she didn’t care.
“Violet thought you were Alec’s date. She didn’t want to stay.”
Taylor bit on her lower lip to hold in a chuckle.
“You’re going to lose your best friend status,” Violet said under her breath.
Taylor looked at her watch and then pointed toward the ballroom “We have to go. It’s show time.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
When Violet’s fifteen-minute speech about the worthiness of Foundation ended, she stepped off stage, walking toward him just like Taylor instructed her. Violet sounded nervous the first couple minutes, but as she shared Dean’s story, she hit her stride and no one could tell that she didn’t give speeches in front of a bunch of self-important people every week.
“Hey,” Alec said as she parted the chiffon drapes.
“Hi,” she replied, running one of her slim hands along the length of her neck. It was long, smooth and glowing, just as he remembered, but somehow better. He barely suppressed the urge to push her fingers away so he could trace his fingers along the silken skin starting beneath her earlobe, pausing to feel her pulse fluttering beneath the surface and then to the top of her collarbone.
Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he took a couple steps toward her. “I thought we could talk after I finish playing. It’s only two songs. You can watch the performance back here and then we could talk here or in the lobby. It’s up to you…” His voice trailed off, waiting for her answer, hoping she was here to give him another chance rather than solely to represent the Foundation.
Violet smiled and his heart expanded in his chest. He missed her angelic smile and her two perfectly matched dimples more than his next breath. “I’d like to, but I brought Annette and I feel bad leaving her alone.”
“Taylor will hang out with her.”
“Don’t volunteer my girlfriend,” Cam yelled.
“She’s my sister,” Alec shot back. “That takes precedence.”
“We’ll see,” Cam said, turning his back to him.
“Don’t listen to Cam,” Alec cautioned. “I don’t.”
“Fuck you,” Cam shot back. “I can hear you.”
“Anyway,” Alec said, clearing his throat, “Give me fifteen minutes of your time. We don’t have to go anywhere. The lobby will work. I want to clear the air.”
“Okay,” she agreed, squeezing his hand briefly. “I’ll be here.”
“Alec,” Jax yelled. “Are you ready?”
Alec’s eyes darted in Jax’s direction before returning to Violet. “I’ll see you in ten minutes.
Her pale blue eyes locked on his and she nodded.
He gave her one last, lingering look and walked on the stage. He loved performing, but right now he’d love to cancel the whole thing. He’d throw Violet and her sinful, curve-hugging dress over his shoulder and bring her back to his place. For the first time in his life, playing the drums felt like an interruption rather than the point of his existence. When he played the drums, he could trick himself into believing he was happy, but when he was around Violet, he didn’t have to pretend. He was happy.