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Is that a thing Adam allows himself to feel, along with everything else?
I go back to studying him again without shame. The next time he looks at me, I don’t look away. Neither does he. Our eyes stay locked as he licks his lips between verses and as he moves closer to the microphone to sing the line,bound by wild desire.
My eyes move to his mouth. He’s so close to the microphone his lips almost touch it. Heat travels down my spine at the same pace that Adam’s fingers move over the mic stand. The muscles in his arms swell when he grabs the mic with both hands and sings into it. The beat pulses through me. Adam’s voice chases it, igniting every pulse point the song touches.
By the time the song ends, I’m basically a puddle in my chair. Adam gives a pleased nod to Sebastian and Bear, but his eyes skim by me. Thank God. The music still ripples through me with such force, I barely pull myself together enough to clap.
When Adam’s eyes meet mine, his face breaks into a slow, shy smile. My whole body vibrates.
Especially my butt, and I realize it’s actually the phone in my back pocket.
I slip it from my pocket and see Georgia’s name. I raise it and mouthGeorgiato Adam, who’s still looking at me.
Once I get to a quieter spot near the door, I answer the call. It’s late, but she’s an hour behind in California and has always been a night owl.
“Hey.” My words come out breathless. Now that I’m out of Adam’s view, I fan my hand in front of my face. It can’t be over forty degrees outside. There’s no heat on inside. I should not be this hot.
“Hey yourself. How are things going?”
“Good.” I’ve texted Georgia, but we really haven’t talked since I’ve been here. She’s working on another project in California, so that’s where her focus has been.
“Not too bored in Paradise?”
I glance back at the stage. Adam is talking and laughing with Sebastian and Bear. “I’ve found some things to do.”
“There’s always something to do in Paradise, it’s just a matter of how much trouble you’re willing to get into.” Georgia laughs, and I get the sense all the Thomsens would laugh with her if they could hear her.
“What do you think of Grandma Rose’s?” she continues, and I realize this is going to be more than just a quick check in.
“There’s not much of it left, but I’ve got lots ideas. Hold on” I point to my phone and wave to Adam and the rest of the guys, then step outside. It’s freezing, and I walk quickly across the parking lot, talking to Georgia the whole time.
“Framing should start tomorrow. In the meantime, Adam has some reclaimed wood that might work for flooring, and I’ve got some design ideas to send you. I can’t wait for you to see the antlers we found today.” I run down the list that’s taken up permanent residence in my brain. “But once framing is done, we’ve got to get plumbing and electricity in.”
“That’s Sebastian and Bear. Who’s coming first?” Georgia asks.
“I don’t know. Zach set it up. I didn’t even know Sebastian and Bear did anything besides play in a band at The Garden of Eatin’.” I’m still trying to wrap my brain around how everyone in this town has a million different jobs.
“Cool. Glad to hear it’s going well. I need you to post more so I can share them with the production team. The more they see, the easier they’ll be to convince.” There’s noise in the background, like she’s baking or doing one of the many things she does when her mind is racing with ideas, and she can’t sleep. “Have you met everyone yet?”
“If you mean all the Thomsens, I think so. Except for their mom. Adam and Zach took me shed hunting today.” I push open my door as quietly as possible, but Rosie is barking before I can get it shut it again.
“What is that noise?” Georgia yells into the phone.
“Rosie.” I sigh.
“Rosie? Dakota’s dog?”
“You’ve met?” I toss my keys onto the side table by my door, then collapse onto the couch.
“Not officially. After Adam got her for Dakota, he told me she’d named the dog Rosie after me. I don’t think she meant it as the compliment I thought it was.” Things get quieter on Georgia’s end, but Rosie is still barking her head off. “Why is she at your house?”
“She’s not. Or, at least, she’s not upstairs. Adam’s in the condo downstairs.” I pull a blanket off the back of the couch and curl under it.
“Adam is living in the Victorian?”
Hearing Adam’s name causes a warm swirling behind my ribs, but the heat that coursed through me a few minutes ago is gone. Georgia calling is a good thing. She pulled me from the fire before I got burned. Now I can just enjoy the warmth left behind from the flames.
“Should he be living somewhere else?” I don’t mind having him downstairs. His dog, on the other hand, could go.
