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just kept thinking her antics were a phase.
    Sighing, he slid into the driver’s seat and accessed voice mail. He’d been ignoring her for a week, but for some reason, his gut told him he needed to hear this one.
    “Hallo, Wolfy. I’m surprised you haven’t called back. My father finalized the trip today, and we’ll be in town before you know it. I see the July Fourth concert advertised on EHCS’s website, and I’d like to know the best seats before I buy tickets. Call me.”
    The message ended and Wolf stared out the windshield as a few orchestra members got into their cars across the street. She must have Googled him to find out about the orchestra. Wolf’s parents and friends would never speak to Alda again, never mind tell her where he’d gone.
    Was it possible to ban someone from buying tickets? He could imagine the look on Blake’s face if he asked. I’m supposed to be selling seats, not outlawing them.
    The truth was, he had to call her back. This fiasco had gone too far, and he needed to stop her before she came looking for him. Wolf stopped with his finger over the missed call. Knowing Alda, he needed to be clear, even a bit mean if he was ever to be rid of her.
    Wolf scrolled to Alda’s number and dialed. His heart sped as the call rang over and over again. That’s right—it’s five in the morning in Berlin. Alda was not an early riser. Her amused voice came on the line. “Hallo, you’ve reached the famous Alda Schuhmacher. I’m either modeling Karl Lagerfeld’s new collection or at the beach. Leave a message and maybe I’ll get back to you.”
    “Alda, stop calling me. I moved to America for a fresh start.” Wolf sighed. He had to make himself clear. “Honor my request and stop trying to reach me, even if you’ll be in the States. It would be best for both of us this way.”
    He pressed the end button so hard, his finger turned white. Done.
    Wolf turned the ignition and the classical station blared the opening movement of Mozart’s fortieth symphony. He revved the engine and took off into the night, never having felt freer.

Chapter Five
    Midnight Scare
    The new conductor waved his arms, but the pulse slowed like a music box winding down. The orchestra was a dying beast with an erratic heartbeat, waiting to be put out of its misery. “Allegro! Molto Allegro! Don’t drag the tempo.”
    Melody bobbed her head to follow the beat, but her fingers slipped up, and the notes came out as a blur. She couldn’t take in enough breath to project her sound, and the sea of violins covered her flute, every one of them Blake. Their overly moussed hair reflected the stage lights like an army of beetles.
    “More flute! Forte!” Wolf stared her down with fury burning in his icy gaze. Instead of his usual polo, he wore an eighteenth-century waistcoat with a lacy white undershirt, which somehow reminded her of the Jane Austen movies she’d watched, making him that much sexier. Mmmmm. Mr. Darcy with lighter hair and more muscles…
    “Where’s flute one?”
    Blinking out of her trance, Melody adjusted her head joint, turning the tone hole toward her to catch more air. The ten measure rest had magically turned into a two measure rest, giving her just enough time to take a double breath and come back in at her next entrance. She tightened her lips and blew.
    Nothing. Just air. Melody stared at her flute as if the instrument was broken. She even turned the end over to see if someone had stuffed cloth down the tube, but the silver shone marvelously shiny.
    Wolf stepped off the podium and walked toward her as the music continued. Without looking around him, he managed to avoid every violin bow as all the Blakes dug into their up-bows. Melody brought her flute down as he approached.
    “This isn’t working.” He shook his head, his long, wavy hair falling around his shoulders. “You’re going to have to kiss me.”
    “Kiss you?” Melody glanced at Carly, but she kept playing as though she hadn’t heard