Backstage Romance: An Austen-Inspired Romantic Comedy Box Set by Gigi Blume (ebook reader with highlighter txt) 📕

I had to agree with that but didn’t say so. I let him continue.

“I’ll probably have to take over his role.”

He kind of shrugged and pulled me in for a more intimate dance, clasping my hand to keep me near. I wasn’t quite sure how I felt about Elton taking over Frank’s role. Jax never hinted that was a possibility. He always seemed confident Frank would follow through. If, for some reason, they had to replace Frank, I’d bet my entire stash of Oreos they wouldn’t choose Elton. Then again, I wasn’t expecting them to let Beth go, either. But Elton? Sure, he was talented. We were all entertained at the workshop sessions. But he wasn’t a movie actor. I just didn’t see it. Also, he didn’t fit the character description. There was no way he and Jax could pass as brothers. Jax was tall and broad with soft waves of chocolate hair. His skin was just the right shade of tan—and those beautifully expressive eyes framed by perpetual creases from his smiles. Agh! Those smiles—genuine and artless like he was born that way, and it might physically hurt to twist his face into any other fashion.

But Elton? He wasn’t bad looking by any means. Certainly handsome enough for Harriet. But he wasn’t Jaxson’s equal. And currently, to my sudden realization, his hand was drifting lower on my waist than was socially acceptable. Assuming he hadn’t noticed, I righted its position only to feel it falling south again a few moments later. Surely he was tired. What other reason could there be for losing his hold on my waist?

“I think I’ve had enough dancing,” I said, stepping back. His face lit with awareness, openly sweeping his gaze down my body and dawdled on my chest for a little too long.

“Let’s go up to my room, then.”

It took me a second to process what he’d said. The music was rather loud, after all, and I’d been known to misunderstand things. It didn’t help I’d been feeling woozy all day.

“I’m sorry, what?”

He didn’t answer my question. He was perfectly content to show me exactly what he meant when he stepped into my space, craned his arm around my waist and came in for a hot kiss. A hot, wet kiss which landed on my eye when I turned my head to avoid it. I was sure my mascara was all to pot by this time. That didn’t deter him, however, because he leaned in for another go. My mascara couldn’t have tasted all that great.

“Elton, what are you doing? It’s me, Emma.”

“I can see that.” He puckered his lips, and I inwardly laughed for a nanosecond. His face was so red, he reminded me of Sebastian the crab from Little Mermaid.

“You’re off your trolley. I’m not Harriet. You’re mistaking me for Harriet.”

He scrunched his face. “Harriet? No one could mistake you for Harriet.”

“Then why are you trying to…” I lowered my voice for the next bit. “Kiss me?”

He seemed amused by my befuddlement. It was almost insulting the way he looked at me—like I was a right plonker.

“Isn’t it obvious?” he said with a smirk.

“Yes—it’s clearly obvious how you feel for Harriet.”

“The only thing I feel for Harriet is relief when she leaves the room.”

“Whaaat?”

“Just so I can be alone with you,” he quickly added.

This wasn’t happening. I felt my throat constricting on itself with extreme discomfiture.

“No.” I shook my head in disbelief. “You fancy Harriet. Not me. All the signs were there.”

“Then you read them wrong. It’s always been you, Emma.”

“No, you’re wrong, Elton,” I cried. “I’m never wrong!”

Of course, the music just had to end at that moment, leaving a quiet pause between songs while I screamed my head off. My life was one big cliché. Elton nervously looked about the room to see if anyone was looking.

“Can we talk about this somewhere else?”

Rock Lobster came on, and the wedding guests all whooped in delight. Nobody could hear us now.

“Here’s just fine, thank you.”

“Okay, okay.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “Listen, Emma.”

“That’s my name. Don’t wear it out.” I was officially twelve years old.

“I don’t know what made you think I’m interested in your… personal assistant, but I promise you I’ve never done anything to lead her on.”

I snorted. “I catch you staring at her all the time.”

“Only when I have to look past her to watch you.”

“You couldn’t stop complimenting her angelic voice.”

“No. You have the angelic voice. Not her.”

He tried to take my hands at this point, but I smacked them aside.

“You wrote her a bloody love song.” My throat was raw and bitter. I wasn’t beyond screaming, either. “You. Love. Harriet.”

“No, I do not love Harriet. The only reason I pay her any attention is for your sake.” Elton reached toward me to comfort me, I supposed. I wanted nothing of it.

“Stop that.”

He sighed. “We have chemistry. I know you feel it.”

“The only thing I feel is brassed off. Harriet is my friend.”

“And she’s a nice girl, I guess. But if she really thought that I would… eew!” He shook his head, almost gagging at the idea. “I can’t even think about it.”

Oh, no. No, no, no. The room closed in on me, spinning out of control. Everything was all wrong. I brushed past him and left the dance floor to just get away from this madness. What was I going to do? All I would get from Jax was a ‘told you so,’ even if I could find him. Elton ran after me and drew behind me as I hunched over the table to catch my bearings.

“Emma, please.”

I spun around on him, hardly able to stand—so very weary from this devastating blow.

“Please tell me you’re joking. You’ve had too much champagne, that’s all.” I forced a laugh. “Ha ha. See? I’m laughing. Let’s just forget this whole thing.”

“I only had enough wine to muster the courage to act on my feelings. You’ve been flirting with