Page 102 of Indiscreet

“I just want this to be the best it can be. We had a good first outing last year, but it’s the second year that really shows if you have staying power. AndDie Tote Stadtis a much harder sell thanCarmento begin with.”

“I’m sure it will be wonderful, love. Trust Noah. I have to run. I’ll see you at mom’s at six?”

“I’ll be there. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

The line went dead and Liam tucked the phone back in his pocket and sank down to sit on the deep window sill, his back to the cool glass. When they’d first moved to Rhode Island to be closer to Min’s family while she pursued her master’s in literature, he never would have imagined he’d be here now. The renovated mill building was the perfect home for his burgeoning young artist program, providing plenty of space for rehearsals and offices, and the repertory theater down the street was happy to loan out their auditorium for the few weeks each summer that they needed a stage to mount their productions.

This was the last day of auditions for the coming summer’s production, and he still didn’t have a Marietta. But Min was right – he trusted Noah. His best friend came up from New York each summer to run this program with him and he knew Noah’s standards were as high as his own. But ceding control was still a challenge.

The opening notes ofMarietta’s Liedfloated through the air from the audition room. Liam leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees and bracing himself for yet another lackluster rendition of the aria. None of the auditionees had been bad, per se. But none of them had lived up to the sound in his head.

The first few phrases of the aria were hard for him to make out through the closed door, but by the time the soprano hit that first glorious high note, Liam was on his feet.It can’t be. She would have told me.

He reached for the doorknob, stopping himself just shy of throwing open the door and confirming what he already knew. Instead, he took a steadying breath and pressed his forehead to the door, listening through the heavy wood to the web his wife was spinning on the other side, letting the reds and purples, as she called it, wash over him.

Min sang and everything inside Liam pulled tight, a coil of energy in need of release. This was a gift. They’d have the whole summer together – performing together – before she began her PhD program in the fall.Christ, I love this woman.

As the last notes of the aria dissipated and the murmur of voices within the room resumed, Liam took off down the hallway, walking the perimeter of the room until he found himself in front of the door on the opposite side of the room – the one Min would have used to enter without him seeing her. He waited, practically vibrating with the need to kiss her, to taste that music on her lips. She emerged a moment later, backing out and laughing that sparkling laugh as she said goodbye to his team. It wasn’t until she closed the door behind herself and turned to leave that she saw him there.

“Damn,” she said, the smile on her face in direct contrast to her words. “Noah was supposed to get you out of the building. I swear –”

He kissed her and she melted against him. “What are you playing at, contessa?” he rumbled. “You know every person in that room. That was no impartial audition.”

She ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing it back into place, and he twisted to kiss her wrist. “I wanted to audition for real. So they could turn me down if they had someone better for the part.” He couldn’t contain the growl that thundered through him at the idea of anyone being more perfect for that role. She raised an eyebrow at him. “This is exactly what I’m talking about. No one would dare criticize me in front of you.”

She bit her lip, her eyes softening, and his cock kicked behind his zipper.Fuck, how does she still do this to me? After all this time?

“Besides, I wanted to surprise you,” she said.

He kissed her again, rocking his pelvis against her just enough to let her know how much he enjoyed her surprise. She hummed and pulled away.

“Later,” she promised. “Go finish the auditions.”

“They’re done,” he said, dropping his hands to cup her ass.

“They are not,” she laughed. “Go finish the auditions. I’ll wait for you in your office.”

He growled again, pressing her hips against his erection. “On my desk,” he whispered in her ear. “Panties off.”

Min gave him a quick peck on the cheek and danced out of his reach, a wicked glint in her eye. “Oh, Liam, who said I have any on to begin with?”

“Contessa,” he warned.

She bit that lower lip again and he wanted to fall to his knees and worship her right there, lift up her pencil skirt and see if she was telling him the truth. Not that he doubted her, his little exhibitionist.

“Don’t make me wait too long, or I’ll have to start without you,” she teased as she walked down the hall, her hips swaying more than usual.

He watched the mesmerizing curve of her ass disappear around the corner, unable to contain his smile. He would never get enough.

The End