Page 25 of They Break Beauty

“I was calling it like it is. But I wanted to run something by him, yeah. The other reason I came in here.”

“What’s up?” I asked, sounding way too eager to be part of one of Lev’s plans that usually involved a shitload of fun and some major adrenaline high too. Right up my alley.

There was a glint in his eye as he registered my favorable reaction.

“Brianna Walker. You’ve crossed paths with her, yes?”

I thought for a moment.

“The app queen?” Mason asked.

“Ah, but that’s not how Colt knows her.” He eyed me. “Is it?”

“Nah, girl’s got one hell of a voice.”

“Right. Karaoke night at Nirvana.” Mason said.

“Yeah, she came in with her friend who’s helped me out with some promotional stuff before, and she got up and sang. Girl even looked stone-cold sober when she did it—that takes guts for non-professionals.”

“What do you say to considering a duet?” Lev proposed.

“What?”

“An edgy ballad, perhaps.”

Huh. “Could be ace.”

“Why?” Mason demanded, before I could say much more about it.

“She sparked my interest when I saved her from one of your frat assholes at that party a couple of days ago. But with my rep and given how skittish that crap fest made her, it’s doubtful she’s gonna be receptive to me making my interest known directly. I need a little something to soften things before I approach her. Get her here and I’ll take it from there.”

“Wait, so there won’t really be a duet?”

“That’s up to you. I just want her here with nowhere to run to or make excuses out of fear. The rest is up to you—just keep it friendly, nothing more.”

“Nowhere to run to?” Mason said. “Sounds like the stuff toxic and twisted romances are made of.”

“Well, you know me, Killjoy.”

Mason growled low in his throat.

Completely ignoring that, or maybe not even registering it at all, Lev asked me, “Well? You up for this?”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been involved in a Levi Knight sponsored plan. Count me in.”

“Colt—” Mason started.

“It’ll be fine. Plus, if there are any issues that crop up, you’re here anyway, right?”

“Dammit, fine.”

“Nice,” Lev said. “Thanks, cupcake.”

“No worries.”

As he turned to go, Mason called out, “What’s the real deal with you and this girl?”

“I told you. She sparked my interest.”

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