That might be true. But that doesn’t stop me from dragging my feet. I agreed on paper, planning to put it off indefinitely if it ever came up.
“As long as Savant Records is footing the bill, I own you. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” I say as civilly as I can muster.
“I’m sure neither of us is averse to making money.” He grins as he indicates she should join us again. “Or increasing your exposure. This collaboration will make us all a lot of money, you mark my words.”
“I believe you.” And perhaps it won’t be so bad, except… “I write my own songs.”
“And Sonatina writes hers,” he says. “You can work together on it.”
“Yeah, okay.” I meant it when I complimented her writing skills. She has talent. Vocal range too. It’s not the direction I planned on going, but the label always wins. It’s why I want to start my own. And this extra income will help ensure that dream becomes a reality.
Sonatina teeters over in her ridiculously high gold heels.
“He said he can’t wait to work with you, sweetheart,” Carmine announces.
“Yay.” She squeals. Grabbing my shoulders, she jumps. I’m forced to catch her, clutching a handful of bare ass cheek when her tiny, pearlescent dress rides up.
Carmine doesn’t bat an eyelid.
Kelsey steps back into the room, her gaze immediately seeking and locking on mine as this woman I don’t know or care to know wraps her legs around my waist and presses her mouth to mine.
I drop Sonatina like she’s fire, but the clinger takes her time sliding down my body, pressing her curves against my torso. I barely manage to evade her attempt to grab my cock in front of her dad. My boss.
Fuck my life.
“If you’ll excuse me, I need to talk to Kelsey about kicking off the next leg of the tour,” Carmine says and leaves me to deal with Sonatina. Thankfully he doesn’t appear to have noticed his daughter’s antics.
Kelsey, on the other hand, is staring daggers at me. Jealousy is hot on her.
“I hear you’re taking off right after this.” Sonatina digs through her purse. Finding a pouch of gum, she unwraps a stick and makes a show of placing it on her tongue.
I focus on the tension between Kelsey and Carmine. On the subtle glower Kelsey sends my direction as she nods along with whatever orders he’s giving her. She does realize I don’t give a shit about anyone but her by now, doesn’t she?
“For your brother’s wedding, right?”
She catches my attention with the wedding word, since no one is supposed to be aware of Rogue and Ivy’s secret nuptials. “That’s news to me. I’m going to hang out with my family and play a few rounds of football with my brothers.”
“You can trust me to keep a secret.” She touches my shoulder and glances up at me through her thick, glittery eyelashes. “I can’t wait to meet them.”
Never going to happen.
4
Ivy
“Attention, everyone. Attention.” Adira stands and scoops up his champagne flute. He directs an affectionate smile my way over the snaking floral arrangement in the middle of the table. The tiny candles dotted throughout it flicker softly.
The chatter between the Heart brothers, the Maddoxes, and the rest of us peters out as he moves to a spot in front of his organizational board.
“It’s a happy crowd that we have gathered,” Adira says.
All along the two trellis tables where we had dinner together and then fell into relaxed conversation, new friends and family members with shiny cheeks and bright eyes nod. Mostly. Summer’s brother Owen has been glowering at Rebel all evening.
“I want to say a few words before we get into the nitty gritty of this three-day event. Firstly, on behalf of the bride and groomI want to thank the Hearts for allowing us to use this truly fabulous location.” He lifts his flute.
So do the rest of us.
