Page 211 of The Silent Note

“That shirt really brings out the blue in your eyes,” the brunette says, smiling up at me.

I startle. I’d forgotten she was there.

Her grin gets wider and she bats thick eyelashes. I’ve seen her smiling at dad the same way. I’m not sure which one of us she’s really interested in. Or maybe she wants us both to share.

What Idoknow is that I would have beenallover her in the past.

She’s got ‘massive daddy issues’ written all over her. Catnip for people like dad. For people like me.

But now, the only thing that gets me going is thoughts of my wife. Thoughts I don’t allow myself to have anymore.

Which means my bed is cold and empty.

Being celibate is… new.

And uncomfortable.

The dry spell is lasting way longer than I’d ever thought possible. There’s a part of me that would love to take the edge off by dragging this woman to an empty room and railing the hell out of her, but I step away.

Grey hasn’t sent divorce papers so, technically, we’re still married.

That means something.

Even if she hates me.

Even if she never talks to me again.

I made a vowto her.

I choseher.

My pants are staying zipped unless the woman in front of me has curly hair and my ring on her finger.

“Morals?” Micheals’ voice rings out, creating the perfect opportunity for me to walk away from the aide and shift closer to the curtains in the wings.

The lights are bright and both dad and his opponent are sweating. Micheals is what I’d picture a politician to be. Arrogant. Cranky. And way too old to be running for officeagain.

“I don’t want to take any personal shots, Mr. Cross, but what would a famous rockstar know aboutmorals?Isn’t ‘drugs, sex, and debauchery’ the entire point of your music genre?”

Ooohsring out in the crowd.

Some of dad’s fans start booing.

“And,” Micheals lifts his head, smirking down at dad in that snobby, old-money way that so many of mom’s family members used to do to us during our family get-togethers, “as far as I know, traditional families don’t have siblings married to each other.”

A harsh silence falls on the crowd.

Dad chuckles and adjusts his mike. “You’re making false accusations, Micheals. No one in my family would do such a thing.”

“Here’s the paperwork that was filed with the county.”

Gasps ripple from the aides as a giant picture of my marriage certificate shows up on screen. Grey’s name is blurred out, but that won’t make a difference when the internet sleuths dig into the court documents.

Behind me, people are scrambling frantically. The brunette gives me an angry look as she rushes out of the room with a cell phone to her ear.

Lucien appears beside me and watches everything. Unlike the rest of dad’s team, he looks calm and in control.

Dad seems relaxed too. His hands are hanging loosely at his sides. His lips are pressed together, not in distress but as if he’s hiding a smile.