Page 11 of Pervade London
“Diana Lucia Zane,” I said wistfully. “My mum took me to see her play the violin in London. I was twelve. I fell in love with the instrument that day and never looked back. Diana’s my idol. She’s from Vienna. Anyway, Mum and I went backstage afterward and I met her. Couldn’t say anything. I was too starstruck. She knew it, too. Diana took my hands in hers and stared into my eyes and announced, “You have the hands of a violinist.”
Xander remained quiet.
“Mum bought me a violin the following week and got me lessons. That concert changed my life.”
The way he stared at me caught me off guard. “What?”
“Which relative of yours is deaf?”
“Why?” I sat back, surprised.
“You lip read. It’s not that obvious. I see things most people don’t.”
“My mum.”
His eyes were filled with sympathy. He didn’t need to say anything—it was written on his face, his understanding that she’d never hear me play.“She encouraged you anyway.”
“She’s pretty special.”
“That doesn’t make you damaged.”
“She was protective. Like, super-obsessive about me going out, or making friends, or doing anything that would place me in danger.”
“Because she loves you.”
“The result is I have a penchant for danger now,” I said suggestively.
A rush of adrenaline hit me when he seemed to catch my drift.
He raised his glass in a toast. “Well, it benefited me so thank you, Em’s mum.”
Xander defused the sexual tension with a friendly smile.
I changed the subject. “She teaches, too…sign language to children.”
“Too?”
“I teach violin to kids.”
He looked impressed.
I headed for the door. “Good night.”
“Emily.”
I paused and looked over my shoulder.
“Thank you for this.”
His sincerity was the kindness I needed. It felt good to help someone. And I had the sense that he understood me. There was something comforting in that.
I left him to get settled and headed to my room and locked the door.
Letting a stranger sleep under the same roof wasn’t one of my better decisions, but somehow I felt like I would be able to rest better knowing I wasn’t alone.
The next morning, daybreak flooded into my bedroom and I blinked awake, realizing I’d taken the mother of all risks.And I wasn’t about to let my violin out of my sight again.
Wearing my pajamas, I made my way downstairs and pressed my ear to the sitting room door. Sounds of movement revealed Xander was awake. I knocked and then opened the door slightly to peer in. He was doing push-ups on the carpet and only wearing his boxers. He rose off the floor with lightning speed, his back muscles rippling as his biceps tightened. He’d gone from being my dark angel to a ripped God-like figure.
