and flashed. He leaned in. “You were absolutely brilliant.”
“I was absolutely Spirit led.” Despite emotional turmoil toward Liam, she chuckled, and a thrill swept on through.
With a wink and a nod, he handed her a clear plastic tumbler of cola over ice. Aileen accepted the thoughtful gesture with a long look into his eyes that quenched much more than a simple physical thirst.
Brimming with enthusiasm and purpose, Aileen continued to accept handshakes, the press of cheek-to-cheek, congratulations and an overall feeling that she just might survive being scrutinized by reporters. During a break in the reception, she stood in a quiet nook, closing her eyes for a moment of meditative stillness. Her pulse and adrenaline levels slowly returned to normal while expectation built for the show to come.
The voice of Roberta Goldfield intruded on the moment and captured her attention.
“The girls are an absolute marvel. I can’t wait to let people know about the show. I knew they’d be a hit as soon as I saw the video. And Aileen, what a powerhouse of a voice, but—” Aileen’s eyes came open at that point. But. Life always seemed to hand over a but . Furthermore, that blasted three-letter qualifier always negated any preceding compliment. “—with her leadership and stage presence, it’s a shame she carries those, shall we say, supple curves rather than the svelte features everyone covets.”
Aileen tuned out promptly, hanging her head until the tumbling waves of her hair formed a protective curtain. Yeah, like hiding from reality would help. Poison arrows struck her heart and pierced her most sensitive vulnerabilities, her confidence, physicality and sense of self-worth.
Warm hands came to rest on her shoulders, heavy and strong. “Look at me.” Liam’s voice reached her, low, but firm and intent. “Right now.”
Aileen cursed herself for every quiver of her lips, for the betraying sheen of tears that coated her eyes. She firmed her spine and flipped her hair, looking up with a smile. Pushing aside the hurt, she spoke not a word.
Liam’s expression made it clear he had heard Roberta’s analysis. That ripped her tender heart to shreds. His hands dropped away. He didn’t smile; he didn’t comfort or coddle. Instead, he stared straight into her eyes and moved directly into her space, a shield from the world at large.
“Remember the coffee shop, Aileen. Remember the coffee shop. Do you hear me?”
She nodded, afraid of croaking out some type of senseless reply. Still, she remembered. He had called her beautiful. Elegant. They were such precious words. But were they really true?
Liam continued, jaw set, breathtakingly handsome. “You’ve been described, by those gathered right here and right now as, and I quote, ‘A living incarnation of timeless beauty.’ You’re real. You’re not overweight by anyone’s standards except the entertainment industry, and you’re going to knock even that belief flat on its backside. You’re sunlight. You’re natural, and you’re a lady. Ailee, you’re going to fill that theater. Let the world keep its emaciated waifs. You’re a woman little girls are going to look up to as real. You’re a woman any parent will happily uplift as a role model, not just because you’re beautiful, but because you’re equally stunning on the inside. Don’t let a tactless display like that woman just pulled leave you doubting who and what you are, and who and what you’re going to become.”
Aileen swallowed a huge lump in her throat and kept trying to blink back tears.
“You’re exquisite, Ailee. Don’t ever, ever forget that. I repeat. Do you hear me?”
The brick wall at her back was cool and solid. It held her up as she fell back slightly and drifted into Liam’s eyes. Not once did he reach out in comfort. Not once did he smile. He was fierce and emphatic. Physical connection was unnecessary when his gaze held her so snugly in place. His words, his
“I was absolutely Spirit led.” Despite emotional turmoil toward Liam, she chuckled, and a thrill swept on through.
With a wink and a nod, he handed her a clear plastic tumbler of cola over ice. Aileen accepted the thoughtful gesture with a long look into his eyes that quenched much more than a simple physical thirst.
Brimming with enthusiasm and purpose, Aileen continued to accept handshakes, the press of cheek-to-cheek, congratulations and an overall feeling that she just might survive being scrutinized by reporters. During a break in the reception, she stood in a quiet nook, closing her eyes for a moment of meditative stillness. Her pulse and adrenaline levels slowly returned to normal while expectation built for the show to come.
The voice of Roberta Goldfield intruded on the moment and captured her attention.
“The girls are an absolute marvel. I can’t wait to let people know about the show. I knew they’d be a hit as soon as I saw the video. And Aileen, what a powerhouse of a voice, but—” Aileen’s eyes came open at that point. But. Life always seemed to hand over a but . Furthermore, that blasted three-letter qualifier always negated any preceding compliment. “—with her leadership and stage presence, it’s a shame she carries those, shall we say, supple curves rather than the svelte features everyone covets.”
Aileen tuned out promptly, hanging her head until the tumbling waves of her hair formed a protective curtain. Yeah, like hiding from reality would help. Poison arrows struck her heart and pierced her most sensitive vulnerabilities, her confidence, physicality and sense of self-worth.
Warm hands came to rest on her shoulders, heavy and strong. “Look at me.” Liam’s voice reached her, low, but firm and intent. “Right now.”
Aileen cursed herself for every quiver of her lips, for the betraying sheen of tears that coated her eyes. She firmed her spine and flipped her hair, looking up with a smile. Pushing aside the hurt, she spoke not a word.
Liam’s expression made it clear he had heard Roberta’s analysis. That ripped her tender heart to shreds. His hands dropped away. He didn’t smile; he didn’t comfort or coddle. Instead, he stared straight into her eyes and moved directly into her space, a shield from the world at large.
“Remember the coffee shop, Aileen. Remember the coffee shop. Do you hear me?”
She nodded, afraid of croaking out some type of senseless reply. Still, she remembered. He had called her beautiful. Elegant. They were such precious words. But were they really true?
Liam continued, jaw set, breathtakingly handsome. “You’ve been described, by those gathered right here and right now as, and I quote, ‘A living incarnation of timeless beauty.’ You’re real. You’re not overweight by anyone’s standards except the entertainment industry, and you’re going to knock even that belief flat on its backside. You’re sunlight. You’re natural, and you’re a lady. Ailee, you’re going to fill that theater. Let the world keep its emaciated waifs. You’re a woman little girls are going to look up to as real. You’re a woman any parent will happily uplift as a role model, not just because you’re beautiful, but because you’re equally stunning on the inside. Don’t let a tactless display like that woman just pulled leave you doubting who and what you are, and who and what you’re going to become.”
Aileen swallowed a huge lump in her throat and kept trying to blink back tears.
“You’re exquisite, Ailee. Don’t ever, ever forget that. I repeat. Do you hear me?”
The brick wall at her back was cool and solid. It held her up as she fell back slightly and drifted into Liam’s eyes. Not once did he reach out in comfort. Not once did he smile. He was fierce and emphatic. Physical connection was unnecessary when his gaze held her so snugly in place. His words, his
Similar Books
