He set the guitar down.“I told you last night I wanted you with me.I meant it.In every way that counts.”
Carlene pressed a hand to his chest, feeling the steady beat under her palm.“You don’t make it easy to stay professional.”
“I don’t want easy.”His voice lowered, rough around the edges.“I want real.And you're sitting in my bedroom, wearing my shirt with nothing on underneath it.That's not professional either.But it's real.”
Their lips met again, slower this time, not the rush of stolen moments, but the promise of something they both knew they’d been avoiding for too long.The kiss deepened, lingered, until the outside world disappeared.
When she finally pulled back, breathless, she whispered, “That song is beautiful.When it's finished, it'll be a hit.”
He smiled, a spark of mischief lighting his eyes.“I think so too.You were right, you know.I had pulled away from the feelings in my music.”
She laughed and leaned her forehead against his.“While I know what it must have cost you to admit that, I'm so happy you can feel it for yourself.”
His slow grin did more to excite her than many things in her life."It didn't cost me anything."
Jami's phone rang.He inhaled deeply, then pulled it off the windowsill and answered it.
"Hart."
"It's Tony.You and Carlene need to see the headlines right now on Music Mag."
Jami looked at Carlene."Music Mag has a big headline right now."
She hurried around the bed to her side and pulled her phone off the nightstand.Quickly typing in Music Mag, she stared at her phone as it populated with the headline.
EXCLUSIVE: Hart & The Hurricanes vs.Summit Sound — Who Owns the Truth?
Carlene’s stomach dropped as she read the smaller text beneath the image.Vivian Grant’s smiling face appeared beside Jami’s.The article quoted “insider sources” suggesting that Jami had violated confidentiality clauses and accusing him of “instigating internal rebellion.”
Her pulse quickened.“They didn’t waste time.”
Jami tapped the speaker icon on his phone.Tony exhaled sharply.“It’s all over the entertainment feeds.Every outlet picked it up within the hour.”
Jami’s jaw tightened.“Vivian must have leaked it.”
Carlene scanned her phone further.The article twisted everything, painted her as a manipulative PR consultant “encouraging division” and hinted at a “personal entanglement compromising professional integrity.”
“They’re coming after both of us.”
He met her eyes, calm but fierce.“Then we go louder.”
Tony responded.“You sure about that?”
Jami nodded.“Yeah.I’m done hiding.Let them see who we really are.”
He turned to Carlene, his hand finding hers.“You said something last night, about leaning into it.”
She nodded slowly.“I did.”
“Then let’s lean in,” he said to Tony.“Get a camera crew.We’re filming something.”
Tony grinned.“You’re serious.”
“Dead serious.”
Carlene’s mind raced, switching from panic to purpose.“We’ll set up on the stage, natural light.Honest.No edits.No cuts.Just you talking to the fans.”
Jami squeezed her hand.“And you beside me.”
