RUSH (City Lights, #3)(18)

No guts, no glory, I thought. I squeezed my eyes shut and blurted, “I want to live in it.”

Silence.

I felt my grand escape-plan start to unravel in that silence, and then Lucien said, “I had long wanted a live-in assistant for Noah. I worry for him…”

My hopes soared and then crashed.

“But Noah will not permit it. It has been suggested before and he is adamant.”

“And if I could convince him?” I said, twisting my bed cover.

“Charlotte—”

I glanced at the bedroom door. On the other side, it sounded like a full-blown party. On a Monday. I turned my back and cupped the phone with both hands to my ear.

“Look, Lucien, I can’t live here anymore. I can’t think, I’m never alone…” I shook my head, my voice dropping. “I need this. I’ve had…kind of a rough year, and I need a little peace. And that’s what’s going to make me a good assistant to him. Your Google plan worked. I feel awful for Noah and if you think being with him, helping him out would help ease some of his pain, then I’m all for it. And I’ll also do my best because, on a more selfish note, I can’t afford not to.”

“I will tell Mr. and Mrs. Lake the situation. I know they are anxious about Noah living alone, but I can’t make any promises. Noah can be quite the stubborn mule, lately.”

I nodded quickly. “Okay, I understand. Thank you.”

“The terms of your salary will need to be renegotiated, to account for rental fees—”

I squeezed my eyes shut and said quickly, “Same salary. $40K.”

“You wish to live rent-free,” he began.

“I’d be working twenty-four/seven, right? I mean, if Noah falls and hurts himself in the middle of the night, I’ll be there. Isn’t that what you want?”

Lucien sighed. “More than anything.”

“So what’s peace of mind worth to you? Or to Mr. and Mrs. Lake?” I gave my hair a tug, knowing I was pushing it. But desperate times, and all that…

“And now it is you who are manipulating me, Miss Conroy,” Lucien said, though I could hear his smile over the phone.

“I won’t fail you, Lucien,” I said, hope rising. “Or Noah.”

“My dear, that is a lot to take on. Perhaps more than you realize…”

“I can do it,” I said. “And I won’t give up. Draw up a contract. A lease for one year, and I’ll sign it. I promise I won’t quit. Not for one year, at least.”

“I shall discuss it with the Lakes, Miss Conroy, but Noah must agree to hire you first.”

I nodded, worrying my lip between my teeth. “What are my chances?”

“A month ago, I’d say you hadn’t any. But I think the reality of the situation is something that the Lakes—and possibly even Noah—cannot ignore any longer. The instability of these strangers coming in and out of his life is not good for him. We might find him amenable. Might.”

That wasn’t much but I took it. Lucien and I hashed out a few more details and made plans to meet after my shift at Annabelle’s, then walk to the Lake’s townhouse for my official interview.

We were about to hang up when Lucien said, “Bring your violin.”

“Why?”

“Noah has very few entertainment options these days. He might be more amenable to your living there if you demonstrate your talents.”

I almost told him I didn’t play in front of people anymore, but it occurred to me that if I were permitted to live in the townhouse, I’d have time to practice, to maybe find my music again in relative peace and quiet.

“I’ll bring it.”

We said our goodbyes and I bit back a smile. The party outside my door was in full-swing and I danced on my bed to the muffled music. It wasn’t a good idea to get my hopes up like this, but I couldn’t help it. What Lucien had said about me getting in over my head was probably true, but I’d learn to handle it. More than handle it. I wasn’t a moocher, after all. For forty thousand dollars a year and no rent, I’d be the best assistant I could be.

I just had to convince Noah Lake.

I flopped back to the bed and brought up the Planet X promo pic again. Gorgeous guy. Nice smile. There must be a good man lurking under there, right?

I traced the curve of his lips. “There must be.”





Chapter Seven


Charlotte

Lucien met me at Annabelle’s after my shift, and we walked to the Lake townhome through a beautiful spring afternoon, me with my violin case in hand. I’d had a pretty good day tips-wise, which meant the rent check I’d given Emily that morning—hopefully my last, though I didn’t tell her that yet—wasn’t going to bounce. Lucien and I had hashed out the finer points of my employment. I’d get to keep the 40K salary, have Sundays off, practice time, and have the living space on the first floor all to myself.

My living space. All to myself. I practically skipped beside Lucien in giddy joy, thought it was tempered by my stomach twisting with nerves. Knowing I was going to meet Noah face to face was intimidating as hell…on multiple levels.

I wondered if he was still as good-looking as that Planet X promo pic or if his injuries had altered him somehow. I wondered if was really going to be as rude as he had been the first time we’d ‘met’ or if a lot of that *-ness had just been an act. After all, I was a stranger in a blind guy’s house; I could have walked out with one of the crystal vases and he’d never even know it. Maybe he was just trying to protect himself.