Page 7 of Secrets & Desires
“Unless you’re going for some kind of weird Stockhausen thing,” a voice behind her said, “I’m guessing you’re having anoff-day.”
Livia turned to smile at her tutor. In the few months she had been at the college, her tutor, Charvi Sood, had become more than just a teacher to her. The two women had bonded over their love of jazz, of Monk, Parker, Davis, and to Charvi’s delight, their mutual admiration for Judy Carmichael, the reason Livia had fallen in love with the genre. Listening to Carmichael’s radio shows when she was living at home with her father, her headphones plugged in to dull the sound of her father shouting drunkenly at the television, she had used the genre as her way to transport herself out of the San Diego heat and here to NewOrleans.
Charvi put down the stack of scores she had in her hand and peered over her glasses at her young student. “You okay? You’ve been in here practicing all week. Youcanrest, you know. It may be your Master’s degree, but rest is vital forbrainpower.”
Livia smiled at her. “I know. I’m trying to distract myself from thinking about a boy. It’s veryannoying.”
Charvi laughed, shaking her head. “It happens to the best of us. Want toshare?”
Livia picked out a tune with her forefinger. “It’s embarrassing. He’s way out of myleagueand—”
“Let me stop you there, young lady.No oneis out of yourleague.”
Livia sighed. “It’s NoxRenaud.”
That stopped Charvi. “Ah. Well, I would say the problem there isn’t that you’re out of his league, it’s that he’s NoxRenaud.”
Livia looked at her friend curiously. “Youknowhim?”
“I knew his mother. I’ve met Nox a few times. He’s…an enigma. At least if you believe thegossip.”
“He has the saddest eyes I’ve ever seen and he seemed so sweet. Lonely, but sweet. Nice. God, nice is such a bland thing to say, but he was friendly andwarmand…”
“You have an enormous crushonhim.”
Livia shrugged. “Yes, but it doesn’t matter. It’s not like we run in the same circles. Forget I saidanything.”
Charvi smiled. “Well now, let’s channel that desire into your playing. Give me something slow and sensual. And make it up as you go along. Think about Mr. Renaud and let your fingers move across thekeyboard.”
At first Livia was embarrassed, feeling exposed, but as her fingers stroked the keys she began to find a melody. She closed her eyes and thought about the feeling of him trailing his finger across her cheek, the scent of his skin, the ocean-green color of his eyes. She played a melody so sweet she wanted to cry, and when she finished and opened her eyes, she felt her faceburnred.
“Wow, you have it bad,” Charvi teased her and held up her phone. “It needs work, but there’s something there. I’ve recorded it and I’ll email it to you. Your homework is to score it and mould it into a piece you can perform at the end of semesterrecital.”
Livia gaped at her. “Are you kidding me?” She felt panicky at revealing something so personal to an audience. But Charvinodded.
“I’m deadly serious. That was the most connected I’ve ever seen you with your piano, Liv.” She checked her watch. “And I have a seminar. Work on it Liv, and I swear you’ll see whatImean.”
Left alone, Livia checked her laptop. Charvi had indeed emailed her the MP3 and as Liv played it back, she realized therewassomething there. She grabbed some blank score paper and began towrite.
Nox lookedup as Sandor knocked on the doorjamb. “Hey.”
Sandor grinned. “You still working? Dude, it’s Friday night. Let’s go out and havedrinks.”
Nox chuckled. “I would, but I’m waiting on a call from Italy. Haven’t you gotadate?”
Sandor shrugged. “She blew me off. I’m kind of relieved, to be honest. I’m getting too old to be dating a different pretty girleachweek.”
“My heart bleeds for you. So, I’m your consolationprize?”
Sandor grinned. “Yup. Grab your cell phone and take the call on that. We’re goingdrinking.”
Nox hesitated. “Alright, but let’s go to the FrenchQuarter.”
“Wanna mix with the tourists? Comeonthen.”
An hourand two shots of bourbon later, Nox relaxed back into his seat and glanced around the bar. He hadn’t told Sandor that the bar he’d chosen was across the street from Marcel Pessou’s restaurant—or that ever since they’d gotten here, Nox had been looking for any sign of Livia. He hadn’t had one night of peace since he’dmether.
The feel of her soft skin, her huge chocolate brown eyes, the way her tawny hair fell in messy waves over her shoulders, it all haunted him. The faint flush of pink when he’d touched her face. He’d been so close to kissing her—which would have beenentirelyinappropriate. But, god, the feelings he had thought he’d never feel again were whirling and thrashing through him like astorm.
