Page 24 of The Bachelor

Fortunately, no one noticed her decided interest below his belt.

Pat didn’t seem to require any response from her, taking Shane’s statement as good enough. She laughed and said, “Goodness, that sounds like a potentially amusing story.”

“It is.” Shane looked over at her again, his brown eyes unreadable. “But I think you had to be there.”

Avery broke his gaze, afraid she would blush or that her expression would give away her confusion and discomfort. Also, the insta-lust she felt on seeing Shane again. It was like her inner thighs were having a Pavlovian response to him. See Shane, grow damp. She felt the need to cross her legs and did just that, which had the added benefit of pushing her guitar up to block most of her body in a protective shield she desperately needed.

Of all the times and places she could run into Shane again, work was the worst possible one.

“This is Lauren Scott,” Pat said, gesturing to Lauren, who was sitting and staring at Shane.

It was the only time she’d ever seen her friend speechless. Not that she could blame her. She couldn’t seem to squeeze any words out of her own mouth.

“It’s nice to meet you,” Shane said.

“Thank you, you too.” Lauren suddenly leaped to her feet, snapping out of her fog. “It’s such a pleasure, sir.” She stuck her hand out and he shook it. “I really admire your work.”

“Thanks.” Shane glanced over at Avery. “Is that all yours or did you write it with Lauren?”

She still couldn’t seem to speak but Lauren shook her head and answered for her. “Not me. That’s all Avery’s.”

The vehement statement made Avery really grateful to Lauren. She wasn’t always sure who was a true friend and who wasn’t in her new environment, and the fact that Lauren so clearly didn’t want to steal any credit was reassuring. “I’ve just been tinkering,” she said, finally finding her voice. “It’s not finished.”

“That’s pretty damn good for just tinkering.” He turned to Pat. “Do you mind if I have a private meeting with Avery? I want to hear the song again.”

Lord. Her palms started sweating for multiple reasons. “That would be an honor,” she said, because it would be. But maybe he didn’t give two shits about the song. Maybe he just wanted to cuss her ass out for leaving him in her hotel room without saying goodbye.

Her words seemed to actually make him uncomfortable. He ran his hand over his jaw. “Give yourself a little more credit, girl.”

Pat touched Lauren’s arm and gestured to the door. “Of course you can listen to the song again. We’ll be in the boardroom when you’re done.”

They left and Shane stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind him. When he turned to her, he didn’t speak for a minute. He just studied her, his eyes sweeping from head to toe. Finally he spoke, his voice low, tender. “Hi, Avery.”

“Hi, Shane. Fancy meeting you here,” she said, with a nervous laugh.

“I had no idea you were a songwriter.” He stood, feet apart, hands in his front pockets. Casual. Almost disinterested.

It was so bizarre to see him again like this, when she had left him naked and asleep. The cool politeness which was required from both of them seemed at total odds with the dark intimacy of hot skin and passionate kisses. It was confusing as hell to her.

“I didn’t know you were a producer or you know, like, famous.” She cleared her throat and put her hands on her cheeks to attempt to cool them down. “Good Lord, I’m so embarrassed right now, I can’t even tell you.”

“Why are you embarrassed?” His voice didn’t reveal much emotion and he didn’t move any closer to her.

“You know why.” He was purposely being obtuse and she didn’t appreciate it.

“Because we had sex?”

Jesus. He was just throwing it out there. “Yes.”

“Or because you left me alone in that hotel room with a four-word note?” he said, as a slight edge crept into his voice.

She pressed her lips together. She honestly didn’t even remember what she’d written in the haze of confusion and shock she’d been feeling that morning. Clearly it hadn’t been Pulitzer material. “That too.”

“Or is it because you didn’t tell me you were a virgin?”

Oh, yeah. That. Her teeth tore at her bottom lip. “How did you know that?”

He gave her a long look. “It doesn’t really take a genius to figure it out. You were clearly inexperienced and the look on your face when I got inside you was evidence enough, even without looking at the sheets the next day.”

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