Page 18 of Two Hearts' Subterfuge

“What’s going on, guys?” Mom asked. “Why are all of you here watching the show instead of preparing for the awards ceremony?”

“We’re all trying to figure that out,” Eve answered. “Joanie told Ben that we should watch the performance but wouldn’t tell us why.”

“And all of us are just curious enough to try to find out what’s going on,” Ben muttered, holding up a staying hand. “I know what you’re going to ask Mom. And Joanie was reassuring. Supposedly, whatever it is we’re waiting for is something good.”

They sat back as the two performers appeared, backlit by a blue smokey haze, and sang a slow sultry duet which must have been one of their trademark songs.

“They’re really good. Aren’t they?” Ben asked softly.

“Yes. Sexy too,” Eve admitted, waggling her brows. “They dominate the stage when they dance.”

“That’s something new that they’ve added since I saw them last,” Dad confessed.

“Maybe they felt like they needed an additional routine since they’re performing with some of our musicians and not their regular backup band,” Mom said.

Eventually, the atmosphere changed. Marc sat with his guitar, with Desiree opposite, as they both began singing about Christmas.

After an upbeat rendition ofSilver Bells, Marc stood with his microphone. “Tonight, we have the honor of introducing a new up and coming vocalist who’s going to be performing a couple of Christmas songs.”

Suddenly, a silvery blue spotlight flooded over a lone figure standing in the middle of the stage, a microphone set up before her. Dressed in a clinging reddish-purple colored gown, with ash brown hair swept back from her face, the girl looked incredibly put together wearing just enough makeup to define huge soulful eyes.

“Who is she, Mom?” Eve asked. “Isn’t she lovely?”

“I don’t…” And then Mom went silent, seemingly staring at the stage in disbelief.

Marc continued, “Most of you, I’m sure, are very familiar with the other two famous performers in her family. I’d like to introduce Lara Loughlin. This will be her first appearance, but I’m sure it won’t be her last.”

“Holy sh…,”Ben started to broadcast loudly until Dad punched him with an elbow.

Dad was looking a little bewildered himself, which was kind of surprising. There wasn’t much that could ruffle Dad’s cool composure.

Marc took a seat with his guitar and began strumming the introduction forA Christmas Song.

And there it was, the voice Lara had been hiding for years, probably scared to have anyone else hear her sing because she didn’t sound like Mom.

No, it wasn’t a powerful voice. But what it was was unique, with a beautiful rich breathy undertone, perfectly in key. It was a voice that no one would ever forget once they heard it, no matter what she sang.

“Mom—can you believe her range? Why didn’t you tell me that my little sister had such a distinctive voice? Her tone is amazing,” Eve said, obviously mesmerized.

Ben studied Mom, who couldn’t seem to quit crying because seeing Lara like this was arelief.Mom was also someone who never seemed to lose her cool, so it was obvious that she’d been much more worried about Lara than she’d ever let on.

And geez his sister had some really great moves for such a scrawny little thing. Well, he supposed he’d better take that back. She didn’t look scrawny at all in what she was wearing. She looked…beautiful. Graceful.

Confident.

She was using her hands and eyes to connect with the audience, even more than Eve had ever seemed to do.

And when she finished, there was silence, before startlingly loud applause roared through the ballroom.

There was a word Ben had never once used in his life to describe anything or anyone. But it was appropriate to describe Lara as she stilled.

She glowed.

And then she began performing another Christmas song.

Momentarily, Ben’s eyes scanned the audience before he focused in on a familiar face.

It washer—the girl he’d been searching for all day. Her eyes were zoomed in on Lara, and she was smiling widely.

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