Roman (Cold Fury Hockey #7)(18)

I look back to her and watch her mouth move near the microphone. Her eyes are soft, and she’s got a sweet smile as her gaze roams over the audience with confidence and affection. Her eyes land on someone near the stage, and for just a moment she seems to sing only to that person. A flood of what might be possessiveness wells up inside me as my eyes slide to where she’s looking, and I’m dumbfounded to see Brian Brannon sitting at a pub table near the stage. He’s smiling back at Lexi, drumming his fingers on the table near a small teacup.

What in the fuck is he doing here?

My eyes cut back to Lexi and she gives him a grin before singing the last words and strumming her instrument one last time. The entire place erupts into cheers, the loudest being from Brian Brannon, who stands up from his stool and claps heartily in approval. My own hands come together to clap, unable to stop myself and the amazement over her performance.

“Thank you,” Lexi says into the microphone, and once again, that husky voice slams into me like an aphrodisiac. How can a woman’s voice have that much of an effect on me, but then again…it was like listening to an angel sing just a bit ago.

“I’ve got one more song tonight, and it’s my favorite,” she says into the mic as she softly strums. “You regulars in here have heard me sing it before, but tonight…I’m just really feeling this tune, so I’m going to share it with you again.”

A lone voice calls out from the back of the room, “Get it, Lexi,” and then a few wolf whistles, before she starts to play.

And then she launches into “Somewhere over the Rainbow,” in a jaunty, upbeat tempo while her Dr. Marten taps in rhythm on the wooden platform. Her voice causes tingles to pop out over my skin and I marvel at the way her dark hair shines under a lone pendant light that radiates down on her from above.

So fucking sexy.

So goddamn perplexing as my eyes move back to Brian once again, who is listening to Lexi with a huge smile on his face.

I contemplate turning around and walking out, because I have no clue why the CEO of the Cold Fury is here. I also have no clue what his relationship is with Lexi, but whatever it is, it’s a very personal one for sure. I can just tell by the looks they exchange as she sings.

But ultimately, my curiosity gets the better of me, and besides, I came all this way tonight to see this woman, so I’m not about to give up yet.

While Lexi sings, I listen with half an ear while I order a bottle of water at the counter. The girl behind the counter seems positively put out that she can’t make me a cup of coffee, but I make sure to float a few bucks in the tip jar all the same.

In the dim yet cozy atmosphere of The Grind, I find my way to the opposite side of the room from where Brian Brannon sits and choose a low-slung chair that rests up against the wall where I can observe Lexi.

I sip my water while she sings, and I watch the interplay between her and my ultimate boss.

When she finishes her song, she says “Thank you” again to the cheering crowd and reminds them she’ll be back again the following evening. Then she stands up and I notice that people start flocking to the stage, not to talk to Lexi, but to put money into a tip jar sitting on the wooden platform that I hadn’t noticed before.

Lexi, however, steps off the stage and walks up to Brian Brannon, who stands to greet her. He holds his arms out and she walks into them, laying her cheek against this chest briefly as he embraces her. They hug for a long moment, then they pull away, although his hands hold on to her shoulders. Lexi looks up at him with absolute adoration as he talks to her, and she nods at something he says. Then Brian leans down and kisses her on her cheek softly before pulling away and walking toward the door.

I watch as Lexi stares after him a long moment, a wistful look on her face that causes my stomach to churn. What the fuck is between them? Given the hug and the kiss, my mind immediately turns to the worst scenario.

That they’re dating.

Is that why Gray was so cold to her? Because her father is dating someone that’s probably her age?

So fucking weird, and so fucking disappointing for me if that’s true.

But is it true? Lexi was just flirting with me this morning in the locker room, and it’s something I need to know for sure.

My thoughts are jolted as I realize Lexi is walking toward me with one hand holding her ukulele by the neck, sometimes stopping at tables to exchange a few words with the patrons, probably giving her praise for her performance. She walks away from the table that sits right next to my chair and doesn’t even see me as she starts to pass by.

“Lexi,” I call out, and she spins around on me, her face once again lighting up with welcome as she recognizes my voice before she even sees me.

“Roman,” she exclaims as she steps back toward me, and I’m oddly invigorated by the happiness I hear in her voice. “What are you doing here?”

I stand up from the chair and my eyes shoot down to the instrument in her hand. “Finding out that you have a hidden talent, apparently.”

She grins even as her cheeks turn pink. She holds up the ukulele and shrugs. “It’s a weird talent, for sure.”

“It’s a talent,” I say pointedly. “And your singing and playing were beautiful.”

“Awww,” she says sweetly. “Thanks. But seriously, what are you doing here?”

“I struck out with you due to bad timing,” I tell her as I take a step toward her. “Thought I’d try to get your phone number one last time before I give up.”