“You never mentioned anything about… uh… this,” he waved his hand toward the stage, but his eyes were on her outfit.
Shrugging, she said, “This is one of the bands that I play with.”
“Just one?”
“You know about the orchestra and the string quartet. But yeah, this is another part of my musical life.” With her violin tucked under one arm, she pushed a long strand of wavy hair behind her ear, and her eyes darted around to the others standing nearby.
“I’ve got to tell you, your performance was fuckin’ magic,” Babs said, stepping closer with her hand lifted toward Christina. “I’m Babs. I’m one of Clay’s coworkers.”
“Oh, hello. I’m Christina.”
“She’s right,” Drew added, wrapping his arm around Babs. “Your music’s the shit.”
Her lips curved. “Thank you. I’ll tell the band… or you can tell them yourself. They love hearing how great they are, although to be honest, I don’t think their egos need stroking.”
Clay sent a glare toward the other Keepers and turned back to Christina. “Tiny?”
“You’re not the only one with short jokes. I have to put up with it from the guys in the band all the time.”
A bolt of jealousy shot through Clay at the realization she had more guys in her life than just the men in the orchestra, and he felt certain none of the men in the orchestra had groupies. His jaw tightened as he battled those feelings as well.
She glanced back up at him and licked her lips. “I get the feeling that you’re not too happy with me right now.”
“And that’s our cue to give them some privacy,” Nora said, pulling Tate backward. Clay was barely aware that the others followed suit, leaving him and Christina standing to the side by themselves.
His hands landed on his hips as he dropped his head and stared at his boots for a moment. Lifting his eyes, he held her gaze. “No, I’m not upset with you. I mean, your music up there was crazy good. I’ve never seen anything like that. It’s just… I guess I never really thought about you professionally in any other way than in the orchestra.”
They were silent for a moment. Finally, she sighed. “Do you remember how you told me your mother liked all kinds of different music?”
He snorted. “You’re gonna tell me this is the same thing.”
Nodding, she said, “Yeah. Kind of. I love the violin. I love the music it makes and the way it makes me feel when I play. I once played in a bluegrass band in college. I even filled in for a friend of mine with country music one time on a record demo. But it wasn’t until I took a trip to Ireland that I really fell in love with Celtic music. So, I divide my time. Yes, I can play Mozart with the Philharmonic and Gaelic music with this band.”
His gaze dropped from the top of her wild-haired head, black-lined eyes, and ruby-red lips down to her curves shown to perfection in her tank top and miniskirt, ending at her heeled boots. “Okay, I have to admit, you also look fuckin’ hot. How can you look so amazing in a black orchestra dress and in this outfit? Hell, both are a real turn-on.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “So, tell me, Clay, were you getting hard just watching me play up there and then felt guilty about cheating on me?”
Narrowing his eyes, he pretended to glare. “Busted.”
“Then I’m glad to know I can make you hot no matter what I’m wearing.”
“Tiny! Come on!”
Looking over her shoulder, she lifted her bow and waved toward Steven. Turning back to Clay, she said, “Are you going to stay for the rest of the set?”
“I wouldn’t be anywhere but right here.” Before she could walk away, he placed his hand on her waist and pulled her forward, bending to take her lips in a kiss. Part of him wondered if it would feel different. It wasn’t. Tiny was just his Christina.
“You okay, Tiny?” Steven asked as Christina made it back up onto the stage.
“Yeah, of course, I’m fine.” She hid the fact that when she first laid eyes on Clay in the audience, her heart had threatened to pound louder than Dunk’s drums. She had agonized over how to tell him about the group and suddenly, the choice was taken away from her.
“Hell, girl, you were standing over there with a bunch of hot guys. I know you can attract them, but what was up with that?” Dunk asked, his words slurring slightly.
“None of your business.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Dunk adopted a kicked puppy expression. “Sorry, guys. It’s actually the man I’ve been dating. I haven’t told him about any of my side gigs. He’s only seen me with the orchestra—”
Barking out a laugh, Dunk said, “He’s just now seeing you out of that old lady black dress and in this outfit? He had to think he’d hit pay dirt, Tiny!”
“Oh, shut up, Dunk,” she groused as he winked and twirled his drumsticks between his fingers.
Before she had a chance to say more, Steven walked up to the microphone. “Are you ready for more?”
The crowd roared.
“Then lift your drinks… it’s time for Whiskey in Me Tae!”
The shouts brought on the next song, and she glanced out toward Clay, seeing him smile. Heaving a sigh of relief, she was thrilled he wasn’t angry about what she was doing. She closed her eyes and felt the beat of the drums and the bagpipes move through her. Lifting her fiddle, tucking it under her chin, she began to play and dance, the music flowing from her soul.
Thirty minutes later the set was over, and Clay approached as she placed her violin back into its case. “Are you free now?”
Looking up at him, she nodded. “Completely. What do you have in mind?”
“Do you ever get to just enjoy the Celtic festivals?”
Glancing past him to the athletic field, food trucks, and shop vendors, she realized she never had. She lifted her gaze back to his and smiled. “No, not really. I just come with the band.”
“It’s my first time here. How about we spend the rest of the day together?”
Her breath rushed from her lungs. “I’d love it!”
He glanced back down at her heeled boots. “Can you walk around in those?”
She lifted one leg and wiggled her foot. “I admit the only time I wear these are when I’m performing, but I’ve gotten used to dancing around in them. I’ll be fine, I’m sure.” Turning, she handed her violin case to Steven and said, “Secure this with the other instruments, and I’ll get it tomorrow.”
“Who’s the dude?” Dunk asked, his eyes slightly glazed.
“Dude?” Clay rumbled.
Placing her hand on his, she squeezed. “This is Clay, he’s a—”
“Her boyfriend,” Clay interjected, the two words firm.
“That’s cool, man,” Dunk grinned, swaying slightly.
“He’s not driving, is he?” Clay asked.
“No, I got him,” Jamie replied, stepping up to Clay. “Nice to meet you. I’m Jamie.”
She watched as Clay shook hands with Jamie, Mike, and Steven, and offered a chin lift to Dunk.
“Loved your music,” he said, and she breathed another sigh of relief, noticing the guys in the band smiling as well. Waving goodbye to the others, she linked fingers with Clay and followed him out of the tent.