Page 71 of Finding Emotion

Skylar’s eyes followed them. “Is he really a lawyer?”

Damon laughed, his breath puffing against her leg. “Doesn’t look like one, does he? He’s into divorce and stuff. I have him look at all my contracts.”

“Contracts?” Skylar’s fingers tingled as she continued to stroke Damon’s hair.

“You got something that needs looked at?” Damon asked.

Skylar’s defensiveness rose, the regular ‘I’ve got it handled’ pressing at her lips. She swallowed it. “Maybe,” she said instead.

“Is that what Mandy wanted to talk to you about?” His hand curled over her leg, distracting her a little.

“Yeah.” Some of Skylar’s frustration returned. “She took that meeting without me that I didn’t want her to and got herself fired by that asshole, but she wants me to leave the label instead of trying to get her job back, and it’s all one big fucking mess.” Skylar lost her breath from the flood of words and not panic, she told herself. She bit her cheek hard. What all had she just said?

Damon jerked upright. “Wait, what? Holy shit, Skylar!”

Jami stood frozen with a glass of water in each hand, with Malcolm behind her. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

Skylar hated that expression. “Because I’ll handle it. No need to worry.”

Damon’s hand pushed her hair behind her ear, and the gesture let Skylar take another breath, this one deeper. “Trenton can totally look over your contracts with the label,” he said.

“Contracts?” Trenton asked from behind Jami.

Blake slapped his shoulder. “Stop acting like that word turns you on.”

Trenton blushed. “Don’t be an idiot, Blake.” He cleared his throat. “I’d be happy to review your contracts with you, Skylar. We can set up a time.”

“I’ll pay,” Skylar said. “I’m not looking for a handout here.”

Trenton smiled. “I don’t mind, but we’ll do whatever you’re most comfortable with.”

“Sure. Thanks.” Skylar nodded, still feeling like way too many people were staring at her, which was stupid. She was a performer, damn it.

Jami handed a glass of water to Damon. “We’re going to talk about this, Skylar. You don’t tell me anything, and I don’t like it.” Her lips pressed together, and her eyes filled with tears.

Malcolm put his arm around her. “Maybe when you’re not drunk. Come on, sit.”

Damon gulped most of the water, setting the glass on the end table with the others. His head moved back into her lap, and Skylar shifted her hand back to his hair.

“Thanks,” he murmured.

Skylar’s hand paused. Her heartbeat still hadn’t slowed down. “What are you thanking me for?”

“Trusting me.” His hand curled over her leg. “I’m willing to listen to more too. Whatever you need.” The last words came out even lower as he drifted off.

The ache and heat were back in Skylar’s chest, and she closed her eyes, still not sure it wasn’t a painful thing.

Chapter 27

Two of the couples scattered early the next morning, with all four of them holding their heads. Trenton and Celia still hadn’t come out of their back bedroom. Malcolm finished making coffee, kissed Jami, and headed for the tavern, or so he said.

Skylar studied her sister through slitted eyes, but she knew it was pointless to feign sleep. Jami had always seen through her.

Her hand had begun unconsciously sifting through Damon’s hair, she realized, then pulled it away from his head. She tried to shift out from under him, feeling guilty when his eyes opened.

“Good morning.” His sleepy smile was too goddamn sweet. It figured that hungover Damon still acted like that.

“Want some coffee?” she asked.

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