It’sgonna be what it’s gonna be
And it’s gonna hurt like it’s gonna hurt
But there’s no doubt
Can’t have doubt
Cause it’s gonna circle back circle back
And in the end it’s down to you and it’s down to me
The way it’s gonna be
You and me
Circle back
Gonna hurt
You and me
They stretchedout the last two words, then she played another few bars before letting it fade. It was good. It wasn’t her, not a song she’d ever want to record, but being a part of creating it was a massive thrill.
And even better, Track was stunned silent.
Another knock came at the door, this one gentle. Dean held up two bags of takeout food, and she gestured him in.
It took him a single stride to realize Track was in the room. Another to get between them, and turn his back on the other man long enough to make eye contact with her.You okay?
She nodded and he navigated his way around the stand of guitars to the long table against the window, leaving the food there before returning to stand next to her, feet wide and arms crossed.
Track stood, and so did West and Caleb.
Too many standing men.
She rolled her eyes at Karen, then joined them. “West, Caleb…you guys start eating. Don’t touch my salad. Karen, could we use your boardroom?”
“Can I join you?”
She gave the older woman a curious look, but shrugged. “Sure.” She held up her hand when Track started to protest. “I’m on her dime today, Track. You can deal.”
She let her hand brush against Dean’s as she turned, hooking her fingers around his for a quick squeeze.Come with me, she told him, and he followed. Maybe because she’d invited him, maybe because wild dogs couldn’t keep him from her side when her ex was in the room.
Either way she didn’t care. Kind of liked the latter reason, really. Hoped it meant something more than she should really hope for. But wanting Dean felt good, so she let her heart stay there, in the safe-for-now embrace of hope.
Once they were all in the boardroom, Liana decided not to sit. She wasn’t wearing heels today, so she didn’t have a height advantage, but being able to pace felt freeing.
“Okay, Track, what is so urgent that you needed to interrupt our writing session, and that you needed to ignore my request that you go through my management for these conversations?”
“If we go through management, you’re going to lose the contract.” His words were thunderous, and unexpected.
She froze, her heart stopping too, mid-slam against her ribcage. “What?”
“We can only produce what we can sell, and you aren’t young enough anymore to write an edgy album.”
“What the actual fuck?” Those four words had echoed in Liana’s mind, but they came out of Karen’s mouth. “What the actual serious fuck does that mean?”
Track opened his mouth, but Liana’s new hero—heroine—wasn’t having any of it. She stood up and crossed the room, slinging her arm around Liana’s shoulders. “Either produce the album she delivered to you or sell it to me,” Karen said smoothly, as if one of country’s biggest stars wasn’t seething in front of her. “I’d love to bring Liana in house as more than an occasional songwriter. She’s an incredible talent.”
