Breaking Away (Assassins, #5)(93)
Reese almost screamed, shaking the heck out of Phillip’s arm as he looked around confused. “What?”
“They got it. They have to. They scored the highest! They got the top title!” she squealed, jumping up and down. Phillip grinned big as the announcer said what Reese already knew.
“And placing first in the duet Diamond category is Claire Anderson and Brian Forrester of The Reese Allen Company with “Use Somebody”.”
Reese was almost brought to tears as she watched Claire and Brian go the front of the stage to claim their trophy. Claire looked unbelievably beautiful, while Brian looked dashing as he accepted the trophy and Claire took the mic. Saying that she was proud of the duo was an understatement. She was thoroughly impressed with them and was thankful that they were her dancers because not only were they great kids, but they also blew everyone out of the water.
“That’s my niece!” Phillip hollered from beside her, causing Claire to blush and Reese to laugh. When he turned to the lady beside him and said, “No really, that’s my niece and she just kicked some major ass.” Reese wanted to die from embarrassment but couldn’t blame him. She was really proud and excited too.
“Who choreographed your dance?”
Reese looked up at the stage to see Claire’s eyes bright and her face beaming as she said, “I did, along with our director, Reese Allen.”
“You did?” the judge asked, shocked.
She smiled widely. “Yes, but I wouldn’t have been able to without Reese and Brian.”
God, she was a gem.
“Well, while I have you up here, let me give you this,” the judge said, handing her another trophy that confused Claire.
“What’s this?”
“It’s the best choreography award. You can share it with your director.”
The hell she would! It was all hers! God, Reese was so proud! Phillip was yelling so loud, both arms in the air, as Claire just beamed at him. Screaming out, “Way to go, guys!” received her a grin from both of them before they took a bow and exited to the left of the stage. Phillip was smiling so hard that Reese found that it was too contagious to not do the same as she walked towards the side of the stage.
When she saw Kevin watching her from where he was leaning against the wall, talking to some judges, she looked away, hating that he was breathing the same air as her. She had tried to let it all go, doing as Phillip had said, but it was hard. She still couldn’t understand why someone would do the things he had, but maybe she wasn’t supposed too. Maybe he was brought into her life to make her stronger and if that was the case, that was fine, but could she at least let it go and not hold this grudge towards him? What did she need to make that happen? She was happy. Loved her job, loved her life, so what was the problem? Why did she allow him to have so much power?
When Claire flung herself into Reese’s arms, all thoughts of Kevin were gone as she hugged her tightly. Pulling back, Reese felt her eyes stinging as she looked into Claire’s eyes. She knew with one look that Claire was beyond proud of herself and her confidence shined, leaving Reese dizzy.
“I’m so freaking proud of you, and that award is all yours! You take that home and put it on the mantel!’
Claire laughed as tears welled up in her eyes. “I can’t believe it.”
“Well believe it, girl, cause you are fabulous!”
“Thank you,” Claire said, pulling out of Reese’s hug to look at her trophy. Watching her, something ached in her chest and she had to know something.
“Doesn’t this moment make you believe that you can make all your dreams come true?”
Claire looked up, her eyes swimming with tears. “I know I can as long as I have you and Phillip behind me.”
Reese smiled before looking over at Phillip. She saw the tears in his eyes and that blew her mind. This big, gorgeous, amazing man, tearing up, because he was proud of his niece? Could he be any dreamier? Nodding her head, she looked back at Claire and said, “I’m not going anywhere.”
As she moved her nose along Phillip’s jaw, his coarse hair tickling her nose, making her smile as she took in deep breaths, her body slowly coming down from the staggering orgasm that Phillip gave her. Squeezing his shoulders with her fingers, she lifted up on her elbow and looked down at him. He gave her a lazy grin, moving his hand through her hair that fell in a curtain by his flushed face. Talking was the last thing on their minds once he was in her room and his hands were on her. She wished that she had tried a little harder to make sure he was okay. He was always there for her, and she wanted to be there for him, but her body was screaming for his and she thought he felt the same.
Biting into her lip, she moved her finger along his bottom lip and he nipped at it before grinning up at her.
Smiling back, she said, “Sorry we didn’t talk first.”
He laughed. “I don’t mind.”
She smiled as he brought her down for another kiss and then another before rolling on top of her, pressing his glorious body into hers. Moving her hands up to his face, she positioned him to look at her before she asked, “Are you sure you’re okay?’
He nodded, moving his hand to cup her breast. “I am now.”
“I know that,” she laughed, smacking his chest, causing him to laugh as he cuddled her closer to him, pressing his delicious body against hers. But then she became serious. “But what happened with Claire? Did she scream a lot?”