“You’re the one who wanted to produce it,” Cole exclaimed. “We were all fine with working with Jeremy on this one.”
We’d had a million versions of this conversation over the past few weeks.
“Charlie had a vision,” Abel growled. “Only I understand the vision, so the only way we’re making this album is if I have full creative control.”
“Aren’t you missing the part where she might not even be interested?” I interjected, giving Cole a pointed look. “Maybe Silas wasn’t the one who scared her off. Maybe she just won’t want anything to do with us.”
Cole’s back straightened. “Leave that part to me. I’m confident I can convince her to give it a try.”
Silas nodded. “She’s a talented guitarist. This would be a good opportunity for her.”
“Yeah, hertalentis what got your attention,” Abel snapped. “You were all staring at her like she was a piece of prime meat at the butcher shop.”
Cole glared at him. “Just because she’s a beautiful woman, doesn’t mean she’s not a great musician.”
“So you’re not going to flirt with her if she agrees to record with us?”
“I didn’t say that,” Cole retorted with a sly smirk. “But my future flirting will be no deterrent from us recording a great album.”
Abel turned toward me. “And you? Anything to add?”
My thoughts swirled. Abel and I had entered into an unspoken alliance over the past few weeks, both of us driven by a common desire to put Bleeding Moonlight to rest. I didn’t have to guess at his motivations—he didn’t think there was a band without Charlie. I wasn’t so sure, but I had my own reasons to quit.
Still, tonight had loosened my conviction. I wouldn’t admit it to the guys, but Adeline had made an impression on me that I couldn’t quite shake. I couldn’t explain it rationally. I just had this sense that something had brought her to us in this unlikely place for a reason, and dismissing it would be a mistake.
“I think if Cole manages to convince her to audition, we should give it a try,” I offered, earning an eyeroll from Abel.
“Fine,” he spit out. “If it’s three against one, I’ll play along. But if she shows up and she’s not up to par, I’m not wasting another day on her. She gets one shot.”
Cole scoffed. “Jesus. With that attitude, I think we’re the ones who are going to get one shot with her.”
“Well, if she can’t handle one day with me, how the hell will she handle a full month?” Abel retorted.
“You will behave, Abel.” Silas’s voice was as sharp as a shard of glass.
Abel’s eyes burned a path across the room before landing on the guitarist. “I’ll do my very best.”
Silas opened his mouth to argue, but I caught his attention and silenced him with a look. I’ve gotten good at knowing when Abel will not be pushed further.
“It’s settled then,” I said, glancing between the guys. With a sharp exhale, Cole turned away from Abel and gave me a curt nod.
He rose from the couch and went into the kitchen. Silas followed him. Abel watched to see if I would, too, and his shoulders dropped a fraction when he realized that I had no plans to leave.
He finished off the last of his beer and placed the bottle on the ground at his feet. “You’ve never liked this place,” he said, leaning farther back into the couch.
I shrugged. “It’s too…cold.”
His brow arched. “I can turn the AC down.”
“That’s not what I meant. It’s like a show home. Pristine and perfect. What if it showed more of your personality?”
The beer bottle clanked on the marble floor as Abel rose, apparently ready to retire for the night. “If I did that, you’d never want to step inside again.”
4
ADELINE
It waspast one when I finally made it home from the Barnyard. I placed my things on the floor of the living room and hopped in the shower to wash off the layers of sweat from my skin. The cascading water made for a nice soundtrack to replay the events of the night in my head.
