Читать книгу Playing With Desire - Reese Ryan - Страница 13

Chapter 3

Swan Lake was divine. Maya sat beside Liam, barely able to hold back the emotions evoked by the tragic, beautiful finale.

She sniffled and wiped the corner of her eye with the back of her finger, refusing to glance in his direction. They barely knew each other. No way she’d let him see her cry.

They were both on their feet applauding during the curtain call. Liam reached inside his jacket and handed her a handkerchief.

She accepted the offering. “I’m not crying.”

“Right. Figured it was allergies.”

The lights rose in the house and patrons made their way toward the exits. Liam placed a hand low on her back and guided her toward the stage, against the crush of the opening-night crowd.

“Isn’t the exit in the other direction?” She glanced back at him.

There was that damned smirk again. It was enticing, and so was he.

“It is. But, I have a surprise for you. How’d you like to meet Karina Alexandrova, the dancer who plays the Swan Queen?”

Maya halted, turning to face him. “You...you know her?”

“Friend of a friend and all that.”

“And it won’t be any trouble? She must be exhausted after her performance.”

“It’ll be fine. Promise.”

Butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She’d seen her first ballet that didn’t involve her daughters. Swan Lake, no less. Now, she was going to meet the principal ballerina of a highly acclaimed company. A rarity in Pleasure Cove. Liam had delivered on his promise of a memorable evening. But beside the elation at the prospect of meeting Karina, a growing sense of sadness lodged in her chest.

Her night with Liam was coming to an end.

* * *

They were escorted to Karina’s dressing room. She answered the door in the silk robe he’d given her after his trip to Japan two years ago. Her damp corn-silk blond hair hung in loose waves on her thin shoulders.

“Liam, how lovely to see you.” She leaned in and let him kiss her cheek before turning to Maya. “And who is this gorgeous creature?” The smile plastered on her face was nearly convincing.

Maya’s eyes widened like she was surprised the great Karina Alexandrova had deigned to acknowledge her. There was something about Maya that was refreshingly unpretentious. It was endearing.

She extended her hand. “Maya. Alvarez. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Alexandrova. Your performance tonight was brilliant.”

Karina’s tight smile relaxed into a more genuine one. No quicker way to the woman’s heart than to recognize her outstanding balletic skills. Even nearing the end of her career, no one could pull off double and triple fouettés with the skill, beauty and sheer will of Karina Alexandrova. “Thank you, Maya. And please, call me Karina. All my friends do. And any friend of Liam’s is certainly a friend of mine.” She shifted her gaze to him.

Liam nodded toward the roses on her dressing table. “I see you got the flowers.”

“Yes, and they are very beautiful. Thank you. You always know how to make a girl feel special.” Karina gave him a knowing grin, then turned back to his date. “Maya, have you ever been backstage at a performance?” Maya shook her head. “Then we must make this a special occasion. Several members of the company are having a small opening-night reception, if you’d like to meet some of the other dancers. Would you like that?”

Maya’s eyes danced. Utterly adorable. “I would.”

Karina opened the door and summoned a stagehand. She poked her head back inside the dressing room. “Gordo will walk you over to the reception. If you don’t mind, I need to borrow Liam for a moment or two. Then I’ll send him right over.”

Maya glanced at him, her brows furrowed. He nodded, his arms crossed as he leaned against a dressing table. “I’ll catch up with you shortly,” he said. A message meant for both Maya and Karina.

She smiled in response, then thanked Karina before following Gordo down the hall.

Karina locked the door, then stood with her back pressed against it. She pursed her lips and gave him that look. The one that always meant trouble.

“I wasn’t sure you’d come.” She inched closer, her gaze gliding down the length of his body.

“Neither was I. After all, the last time we saw each other you chucked a metal garbage can at my head. Only missed it by this much.” He held up his thumb and forefinger to demonstrate. “Forgive me if I was a little skeptical when you offered opening-night tickets for me and a guest. How’d you know I was here in Pleasure Cove? Last time we spoke I was still in LA.”

“A girl has her ways. And as for our little...misunderstanding, you know us ballerinas. We’re a temperamental lot.” She shrugged, a feigned look of innocence on her face. “I said I was sorry, didn’t I?”

Liam chuckled. “You did indeed. Thank you for the tickets. I was debating whether to use them when I discovered Maya had never been to the ballet. Seemed like fate.”

Karina stepped as close as his long legs, stretched out in front of him, would allow. Frustrated by the barrier he’d created between them, she folded her arms and pursed her lips. “I know I left you a guest ticket, but I hoped you’d come alone.”

“Still reigning queen of the mixed signal, I see.”

“I would think you’d understand them by now.” She pouted.

He did. In fact, before meeting Maya, he’d been debating whether to take Karina up on her offer. Doing so would’ve been a mistake. He realized that now. “Karina, you’re a talented, beautiful woman, and I adore you. But we’ve been down this road before, love. Time to stop bashing our heads against the wall.”

She turned her back to him and strode toward her dressing table on the other side of the room. Raising her eyes, she met the reflection of his gaze in the mirror.

“I was angry before, and I apologize for that. We agreed to an open relationship. Then I changed the rules. It was wrong of me. I realize that now.”

“Appreciate the apology.” His posture softened. “Doesn’t change the fact that you want more than I can give you. You deserve to be happy. I want that for you, but it’s not something I’m prepared to offer. Sorry, love.”

She crossed the room and stood in front of him again. “I don’t need anything more. I can be happy with things the way they were.”

“No, you can’t.” Liam stood. He gripped Karina’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “And we both know it.”

He walked to the door and unlocked it.

“What about Maya?” Karina’s voice was shaky. “Can you give her what she deserves?”

He slipped out of her dressing room without a response. It was a question best left unanswered.