Page 4 of Vinny

Long, thick, dark hair that curled down her back. A porcelain, heart-shaped face, eyes closed as though in prayer as her fingers nimbly moved quickly across the strings. Her slim body encased in a sky blue evening gown, setting her apart from the others dressed in all black.

The tones moved through him as no other music had in years—not forcing him to remember a time of sand and death, but taking him to a place of respite and peace. Entranced, he watched her face in quiet repose as her fingers connected to his soul. The last time he allowed his being to be carried away by the enchantment of the music…Nope, not going there.Shaking himself out of his reverie, he tore his eyes away from the beautiful harpist and gazed across the rest of the orchestra wondering who he would be escorting back to Richmond.

Gordon touched his arm and Vinny followed the man to a hall backstage. Multiple doors opened into the hall, but they headed to one near the far end. “They’re on the last song. After they take their bows, the orchestra will release and I will have Ms. O’Brian’s manager bring her straight back here.”

The agent left the room, leaving Vinny in the small space looking around. A small settee was against one wall, with a chair facing the mirror on the other. Agarment bag hung on a hook on the wall and a cosmetic travel bag sat on the floor nearby. Hearing voices coming down the hall, he straightened, awaiting to meet his mission.

Annalissa O’Brian was being pushed along with the crowd as usual. She hated being bounced around and wished for the umpteenth time that she were taller…or bigger.Then I’d push back, she thought. Todd Levine, her manager, on one side and Gordon Fisher, her agent, on the other. Both talking to her at the same time, trying to move her through the crowd toward her room.

Finally bursting through the door, she was propelled forward.

“You were fabulous, darling,” Todd was saying. “I told you this concert would take you places.”

“Todd, I don’t care about going pla—” she tried to interject.

“Of course you do,” Gordon interrupted. “Todd, we need to talk tomorrow to see what we can get set up next.”

“I’m thinking a trip to Chicago, then possibly Dallas. See what you can get worked up.”

“Annalissa, what a show. Honey, you look marvelous and your playing? Oh my God, I absolutely cried,” came the voice of her hair stylist, Parker, behind her.

Sharon barged into the room, grabbing the cosmetic bag. “I knew your makeup would hold up under those hot lights. I’m telling you, I know my shit.”

“Gordon, I want you to check on the Hall in New York. See what they have next year,” Todd’s voice cut over the cacophony of others.

“Sirs, are you ready to allow any of the VIPs to have entrance to Ms. O’Brian?”

The room grew small and Annalissa could feel the noose tightening around her neck. Closing her eyes, she tried to block out the sounds, but could feel her breath coming in spurts. Everyone was speaking at once and she could feel the panic rising.Please, not now. Don’t let me fall apart now.She had suffered from panic attacks for years, but only in unfamiliar crowds—never on the stage. Her father considered it a sign of weakness and she had tried to hide them for years.

Numerous hands came forward, all connected to voices clawing for her attention. Until one clear voice in the crowd spoke out.

“Quiet!” came the bark from…her eyes widened as she looked to see who had managed to shut everyone up. Her gaze landed on him. She had no idea who he was, but he looked like a god. Tall, muscular, with the bottom of a Celtic tattoo showing below the arm of his t-shirt. The only man in the room not dressed for a symphony concert and yet the only man in the room that appeared to be completely at ease with himself.

Blinking back the tears as they threatened to fall, she watched as the crowd parted instantly for him as he stalked over. Stopping directly in front of her, she leaned her head way back to hold his gaze. He bent down to whisper, “Breathe, darlin’.”

Gasping in air, she realized that she had indeed beenholding her breath. He took her hand in his much larger one, bringing it to his lips. A barely there kiss was placed on the back of her fingers and then he said, “Ms. O’Brian? It’s my honor to meet you. I’m Vincent. Vinny Malloy. And I’ll be your security escort back to Richmond.”

The room had grown strangely quiet, but before chaos could once again ensue, Vinny’s voice carried out. “I’ve just met Ms. O’Brian, but it’s obvious to me that she’s exhausted. As of this moment, she’s under my care and my protection. I and I alone will determine who may be let in to see her and when we will leave.”

Annalissa’s eyes darted around quickly, awaiting the uproar that was sure to follow. Todd’s mouth hung open while Gordon’s face grew red and his eyes narrowed. But she noticed he did not argue with the large man still holding her hand.Still holding my hand?Pulling her fingers out of his soft grip, she immediately felt regret at the loss of his touch.

Suddenly remembering the reason her father wanted to hire a security escort, she glanced around quickly, “Where’s Easnadh?”

Todd immediately answered, “The stage crew is bringing it here.”

Visibly relaxing, she turned her eyes once more to the man still standing a few inches away from her, a questioning look in his eyes.

Vinny had watched with curiosity as the group pushed through the door, all talking at once. Then stunned, he stared at the exquisite woman they were crowded around. The harpist. The Celtic beauty whose playing had him entranced just thirty minutes earlier.

Well played, Tony. No wonder you kept this one a secret,he thought, his eyes never leaving the woman. Expecting a diva personality, he was again stunned when she appeared to be completely overrun by the noise and confusion of her entourage. He watched her eyes, once again tightly closed, but this time as though trying to push out the uproar around her, then saw the tell-tale signs of her chin slightly wiggling, as she fought to keep from crying.

Before he knew what he was doing, he barked out, “Quiet!” and walked over to her. Her eyes flew open as they found his and they were…green. They drew him in as he reached to kiss her fingers. The same delicate fingers that played the most amazing music.

After almost falling apart, he watched as she suddenly came to life and with the only forcefulness he had seen from her, she questioned the whereabouts of someone named Easnadh. Hearing the response, he assumed that was the name of her harp.

She had pulled her hand away from his and he immediately missed her touch.Of course, the last thing she probably wants is someone holding her fingers in a grip that could crush them.

He had no idea why her father had requested an escort from Alvarez Agency and while he would have fulfilled his mission to the letter, from the moment shelooked up at him with trust in her eyes, he knew he would do anything and everything to ease her trip back. And if that included keeping her own entourage at bay, then he had no problem doing just that.

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