Out of the Shadow (35 page)

“
Nice to meet you,” Cole said, stiffly.

“
You, too,” the one Cole thought was Darcy said. “Lila said you boys sing.”

“
Not me,” Jamie said as he pointed at RJ and Cole. “They do.”

“
And what do you do?” the other blonde asked with a slow smile.

“
I carry their equipment,” Jamie quipped. He snatched the crumpled cup out of Cole’s hand and winked at the girls. “And fetch their drinks.” He disappeared into the house to the utter amazement of RJ and Cole.

“
What was that all about?” RJ asked.

Cole shrugged and they excused themselves in order to locate Jamie. They found him pouring cold beer into three plastic cups and they sidled up next to him.

“
I could not believe my ears or my eyes,” RJ said. “James Winston walked away from two pretty girls.”

Jamie sighed as he handed them their drinks. “I know, right?” He flashed a brief grin. “I guess it must have been what you said about the girl Ren was trying to ask out – the one who you said wouldn’t date him unless she knew he was in the band.”

“
What’s that got to do with anything?” Cole asked.

“
I’m just tired of that sort of thing. Girls at school coming up to me because I know you guys or because of who my dad is,” Jamie said, frustrated.

“
Dude.” RJ said, speechless.

“
Nah,” Jamie said with a ghost of a smile. He waved away their concerns. “It doesn’t really bother me because I’m just not ready for any sort of relationship. But I guess I just needed this – to get away from that situation at home.”

“
Are people still bothering you?” Cole asked.

“
Not like before, and I can handle it,” Jamie said. “I hang around mostly guys because of football and basketball and they don’t much care if they meet you or anything. Now Ally is another story. These girls constantly flock to her or shadow her and I think the stress is getting to her.”

Cole flinched slightly but recovered. “She hasn’t said anything to me, but of course I haven’t talked to her much.”

“
Me, either,” RJ concurred.

“
I know and she won’t,” Jamie said, jaw tightening. “She’s trying to just deal with it but her short fuse is almost gone.”

“
Cole,” Lila said in a soft voice as she entered the kitchen. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”

He rolled his eyes, set his drink on the counter, and followed Lila through the living room and down the hall.

***

Ally’s eyes sparkled as she gazed in wonder at the glimmering snowflakes suspended from the ceiling and clutched Robby’s arm tighter as they stepped into the elaborate manor. Strands of garland were draped over the large mantel of the stone fireplace, a warm fire crackling behind the screen. White lights twinkled from the leaves of each potted plant and candles flickered on each red clothed table. The lights were dimmed and the atmosphere was beyond romantic.

“
It’s beautiful,” she whispered to Robby. She smiled at him and allowed her eyes to race up and down his body. He was dressed in an immaculate black tux and his hair was combed a little neater than usual but still held traces of that boyish messy style he usually wore. “So are you.”

He chuckled, a hint of red touching his cheeks. “You are simply gorgeous.”

She ducked her head shyly. She was wearing one of her mother’s gowns – floor length navy blue velvet that clung to her waist and was held up with spaghetti straps. “Thanks,” she said, heat flooding her face.

A waiter approached them and offered a tray of champagne. Robby thanked him and took two flutes. He handed one to Ally as he ushered her around the room, discreetly pointing out certain people.

“
I’ve never been to the Oakwood Manor before, especially on New Year’s Eve,” she whispered. “I’ve always heard that it’s next to impossible to get tickets to this thing.”

He graced her with a dimpled smile and winked. “I have connections.”

She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. “You haven’t been in Chicago long enough to have connections.”

His smile widened and his dimples deepened. “Okay, so I have connections in L.A. that have connections in Chicago.”

She rolled her eyes at him and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I see. And who are these connections?”

“
I’ll never tell,” he said with a smirk. “Now come on, they’re seating everyone for dinner.”

He held her chair for her and her heart swirled. He sat close to her and the intimate setting only exacerbated the feelings that were growing inside her. The chemistry that had always crackled between her and Cole wasn’t present with Robby, but she assumed that was because Cole and Robby were two very different people. And their relationship was still in the fledgling stage.

The food was delicious and plentiful, if not a little too fancy for Ally’s taste, but she managed to finish and politely refused dessert.

A string quartet entertained the guests as they lingered over dinner and Ally watched them, mesmerized. Even though her father was a famous rock star, he still enjoyed other types of music and raised his children on classical, rock, country – every genre.

“
What do you think, should I sign them?” Robby asked, his lips close to her ear.

She stifled as shiver and smiled at him. “I don’t think they’re Redden Records material. But they are pretty good.”

The bus staff began clearing dishes while the wait staff tended to refills. Ally declined more champagne and opted for water with a wedge of lemon. She sat close to Robby and watched the other people – mostly politicians that she recognized from television. It was a very elaborate affair, not her sort of thing, usually, but she was determined to enjoy every second.

Once the dirty dishes were cleared, the band expanded, adding a piano player and an elderly drummer. They counted off quietly and started in on a catchy number that Ally didn’t recognize. A few of the older couples sauntered to the dance floor and began moving in time to the music.

Ally smiled, charmed at the love that still radiated between a particular couple who she estimated to be well in their seventies. She could imagine her parents acting the same exact way in their golden years.

When the band slowed down, Robby slipped his hand in hers. “Would you like to dance?”

She nodded. He escorted her to the dance floor, found a spot, and placed a careful hand on the small of her back. He held her other hand close to his heart and spun her lithely around the polished floor. She lifted a brow at him.

“
Pretty smooth, Mr. Redden,” she said, impressed.

“
Thanks, Miss Jones,” he said, pressing her closer. He brushed his lips over her forehead. “Have I told you how breathtaking you look?”

She rested a cheek on his chest. “Yes, but thank you.”

He chuckled and continued moving their bodies among the other dancers. She closed her eyes, a smile creeping across her lips. She didn’t care if it was frowned upon for her to be in such close contact with him in such a public place.

The song ended and he ushered her back to the table. “Are you having a good time?” he asked.

“
Yes,” she said, her eyes glowing. “Thank you for bringing me here.”

“
Thanks for coming,” he said. “But if you get bored, we can always go somewhere else.”

“
Okay,” she said. Her eyes drifted around the room and she spotted a set of French doors that led to a balcony. She straightened and grinned. “Let’s go get some air.”

“
Certainly,” he said. He held her hand as they crossed the room and stepped out into the brisk air. He wrapped an arm around her bare shoulders and they stood near the rail and gazed out on the brightly lit city.

“
It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” she asked.

“
Yes,” he agreed, moving behind her, rubbing her arms in an effort to create friction. He eased her back so that her body was resting against his. “And, I concede – Chicago is better than L.A.”

She turned in his arms, smiling. “Oh, and what changed your mind?”

His eyes darkened as he bent his head. “You,” he whispered and kissed her.

***

Cole wasn’t sure how it had happened – it was pretty much a blur. One minute, he was following Lila down a dark hallway and she was talking nonchalantly about the new CD they were planning on recording after the holidays, and the next minute, he was pushed against the wall with his arms wrapped around her waist, his lips crushed against hers.

Her hands wound in his hair, her body pressed against him, and she was kissing him back just as fervently. His hands roamed up her back, easing her even closer, as the pain in his heart cowered and momentarily disappeared.

She broke the kiss but kept her face ever so near his, her chest heaving. “Cole,” she smiled, trailing a finger down his jaw. “You’re hurting, I know.”

“
You don’t know,” he said, fighting to catch his breath.

“
Maybe not,” she smirked and brushed her lips across his. “I can make you forget about her.”

He closed his eyes and groaned, dropping his hands. “Lila, this is a mistake. I shouldn’t be doing this.”

“
Why not?” she asked, placing a hand on either side of his face and forcing him to look at her. “Huh? Do you think Ally is sitting home alone tonight? Do you think she’s crying over you?”

He jerked his head out of her grasp and gently eased her back. “It doesn’t matter what she’s doing, Lila. What matters is what I’m doing.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re doing nothing wrong.”

He managed a half-smile and held her hands. “Lila, I’m not ready for anything yet, okay? And I’m not the sort of person to use somebody just to get over someone else.”

She deflated as she squeezed his hands and kissed him softly. “You’re too good for her.”

He laughed sarcastically and jerked her to his chest. He dropped her hands and embraced her, kissing the top of her head. “I don’t know about all that but I do want to say that … this…has helped somehow. It’s flattering, even if it is wrong.”

She twined her arms around his neck. “I’m sorry if I came on a little too strong.”

“
Nah,” he said as he edged her away from his body. “No harm, no foul.”

She laughed and he kissed her again, a chaste kiss on her lips. “Do you want to go back to the party?” she asked.

“
Yeah, I better before my friends come looking for me,” he grinned.

She nodded and stepped away, straightening her blouse. She smiled shyly and for a second, he could see a warm person lurking behind the seductress she tried to portray. That prompted him to take her hand and lead her back to the kitchen where RJ and Jamie waited, questioning looks on their faces.

He lifted a sheepish shoulder, released Lila’s hand, and accepted a drink from Jamie. “So, did RJ win that bet with Ren yet?”

***

“
I can’t believe you wanted to leave the party before the countdown,” Robby said as they strolled down the snowy sidewalk, hand in hand.

She swung their hands as her eyes searched for a more animated spot to ring in the New Year. “I did enjoy the party, Robby, honest, and it was absolutely beautiful. But, I’d like to find a more appropriate place to count down.”