I headed that way, traveling down a beautiful hall full of pictures and art I intended to study later.After using the restroom, I caught sight of a cozy-looking sitting room, complete with a piano.I couldn’t seem to stop myself from entering.I hadn’t played in years, but the keys called to me, and I crossed the room on instinct.Before I could think twice, I found myself seated on the bench.
Once upon a time, I loved to play.That was before lessons were forced on me and it became more performative than fun.My parents had entered me into every competition available, and I’d won many of them before deliberately losing to alleviate the pressure.The joy was stolen the day they identified it as a commodity.
For the first time in years, I set my fingers on the keys, finding familiarity in an unfamiliar place.As the music flowed from my fingers, I was distantly aware of humming along to the melody as it was created.My entire body loosened as I lost myself in the freedom of sound.
I wasn’t sure how long I’d been playing when motion caught my eye and Hudson appeared in my periphery, making me gasp in surprise.
“Sorry, I lost track of time,” I apologized, pulling my hands into my lap.
He simply stared at me, an unfathomable look on his face.
“Did you not want me to play….”I trailed off, unnerved as he continued to silently stare.
“Lucy, that was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard,” he rasped.
My cheeks warmed.“Oh, I was just messing around.I’m so rusty these days.”
“You’reincredible.Christ, I’ve barely broached the surface of you,” he marveled before seeming to shake himself out of his stupor.“I want to show you something.”He held out a hand to help me from the piano bench.
He led me back toward the main entryway, taking a right past the staircase and down another flight of stairs.I found myself in his obviously state-of-the-art recording studio, complete with a sound booth, rows of high-tech equipment, countless guitars, and another piano.
“I’ve been trying to work through this one track, and what you were playing felt like what I needed.You want to jam a bit?”He quirked a brow.
“Jam?”I asked incredulously.“I don’t know how to jam.I’ve only played with a piano instructor, who was ready to smack my knuckles when I missed a key.That’s about it.”
“Okay, well, while you’re giving me their number so I can make sure they never work again, I can introduce you to the concept of playing for fun,” he coaxed.
“Isn’t dinner ready?”I tried, not sure why I was stalling.
“Got cold about thirty minutes ago.I figured letting you play was better medicine.”
“You’re right.Okay, playing for fun, right,” I muttered to myself.
He pulled me to him, resting his forehead against mine.As usual, he seemed to be able to sense the source of my nerves.“It’s just you and me, darlin’.Nothing you do could be wrong.You’re safe with me, always.”
“How do you always know what I’m thinking?”I demanded lightly, clutching at his tee.
“You’re very expressive.”He stroked the hair back from my face.“Just takes some time and attention.I haven’t gotten it all down yet, but I look forward to the challenge.Studying you is way better than anything I learned in school.”He winked.“But you would be a terrible poker player, sweetheart.”
“Noted, I’ll be sure to strike that from my potential career options,” I muttered, making him chuckle.
“Let me show you what I’ve got, which is mostly lyrics.”He made his way over to a comfortable-looking couch.He pulled out a tattered notebook and picked up a guitar while I settled on the piano bench next to him.“I’ve had trouble finding the right melody,” he explained as he strummed the guitar.
My breath caught when he began to sing, the soft rasp of his voice caressing each lyric like a lover.I was mesmerized as he sang about lightning strikes and butterscotch eyes against Colorado skies.Then it hit me—he was singing about when we met.
“That song is about me,” I murmured in disbelief as the song came to an end.
He grinned, his hand covering the guitar strings to stop their reverberation.“Sure is.”
“It’s beautiful.”My voice came out as a choked whisper.
“I could write a million more, and they’d still never come close to the beauty of you.”Our eyes locked, the energy crackling between us like a live wire.
“Did you want to do this, or are you just trying to frazzle my brain?”I cocked my head playfully.
He chuckled.“I’d settle for both.”
“All right, crazy man.”Grinning, I turned to the piano and rested my fingers on the keys.“Sing it again.”A hint of a melody was already tingling at my fingertips.
