CHAPTER 9:
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

 

Zoe eased her bow over the last note and lowered her head. Silence filled the auditorium for several seconds and then clapping and accolades. She lifted her head and smiled. A strange sensation flowed through her and she glanced into the balconies, squinting against the stage lights. Of course, multitudes of colors assaulted her senses as she took in the auras of the audience. She usually refrained from looking into the crush of people so as not to become distracted, but just as she started to look away, she thought she saw a golden aura. When she blinked, it was gone. You've got to stop thinking about him. She stood for her bow.

She bowed again with the other musicians and the curtains closed, but reopened because of the enthusiasm of the audience. Keeping her eyes averted from the crowd, she bowed one last time before the curtains final closure. The imagined glimpse of the golden aura had made her sad and she blinked back tears while packing away her instrument.

Her fellow musicians came to congratulate her on a superb performance and she graciously accepted their heartfelt enthusiasm. Jose asked if she was going to join Hilliard and the party gang, and she declined. Walking backstage, she handed her instrument to the caretaker to be locked away, and then started toward the hallway to the back entrance. She intended to walk to her hotel since it was only across the street. She had stayed at the Casa de Madrid before and always enjoyed the lovely accommodations. She had just started down the hallway when she heard her name being called.

Turning, she smiled at Veta Jean, a cello player. "Hi Veta Jean, what's up?"

"There's someone asking for you, and since security wouldn't let him backstage and he was getting frustrated—but mostly because he's a 'hottie'—I decided to check him out. He asked that I find you and send you to the auditorium."

"Did he give his name?"

"Nope. I rushed away because I wanted to catch you before you left. I think you have an admirer…or a stalker. Of course, if you don't want him stalking you, you can tell him to stalk me." Veta Jean laughed.

Zoe shook her head. "Jeannie, you're a kick. I guess I'll go check out mystery man." She walked past her friend and turned toward the stairs leading to the auditorium. In her mind's eye, she saw the golden aura again. Naw, Davide wouldn’t be here.

She stepped beyond the two guards and into the magnificent room. A few people still milled about but she didn't see a "hot" guy among them. She turned toward her left and glanced at the far wall; nothing. She turned toward her right and scanned the people at the closer wall. Her heart jumped and then pumped itself into overdrive. A man surrounded by a golden aura leaned against a decorative column and his intent gaze heated her flesh. Her mouth dropped and Davide pushed away from the column. His crooked smile as he walked toward her made her belly do somersaults. No matter how much she'd tried to convince herself otherwise, she would never stop craving Davide Roth Beowolf.

"Hello, Zoe." The deep timbre of his voice turned her knees to mush. She hadn't seen him in two years and his masculine appeal had skyrocketed past the moon. Black hair, now cropped short, enhanced his angular bone structure and eyes the color of blue fire now looked her up and down. His half grin matured into a full one, showcasing beautiful teeth that resisted perfection because of a slightly crooked one. Because of his slight imperfection, Davide looked like a god made human. She longed to throw her arms around his neck and touch her lips to his ear, whispering how much she'd missed him, but instead, she said matter-of-factly, "Davide, what are you doing here?"

"I came to see you, of course, since you've forgotten me these past two years. No letters; not even a postcard. At least I wrote to you and left voicemails. Now you've missed my birthday two years in a row. What gives, Zoe?"

Zoe feigned a laugh. "I'm a world traveler. I can't just up and leave my job whenever I want."

"You've been a world traveler for years. It never stopped you before. Your excuse just doesn't wash and I'm going to get to the bottom of this sooner or later."

Over my dead body. Zoe changed the subject. "What did you think of tonight's performance?"

Davide's face softened and he leaned so close she could feel his breath. "Do you realize this is the first time I've heard you play violin. My God, Zoe, you're incredible. I felt like I'd died and gone to heaven."

Zoe blushed profusely. Not so much from his words, but from his nearness. If she turned her head slightly, her lips would touch his.

He straightened. "What hotel are you staying at?"

"Across the street at the Casa de Madrid."

"Excellent. I'm staying there myself. Let's walk over together. We can stop in the lounge for a drink and catch up on the past two years."

"Okay, sure."