Chapter 14

Chapter Fourteen

Tara stood stock-still in the dressing room while the urge to run and hide swept over her in waves. How had she gotten herself into this mess? One minute, she'd agreed to run through the songs for tonight's program with Jason while his cousin looked for someone to play Mary's part. The next, she was moments away from going on stage wearing a dress straight out of the 1800s. Behind her, Evelyn tugged the gown's corset strings so tight, Tara feared she'd faint dead away from lack of air. She started to object but stifled her complaints. Being unable to breathe had its advantages. No one could expect her to sing if she was passed out cold on the floor. As an added plus, it would save her the embarrassment of fainting dead away in front of the crowd gathered in the Green Room.

Unfortunately, Evelyn must have read her thoughts. Jason's cousin pressed her forefinger and thumb together in the sign for okay. She loosened the strings enough for Tara to inhale, and tied them off.

"There." Evelyn's hoarse voice whispered over her shoulder. "You look stunning."

Studying her image in the mirror, Tara had to agree. Thanks to Evelyn's deft hand, stage makeup highlighted her cheeks, her eyes, and darkened her lips. Her hair had been swept into a fancy updo. A few curls cascaded to her shoulders, where they brushed the top of a dark blue ball gown designed to showcase an hourglass figure. She fanned her fingers above the sweetheart neckline. "Don't you think it's a bit too low?"

"Psh." Evelyn not-so-gently tugged Tara's hand to the side. "It's perfect."

Someone raised a toast in the ballroom next door. Classes clinked.

"It's showtime," Evelyn declared. "Ready?"

Tara's heart thudded so hard she thought her chest might explode. She backpedaled a step. She would have retreated farther, but her feet tangled in the hem of her dress. She clutched a nearby door jamb and hung on for dear life. "I don't think I ca—"

"It's too late to back out now." Evelyn's voice firmed. "You can't disappoint the bride and the groom. Or Jason. He's counting on you."

Tears stung the corners of Tara's eyes. "I-I don't want to go out there and make a fool of myself."

"Oh, honey, you won't." Sympathy dripped from Evelyn's every word. "Just don't look at the audience. Watch Jason. He'll be right beside you every minute." The redhead backed away as another round of clinking glassware drifted from the other room. "That's my cue," she said, her voice as clear as a bell. Her eyes cut to one side, and she cleared her throat. "Remember," she croaked, "Jason will sing one song, then you come in. Follow his lead."

With an impish grin, Jason's cousin dashed out the door before Tara had a chance to point out that Evelyn's laryngitis seemed to come and go at will. She laughed shortly at the realization that she'd been played. From the room next door came a soft creaking. Evelyn had taken her seat on the piano bench. Tara stiffened when the scrape of silverware against china stilled. Conversation and laughter died. The opening bars of the first number filtered through the Green Room.

Her heart in her throat, Tara made her way to the spot where she was supposed to stand until Jason signaled her. She stared as he entered the ballroom from the opposite side. The hours they'd spent practicing hadn't prepared her for seeing him dressed as Captain Thaddeus. Her breath caught as her gaze rose from a pair of pointed shoes. She inched past the white breeches and stockings that outlined the muscles of his calves and long legs. Gold braid sparkled from a sharply cut jacket that made his shoulders look wide enough to carry the weight of the world. She knew the moment he'd spotted her by the appreciation that flared in his dark eyes. He tipped the feathered hat he wore at a jaunty angle. With a rakish grin, he launched into the first of a series of sea shanties.

She couldn't tear her gaze away from him. And when he beckoned her forward, her doubts and her fears fell away. Her focus unwavering, she closed the distance between them, joining him in the second song just as they'd practiced. She'd expected stage fright to rear its ugly head. Instead, with her eyes trained on Jason, her confidence grew with every line until, midway through the next number, she risked a glance at their audience. Hearty smiles and clapping hands gave her just the boost she needed. She shot Jason a grin as they finished out the rousing set with a flourish.

But the ballad, with its complicated runs and crooked beats, came next. Like smoke from a smoldering fire, fear sifted through her chest. It filled the nooks and crannies. It fogged her brain. When Evelyn played through the opening bars of the song, Tara opened her mouth. She shut it immediately. She couldn't remember the words. Her lower lip quivered. Certain everyone was staring at her and that she was poised on the brink of ruining the bride and groom's special day, she turned toward Jason.

And there he stood. Offering her his hand, letting her lean on him like he'd promised. Her feet ate up the distance between them. She reached for him. The touch of his fingers on hers steadied her. She barely had time to catch her breath when he launched into the ballad. As he sang, the room around her ceased to exist. The fear that had nearly paralyzed her simply vanished.

She leaned into the song, matching him note for note, bar for bar. Halfway through the story of a love so strong it could withstand every challenge thrown in its path, her voice thickened. Her heart echoed the words. She stared into Jason's eyes and knew for once and for all that she loved him. She had from the moment they'd met.

As the song drew to its conclusion, Jason reached for her, and she stepped into his embrace. For a long moment, they clung together like two souls who'd been buffeted by the winds of chance and emerged on the other side of the storm, whole and in love. With his arm around her waist, he dipped her low, his hat shielding them from view. She knew he intended to kiss her. Without a doubt, she wanted him to. He leaned in, his lips nearly grazing hers.

Applause thundered through the room. Jason rolled his eyes. "To be continued," he murmured and pulled her upright.

Flushed and happy, she remained at his side. Her hand in his, they took their bows until, at last, the clapping came to an end. This was it, the moment she'd been waiting for, the moment when they'd pick up that kissing business right where they'd left off.

Jason lifted Tara's hand in his as they bowed deeply to deafening applause. His heart swelled nearly to bursting with pride for the woman who stood beside him. He'd known she didn't like large crowds. That was one reason he'd been so reluctant to ask her to join him on stage. When she'd frozen, his heart had very nearly stopped. But his faith in her had kept him from rushing to her rescue. He was glad now that he'd waited. She'd conquered her stage fright to finish the show. More than that, she'd overcome her fears and given the performance of a lifetime. He couldn't be happier for her.

He hadn't been able to believe his eyes the moment he'd seen Tara standing in the wings, waiting for her cue to step on stage. He'd always appreciated her poise and her beauty, but she'd never looked lovelier than she did tonight. More than mere physical attraction drew him to her, however. The trust he saw in her blue eyes stirred all his protective instincts. He longed to be her knight in shining armor, to slay her dragons—whatever and wherever they might be. The faith she had in him made him want to be a better man than he'd ever been before. When they'd sung that final ballad, he'd ached to make it real, to give her his heart, to declare his love for her, to shower her with kisses.

He'd nearly accomplished that last bit before the crowd had oh-so-rudely interrupted. He chuckled. Much as he hated delaying that first kiss, he had to admit the timing wasn't right. He'd gotten too far ahead of himself. There'd be plenty of time for kisses later, once he knew for sure that Tara loved him like he loved her.

The time for heartfelt declarations wasn't in the middle of the Smith reception, though. Not with everyone and their brother looking on. Sweeping his hat from his head, he bowed low to Tara. "M'lady," he intoned. "Methinks the bride and groom would have a word with us."

"Aye, Captain." Tara tossed out a saucy grin that made his pulse race.

He leaned in to whisper in her ear. "We'll just pay our respects and then we'll slip away." He nodded to a side door. His heart warmed another degree or two when her eyes sparkled in agreement.

An hour later, he and Tara were still no closer to making their escape than they'd been at the close of their set. First, the bride and groom had insisted on posing for photographs with the Captain and his Lady. After that, practically every guest at the wedding expected their turn.

"The downside to a job well done is that everyone wants to thank you for it," he said to Tara while yet another guest snapped a few pictures.

"It's part of the job, isn't it?" Shrugging, she hid a yawn behind one gloved hand. "I don't mind. Really, I don't." She yawned again.

Sympathy tugged deep in his chest. He'd say one thing for the woman he loved—when she put her mind to doing something, she stuck with it. But he'd bet a week's salary that the after-effects of an adrenaline rush were hitting her hard right about now. "You know what?" he said, wrapping his arm around her waist. "It's time we got you out of here."

Treating the rest of the guests to a broad smile, he gently but firmly guided her to the exit. There, he snagged two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter. He handed one to Tara. The other, he raised high above his head. "To Mr. and Mrs. Smith," he said, letting his voice carry throughout the room. "Best wishes for a Heart's Landing love for the ages!"

While glasses clinked and voices raised in a hearty, "Hear, hear!" he whisked Tara through the door and down the hall. "Thanks for sticking in there as long as you did. You have to be worn out."

Tara's skirts swished against the risers as they mounted the stairs to her room. "I'll admit I'm beat. But I was glad to be a part of it. I'll never forget how happy it made the bride and groom to have us there."

"It was perfect. You were perfect." He could've said more. Could have pointed out that tonight she'd experienced firsthand what Heart's Landing was all about. But he had other things—more important things—on his mind.

At her door, he propped his arm on the jamb over her head. He wished the night could go on forever. He longed to tell Tara how much she meant to him. He needed to find out if she felt the same way toward him. If she did, they had a future to plan.

But one look at Tara, and he knew any serious talk of love or hopes and expectations would have to wait. Fatigue had tightened the faint lines at the corners of her eyes. The strain of smiling for hours on end had carved furrows around her mouth. He let his arm fall to his side. "It's not every night you get to wow the crowd. You definitely did that tonight. Now, get a good night's rest. You deserve it."

Confirming his decision, Tara stifled another yawn behind her gloved hand. "Sorry," she said softly. Fatigue etched itself a little deeper into her features.

"We'll talk tomorrow." A smile loaded with promise stole across his face. "What do you say to taking a walk together first thing in the morning?"

"Sounds good. I'll meet you downstairs around seven?"

"I'll bring coffee. We can follow the bike path along the cliffs behind the Cottage." Wishing he could kiss her properly but all too aware that the time wasn't right, he touched his lips to one finger and pressed it against the tip of her nose. "Good night," he said and forced himself to walk away.

Seconds later, he bounded up the stairs to the third floor where, no matter how exhausted he felt, he was sure he faced a sleepless night.