Chapter 29

I inched toward Era while her gaze was averted. A cat cornering the mouse against a wall. But I didn't feel like a cat. Cats don't feel their prey's iciness snake its way all the way through their spines. With the microphone perched on the tip of my tongue, I ran my thumb over my lips to catch it, an innocent, perfectly normal movement if I'd had stray crumbs.

"Yeah, remember? I told you she was coming." Derek stood from the piano bench and shot me a grin over his shoulder. "I guess we should get the movie started, huh?"

No. Not yet. I jumped into action.

"Era, I love your jacket," I blurted out, crossing toward her. "Where did you get it?"

"Somewhere you've never heard of," she said, her voice like a hiss.

"Can I touch it?" Without waiting for an answer, I reached out and stuck the tiny microphone on my thumb underneath the jacket's velvet lapel, then stroked the corner of the lapel while wearing what I hoped was a dreamy smile. Probably more like creepy though.