“We need to see Lana,” Shayne tells me as he gets back to us.
He takes the lead, and Shadow shrugs by way of apology.
“You guys are gonna be living here, so I’m sure we’ll have a ton of time to chat about whatever.”
I nod as I follow him to the door Shayne’s holding open for us.
Jay’s looking around when I glance back at him.
He’s been a little less enthusiastic than I would have expected, but I know he’ll feel a million times better once we’ve met Robin.
Right now, none of this feels real to him.
That’ll change soon.
I can tell as soon as I step through the second door that the reception area I’ve just walked into is where I need to play my violin. It’s empty, except for a desk that isn’t currently being used.
“Is it gonna disturb anyone if I just …” I start, as I put my case down on the desk.
“He wants to play his violin,” Shayne explains when Shadow gives me a questioning glance.
“Oh,” Shadow says, looking intrigued. “Cool. Yeah, go ahead. I’ll tell Lana and Owen.”
He moves away, and I bring out my favorite instrument.
I step into the middle of the space to begin.
It doesn’t even take a minute to figure out what I want to play.
The song, “Freebird”, by Lynryd Skynryd.
Some instrumentals just feel right for the space.
I get started as Jay and Shayne set our bags down by the side of the desk.
Chapter One-Hundred
Jay
When Harper starts to play, I can’t help but smile. It’s not one of his symphony songs. It’s a Lynryd Skynryd classic, and one of my favorites. I almost get chills as he looks over, clearly pleased with the sound that’s proving the acoustics are as perfect as he expected.
My gaze drifts as a woman in a black dress walks into the area from across the hall.
I double take when I realize she’s a redhead, but my heart sinks when I take in the full picture.
It’s not that she isn’t attractive. Objectively, she is. But there’s nothing behind the image.
I don’t feel a damn thing. Not one skipped beat of my heart.
She’s not mine. I don’t want her.
Fuck. I fucking knew it.
This whole thing was too good to be true.
I feel so fucking stupid for not realizing it sooner.
I’m barely paying attention when the door she’s standing next to, watching Harper play, opens again. Someone else is coming into the room.
