Page 87 of Mafioso's Muse
‘I appreciate you not using me as a means for a better role,’ he said.
She tucked her arm out of reach. ‘I would never do that. As you’ve always said, my time will come.’
Harrison angled his head. ‘Are you okay?’
‘Yes.’
‘You seem tense.’
It was the touching. Didn’t he realise how intimate his gestures were? ‘I’m fairly tired after tonight’s performance. Maybe dinner wasn’t such a good idea.’
He rubbed her arm. ‘Yes, it must be exhausting dancing so beautifully.’
He said it with humour, but Willow’s mind and body were on alert now. She needed to stand up and put some space between them.
As she was figuring out the best way to do that, Harrison leaned forwards and kissed her cheek. ‘I’m so proud of you.’
The heat from his breath made her recoil. Every instinct inside her was now screaming at her to get out of here.
‘Can you let me out please?’ she asked, pressing herself against the wall.
He lightly took hold of her chin and forced her to look at him. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘Nothing. I just want to get out.’
He didn’t move. ‘Tell me this isn’t about the casting.’
God, why can’t you just move. ‘What? No.’
‘You should understand by now that the chorus needs good dancers too.’
Growing angry, she blurted, ‘Out of curiosity, why aren’t you considering me for a solo role?’
Harrison shook his head but didn’t move back. ‘So youareupset about the casting.’ Then he was touching her face again. ‘I see your nerves before you go onstage. This is all so new for you.’
He sure loved to bring that up at any opportunity. ‘That can’t be the only factor in your decision-making.’ She wondered if she had the courage to say the next part aloud. ‘Sometimes it feels like you don’t want me to succeed.’
Harrison withdrew his hand from her face. ‘You think I’m holding youback? Willow, I’m the reason you’rehere. You’re talented. I’d never take that away from you, but you do have limitations.’
‘I know, because you remind me of them frequently.’
His hand went to her leg. ‘Not everyone can be a lead. Your strengths lie in supporting roles. It’s not a bad thing. You should embrace it.’
She looked down at his hand. ‘When you say things like that, it sounds like I’ll never be anything more.’
He laughed, but it sounded so patronising. ‘You’re here living your dream becauseIsaw something in you. I know exactly what you’re capable of.’
Her eyes searched his. ‘Maybe other people see different things.’
‘I’m sure they do, but they don’t have your best interests at heart like I do. I’m trying to guide your career in a safe direction.’
‘By keeping me in the chorus?’ Her frustration was mounting.
‘For now.’
Willow could no longer bear the closeness, the touching, his words. She had considered him a mentor and friend, but she was waking up and realising that Vaughn’s warning about him had been valid.
Harrison Walsh didn’t want to help her. He wanted to control her.