my charm bracelet, but I skipped the necklace because of the straps.
It was a fairly long ride from the lodge to Denver, but the guys remained mute on our destination. After the Torched concert, I knew that we were going to some show, but I had no idea what.
The car pulled us right up to the front of a theatre, and the sign on the marquee told me the rest. Holy crap. Emersyn Sharpe was headlining with the Spitfire dance troupe and the Fly by Night show. I’d only ever seen them on YouTube.
Tears threatened again, and I glared at the guys.
“Birthday boy gets his way,” Jake informed me, then pressed a finger to my lips. “Archie asked if I wanted to take you to this for my birthday, and I said hell yes.”
I laughed. “You guys…”
“It’s Christmas,” Archie reminded me before he slid out of the car and held out his hand to help me out. “And Jake’s birthday. It’s all about having fun.”
This was the kind of performance that I had always wanted to see. Like going to the Torched concert, but so very different. Not only was I getting to see it, I was getting to see it with all of them looking devastating in their suits.
Thankfully, there was no snow to walk through. Inside, we were shown to a table—not to just seats—and there was a supper being served. We didn’t have long after we were seated that the food was brought out and the drinks, and then the show was starting. When the lights plunged down, Jake found my hand and held it, Coop had his free hand on my thigh, and the music started as two dancers appeared out of the shadows.
Emersyn Sharpe was unmistakable—lean, muscular, and powerful. Her dance partner was Aaron or Erin or maybe Rick something. I didn’t pay as much attention to him, though he was huge by comparison to her, and he threw her into the air and caught her and moved her around like she was nothing. It was like she danced on the air, and that was when they were on the stage.
When the silk fell and she began to use that to climb and dance, it really was magical.
A glance around the table when the lights changed showed me the guys were as rapt as I was, and that let me relax and really enjoy the show.
Jake didn’t complain once when I squeezed his hand at some maneuver she did as she danced. Nor did they comment when I had to dab at my eyes afterward.
What a magical life she had to perform like that.
What a magical life I had to get to see it with the guys.
After the show, the night wasn’t over. The car took us to a club that let us in, even if we were only eighteen. And while we couldn’t drink, we did dance.
Holy hell, did we dance.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Green-Eyed Girl
Ian
I had to give credit where credit was due. This vacation was everything Frankie needed. From the skiing to the Torched concert to the evenings sprawled around the lodge playing video games. Christmas crept up on us like the cherry atop the sundae of this trip. I’d have been jealous, but we were all making a concerted effort to not hog her time. Sure, Jake stole her on his birthday. I respected that. One of us, sometimes two of us, was always in her bed, but she didn’t push anyone away.
The morning of Christmas Eve, I slipped into her room where she and Coop were a tangle of limbs. The latter lifted his head and peered at me, then yawned and rolled back over as I slid in on Frankie’s other side. Drinking in the sight of her, I smiled at her as I cupped her cheek. Her eyes danced beneath her closed lids. I almost hated to rouse her from dreams, but then those perfect green eyes fluttered open to focus on me.
A smile curved her lips so easily, I let out a soft sigh. Carefully stroking her hair back from her face, I mouthed the word “coffee” and lifted my eyebrows in question. She stretched and the sheet dipped over her nakedness, and she smothered a yawn as she glanced toward the windows. It was still early, but I wanted her to myself for a bit.
Scooting toward me, she murmured, “Shower?”
The sex smell in the room told me why, and I lifted the blankets and scooped her up. She smothered