Page 22 of Believing in You
Yet, he was doing it anyway.
For me.
Chapter Eleven
He did it.
He performed for two hours, and Harrison felt as if he could take on the world. It didn’t hurt that he had received a standing ovation, something he never thought he’d experience again.
But it was the intense adrenaline rush coursing through his veins that had him feeling as if he’d tackled and conquered Mount Kilimanjaro. Like nothing was impossible, and he planned to ride this feeling for as long as possible.
When he exited the stage, he spotted Nyla standing in the shadows against a nearby wall. The lights were dim in the hallway, but he could still make out everything about her, including her usual—wearing rings on every finger. But it was her outfit that had him licking his lips.
He’d been shocked earlier to see her in a suit, specifically the jacket that brought attention to her luscious breasts and her narrow waist. But it was the red satin peeking from behind the jacket that had all the blood in his brain rushing lower. She looked hella good and sexier than he’d ever seen her before.
That’s why he hadn’t been able to resist kissing her. Well, part of the reason. The other reason had been that he’d missed her. He missed her like crazy.
He had finally come to a decision that he could no longer fight. He wanted Nyla in his life. What that would look like, he wasn’t sure yet. All he knew was that he needed to start living in the present. That included getting to know Nyla on a different level. Jamie’s phone call hours ago, telling him that Nyla needed him had been just the push he’d needed.
“Hi,” Nyla said and shoved away from the wall.
Harrison smiled. The phrasesight for sore eyesrushed through his mind because, all the while on stage, he looked forward to being near her again.
“Hey,” he said, but as she moved closer, his smile dropped and concern clawed through him. “What’s wrong?”
Normally when he saw her, her pretty brown eyes held a spark of mischief or wonder. Not tonight. Though her smile was still in place, it didn’t reach her eyes, and the light that usually shone brightly through them was gone.
Needing to touch her, Harrison set his instrument cases down and reached for her hand. He was glad she allowed him to pull her close and when he did, he wrapped his arms around her. Without a word, Nyla snuggled against him, holding on tightly.
“Are you feeling okay?” he asked, loving the way she melted into him, her head resting against his chest.
She fit so perfectly in his arms. It was as if her body was made for him, and he didn’t want to let go.
He placed a kiss against the side of her forehead. “Talk to me,” he said, feeling like a hypocrite since he’d put off talking to her. “Are you okay?”
After a slight hesitation, she said, “It’s been a long, shitty day, and I’m tired.”
She took so long to say anything else, he didn’t think she would continue, until she lifted her head and looked at him.
“You’re very handsome with your glasses on, but without them, you’re downrighthot.”
Stunned by her words, Harrison sputtered a laugh. “Umm…thank you?”
She grinned and some of her sparkle was back, but she still looked worn out. “Besides paying you, I don’t know how I’ll ever be able to thank you for filling in tonight, especially at the last minute. You were spectacular out there.”
“First of all, you don’t have to pay me. I’m glad I could help. Secondly, it was fun, and that’s something I thought I’d never say again about being on stage. Technically, I should be thanking you.”
She gave a sad smile and eased out of his hold. “I don’t know the details about why you stopped playing but just know that you’re welcome on our stage anytime. I mean that, Harrison. Anytime you want to flex your musical talents in front of a crowd, or if you just want to hang around other musicians, you’re more than welcome here.”
He nodded. As long as he didn’t think about the number of people in the audience, or that someone could be posting his act on social media, he might take her up on her offer. He never, ever, wanted to see his face or name splashed on any media outlet. While on stage, he had gotten so lost in his music that hadn’t been a concern. The experience tonight felt like old times.
“Thanks,” he said. “I’ll keep that in mind. In the meantime, do you have to lock up tonight?” He had an idea, and he wanted to present it before he chickened out.
“No. Gordon, the owner, is here and agreed to lock up.” She suddenly closed her eyes and rubbed her temples.
“Headache?”
“Yeah, it’s been bothering me off and on all day. I’m sure once I get home and relax a little, it’ll go away. It’s just been one of those days. Anything that could go wrong, did. I’m just…done.”
