Page 36 of They Break Beauty

My breath caught in my throat.

Was it really finally happening?

She was actually asking to see me, so desperate to, in fact, that it was causing this noticeable reaction in her?

“Drawing it out is impacting my concentration. That’s why I didn’t hit that note.”

“Well, I did promise you a shot. But like I said, when Lev is laser-focused like this, getting him to step back is next to impossible, so I can’t guarantee the outcome you’re hoping for.”

I narrowed my eyes. She wanted me to back off? That was the deal he’d struck with her? He’d told me he’d offered to get her friend some major exposure for her fashion designs. He’d most definitely omitted this part of their deal.

“That’s fine,” she told him. “I’ll handle it from here.”

A dark look flitted across her face.

It was very brief, but also very noticeable.

It didn’t just soften the blow of her intent to shut me down, it also had my dick reacting in an almost violent way.

That was what had been missing from her during my observations and her activities here that I’d been keeping an eye on for the last year.

And now I had confirmation that it was still there, still a part of her.

Nice.

“Damn, that’s some eerie confidence you’ve got going there. Fucking hot, to be honest.”

She rolled her eyes. “Is this you trying to delay so you can figure out how to go back on what you promised?”

“No, cutie,” he said, drawing close and literally breathing her in. It had my fingers clenching into fists. “Just calling it like it is. Credit where credit is due.” He reached out and played with a strand of her hair and twirled it around his finger. “You know, blowing him off may not be the best way to go. It’ll just antagonize him. Letting it play out is your better option. Go along for the ride. And, believe me, it will be a hell of a ride at that. You’d be missing out on an experience you’ll never forget. Lev doesn’t do things half way. He’ll give you his all.”

She stared at him for a moment and it really looked like she was considering easing up with her fight.

But then she blinked and batted his hand away from her hair. “Do you really think I was fool enough to believe it was merely a random coincidence that you invited me here to record this duet? The coincidence of Levi crashing into my path wasn’t lost on me for a moment. You brought me here to lull me into a calm state so Levi could then use it to his advantage. You’re working together.”

I saw Colt looking stumped that she’d figured all of that out, that she’d apparently played him at his own game.

Fortunately, he managed to get it together and recover quickly. “That’s quite the theory. And if it’s to be believed, why did you agree to come here?”

“To minimize the collateral damage when I cut this weirdness off at its knees before it can go any further. I’m not stupid. I know about Hex and the brutality and damage it brought to Stonewell when it was operational, when the three of you were at your most malicious and dangerous. I’m also aware that Levi was the driving force behind that sadistic side of it, while you were just along for the ride, and Mason was trying to control and reel things in.”

“Interesting deductions, cutie. The thing is, all that is from an outside perspective. Things aren’t always what they seem. I wasn’t just along for the ride. I can be a vicious fucker when I’m in that zone. And on the flip side, Lev can be the most easygoing fucker around. Unless he’s provoked. That’s when he becomes the bane of your existence.”

“Advice duly noted.”

“Good.” He stepped back. “Now, I’ll go get you that water and some chocolate chip cookies.” He gestured at the seating area off to the side of the studio, a white wraparound couch complete with a couple of matching oversized chairs. “Take a beat and chill before we get back down to it.”

With that, he walked out.

I shut my laptop screen, closing down my real-time view inside the room, then stepped away from my desk, absorbing everything that had been spoken between them.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that several minutes went by without me even realizing it, and then Colt was bursting into my room with a plate of chocolate chip cookies balanced on one hand as he clutched a bottle of water in the other.

“All softened up and ready for you, brother,” he told me with a sly wink.

“Nicely done,” I said, taking the plate and bottle from him. “Although, keeping from me that part of your deal with her included giving her the opportunity to blow me off leaves a lot to be desired.”

“Please. It was for your own good. If I’d told you beforehand, before I’d brought her here, you would’ve done something extreme and ill-advised and it could’ve fucked everything up.”

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