Method Acting: An opposites attract, found family romance (Center Stage Book 2) by Adele Buck (web based ebook reader txt) 📕

But something about this guy made her want to stand her ground.

Another voice cut in. “Sounds like you were a really smooth operator, Col. Good work.”

Alicia had noticed before That Guy…Colin, she reluctantly told herself, was sitting with someone, but she hadn’t focused on him. Now she turned with a wary smile to see the other man getting to his feet, and registered a broad grin creating a deep dimple in one cheek.

“Russell King,” the other man said, extending a hand.

Alicia shook it with a smile. “Alicia Johnson.”

“I know. That was a great performance. You have some pipes.”

“Thank you.” Alicia said. Normally the compliment, the handsome face, and the easy charm would have warmed her more, but she was cautious. This guy was with That Guy. Colin.

“Well, I’m going to get one more drink. Can I get anything for either of you?” Russell cocked a thumb over his shoulder at the bar.

“Whiskey.” Colin didn’t even look at his friend, and Alicia found herself giving an example of almost exaggerated politeness in contrast.

“Gin and tonic, thank you so much. Please let Leo know that it’s for me. He won’t charge you,” she said with a grateful smile.

Russell looked from Alicia’s smile to Colin, who now appeared annoyed. Good. She wanted him to be annoyed. “Right. I’ll just get those drinks, then…”

Alicia realized her mistake as Russell moved away. She was now not only committed to stay for the duration of a drink, but she was also alone with Colin. Again.

Time to brave it out.

“Well,” she said, affecting a brightness she didn’t feel. “What brings you all the way to this neck of the woods?”

“It’s Logan Circle, not Mars.” Yes, Colin was still peevish. Again, good. For some reason, she liked getting a rise out of him. Maybe it was because he had antagonized her from the start. Or maybe it was because he seemed like the kind of guy who was always in control. The stereotype of a British stiff, in dire need of shaking up.

Alicia lifted an eyebrow. “Well. I may be new in town, but you are a lobbyist and I did meet you on Capitol Hill. I just thought you might have a natural habitat you didn’t stray out of.”

The muscles at Colin’s temples bulged as he gritted his teeth, and Alicia repressed a gleeful smile. This guy was too easy to needle. Appearing to rein in his temper, he flashed a tight imitation of a polite smile. “You did mention you sang here on Sundays, so I thought I would drop by. See the talents you boasted of that were not on display the other night.”

Shit. She had mentioned that, hadn’t she? Well, he didn’t have to be snotty about it. She hadn’t boasted.

“It’s so nice of you to remember,” she said.

His eyes narrowed, but he didn’t respond to the bait this time. “Not at all,” he said. “I do love music.”

“Really?” She looked him up and down. Instead of a suit, he was wearing a crisp white cotton button-down shirt, his cuffs rolled back to expose defined, muscular forearms. His shoulders were broad and solid too, she realized with chagrin. Suit jackets like the one he’d worn a week ago could give any man a nice set of shoulders, but his were the real deal.

That wouldn’t do at all.

“I guess I had you pegged as a symphony-only kind of guy,” she said.

What exactly is this woman’s problem? Colin thought with exasperation. She spoke as if he was some sort of poncy twit. He wasn’t like those stuffy, boring guys from upper-crust families he had gone to Oxford with.

Was he?

Russell returned at that moment, carefully carrying three drinks, the third glass wedged between the other two. Carefully setting the assemblage on the table, he handed Alicia hers with a smile and a wink.

“Ladies first.”

Annoyance rose up in Colin again. Was Russell really trying to edge him out? Glancing at his friend, he realized Russ was messing with him. A self-satisfied smile had spread across the other man’s face. Gotcha, it seemed to say.

Settling his tense shoulders, Colin received his whiskey from Russell with a half-bow. “Thank you,” he said. “Very kind of you.”

Russell rolled his eyes and turned back to Alicia. “So, where did you learn to sing like that? You from a musical family?”

Alicia seemed caught off guard by the question, though it seemed normal enough to Colin. “Um. No. I guess I always did sing. And then when I started to get small roles in musicals, I would pick up what I could from the leads, the musical directors, whatever I could get. I’m pretty self-taught in general.”

“Well, you’re a good student, I can tell.”

Alicia laughed at this, a blush reddening her cheeks. “You can, huh?”

“Trust me, I’m a professional.”

“Oh really?” Alicia appeared skeptical, but amused. Colin couldn’t figure a way into the conversation, but much as he hated to be a spectator, he also thought he might learn something from the interchange. He sipped his drink and settled in to watch.

“Yeah. That’s how I met this guy.” Russell bumped Colin with his elbow.

“You were his…teacher?” Alicia looked from one man to the other, eyebrows lifted questioningly.

“Classmate, actually. I was getting an advanced tax degree when Colin was getting his U.S. legal degree. Somehow, we became friends. I teach there now. That’s how I know you’re a good student. Anyone who can teach herself a thing so well is bound to be.”

“You teach ‘there’ now? Where is there?”

“Georgetown Law.”

“Ah.” Alicia seemed to retreat in on herself and she scanned the now near-empty club with thoughtful eyes.

“It’s not that bad,” Russell said.

Alicia laughed, a sharp, brittle sound. “No, I was just wondering what a girl with a high-school equivalency is doing talking to two guys who have really fancy degrees, that’s all.”

Russell rolled his eyes again. “It’s not as fancy as all that.”

A tight smile passed over her face. “We’ll just have to