Page 2 of Heartbreaker

A huge international tour that sold out in seconds.

And now…

Song of the Year.

The applause begins to die down—though, in fairness, the tepid congratulations from her contemporaries is drowned out by the audience in the balcony behind us, so really, it’s her fans that are quieting.

Because she’s approaching the microphone.

Opening her mouth.

And—

Lightning shoots through my veins.

I’ve heard the song—of course I have. I wrote it. I came up with the melodies. I recorded it. And then I sent it off to be made into magic. And even then, I heard advance copies, made suggestions for tweaks and additions on the production side, listened to it dozens, if not hundreds of times.

But when Jade Cantrell begins talking into that microphone, when her melodic voice echoes out of the huge speakers mounted above the stage, the room fills with…

Music.

Fucking beautiful music that hits me in my soul.

Hard.

I’m frozen into place, watching each minute movement she makes as she adjusts the microphone, smiles, and continues to speak.

Because I haven’t felt like this since…

I had two hands that functioned and I could make music the way I wanted.

It’s captivating. It’s theje ne sais quoievery musician wishes they had. It’s…magic.

And—

“She’s got it,” Briar whispers, her shoulder pressing against mine. “That spark that makes the whole world sit up and pay attention to her.”

I nod.

But don’t look at my sister because I’m still paying attention to Jade’s every word as she thanks her family, her friends, her music teacher, her agent and publicist and assistant. All the usual bullshit.

But done in a way that’s effortless and a pleasure to listen to and doesn’t come across as fake or insincere.

Yup.

She’s fuckinggotit.

“Without Grandma Louise, I never would have been here.” Her throat works, emotion shimmering through her words. “Thank you for believing in me when I didn’t.”

Christ.

That even makesmefeel something.

Clearly, it’s been too long since I’ve gotten laid.

Lost in the pleasure of female curves.

Out of my head so I’m not constantly thinking about?—