My heart swells at her unknowing admission to me, and more than anything I want to squeeze her against me and tell her just how much I love her in return, but I dare not wake my sleeping angel. Knowing that she loves me has given me the courage to finally tell her how deep my feelings run for her.

Tomorrow will be the start of our forever.

CELEBRITY POP BUZZ NIGHTLY

The camera zooms in on Linda Bronson, standing outside of an old, white two-story house. “Good evening, I’m Linda Bronson, and I’m coming to you live from Columbus, Ohio, just outside of the foster home that the missing rock star Ace White grew up in. After the passing of his foster mother, Sarah Johnson, this house as well as all the contents inside have been left to Ace in her will. There has been no reported activity inside the home since Ms. Johnson passed nearly three months ago until recently. Neighbors reported seeing a man fitting the approximate age of Ace White exit the home and enter an older-model Chevy Cavalier that was parked outside.

“The neighbors reported that the man they saw had short hair and no beard and was accompanied by a young woman with long, brown hair. While it’s not confirmed, it is possible that the man was Ace White, since there appears to be no forced entry into the home and nothing appears to be vandalized, according to police.

“Once again, Ace White’s missing persons case is still open. His tour manager, Jane Ann Rogers, has raised the reward to fifty thousand dollars for information leading to the discovery of his whereabouts. For Celebrity Pop Buzz Nightly, I’m Linda Bronson.”

IRIS

Practicing in the shed with Ace is much easier this time than the last time we were out here. The last time there was so much sexual tension flowing between us that I could barely concentrate on actually singing. All I wanted to focus on was the fact that he was so close—touching me—where I could smell the spicy, delicious scent on his skin.

Now that I get to have him any way I want him, being so close is much easier.

“Look me in the eye and project,” Ace says as he stands in the far corner of the shed, watching me perform a number from Guys and Dolls. “If you want the audience to feel it, then you have to feel it and sing it loud enough for the people clear in the back to hear you. Give them no choice but to be wrapped up in your emotions with you.”

I take a deep breath and count the beats and come into the song right on time, fixing my gaze on Ace. I belt the song out, believing each word that flows from my lips, hoping that it comes through as authentic.

Ace gives me a dazzling smile. “Yes. Give me more.”

I smile, loving his praise, and the cheer in my voice comes through perfectly into a happy portion of the song. This only seems to please him more, so I continue reaching down deep to drag the emotion out and allow confidence to ring through my voice until the very last verse of the song.

When the final note plays, Ace claps his hands slowly. “Iris, that was amazing. When you go back to Broadway, they’ll have no choice but to pick you for a role.”

“Really?” I practically squeal. “You really think that’ll happen?”

He steps up to me and wraps me in his strong, comforting embrace. “I do, because if you sing for them the way you do for me, they’ll be blinded by the light coming from you. It will have them stepping all over themselves to have you in one of their productions.”

I sigh. “That would be a dream come true.”

“Just promise that when you become a big Broadway star someday you won’t forget who you are and will stay true to the girl who’s singing her heart out in this shed, who has a true passion for the music itself.”

I reach up to his nape and curl a lock of his hair around my finger. “I promise.”

Ace stares down at me for a long moment, unmoving and not saying a word, just remains there, taking me in. There’s an odd expression in his eyes, and it has me curious as to what’s going on inside that beautiful mind of his.

“What is it?” I ask.

He smiles shyly. “You said something last night that’s gotten me thinking.”

I tilt my head. “Oh?”

“You said . . .” He pauses for a beat. “You said that you loved me while you were asleep. At first I thought you were having a nightmare because you were so restless, but then you said my name, followed by saying that you love me.”

Heat floods my cheeks. While I don’t deny that’s how I feel about him, because I very much do, it’s hard to hear that I’ve admitted my innermost feelings to him while I was in a state of unconsciousness.

He slides his index finger under my jaw and then pinches my chin gently between his thumb and forefinger, forcing me to stare into his russet eyes. “Don’t be embarrassed. I’m glad you said it. You can’t control what truths your brain releases when you’re asleep, so I know you meant it. And you have no idea how happy that makes me, because I’ve been thinking it for so long now, but I was afraid to say it, unsure if it was too soon to feel so deeply for you. I worried I might scare you away.”

My heart flutters. Knowing he feels the same way makes me so giddy that I could do a backflip. He loves me, and I love him—this is exactly what I’ve been hoping for.

He swallows deeply. “I love you, Iris—with every inch of my soul, with every inch of my entire being. You . . .” He brings both hands up and pulls my face so close to his that I can feel the heat of his breath on my lips. “You are my Juliet.”