than my coach. Right?
After a few minutes, Beau sends Shawna out the door and meets me halfway across the room as I’m heading out. “Hey. Today was much better. Don’t let Shawna stress you out. You have exactly what it takes to be here, and you deserve it. I knew it the first note I heard come from your beautiful mouth,” he says, dropping that last part down to a whisper even though we are alone in the room. Well, alone except for the man holding the camera a few feet away. The fact that his eyes seem to be focused on the very mouth he was just speaking of, well that makes me all giddy. My heartbeat kicks up to a gallop and my breath gets lodged in my throat. Did he just say my mouth was beautiful? Is that a normal compliment? I’ve never been told my mouth was beautiful before.
“Uhh, thank you,” I mumble quiet. My words must snap him out of the trance he’s in because, suddenly, steely eyes are focused intensely on mine.
Beau steps in close, very close, and I can smell his soap or aftershave again. Whatever it is smells musky and wild, like sandalwood with a touch of spice. I have to physically restrain myself from leaning forward and running my nose up the enticing column of his lean neck, from his collarbone to his five o’clock shadow covered jaw. I shiver uncontrollably at the sudden need coursing through my blood. My entire being–everything I have and everything I am–was just set ablaze.
Beau stares down at my slightly agape mouth again. The strength of his eyes is so overwhelming that I’m actually very thankful that he’s not staring into my eyes. Talk about knocking me off kilter. Holy hell, this man is dangerous . Without even realizing what I’m doing, I lick my dry lips. His eyes widen and dilate until they’re practically black with desire. What I see there is unmistakable. I can see it as clearly as I see the man standing in front of me. Beau is reacting to me as powerfully as I am to him.
After several of the most erotic moments I’ve ever experienced, most of which have merely included our eyes transfixed on each other, movement out of the corner of my eye breaks the spell. Beau’s eyes finally snap back up to my eyes, guarded by the low bill of his cowboy hat. Probably for the best, anyway. I’m sure I read this entire exchange incorrectly, and the last thing I want to do is embarrass myself. There’s no way Beau Tanner was looking at me with anything other than professionalism.
Right?
I step back and throw my satchel over my shoulder. “Keep up the great work, Layne. You’re doin’ awesome, darlin’. I’ll see ya Monday,” he says, eyes burning into me once again.
“Yes. Monday.” The words are shallow as I take several steps backwards until the door is at my back. Without looking at Beau, I turn around and all but run out of the practice studio.
Shawna and a handful of contestants are already in the van waiting. Looks of annoyance are sent my way as everyone waits patiently for me to get inside so we can get a move on. I’m quiet, lost in my own thoughts, as we make our way back towards the hotel. I barely even hear Shawna tell the man next to her about how unprepared I was for today’s practice.
Note to self: Concentrating on Beau’s lips is a great way to take your mind off Snarly Barbie.
What exactly was that in the studio? I know I feel this crazy, schoolgirl attraction to the man, but him? There’s no way. I’m a twenty-four year old bartender with a three-year-old son who lives with her mother. I get excited on the months I can make my portion of the mortgage, the phone bill, and the television payment all at the same time. I drive a used car, for God’s sake, and my detergent isn’t even Tide because Purex is cheaper.
But then I recall the intensity of his eyes. There was so much more there, deep in that slate gaze that I can’t explain. Need. Want. It was there. I know it was. And I can’t deny the way my body physically responds to him whether
After a few minutes, Beau sends Shawna out the door and meets me halfway across the room as I’m heading out. “Hey. Today was much better. Don’t let Shawna stress you out. You have exactly what it takes to be here, and you deserve it. I knew it the first note I heard come from your beautiful mouth,” he says, dropping that last part down to a whisper even though we are alone in the room. Well, alone except for the man holding the camera a few feet away. The fact that his eyes seem to be focused on the very mouth he was just speaking of, well that makes me all giddy. My heartbeat kicks up to a gallop and my breath gets lodged in my throat. Did he just say my mouth was beautiful? Is that a normal compliment? I’ve never been told my mouth was beautiful before.
“Uhh, thank you,” I mumble quiet. My words must snap him out of the trance he’s in because, suddenly, steely eyes are focused intensely on mine.
Beau steps in close, very close, and I can smell his soap or aftershave again. Whatever it is smells musky and wild, like sandalwood with a touch of spice. I have to physically restrain myself from leaning forward and running my nose up the enticing column of his lean neck, from his collarbone to his five o’clock shadow covered jaw. I shiver uncontrollably at the sudden need coursing through my blood. My entire being–everything I have and everything I am–was just set ablaze.
Beau stares down at my slightly agape mouth again. The strength of his eyes is so overwhelming that I’m actually very thankful that he’s not staring into my eyes. Talk about knocking me off kilter. Holy hell, this man is dangerous . Without even realizing what I’m doing, I lick my dry lips. His eyes widen and dilate until they’re practically black with desire. What I see there is unmistakable. I can see it as clearly as I see the man standing in front of me. Beau is reacting to me as powerfully as I am to him.
After several of the most erotic moments I’ve ever experienced, most of which have merely included our eyes transfixed on each other, movement out of the corner of my eye breaks the spell. Beau’s eyes finally snap back up to my eyes, guarded by the low bill of his cowboy hat. Probably for the best, anyway. I’m sure I read this entire exchange incorrectly, and the last thing I want to do is embarrass myself. There’s no way Beau Tanner was looking at me with anything other than professionalism.
Right?
I step back and throw my satchel over my shoulder. “Keep up the great work, Layne. You’re doin’ awesome, darlin’. I’ll see ya Monday,” he says, eyes burning into me once again.
“Yes. Monday.” The words are shallow as I take several steps backwards until the door is at my back. Without looking at Beau, I turn around and all but run out of the practice studio.
Shawna and a handful of contestants are already in the van waiting. Looks of annoyance are sent my way as everyone waits patiently for me to get inside so we can get a move on. I’m quiet, lost in my own thoughts, as we make our way back towards the hotel. I barely even hear Shawna tell the man next to her about how unprepared I was for today’s practice.
Note to self: Concentrating on Beau’s lips is a great way to take your mind off Snarly Barbie.
What exactly was that in the studio? I know I feel this crazy, schoolgirl attraction to the man, but him? There’s no way. I’m a twenty-four year old bartender with a three-year-old son who lives with her mother. I get excited on the months I can make my portion of the mortgage, the phone bill, and the television payment all at the same time. I drive a used car, for God’s sake, and my detergent isn’t even Tide because Purex is cheaper.
But then I recall the intensity of his eyes. There was so much more there, deep in that slate gaze that I can’t explain. Need. Want. It was there. I know it was. And I can’t deny the way my body physically responds to him whether
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