“I’m not playing with you.” His voice was serious. “This is business.”
A part of her wanted to shove him out of her apartment without so much as a goodbye, but if he was serious about her song, she didn’t want to make a foolish decision based on emotions. She shuffled through the notebooks and papers on the table until she found the music. “Here it is.”
He scanned the page before turning on her keyboard. “Let’s switch off vocals. I’ll start, then you come in with the second stanza. Some words need to be changed, but that’s an easy fix.”
Taking control came natural for him. His in-charge attitude was more attractive than she thought it would be. Having him near her was weird, too. She kept noticing things about him like the way his shirt showed off his athletic physique, how his blue eyes had brightened, and how soft his lips looked.
Warning bells sounded in her head.
Once upon a time, when she’d been a teenager, she’d had a massive crush on Nash Bennett. Most of her friends had, too. They’d been drawn to the gorgeous, charismatic performer who made each girl think he was singing directly to her. But he’d obliterated her crush in Seattle, knocked himself off the high pedestal, and proved he was flawed like the rest of them. The last thing she needed was to allow any leftover teenage fantasy to roar to life.
Maybe she should ask him to leave.
“Please,” he added as if sensing her rising doubts.
Ivy didn’t want to sing with Nash Bennett. Her insides screamed no, but if he wanted this song, it could open doors in a way she’d only dreamed about when she was younger.
She swallowed her misgivings. “Okay.”
Missed cues and fumbled lyrics marred the first time through the song.
“This might be better as a solo,” she said, eager for him to go.
“Practice makes perfect.” He played the section where he’d struggled. “I have it now. Let’s try again.”
The second pass wasn’t as much of a mess. The third was better. The fourth gave her chills. As goose bumps prickled her skin, she knew they’d come up with something special.
“That’s it,” he said.
Not trusting her voice, she nodded.
Nash’s assessing gaze pierced through her as if he could see her soul. “Do you like the new arrangement?”
“I do.” She sounded husky so she cleared her throat. “I wasn’t sure at first, but the duet works.”
“It’s perfect.” He stared at her as if she was the perfect one.
Her heart thudded. She lowered her gaze to the table. “So what now?”
“Show me other songs you’ve written.”
Ivy gulped. She didn’t have to be at the pub until early afternoon, but being with Nash made her nerve endings stand upright. Flutters filled her stomach. So not good.
“Are you serious about my songs or just trying to make amends?” she asked.
“That’s a valid question.” The directness of his gaze made her step away from the table. “I want to make amends for the pain I caused. If that’s singing one of your songs or finding others who will then great. But I won’t perform second-rate material, no matter the situation. You’re talented, and that’s the biggest reason I’m interested in listening to more of your music.”
“Good answer.” She still didn’t trust Nash, but some of her unease lessened. “What kind of songs would you like to hear?”
