“Sophia.” Dee stopped her outside the rehearsal hall. She held a brown paper package wrapped in a bright silver bow out to her. “This was left at the door for you.”
Sophia eyed the package. “For me?”
“That’s what it says.” Dee tapped the handwritten note on the front. She winked at her. “It looks like you might have a secret admirer.”
She waited until Dee had bustled off before she opened the package. The handwritten note was taped to the top of a small box of chocolates.
The love of chocolate transcends all barriers.
- Chris
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Eddie locked the front door of the theatre behind the last patron. Already the Paradise Player volunteers were clearing away glasses and coffee and teacups from that night’s performance. The buzz was unanimous: Macbeth was a hit. It was ironic how the patrons crowding the theatre night after night had no idea of the chain of events the play had set off. Which reminded her, that she still hadn’t gotten a clear explanation on the witch’s curse and how the entire thing worked. That little detail had gotten lost in the shit tornado that had followed.
She did her check of the bathrooms, calling out before entering the men’s. It was the sort of thing you made sure to do after you’d made that mistake once. To this day, she didn’t know who’d gotten the nastier shock, her or the octogenarian still taking care of business.
Footsteps sounded behind her as she checked the stalls. The low hum of Shade’s presence was like a warm stroke against her senses. “I’m in here,” she called.
“I know,” Shade replied. “That’s why I’m here.”
She didn’t know what to make of where things stood between them at the moment. Shade didn’t sleep in her or Dee’s rooms. In fact, he’d taken a room in the local B&B, in the room beside hers according to Sophia. No surprise that the two women who ran the B&B were twisting themselves like air puppets to make sure he had everything he needed.
She knew he wasn’t using his lust thing on them because he’d promised her he wouldn’t. Shade was many things, but he wasn’t a liar.
He helped her check the final few stalls. “Lillian makes an amazing Lady Macbeth.”
“She does.” Eddie shared a smile with him. With all that had been going on, they weren’t alone together often since her recovery, and she found herself feeling shy and breathless around him.
After the men’s bathroom, she walked across the foyer to the women’s.
Shade followed her in.
No point in telling him he shouldn’t be here; there was nobody around. They completed the check in silence.
Back in the foyer, one of the younger volunteers batted her lashes at Shade. “Hi, Shade. Did you watch the show tonight?”
“From backstage.” He returned her smile.
She leaned closer to him, her cheeks flushed. “Wasn’t Lillian amazing?”
“Amazing,” he agreed and took the tray of glasses from her.
The girl giggled. “I can manage.”
“Of course you can,” Shade said. “But I’d like to anyway.”
“Oh, okay,” she breathed.
Even without him doing the lust thing, people were drawn to Shade. Matt got so tongue-tied around him, he barely managed much above the occasional syllable.
It would take a being with a strong sense of self to be his partner. Could that be her?
She strode into the servery and loaded glasses into the dishwasher. The volunteers did their best, but they often forgot that last load for the night. Eddie wanted to leave everything clean and ready for tomorrow’s matinee.
“Is that it?” A young volunteer poked her head around the servery door. Gaze locked on Shade, she said, “Because I can stay and finish if you like.”
“Thanks, Dana.” Eddie added detergent and turned the machine on. “We’re all done.”
Dana stared at Shade. “Are you sure?”
“Yup.” She turned and chivvied Shade out of the servery. “Thanks for tonight. We’ll see you tomorrow night.”
“Right.” Dana blinked at Shade.
Eddie snapped the light off. “Good night, then.”
“Yeah.” Dana shook her head and cleared her throat. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Then she whispered, “Good night, Shade.”
“Goodnight, Dana. Sleep well.”
“I promise I will,” Dana said and scurried away.
The poor girl was smitten. Eddie didn’t blame her, and she couldn’t fairly blame Shade either. He didn’t flirt with any of his fan club, but they remained fascinated.
“Have you always had that effect on humans?” She motioned with her head to the door Dana had disappeared through.
