What He Never Knew (What He Doesn't Know, #3)(7)

Just as quickly as that gaze had come to me, it was ripped away, and Reese was smiling again, quieting the crowd.

“My name is Reese Walker, resident pianist at The Kinky Starfish and local teacher at Westchester Prep. I’ll be your entertainment this evening, though I’m not nearly as satisfying as the white chocolate truffle cake.”

The room laughed, and I tilted my head in wonder. He was such a charming man, an entertainer, to be sure. It was fascinating how much the man speaking now contrasted with the one who had just played.

“That was an original piece called The Darkest Dawn,” he continued, hands floating over the keys in a soft melody. “But I’d like to play some Beethoven for you now, if that’s alright?”

Reese smiled at the light applause, and just like that, he slipped back into performance mode, and I slipped away into his universe.

And that’s how the entire evening went.

Between small bites of my dinner that my uncle chided me for not eating more of, I sat enraptured by Reese Walker. He played everything from Beethoven to The Beatles and everything in-between. Some songs were played softer, meant to be heard only as background noise as the patrons conversed over their dinners. But other songs commanded the room’s attention, and those were the ones I preferred.

He was simply magical to watch, and I was completely under his spell.

“Oh!” My uncle dabbed his mouth with his napkin before clapping his hands together. “Come on, he’s taking his break. Let me introduce you.”

“Oh, Uncle Randall, we can wait,” I said, a slight panic in my voice as I watched Reese slip back into the shadows after announcing he would be back after a short break. “I’m sure he’d like some time to himself.”

“Nonsense,” my uncle insisted, already standing. “Reese is a friend, and I’m sure he’s excited to meet his new student.”

He was already four steps ahead of me by the time I had my napkin off my lap, and I had no choice but to take a gulp of water and follow.

I smoothed my hands over my dark, wintergreen slacks, forcing a steadying breath as my uncle grabbed Reese in a bear hug before he could get too far from the piano. I stood behind Uncle Randall as invisible as I could be for as long as he’d let me, watching Reese with my heart beating loud in my ears. But my time hiding in the corner was short lived, because my uncle wrapped one arm around me and pulled me between him and Reese, offering me up like a plate of cookies. It was a bit comical and a lot awkward, seeing as how I was a full three-inches taller than him.

I realized very quickly that I was not taller than Reese.

“Reese, this is my talented niece I was telling you about,” my uncle beamed. “Your new student, Miss Sarah Henderson.”

I wanted to shrink away the moment his eyes met mine.

They were two dark, endless wells that seemed to suck me into that universe I’d had a glimpse of when he played. There was color there, in those irises, but I couldn’t make it out in the dim light of the restaurant. Instead, his eyes just felt like colorless hands that were rooting me to the spot where I stood. He held my gaze for a long pause, his head tilting just a fraction to the left before he extended an actual hand with more of a question in his eyes than a greeting.

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Henderson.”

“It’s just Sarah,” I said, and I was glad I got the words out before my hand slipped into his.

His grip was firm, palm smooth and warm, but all I could think of was the talent that rested in that hand, in those fingers that wrapped so easily around mine. They had played pieces I could only hope to play, had dazzled people from all over the world.

“Sarah was top of her class at Bramlock,” my uncle said from beside me as Reese shook my hand. “Just wait until you hear her play. She’s out of this world. And now, working with you?” He shook his head on a laugh. “I can’t even imagine what will come out of this collaboration.”

Reese hadn’t taken his eyes off me, and I couldn’t do anything but stare at the floor under our hands. When he finally dropped mine, I quickly tucked my arms around my middle, glancing up at him before dropping my gaze again.

“I’m not an easy pedagogue to work with, Miss Henderson. I hope you’ve come prepared to work hard and dig deep.”

At that, I snapped my eyes to his, and didn’t even attempt to hide my incredulity. He was speaking to me like I was eight years old, or like he was sixty, or like I was some cute little thing he was simply entertaining.

“Of course I’ve come prepared to work hard,” I answered. “Do I not appear like a serious musician to you, Mr. Walker?”

“Now, I don’t think that’s—”

“I’ve only just met you,” Reese interrupted my uncle. “You don’t appear to be anything more than an acquaintance at this point in time.”

His words were calculated, professional in manner but said with an undertone of challenge.

I narrowed my eyes, holding my head higher. “Well, I can guarantee I’ll be the hardest-working student you’ve ever had. And I am thankful to you for agreeing to work with me.”

Reese smirked at his tone being served right back to him. He turned to my uncle and clapped him on the shoulder. “I owe this man for many things, so I was happy to help.” He paused. “Will you be joining us for the first lesson at my house, Randall?”