Page 54 of His Fantasy Bride (Things To Do Before You Die)

Theresa had come along to give her some moral support. Gabby knew her friend was worried about her. She couldn’t cope with sympathy right now, but her acting abilities appeared to have deserted her for once—she was quite aware she was misery personified.

She decided to take her friend’s mind of the whole Vito farce and distract her with something else. “Did you know Luca asked me out?”

Theresa went still, her eyes widening. “On a date?”

“Yup.” She nodded and Theresa let out a little squeal of delight. She allowed her a moment of joy, then continued, “You know it’s never going to happen, right?”

Theresa wrinkled her nose. “Why? He’s obviously your type. And once you would have jumped at the chance.”

“I grew out of that particular crush a long time ago. The whole ‘best friend’s brother’ thing went to my head for a while.”

Theresa gave her a considering look. “And you thought it would really make you part of the family.” She gave her a quick hug. “But you are. You were from the moment your dad married Maria.”

“Maybe.”

“Nomaybeabout it. But perhaps you’re right about Luca. I don’t think I’d like to have to contemplate the two of you having sex. Ugh. Now go perform. The show must go on.”

She nodded. And at least out on stage she could forget everything for a while.

On her way to the dressing room, she met Phillip, the producer, and he stopped her with a hand on her arm. “Gabby, have you got a moment?”

She smiled—she liked Phillip, he was a good man to work for. “Of course.”

“You know the show’s moving to New York next month.”

“Yes.”

“Well, Sarah can’t come. Apparently, her husband doesn’t want her to. Crazy woman.” Sarah had one of the bigger parts in the show. Not the lead, but a lot of stage time. “I’d like you to take the part. We can start rehearsals tomorrow.”

“Wow.” She was amazed and a little confused. “Aren’t there others who’ve been with the show longer?”

He considered her for a moment. “You’re the best performer in the chorus line. Maybe the best in the show. You’ve just never pushed yourself for some reason. Well, now’s the time to decide if you want to make it in this business or not.”

“Thank you. I won’t let you down.”

At least it might take her mind off Vito and the mess of the rest of her life, and it would take her far away from him. Out of sight, out of mind. She didn’t really believe that, but it might make it a little easier, and maybe stop her from running after him and begging him to give her another chance.

She cleared her head of everything as she danced, throwing herself into the part. Had achieved a small measure of peace by intermission.

She glanced up as Theresa popped her head around the dressing room door then slipped into the room and came to stand beside her.

“Did you know he’s in the audience?”

“Who?”

“Vito D’Ascensio of course.”

Hope flared inside her, and she stamped it down.

“I saw him. He’s in one of the boxes to the right of the stage. All alone.”

Why had he come? Would he wait for her after the show?

The second half, she worked on autopilot, her attention straying to the audience, but she couldn’t see past the stage lights. Afterward, she changed quickly into jeans and a T-shirt and headed on out. Theresa was waiting for her outside the stage door. Gabby looked past her, searching the alley. She was one sad case.

“He’s not here.”

“I wasn’t expecting him to be.” But she knew that a part of her had hoped he would, if only to say good-bye. But really they’d already done that. Why prolong the pain?

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