Page 4 of Tempting the Player
Instead, strong arms catch my fall. My eyelids flutter open slowly as I float above the ground. The most beautiful hazel eyes I’ve ever seen stare down at me through thick lashes. Only the scowl on his face detracts from his handsome features.
The back of my head rests against his shoulder and I realize he’s holding most of my weight, but I’m not in any hurry to stand upright.
“It’s you,” I say, still locked onto his stunning eyes. His dark brows pull together, and his mouth is set in a straight line. His jawline is a work of art. He’s even hotter up close. Broodier, but hotter. “I mean, I recognize you. You run by my house every day. I’m Jane.”
He moves us so I’m standing on my own two feet instead of swooning in his arms, steadies me and then steps away. “Careful where you’re walking, Jane.”
The girl with the umbrella starts apologizing profusely. I give her my attention long enough to assure her I’m fine, and when I turn back to him, he’s already disappeared into the rain.
2
JANE
“You have to say yes,”my friend Eric says as he idly strums his guitar.
After my classes, I decided to swing by Eric’s house. He lives here with another guy, Lennon. The two of them, plus their friend Ted and Ted’s girlfriend, Mackenzie, have a band, The Letterman Jackets, that I sometimes jam with. I’ve even filled in for Mackenzie at a few shows when she was sick or had a conflict.
“Headlining the Spring Fling could open up more paying gigs for us,” Lennon says. He’s a senior computer science major who plays bass in the band and is the level-headed one of the group.
“They didn’t ask for the band.” Mackenzie takes a seat on the couch between Eric and Lennon. “They asked for Jane.”
Mackenzie has an amazing voice. It’s raspy and unique. She has a limited range, but more than enough style to make up for it.
I knew telling them could stir up some unease, but they already know that Paris has been hounding me since we got back from the holiday break. “I would never do it without you guys, but it doesn’t matter because I’m not doing it at all.”
Eric stops playing and looks up. “Why not?”
I squirm in my seat across from him. “We’ve been through this. I don’t have time to prepare for a show like that. We’d need twice as many songs as we usually do. Plus, some new material. We’ve been using the same setlist for the past year. And anyway, I’m taking a heavy course load this semester and trying to focus on that.”
Eric ignores my concerns. “Spring Fling is almost three months away. We have plenty of time.”
“We do?” Lennon asks.
The thing I don’t say, the thing I can’t say to these guys, is that I don’t want my first performance after revealing my identity to be singing the same cover songs we’ve been doing all over town. I want it to be bigger and better. I don’t have time to make sure every detail is perfect.
“You guys might, but I don’t. I’m taking French 2 this semester.” I stand and grab my backpack. “Speaking of, I need to get home.”
As I head to the door, Eric drops his guitar to the couch and follows me.
“We have a show this weekend. Will you sing with us?” he asks.
“What about Mackenzie? Did you run this by her?”
“She’s cool,” he says. “You can switch off songs or sing together.”
I laugh lightly. “I’ll take that as a no, you haven’t talked to her.”
His expression says it all. Mackenzie has always been really nice about me filling in for her, but joining them as another singer isn’t cool unless they’ve all talked about it and agreed.
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m not going to take songs from her or steal her spotlight.”
I open the front door and Eric grabs the side to hold it for me as I step outside. “Fine, but tell me you’ll at least think about the Spring Fling. You belong on stage, and we won’t let you down. French isn’t that hard. Get a tutor or something.”
I reach forward and hug him with one arm. “Thank you. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
His next response comes when I’m halfway down the sidewalk. “That wasn’t an answer, Greenfield.”
I lift one hand over my head without turning around.
