AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I stare at his hand for a beat, a tingle wrapping around my spine paralyzes me momentarily. Is he coming on to me? But just as quick as he placed it on my knee, he removes it and stands back up. I adjust so both my feet are on the floor and run my hands down my jeans.
No. I’m just nervous and he’s trying to help calm me down. Get a grip.
“How about we get started?” Yes, please. He takes his place back in the chair opposite me and picks up the guitar leaning against his chair. “Do you play?”
I nod, blowing out a nervous breath. “I’m better at the piano.”
“Good to know.”
The next couple of hours, we dig into the song. All my anxiety washes away as Shane leads me through the piece. He’s good. And I love this song. A girl growing up without a father, searching for the one man that can protect her. Her journey moves through man after man until she finally meets him.
I lie to myself that I don’t love it because I can relate to it, but the truth echoes in my emotions as I sing. My father loved me, but the feeling of abandonment from my mom led me to search for it from men and women. I feel this song deep in my bones.
“Wow,” Shane whispers after my voice trails off, singing the last note. “That was… brilliant.”
My cheeks redden. “Thanks.”
It’s midnight, and it feels like I just woke up. My body is buzzing with an adrenaline high. I tug my shirt a couple times so air can blow over my overheated body. “That was insane.”
Shane jumps up and sits next to me again, his smile reaching his eyes. “It was. That’s a hit.” He drapes his arm against the back of the couch and his fingers brush against my temple, moving the couple tendrils of hair sticking to my sweaty face away. It takes effort not to jerk away.
“You’re so beautiful.” His eyes bore into me.
My smile fades.
Things just got awkward.
To defuse the situation, I hop up, focusing my eyes on anything other than him. “I can’t believe we created that.” I boast, ignoring his advance, walking back and forth in front of his coffee table. “I mean, that song is amazing, Shane.” He stays seated, his arm still stretched out and his leg resting on his knee, sitting there like he’s relaxing from a long day at work rather than a man that was just shut down.
Maybe he said that was beautiful. Meaning the song, not me. I tend to be great at reading men, especially ones that want to get in my pants. But I’m confused. One second he’s eye-fucking me, the next he’s just someone I’m collaborating with. It has me doubting myself, wondering if I’m just imagining what’s happening.
He grabs my attention when he rises and takes two long strides to where I’m standing. I step back. Not far enough away that he can’t reach out and tug on some of my hair. “I could take you to the top. My word goes a long way with Jude.”
My eyes widen. Nope, not imagining this.
Another step back and my hair slips out of his fingers. A flush of heat spikes through me. “Um…” I’m speechless. We were working so well together. Why is he doing this?
He flashes a wicked smile. “You know the old adage, do something for me, I’ll do something for you.”
Words stick in my throat and I have to swallow the knot to speak. “So, you want me to…” I can’t finish the sentence. I want to believe I misread him.
He chuckles and runs his finger under the strap of my pink tank. “You’re smart, I think you can figure it out.” When his finger moves to right above my breast, my heartbeat is pounding in my ear and I take another step back out of his reach again. This is the first time he doesn’t follow my lead. I take in a couple ragged breaths. My mind too stunned to form a coherent response.
Instead, I hold up my finger and whisper, “Can I use your restroom?”
He nods, pointing down the hallway. “I’ll be waiting.”
After grabbing my purse, I risk a quick glance over my shoulder to make sure he isn’t following me, rather he’s downing his glass of wine, paying no attention to me. He’s not concerned at all that I won’t come back.
I won’t, right? The voice in my head screams as I walk to the bathroom.
The bathroom door snaps shut and I lock it. Staring at myself in the mirror, the voice inside my head starts screaming again. Don’t do it. I wrap my fingers around the porcelain sink and I drop my head. If I leave, I’m taking the once in a lifetime chance with Jude and throwing it away. I really want this, the taste of success is at the tip of my tongue.
It’s just sex.
Shane’s a good-looking guy and I’ve had a one-night stand before. Just keep my eyes on the prize. Stardom.
I can do this.
