Essence

Chapter 2

2

STANDING BEHIND THE woman he’d met at the café, he listened to the conversation she was having with a man he presumed to be her boyfriend. He wondered why the man had just emerged from a taxi in front of the hotel, why he’d kissed the blond in the backseat, and why he said he’d been on the telephone in the room. The burly man had nearly mowed him down in his hurry to get into the hotel and flag down the woman from the café. Stepping closer, he listened intently. They called each other Kevin and Dahlia.

Dahlia. A rare flower.

He hadn’t meant to follow her after he’d spoken to her at the café, but here she was at the hotel where he was meeting his publicist. That man, Kevin, was a type he saw all too often in the hotels he stayed at around the world, but this petite, dark-haired woman certainly didn’t deserve such poor treatment. He could tell from her speech and mannerisms that she was a fine woman. His chest tightened in response to his thoughts. A beautiful woman, too.

Who just happened to have an enormous solitaire ring on her left hand. They’re engaged. The thought hit him like a bucket of ice.

Furrowing his brow, he wondered who was planning on matchmaking the two of them. Her grandmother, she’d told him, but who was the grandmother? Probably a friend of his own grandmother. Wouldn’t be the first time he’d had to entertain one of her young friends.

He shook his head. The women were usually nice enough, but they were never his kind. Besides, he wasn’t made for the white-picket-fence life they seemed more suited to. Dahlia was sure easy on the eyes, but she clearly had a big problem. A six-foot-four problem, judging from the size of Kevin. Nope, that wouldn’t work.

At least Dahlia hadn’t recognized him. He loved his fans, but that wasn’t why he did what he did. Plenty of women slipped him a business card and asked him to call. When he was younger, he’d had his share of groupies, but he’d soon found himself feeling more alone than ever. Few people would understand that he found more enjoyment with stimulating conversation or a good book than a vapid groupie who simply wanted to wear him out and brag to her friends.

He’d grown tired of the game of conquest. Where was the love like his parents shared? Six boys and two girls later, and they were still madly in love.

Despite his better judgment, as he watched Dahlia walk away, he found himself hoping he’d see her again soon.