Page 145 of Lost Lyrebird

The low hum of crickets sing their creepy little song as my pulse thrums in my ears and my heels click on the cracked asphalt.

I stayed longer than I meant to.My muscles ache, and my feet are screaming from the abuse I put them through.Getting home to soak in the tub is the only thing on my mind.Well, that and maybe a glass of wine and some light reading before I crash for the night.

As I round the back of a large truck, a man comes into view.The shock of seeing him leaning against my car has my hand flying up to my throat.I swiftly back up and prepare to run.But then his head lifts, and it’s not until I take in his familiar features that my nerves settle.

It’s Goose.

He looks better than the last time I saw him.His shoulders are relaxed, and his long hair has been cut so it rests against his collar.Both sides are currently tucked behind his ears.When he sees me, his weight shifts, and he lifts both hands in a calming gesture.His voice is low and raspy as he says, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.I just wanted to make sure you got to your car okay and apologize for what happened at the clubhouse last week.”

“It’s like four in the morning.How long have you been waiting here?”

“Since we closed for the night.Wasn’t tired and thought I’d stick around.”

“Why?”

“Just wanted to see you, and maybe chat.

My skin prickles with unease.I manage a nod.“Oookayy.”Internally, I’m freaking out.

His eyes dart over my face, searching for something.“You good?”he asks, his voice softer, as if he’s afraid I’ll flee from him.

“Yeah,” I lie, my throat tight.“I just didn’t expect to run into anyone.”

He looks around the parking lot.“I’m going to get more lights installed soon, so it’s not so dark out here.Don’t like the idea of you ladies walking out and not being able to see clearly.”

“That would be nice.”

He nods.“I’ll get it done then.”

The silence that falls between us feels suffocating, heavy with everything unsaid.My footsteps crunch against the gravel as I walk towards my car, and he turns to face me as I unlock my door.

He slides his thumbs into the pockets of his jeans.The rhythmic tapping begins.He’s staring at me in that way he does, where it feels like he’s taking in every detail.“That was one hell of a routine you did tonight.”

“Yeah?You liked it?”I attempt to sound casual, though praise coming from his mouth has my nerves going haywire.

“Pretty sure there wasn’t a guy, or woman, for that matter, in the house who didn’t,” he says, an eyebrow raised and his mouth holding a crooked smile.“It was nothing like I’ve ever seen before.Different because it had that element of danger.The group number was a big hit too.”

The warmth of his compliment spreads through me, loosening the tightness in my chest.I smile.I was proud of the girls tonight—how we came together, every move in sync.It wasn’t our first group number, but it was the biggest performance yet, and the routine had taken weeks to nail down.Practicing together and having a joint goal seemed to help me bond with them and build friendships, which in turn helped my social circle grow.

Tonight’s success had been special because I’d choreographed the dance, and seeing the crowd eat it up, and the girls celebrate afterward, meant a lot to me.It had felt like a mountain peak reached, a successful culmination of all the hard work I’d put in, finally paying off.

“Not something you see in places like this anymore,” Goose adds, his tone thoughtful.

Opening my door, I set my purse on my seat, then shut the door and lean against it.“Do you mind?I mean, Raven said you wouldn’t care and that she had carte blanche to do whatever.But I wasn’t sure.”

He shakes his head.Strands of his hair fall forward, but he quickly retucks them behind his ear.His goatee is trimmed, and his jaw is shaved.He looks a lot more like he did back when I first auditioned, more put together.He’s wearing his cut tonight and a gray Henley with weathered jeans.I take a moment to eye his masculine jewelry and appreciate how good he looks tonight.

He’s back to being sinfully good-looking, which is hell on my heart.

“Not my area of expertise,” he admits, the edge of a grin remains on his lips.“But by the reaction of the crowd, I’d say they’re going to want more.”

We share a moment, a fragile smile passing between us.It’s nice to just, you know, talk, like normal people do.

The tension is ever-present, which is evident when his gaze drops to take in my outfit, booty shorts, and a sports bra.But being able to co-exist in the same space without it being this overwhelming is new.There’s still chemistry, still desire, but not the combustible energy firing back and forth.Maybe because he’s not glaring at me.He’s softer tonight, and it’s like my body immediately feels his energy and has adapted to match it.

I motion toward my car.“It’s pretty late.I bet you’re tire—“

My words trail off as I spot a flower on my windshield, held there by my windshield wiper.It’s a dark-pink peony, my favorite.And there is only one person in the world who knows this fact about me.