I had watched the exchange between Seth and Tiffany, Todd must have moved closer to where I was standing. The heat from his body filled the space between us. The crowd was dwindling, and, for some reason, I was glad. I didn't feel like working anymore, and I was ready to talk to Todd. I wanted to know if he thought I had a chance to impress Frank. Frank. My smile fell. Todd had me feeling like I was on an emotional rollercoaster. I hadn't forgotten how pissed I was at him for how he'd acted earlier. It was like he got off on messing with me.
My prior irritation reappeared. "Nothing." My one-word answer came out hard.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I didn't miss his exasperated exhale.
"Talk." I stepped back trying to create room for me to breathe. Todd was a presence to behold, and having him this close… my anger, my frustration, and my need all ran together. I couldn't make heads or tails out of my feelings when he consumed the space around me so absolutely. It made me crazy that one minute I hated him, and then the next; I wanted him to like me. What the hell was that about?
"Let's talk in my office." He grabbed two beers from the beer fridge and motioned for me to follow him.
"It's busy, Todd."
"Jace and Tiff can handle the floor for a minute. Besides, it's dying down." He gave me a small grin that made me feel nervous all over again. I was about to point out the fact that Jace had gone to the back to get the stock Todd had requested, but Jace came through the back door right on time. "Come on, Red."
Why was I hesitating? I wanted to talk to him, and I needed to see if I had a chance at this dream, at the promise I'd made my father before he died.
"Fine." I puffed out a small, irritated burst of air.
I followed Todd toward the back offices wringing my fingers together as I walked ahead of him through the door. I took a deep breath, letting my body rest against the side of his desk. He handed me one of the beers he'd brought back with us. I opened it and drank deeply from the bottle, hoping the alcohol could ease away my tension.
"Whoa. Slow down, Red, you still have about an hour or so left in your shift." Todd's chuckle was infectious. He was actually fun to be around when he wasn't trying so hard to piss me off.
I refused to let him see that he affected me though. "What did you drag me back here for?" I placed the bottle of beer down onto the desk.
"I think you know." It was his turn to take a large gulp of liquid courage. I didn't answer so he continued, "How long have you been singing, Lily?" Todd spoke kindly again, and my name uttered in that tenor made my heart skip a beat. The actual interest in his voice threw me for a loop. He was stirring up feelings I hadn't expected to feel, especially about him.
"Ever since I can remember," I whispered. I couldn't bring my eyes to his. The memories of singing with my father flooded my mind making my chest feel heavy.
"Your voice is…" He inhaled sharply, causing me to look up. He leaned in for a moment and I had to catch my breath. He placed his beer bottle down next to mine and then took a step back. His limitless brown eyes caught my gaze. "…it's so fucking pure and real, Lily. I've never heard anything that could stop me in my tracks like you did tonight. Your voice… I could listen to it all damn day." He took a small step toward me again. I was speechless, his words were breaking me wide open, and it was everything I needed to hear. I could do this.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Todd
L ILY'S EYES WERE SEA GREEN IN the dim light of my office. I had never wanted to kiss a girl more than I did now. She appeared so vulnerable, and the idea that she needed me had me thinking stupid things. Things like what it would be like for her to pick me. What her lips would taste like. I wanted to know how her full bottom lip felt being pulled gently through my teeth. My regard was making her nervous, and she bit into that sexy as hell lip; I almost let the overwhelming
My prior irritation reappeared. "Nothing." My one-word answer came out hard.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" I didn't miss his exasperated exhale.
"Talk." I stepped back trying to create room for me to breathe. Todd was a presence to behold, and having him this close… my anger, my frustration, and my need all ran together. I couldn't make heads or tails out of my feelings when he consumed the space around me so absolutely. It made me crazy that one minute I hated him, and then the next; I wanted him to like me. What the hell was that about?
"Let's talk in my office." He grabbed two beers from the beer fridge and motioned for me to follow him.
"It's busy, Todd."
"Jace and Tiff can handle the floor for a minute. Besides, it's dying down." He gave me a small grin that made me feel nervous all over again. I was about to point out the fact that Jace had gone to the back to get the stock Todd had requested, but Jace came through the back door right on time. "Come on, Red."
Why was I hesitating? I wanted to talk to him, and I needed to see if I had a chance at this dream, at the promise I'd made my father before he died.
"Fine." I puffed out a small, irritated burst of air.
I followed Todd toward the back offices wringing my fingers together as I walked ahead of him through the door. I took a deep breath, letting my body rest against the side of his desk. He handed me one of the beers he'd brought back with us. I opened it and drank deeply from the bottle, hoping the alcohol could ease away my tension.
"Whoa. Slow down, Red, you still have about an hour or so left in your shift." Todd's chuckle was infectious. He was actually fun to be around when he wasn't trying so hard to piss me off.
I refused to let him see that he affected me though. "What did you drag me back here for?" I placed the bottle of beer down onto the desk.
"I think you know." It was his turn to take a large gulp of liquid courage. I didn't answer so he continued, "How long have you been singing, Lily?" Todd spoke kindly again, and my name uttered in that tenor made my heart skip a beat. The actual interest in his voice threw me for a loop. He was stirring up feelings I hadn't expected to feel, especially about him.
"Ever since I can remember," I whispered. I couldn't bring my eyes to his. The memories of singing with my father flooded my mind making my chest feel heavy.
"Your voice is…" He inhaled sharply, causing me to look up. He leaned in for a moment and I had to catch my breath. He placed his beer bottle down next to mine and then took a step back. His limitless brown eyes caught my gaze. "…it's so fucking pure and real, Lily. I've never heard anything that could stop me in my tracks like you did tonight. Your voice… I could listen to it all damn day." He took a small step toward me again. I was speechless, his words were breaking me wide open, and it was everything I needed to hear. I could do this.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Todd
L ILY'S EYES WERE SEA GREEN IN the dim light of my office. I had never wanted to kiss a girl more than I did now. She appeared so vulnerable, and the idea that she needed me had me thinking stupid things. Things like what it would be like for her to pick me. What her lips would taste like. I wanted to know how her full bottom lip felt being pulled gently through my teeth. My regard was making her nervous, and she bit into that sexy as hell lip; I almost let the overwhelming
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