Sinful Desires Vol. 5 (8 page)

It hadn't been just the Michaels who had kept me and Julien’s relationship from being the headline society news. Reed had left for Europe a week after he and I had talked, and two weeks later, Rebecca had been named head of the marketing department, Reed’s old position. Within three months, she'd messed it up so much that the shareholders had stepped in and forced Rebecca out to save the rest of the company. The Stirlings had been furious, but that had been small compared to what had happened next. Less than a month after Rebecca's humiliating departure from her family's company, she'd been caught in a compromising position with a married man. And not just any married man, but the father of one of her high society friends. From what Anastascia had heard, Rebecca reputation was beyond tarnished. Yeah, karma could be a real bitch.

As for Reed, he was still in Europe. He'd sent me a picture of him in front of the Eiffel Tower back in April and had told me he was doing well. He said he was grateful I'd had the guts to do what he couldn't. Julien had heard that Reed's parents were trying to get him to come back and run the rest of the family business after the Rebecca disaster, but Reed was hardly taking their calls. I was happy to see he was sticking with his decision to be his own man. I really did wish him all the best.

After all, it was thanks to him that I was currently standing backstage in one of Philadelphia's most beautiful theaters, getting ready to take part in my first official production. Granted, it was only the chorus line for a new version of Phantom of the Opera, but it was still a part I'd been personal chosen to play. This wasn't some sort of recital for the dancers from Madam Emilana's. This was a legitimate production, with auditions and casting.

My time at Madam Emilana's was going better than I ever dreamed. I hadn't been able to perform in The Nutcracker thanks to my ankle, but she'd set up a private audition for me with her friend. After getting cast as a chorus girl, I started my individual lessons with her in January. We decided to move away from a ballet focus into more modern styles of dance as I realized where I wanted to go. At her suggestion, I'd begun taking voice and acting lessons with a goal of being on Broadway—not just as a background dancer but as one of the stars. The producer of Phantom had already promised me at least a few auditions for his future shows. After this past week of rehearsals, he'd taken me aside and said he wanted me to try out for a lead in an original piece he was working on.

I took a deep breath and cleared my head. I couldn't afford to be thinking of all that, not when I had a show to perform right here, right now.

The music began and my body took over. I followed the other girls out onto the stage, smiling at the bright lights and the audience I couldn't see. Somewhere in that audience, I knew, was Julien. Anastascia was there too, probably sitting next to my boyfriend chatting about her crush on the young man who played Raoul. I danced for them, the people who'd supported me through everything. I danced for Reed and the kids from the wrong sides of the tracks who would also benefit from the grant he'd set up. I danced for my mom, who'd sacrificed so much but had never gotten to see my dream become real.

By the time intermission came, I knew with absolute certainty that this was what I wanted to do with my life. It had been an idea—a dream—before, but now I knew I wanted it to be a reality. It wouldn't be easy, but I felt certain I could do it, especially with Julien and Anastascia in my corner. When I went back onstage in the second act, it was with a new purpose, to show everyone in the audience what I could do.

After the curtain call, I headed toward the dressing room with the rest of the chorus girls only to be stopped by the producer.

“You were amazing!” he gushed. “Absolutely mesmerizing!”

“Thank you.” My face was flushed with gratitude.

“My understudy for Meg just informed me that she's pregnant.”

Pregnant? I held my breath.

“Her doctor told her that she's high-risk and not allowed to dance.” He handed me a script. “I want you to be the new understudy.”

I stared at him. Meg wasn't a leading role, but she was a supporting character and had a song with the lead. “I-I...” Words failed me.

“I'll take that as a yes and a thank you.”

“Yes!” I blurted out. “And thank you!”

He beamed at me. “Excellent! We'll discuss more details on Monday during rehearsal. Enjoy the rest of your night.”

I was practically walking on air as I made my way through the chaotic backstage, smiling and exchanging compliments as I went. I barely registered a single face until I saw him standing outside the dressing room door.

Julien set the large bouquet of white roses down on a nearby chair as he embraced me, holding me tight.

“You were amazing,” he said. “I couldn’t take my eyes of you.”

His hands slid over the rough lace of my costume, heat blazing through the thin fabric. I shivered.

“Thank you.” I kissed his cheek. “And the roses are beautiful.”

He released me and reached into his pocket. “And they're not your only gift.”

I wasn't sure which I wanted to do first, share my news or open the present. Then I saw the way Julien's eyes were shining and decided the gift would come first. It was a small, flat box without any writing to tell me where it was from. I was still trying to decide if it was earrings or a necklace when I opened and saw it was neither.

A key.

I looked up at him, puzzled. I already had a key to his loft; he'd told me to keep his extra one when he'd asked me to run back to pick up something for a dinner at Anastascia's.

“A key to your loft?”

He picked up the key and showed me the ribbon he had tied through it.

I read the words written on the bit of lace. “'To my heart and our home.'” I stared at the words. “'Our'?”

“I want you to move in with me.” He tucked a few escaping tendrils of hair behind my ear. “I don't like us having to figure out whose place we're going to or thinking about whether or not we're spending the night. I want us to be together all the time. I want a home. With you.”

Tears welled in my eyes and I couldn't speak around the lump in my throat. He looked at me expectantly, wanting an answer I couldn't voice. Sometimes words aren’t necessary and I did the next best thing. I threw my arms around him and pressed my lips against his. The tears spilled over as we kissed and I could taste the salt on my tongue, but it wasn't bitter. These were tears of joy. After years of never knowing where I belonged, I finally had a home. My heart swelled with love and I moved my mouth to his ear.

“Take me home.”

He smiled down at me. “Gladly.”

- The End -

What’s next? Coming in November:

** Casual Encounter **

M
y wedding day was supposed to be the happiest day of my life. Instead, my heart was shattered into a million pieces.

When twenty-five year-old Aubree Gamble is left at the altar by her boyfriend of four years, she isn't sure where she's suppose to go from there.

Her friends try to help, suggesting everything from hiring a professional to setting her up on blind dates, telling her she needs a casual encounter to move on, forget all about her past love.

As things are about to go very wrong, a mysterious stranger comes to her rescue and Aubree thinks that he could be the one person who can help heal her broken heart. What she doesn't know is that her handsome hero isn't exactly the white knight she imagines.

Don't miss the first installment in the
Casual Encounter
series by best selling author M.S. Parker, coming November 10th.

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Acknowledgement

First, I would like to thank all of my readers. Without you, my books would not exist. I truly appreciate each and every one of you.

A big “thanks” goes out to all my Facebook fans, street team, beta readers, and advanced reviewers. You are a HUGE part of the success of my series.

I have to thank my PA, Shannon Hunt. Without you my life would be a complete and utter mess. Also a big thank you goes out to my editor Lynette and my wonderful cover designer, Sinisa. You make my ideas and writing look so good.

About The Author

M. S. Parker is a USA Today Bestselling author and the author of the Erotic Romance series, Club Privè and Chasing Perfection.

Living in Southern California, she enjoys sitting by the pool with her laptop writing on her next spicy romance.

Growing up all she wanted to be was a dancer, actor or author. So far only the latter has come true but M. S. Parker hasn’t retired her dancing shoes just yet. She is still waiting for the call for her to appear on Dancing With The Stars.

When M. S. isn't writing, she can usually be found reading– oops, scratch that! She is always writing. ☺