“Adopted.” It wasn’t a secret, though we didn’t go around screaming about it. “Before you say anything else, this…” I gestured between us. “Ends now.”
Amusement slid across his infuriatingly perfect face. “What’s this?”
“The flirting. It’s unprofessional.”
“I’m afraid flirting is part of my nature, darling.”
Ugh. It should be illegal for any word to sound as delicious as darling did in Asher’s deep, silky voice.
“Well, change it or suppress it.”
“That’s not how nature works.”
“It is at RAB.” I spotted my salvation at the end of the hall. “Carina! There you are.” I sped up my pace. Finally, someone who could act as a buffer. “I was looking for you.”
She glanced up from the sheaf of papers in her hands. “You were? I mean, of course you were.” Her eyes fell on Asher, and I swore I heard a dreamy sigh. Oh, no. Not you too. “Hi.”
“Hey.” His grin could only be described as panty-melting. “I saw you at the pub last week with Scarlett, right? I’m Asher.”
He held out his hand, which she grabbed with far too much enthusiasm. “Carina. It’s so nice to officially meet you. I’m a huge fan.”
Asher upped the wattage of his smile. “Thanks. Perhaps you can help convince Scarlett I’m not the devil then?” He dropped his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I don’t think she likes me very much.”
“Oh, she doesn’t like anyone very much, but don’t worry. She’ll come around. Eventually.”
“Excuse me.” I crossed my arms. “I’m standing right here.”
“Yes, I know,” my traitor of a friend said. She tacked one of the papers to the bulletin board. “Let me finish putting this up, then we can leave.”
Asher examined the sheet. “‘Staff showcase auditions,’” he read aloud. “‘This year’s featured performance will be Lorena.’ I’ve never heard of that ballet.”
“It’s a newer piece,” Carina explained. “Contemporary, not classic.”
“Which role are you auditioning for?” he asked me. “I’d love to see you onstage. Show me how the professionals do it.”
This time, even his smile wasn’t enough to unknot the twist in my gut.
“None,” I said. “I don’t participate in showcases.”
“Why not?”
“Because.” I avoided Carina’s sympathetic stare. Besides Vincent, she was the only person who knew my hang-ups around performing. “I don’t have time.”
“The showcase is a lot of work,” she added, backing me up. “Staff participation isn’t mandatory.”
“That’s too bad.” Asher appeared genuinely disappointed.
He wasn’t the only one. If I could snap my fingers and get one wish, I’d wish for the ability to dance onstage again, but life didn’t work that way.
“We have to go, or we’ll miss our train.” I hooked my arm through Carina’s and dragged her down the hall before he drew us deeper into conversation. “I’ll see you Wednesday for our next session,” I added, glancing back over my shoulder.
His mouth tilted up like he knew exactly why I was rushing off. “Looking forward to it, Scarlett.”
A breathless shiver slipped down my spine.
If the way he said darling was illegal, the velvety intimacy with which he uttered my name was downright sinful.
I didn’t look back, but the warmth of his gaze lingered long after we’d turned the corner.
“Wow,” Carina said once we were out of earshot.
She didn’t have to elaborate.
For better or worse, I knew exactly what she meant.
CHAPTER 5ASHER
Mystery Girl was Scarlett.
Scarlett was Vincent’s sister.
Vincent’s sister was our new trainer.
I’d had two days to wrap my head around those mindfucks, and I still couldn’t pinpoint how I felt about them.
Scarlett was nothing like how I’d imagined Vincent’s sister would be. She was quieter, wittier, and pricklier in the most charming way. I’d shown up at RAB on Monday, prepared to tolerate her at best, and now I found out the girl I couldn’t stop thinking about was related to my biggest rival.
