Songbird (Songbird, #1) (21 page)

Now it was my turn to grip Riley’s hand as tightly as possible. Every muscle in his body tensed as he fought to contain his anger. I knew as well as he did that if there were a fight it would affect Riley’s career, so I needed to step in.

“Only problem is, Patrick,” I spat out his name like it was poison, then squeezed Riley’s hand, “it takes two to tango, and I have no intention of ‘dancing’ with you. I do, however, plan on ‘dancing’ as much as possible with your brother.”

I turned to Riley. He was holding his breath, ready to pounce. “Can we go inside please, babe? I’m getting a little chilly.”

He broke his stare and looked down at me, then nodded and led me through the glass doors back into the ballroom.

“Every time I see him it reminds me how much like our father he is in every way, and how much I fucking hate both of them.”

“Where have you two been?” Cooper asked with a cheeky grin and a wink.

“We went to find that broom cupboard you mentioned earlier,” I joked, trying to get the evening back on track so we could enjoy ourselves. But the other guys at the table were looking at Riley, his face still rigid with anger, their faces clearly scripted with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

“What’s up, Irish?” Bear asked, studying Riley’s face.

Riley shook his head and didn’t answer, so I did.

“We were just talking to his brother, Patrick,” I replied pointedly.

The guy’s faces dropped; obviously they all knew who Patrick was, and the sordid details of the love triangle.

“Where is the fucker?” Bear asked as both he and Cooper stood up, looking around.

“Don’t do anything stupid, Bear. He’s not worth the trouble.” Riley was finally speaking again as his anger slightly waned.

“I could collar him without anyone knowing.” Bear was still looking around.

“I’ll keep look out,” Cooper said, scanning the crowd. “No one fucks with our family.”

Riley finally relaxed again and smiled. “No, please don’t do anything. Besides, Tara sorted him out.”

He looked at me admiringly before managing to quip, “I’d like to
dance
with you too.” So he had picked up on my innuendo. My cheeks turned hot, and he chuckled. “There’s that adorable blush again.”

“Okay, well you two go and dance then, and we’ll do a circuit of the room.” Cooper seriously wanted to kick some butt, but his reference to us dancing made me laugh.

Riley looked at me and started laughing too, sharing our private joke, and the final threads of tension were gone.

“H
EY, YOU’RE
Tara O’Connell, right?”

Looking up, I saw the cellist standing slightly behind my chair, beaming excitedly down at me.

“Yes, that’s right.” I smiled as warmly as possible, considering I still couldn’t remember where I knew this guy from.

He laughed nervously. “You probably don’t remember me; we went to the same school. My name’s Jayden Conroy. People call me Jay. I was a year under you. We all worshipped you.” He blushed as his mouth ran away from him. “Your playing, I mean, we worshipped your playing.”

I stifled my chuckle at his faux pas. “I thought you looked familiar. It’s good to see you and hear you play. The band sounds great.”

Riley was watching our exchange with an amused look on his face, before subtly clearing his throat.

“Jay, this is my … boyfriend, Riley Hammond.”

I looked at Riley, not sure if I had overstepped the mark, but he positively beamed at me before turning his attention to Jay.

“Nice to meet you, Jay.” They shook hands politely. “So you went to school with my girlfriend,” he said, smiling again and casting me a quick sideways glance, obviously enjoying the new terminology, “and you worshipped her, did you say?” He raised one eyebrow.

“Ah, yes, her playing,” Jay responded nervously. “Tara was one of the most naturally gifted musicians to graduate, everyone knew she would do great things in the future.” He turned to me. “So who are you playing with?”

“No one right now. I stopped playing a little while ago actually,” I confessed sadly.

“But she’s going to take it up again, aren’t you?” Riley added, looking at me pointedly, “because someone as gifted as you obviously are, should be following their passion.”

I gave Riley a sly smile. Yes, I would take it up again, even if it were only for my own enjoyment, because it was my passion.

Jay chatted on excitedly before it eventually dawned on me that I did in fact know him, not as a cellist but as a very good violinist, and Riley seeing that I did finally recognise him, moved over to let Jay take his seat.

We gossiped animatedly for about twenty minutes and in between, “you’re joking,” and “she didn’t,” or “no way,” I was caught up on all my old classmates who Jay had either kept in touch with, or had a friend of a friend who did.

It was as if I had blocked that whole part of my life out, yet there was this gaping hole in my soul where it used to be. As Jay talked about old friends, most of whom were still playing, which I envied incredibly, some in small bands like Jay, right through to the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and overseas, the hole in my soul deepened.

After about half an hour, the emcee announced that the charity auction was about to start. Jay excused himself. “Part of being an army brat,” he joked. “My dad got my band the gig, but I also have to help out wherever he says.” He stood and made his way over to the stage.

“Fuck me! Did he say his name was Jayden Conroy? Like, General Conroy? That’s his dad?” Tech was staring, mouth gaping.

“I guess so. Why?” I asked, not sure what the big deal was.

“Because he’s a fucking legend, and his son worships you!”

We perused the list of items up for auction. There was everything from tickets to sporting events, to holidays interstate and overseas, to various items of furniture. Riley and I leaned in together, pointing to different items that caught our interest.

“Is there anything you want to bid on?” I asked.

Riley pointed to the holiday for two to Fiji and smiled at me. “Would you like a tropical island holiday?”

I read the description; five nights at a five-star spa resort with all meals and beverages included, and of course return airfares thrown in, valued at $7,500.

I nodded eagerly and he laughed. “Okay, let’s go for that.” He kissed my cheek softly before whispering in my ear, “It would be good to get you to myself for a few days.”

The auction started and they worked their way down the list. Jay was holding up the smaller items for people to see, and pointing out the larger ones that were placed around the stage. Everyone was getting into the spirit of the occasion, the money going to families of fallen soldiers who were finding life difficult after losing their loved ones.

Next up was our holiday. The excitement gripped the pit of my stomach and I clutched onto Riley’s hand in anticipation. The bidding was low to start with, and Riley stayed calm as he raised his number placard to place each bid, but there were other people who wanted the holiday and the dollars started climbing. By the time it reached $3,650 there were only three bidders left, and Riley was one of them.

I looked around to see who else was bidding. There was an older couple who looked like they had plenty of money, and a younger couple who discussed every bid like it could be their last.

I leaned in to Riley. “What’s your limit?”

“As much as it takes.” He smiled, obviously enjoying the process.

The bid was with Riley at $4,250. The younger couple, after discussing between themselves whether to continue or not, shook their heads and dropped out. Now it was only us and the older couple. I looked over at them and they were watching us, sizing us up. I smiled at them pleadingly and the wife smiled back at me, then leaned in to her husband to whisper something in his ear. They shook their heads and bowed out of the bidding.

The auctioneer knocked down the prize and our table erupted with cheers. We were going to Fiji!

I hugged Riley excitedly.

“Thanks for giving me my hand back.” He laughed.

I hadn’t realised that I had been squeezing his hand so tightly that it was red, so I gently kissed his fingers to sooth them. He watched me, eyes scorching as my kisses became more tender and lingering. I looked up at him from under my lashes, enjoying the effect I was having on him. I could see his chest rising and falling as his breathing increased along with my affection.

“The next item is very special,” the auctioneer announced somewhere in the background, but I wasn’t really listening. “It’s a Steinway baby grand piano which was a late addition to the auction, kindly donated by Reynold’s Music World, and is valued at $15,000.”

I stopped mid kiss and sat bolt upright. Riley looked at me, and then turned his attention to the stage.

The piano was a beautiful gloss black, its keys pristine ivory and ebony, and it made my heart skip a beat just to look at it.

Riley took my hand and squeezed gently. “Steady there, I don’t think it will fit in your apartment.”

I looked into his eyes and he looked deep into my soul. “I know; I get it.” He kissed my hand. “If I could buy it for you I would, you know that.”

Jay stepped up to the auctioneer, said something in his ear, and then indicated to me, smiling.

Oh no. What was going on?

“I believe we have a very talented pianist with us tonight. Perhaps she will play this beautiful piano for us, for a small donation?” The auctioneer was smiling widely at me like he thought he’d just struck gold.

I, on the other hand, was shaking my head so hard from side to side that I thought it might actually fall off.

“I’ll donate $100 if she plays!”

I spun around to look at Cooper, who still had his hand in the air, and punched him hard in the stomach. Bear and Tech both stuck their hands up too, clearly not recognising the sheer panic that was gripping me.

I felt like I was going to hyperventilate and pass out. I couldn’t catch my breath.

“Just breathe,” Riley whispered to me. “In and out, just breathe.”

Shaking my head at him, he saw the distress on my face.

“I can tell them you can’t do it. There’s no shame in it.”

But there were now other people who I didn’t even know volunteering to donate $20 here, $50 there.