Total pages in book: 31
Estimated words: 28745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28745 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Samantha’s face lit up, and when her eyes met mine, they sparkled with delight. “I really do. It’s the best job in the world.”
I cocked my head to the side and studied her for a beat, then tapped my lips as though deep in thought. “Did I read somewhere that you play the violin?”
Her blush deepened, and she nodded with a pleased smile. “I’ve been playing since I was five. My dad said I saw one, picked it up, and wouldn't put the instrument back down without a major meltdown, so he had to buy it.”
“Sounds like a great dad.”
She laughed and pushed a lock of her long blond hair over her shoulder. “He is. Especially when you consider that the violin belonged to a private collector and was crafted by Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesu in the mid-eighteenth century. It was worth over ten million dollars.”
My eyebrows went up so high they were probably lost in my hairline. “Wow. I probably would’ve had a heart attack if I saw a precious instrument worth that much clutched in the hands of a five-year-old.”
Samantha laughed. “I think my dad almost did, but he said that when he knelt, with every intention of taking it, he saw a reverence in my eyes and a gentleness in my touch that convinced him it belonged to me.”
“How did he convince the collector to sell?”
“Apparently, he saw the same thing as my dad. He made me promise to come and play for him when I’d learned enough to use the Guarneri.”
I smiled softly. “And do you?” I already knew the answer. My girl would never have broken that promise.
“Every first Sunday of the month.”
She’d given me a perfect opening, so I smoothly steered the conversation toward my goal. “Have you thought about playing for children?”
Samantha beamed at me and nodded. “I bring it here a few times a week to have some fun, but I also teach some of the kids lessons.”
“I just had a thought.” Just being a relative term. “We hire people to come to the pediatric hospital and rehab center and entertain the children several times a week. It lifts their spirits, and despite the lack of evidence in modern science, I will swear on Ibn Sina’s grave that it helps them fight and recover.”
“It seems like a reasonable conclusion to me,” she said with an adorable giggle.
That sweet laughter sent streaks of desire straight to my groin, and I nearly groaned. I tried to distract myself by thinking about her playing the violin. I couldn't wait to hear her. Although, I wanted a private concert where she was naked and sitting in a chair while I ate her pussy. Or better yet, reverse straddling me and playing while sitting on my cock.
“We lost a couple of people recently, one of them being a musician, and the kids have really missed her.” I scratched my beard thoughtfully and asked, “Would you be interested in taking her place? I think the children would respond extremely well to a violin. Plus, you’re young and sweet, and from the way the kids keep peeking at you around the corner with puppy dog eyes, I can only assume they adore you.”
“You’d be right,” Blair stated as she strolled up to stand by her daughter. “Did I hear you right? You’re offering my daughter a job to play for the kids at the hospital?”
“It doesn’t pay much,” I said with a nod, “but if you’re interested—”
“You don’t have to pay me,” Samantha interrupted, bouncing on her toes just a little. “Can we use the money to buy instruments for the children to play with?”
“We can do both,” I confirmed with a grin. “But perhaps we can stay on the frugal side and avoid the instruments worth millions.”
Samantha and Blair shared a look with each other before dissolving into another fit of giggles.
A text popped up on my watch, a message from Carlos telling me that the donor, while understanding, was getting antsy since the ambulance had already departed.
I sighed and pulled out a business card from the pocket of my jacket. “I have to go schmooze a donor, but why don’t you call me tomorrow, Samantha? I’ll put you in touch with Jenny. She schedules all of the events.”
“Great!” Samantha beamed at me, and I wished I could take all that light home with me forever.
Soon.
3
Noah
“We are proud of the work we’ve done, but there is s-so—um—so much more to be done,” I said, stumbling over my words.
There was more to my speech, but I was struggling to continue when all I could see was some little shit trying to steal my girl’s attention. I managed to finish, but I was fuming inside, ready to rearrange his face and send him crying back to his momma.
Halfway down the steps of the stage, he put his hand on Samantha’s bare shoulder, and I saw red. I’d already been on edge when she walked into the ballroom wearing a strapless dress that showed off far too much cleavage. It hugged her curves all the way to her knees, then gently flared until it reached the floor. As if that weren’t enough to make me crazy with jealousy, I had almost swallowed my tongue when she’d taken another step, and the skirt split in front of her left leg, revealing the smooth, shapely limb all the way from the top of her thigh to her red, strappy, fuck-me stilettos.