Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
I walk my hands against the roof of the bus to steady myself as I move my feet toward my target. I’m just going to check on her. That’s what I tell myself.
Sliding the door open, I lean on the jamb. Once again, she’s so engrossed in the papers before her she doesn’t realize I’m standing here. I take a moment to watch her.
I stand, truly studying her. She has a black silk scarf tied around her head, revealing her neck and cute ears. I’ve never known ears could be so sexy.
From this angle, her lips are still as enticing as they were at the diner. I’d love to suck and lick on them as I push inside her. Damn, I’ve never had a woman make me want to fuck them so bad.
Her toes are even sexy, painted a pretty blue. What I’d do to suck her toes into my mouth while she screams for mercy. My cock swells just thinking about it.
Just as I go to adjust myself, she lifts her head. I push off the doorjamb, not bothering to shield the bulge tightening the front of my jeans. Instead, I climb onto the foot of the bed and lie across it in front of her.
“Did I keep you awake with my playing?”
“No, that didn’t bother me at all. It’s more my thoughts and all of this keeping me up,” she says, waving a hand at the papers around her.
“What can I do?”
She snorts. “You’ve done enough. I’ll take care of this. I should have enough to settle all of this and still find a cheap flight home from your next stop. Detroit, right?”
“Yeah, Detroit. But didn’t I tell you I’d take care of getting you to Cali?” I say, searching her eyes.
“Why would you want to carry me along on tour? I’m taking up your bed and I’m an extra mouth to feed,” she replies.
“Actually, I have selfish reasons of my own,” I say and shrug.
“Can you clarify that?” She shifts on the bed as her face takes on an uncomfortable expression.
“I’ve written my first song in four years. I… I was missing my muse until you walked into that diner. I want to keep you around so I can finish this album.”
She tilts her head, narrowing her eyes at me. Those brown eyes are so pretty as they slant slightly upward. Their almond shape and deep-brown color are just right for her heart-shaped face.
“You’re saying that you wrote your first song in four years because of me? Now, that’s a first. Probably the most creative line I’ve heard,” she says with a small smile.
“It’s not a line, gorgeous. It’s the truth.”
“Um… okay. If you say so,” she says.
“Listen, I have to finish writing this album by the time I finish this tour. That’s in four weeks. I was hoping you’d stay. I’ll get you to LA and you can be my muse,” I say, watching for her reaction.
“I don’t know about that,” she says hesitantly.
My mind rushes for something more enticing to offer her. I’m not willing to give up so easily. I can feel it in my bones. I’m going to get this album done with her here with me.
“You worked for Carmichael, Pike, and Jeffreys, right? What did you do there?”
Her face pinches as if she tastes something sour. Blowing out a breath and scratching her scarf-covered head, she takes her time answering. Something shifts in her face the exact moment she decides to share.
“I was a senior marketing manager. All the campaigns that put that place on the map were mine. I also brought them into the twenty-first century with social media and apps,” she says bitterly.
“What happened?”
The tension and anger coming from her tell me I might not like the answer to my question. However, I’ve been protective of this woman from the moment I locked gazes with her. I want to know what has caused this change in demeanor.
“I made the mistake of dating a friend of my boss. He thought that meant I’d be open to fucking him. When I refused, things got interesting.” She shrugs.
My jaw tightens. I sit up and cross my legs to mirror hers. I can see the hurt and distrust shining in her eyes. I want to erase it.
“I’m not that guy. I’m attracted to you. Very attracted to you, but I want to get to know you.
“I want to hire you. I’ve been needing someone to take over my social media and give it an overhaul.
“You can use footage from the tour or whatever. You’ll have access to us from here and you can feed that to the fans. If you were behind Carmichael, Pike, and Jeffreys before the bullshit pitch they gave me, then I want to see what you have to offer.
“I’ll give you an advance. We can set that up first thing in the morning, along with a service contract. It’s a win-win for us both. What do you think?”