thrilled you’re getting out there again. A night out on the town with a handsome guy is just what the doctor ordered.”
“It does feel nice to relax for one night and just be...me. Not mommy, you know? God, that sounds selfish.” She was suddenly conscious of whether the other women in the restroom were listening. Judging her.
“No, it doesn’t. You’re an amazing mother. You deserve to have some fun. Tonight is about you. Have a blast. Call me in the morning by ten, so I know you’re okay. I’ll take you to a belated birthday lunch tomorrow.”
“Sounds good. I’ll call you when I get home. Tonight.”
Maya ended the call and inhaled deeply, hardly able to believe she was going out with a man she’d just met. She’d been struggling lately with a stifling feeling of suffocation. Her life was the same song playing endlessly on repeat. She’d been trying her best to suppress a growing desire to do something different. Unexpected. A bit naughty even. Maybe ignoring the feeling wasn’t the answer. Maybe what she needed was to get it out of her system once and for all. With Liam.
No. No, that’s ridiculous. Insane. I can’t.
She took out her lip gloss—a pale, barely there pink—and reapplied. She’d insisted there would be no sex, and that was best. So why was there a flutter low in her belly at the mere possibility of it?
* * *
Visions of Maya Alvarez naked in his bed flooded Liam’s brain. He wanted her. Needed those heart-stopping curves beneath him as he reached his pinnacle. To hear her call his name in that adorable accent she reverted to occasionally. And he wanted her to want him, too. To plead for it.
His eyes traveled the length of her body as she approached the table. He outlined her shapely figure, staking his claim and mapping the trail his tongue would take along her skin. “I was beginning to think you’d slipped out the back door.”
“Why? Does that happen to you a lot?”
He laughed. “Define a lot.”
“Oh God.” She swept a loose curl behind her ear, lines crinkling around her dark eyes. “What on earth have I gotten myself into?”
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.
