“My dad owns it.”
“My friend teaches swim.” My brain puts puzzle pieces together—the music, the guitar, the breath-holding. “Was that you singing?”
She doesn’t answer, but her expression tells me I’ve got it right. The cogs in my head turn. I scan her face. This woman isclearly—clearly—no fan of mine, but she’s got an incredible voice, and I’ve got a need for talent like that.
“I’ve got a proposal,” I say.
She grabs her phone. “Not interested.” She starts walking away, and I hurry to catch up with her.
“You haven’t heard what it is.”
“I can guess.”
Wow. Shereallydoesn’t like me. I speed up, cut in front of her, and block her way. “Try me.”
She lets out a sigh. “Look, Austin. I’m new to this whole stroking male egos thing, and I’m finding it a bit exhausting, to be honest. Can you proposition the next damsel in distress?”
“Well, that’s a given,” I say with a wide grin I hope will infuriate her. “My proposal foryouis different.”
She raises a brow, so skeptical it could belong to the Rock himself.
Part of me knows what I’m about to say is a little crazy, but I say it anyway. “I want you to come on tour with me.”
3
MIA
“Ha!”
That’s all I’ve got. That weird, bursty laugh.
Water droplets trickle down Austin’s shoulders, over his pecs, and through the numerous ridges and grooves of his abs. Why doesn’t he dry off like a normal person?
Scratch that. I know why. The man is obsessed with himself. He’s Narcissus’s apprentice. Possibly his mentor. He said he likes a challenge, right? He can’t handle the rejection I’m offering him, so he’s showing off what he thinks will reel me in. And it probably works for him most of the time. Stupid sexy body.
I smile, keeping my eyes fixed firmly on his face. “Listen, Austin. I’m going to save your timeandpride. That stuff isn’t going to work on me.”
“What stuff?”
“All”—I gesture vaguely at his dripping body—“that.”
He looks down like he’s forgotten he’s got the body of Adonis. Apparently, I have Greek mythology on the mind tonight.
Chin still tipped, his gaze shifts up to me, and a smile curlshis lip. “I asked you to come on tour with me. Is there a reason you’re bringing my body into it?”
I lift a shoulder. “Seems like that’s the main attraction of your tour, right?”
He lets out a breathy laugh and glances away. “She’s got claws. I know it’s not easy, but try to focus up here.” He points to his eyes. “I’m offering you a position as a backup vocalist on my tour.”
I cock a brow. “Based on thirty seconds of me singing?”
He shrugs. “I know talent when I hear it.”
“Right…” I wouldn’t describe Austin Sheppard as the pinnacle of musical talent. “You don’t even know my name.” He’s probably waiting for me to say yes so he can invite me to his place to “practice.” And if I agree, he’ll bust a bunch of moves on me, and then tomorrow, he’ll disappear into the ether, lying in wait for his nextchallenge.
“Why don’t you tell it to me, then?”
I hesitate, and he smiles.
