Moyra.”
“You as well,” I said, watching her after she'd stepped outside and into her car. “Jesus, Thayre, Tabby doesn't look older than twenty.”
“They start younger every year,” he said, coming up behind me to kiss the back of my ear. “She started playing with us last fall, and she's grown a lot since then.”
“And she's part of Transcendence?” I asked, turning to face him.
“Not yet, no. By August, so long as she keeps this up, she will be.”
“I thought you were only missing a first violinist.”
“I am for now, but a lot of our players switch out all the time. Some play with us for a bit to put on their resume or college applications. There's a small handful who have stayed with Transcendence since we started a few years ago.”
“You weren't kidding when you said it was hard to find good musicians in the area, then.”
“Far from it actually. I wish it were easier, but most of the applicants we get are too young, too inexperienced, or don't want to work hard for their pay. I don't know about you, but I gave up on drama once I got out of high school.”
“And yet you have a fresh graduate playing for you.”
“Fortunately for us, not all of the kids fresh out of school are that bad. We got lucky with Tabby. She'd actually seen us play a year or two ago, back when all we played were local events. Didn't have the money to do much else. But once she came to see us perform, she sent in an application shortly after that.”
“And she got in?”
“Not at first, no. We rejected her first sample as she didn't diversify her music enough. But then she applied again last summer, and we're glad she did. She's grown a lot since she first applied.”
I dropped my gaze and focused on my feet. “Would I need to apply?”
Thayre set a hand under my chin, gently lifting my gaze so we could see eye-to-eye. “Does this mean you've considered my offer?”
“I've thought about it, but I can't say I've decided yet. Especially now since I've heard you play.”
He took my hands in his and smiled. “Moyra, you are that good, you just can't see it yet. But I understand your apprehension. This is a big move, and a huge favor for me to ask of you, but it wouldn't be one-sided—I hope.”
“Trust me, getting an offer like this is unbelievable. But I can't help thinking I'm pulling the rug out from under someone else's feet.”
He tucked a stray hair behind my ear but didn't remove his hand. “And I told you before, I have no one nearly qualified enough for the part.”
“Except you.”
He released a breath. “Yes, but unless I want someone else conducting my music and, more than likely, making a mess of it, I could really use your help. If not for the long-term, at least until after we play at Webster this fall. Everyone's so excited about it, but I'm afraid we won't be ready unless I can find someone fast—preferably someone who knows a thing or two about music.”
I winced. “Let me guess, you've had applicants for this exact position.”
“I have, but they're all playing at a beginner's level. Even if I had years to train them, they wouldn't be half as ready as I need them to be. We don't have enough time.” He arced his thumb along my cheek. “But that isn't the only reason I'm asking you to do this for me. If you're the girl I remember from school, you won't walk away from this. Not now, and not after Webster. And trust me, getting a first violinist who sticks around would make my job worlds easier.”
I forced a smile and, as much as I didn't want to mix personal and professional, I leaned into his caress like a cat seeking the warmth of her owner's hand. “No pressure, right?”
“We'll take it one day at a time. How about we do this—you don't have work on Saturday, do you?”
“Not so long as Jay keeps to the schedule.”
“Well, keep your cell off. Come and watch us practice. Then, if you still want out, I'll stop asking.”
“And if I want in?”
“We'll go from
“You as well,” I said, watching her after she'd stepped outside and into her car. “Jesus, Thayre, Tabby doesn't look older than twenty.”
“They start younger every year,” he said, coming up behind me to kiss the back of my ear. “She started playing with us last fall, and she's grown a lot since then.”
“And she's part of Transcendence?” I asked, turning to face him.
“Not yet, no. By August, so long as she keeps this up, she will be.”
“I thought you were only missing a first violinist.”
“I am for now, but a lot of our players switch out all the time. Some play with us for a bit to put on their resume or college applications. There's a small handful who have stayed with Transcendence since we started a few years ago.”
“You weren't kidding when you said it was hard to find good musicians in the area, then.”
“Far from it actually. I wish it were easier, but most of the applicants we get are too young, too inexperienced, or don't want to work hard for their pay. I don't know about you, but I gave up on drama once I got out of high school.”
“And yet you have a fresh graduate playing for you.”
“Fortunately for us, not all of the kids fresh out of school are that bad. We got lucky with Tabby. She'd actually seen us play a year or two ago, back when all we played were local events. Didn't have the money to do much else. But once she came to see us perform, she sent in an application shortly after that.”
“And she got in?”
“Not at first, no. We rejected her first sample as she didn't diversify her music enough. But then she applied again last summer, and we're glad she did. She's grown a lot since she first applied.”
I dropped my gaze and focused on my feet. “Would I need to apply?”
Thayre set a hand under my chin, gently lifting my gaze so we could see eye-to-eye. “Does this mean you've considered my offer?”
“I've thought about it, but I can't say I've decided yet. Especially now since I've heard you play.”
He took my hands in his and smiled. “Moyra, you are that good, you just can't see it yet. But I understand your apprehension. This is a big move, and a huge favor for me to ask of you, but it wouldn't be one-sided—I hope.”
“Trust me, getting an offer like this is unbelievable. But I can't help thinking I'm pulling the rug out from under someone else's feet.”
He tucked a stray hair behind my ear but didn't remove his hand. “And I told you before, I have no one nearly qualified enough for the part.”
“Except you.”
He released a breath. “Yes, but unless I want someone else conducting my music and, more than likely, making a mess of it, I could really use your help. If not for the long-term, at least until after we play at Webster this fall. Everyone's so excited about it, but I'm afraid we won't be ready unless I can find someone fast—preferably someone who knows a thing or two about music.”
I winced. “Let me guess, you've had applicants for this exact position.”
“I have, but they're all playing at a beginner's level. Even if I had years to train them, they wouldn't be half as ready as I need them to be. We don't have enough time.” He arced his thumb along my cheek. “But that isn't the only reason I'm asking you to do this for me. If you're the girl I remember from school, you won't walk away from this. Not now, and not after Webster. And trust me, getting a first violinist who sticks around would make my job worlds easier.”
I forced a smile and, as much as I didn't want to mix personal and professional, I leaned into his caress like a cat seeking the warmth of her owner's hand. “No pressure, right?”
“We'll take it one day at a time. How about we do this—you don't have work on Saturday, do you?”
“Not so long as Jay keeps to the schedule.”
“Well, keep your cell off. Come and watch us practice. Then, if you still want out, I'll stop asking.”
“And if I want in?”
“We'll go from
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