"What?"
He chuckled and leaned back in his seat, head resting against it while his eyes closed. She watched his hand move to his lap and his fingers wrap around the now visible thick swell.
"You heard me. Did you write that? Is it yours?"
"Yes." She couldn't help the smile that surfaced. He liked it.
"Was it Cobra?"
"Huh?" She lifted her eyes, feeling like she was invading his space. His were still closed when he spoke again.
"Cobra? Is that who you were signed to?"
Her face went rigid at the same time. "Yes, how did you?—"
"Did you fuck him to get your deal?"
Her eyes stretched wide and she felt heat radiating through her. She knew why he was asking. Everyone asked because they wanted to know but she would never…
"No. Sometimes I wished I had and my career might not be over, but how dare you assume I did."
He laughed lightly, turning his face toward her, those low hooded eyes peering intensely like they had been all night.
"I didn't assume. I asked and gave you the option to tell me. That's what he does. It's what he's known for. You're beautiful and so is your voice. There was no doubt in my mind that he’d tried, but what I didn't know was if you’d let him. So I asked."
"Do you believe me?"
He laughed in a cocky manner. "Yeah I do and your career is not over. Fuck him and that bullshit ass contract. He can’t stop you from making music, Mari."
"He already has."
"Because you let him. You want my help?"
"Your help? How can you help me? I signed the contract. He has lawyers?—"
"And you can have me. I'm asking if you want my help. That's a yes or no question."
She stared at the face of this beautiful man. This confident and sexy man who stared back at her like he just knew he could fix her life.
"Yes."
"Then let's work this shit out."
"How…"
"I don't have that figured out yet, but I will."
She wanted to be hopeful. But who was he to make those types of promises? Regardless, she agreed.
"Don't you think I should know your name before you go making promises to fix my life?"
He grinned sexily. "Asao."
As in…
She narrowed her eyes, taking him in. How had she missed this very important detail? "Shit, you're Aso."
"To the world, yes, but right now, I'm just a man intrigued by a beautiful woman who needs my help. Now let me get you home."
