Page 148 of The Rogue and His Flower

Fuck knows how Sterling has managed to keep his hands off her, I can sense the sexual tension between them from across the table, and I would bet my father’s fortune that she feels it too given the slight flush to her cheeks, and the pointed way she ignores his presence beside her.

“Everyone has been very welcoming,” she replies softly.

“Well, we’re all happy to have you here, aren’t we Sterling,” Ben adds, his eyes twinkling.

Sterling throws him a look that could kill, and Ben just tips his head with a wink.

“So what now? A game of billiards?” Ben suggests.

“I’d really love to hear Harlow sing,” Daisy murmurs softly. “You have a beautiful voice.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Sterling cuts in as he moves to stand. “I’ll go and set up a game.”

Harlow frowns, a hurt expression on her face at his dismissal.

“Personally, I would love to hear you sing again,” Lia adds, clearly confused by Sterling’s urgent need to leave the room. “Daisy’s right, you have an incredible voice.”

“I don’t know…” Harlow hesitates, glancing at Sterling who looks like a deer caught in headlights, eyes wide, a terrified expression on his face that he quickly irons out with a tense smile.

“Yeah, maybe not tonight, eh?” Drix says, sensing Sterling’s unease.

“Please, I’d really like it if you could sing for us,” Daisy comments, looking at her brother as though he’s grown another head.

I don’t know if Harlow senses Daisy’s sadness as much as the rest of us, but she nods in acquiescence. “Okay, sure. The parlour has a piano…” she replies, pushing back her chair and standing.

“You play the piano too?” Lia asks, clearly impressed. “Wow, I’ve always wanted to learn how to play a musical instrument.”

“You still can,” Drix says, supportively.

“I could teach you,” Harlow offers.

“Really? That would be wonderful!” Lia exclaims, her eyes lighting with happiness.

“I guess we’re listening to you sing then,” Sterling mumbles as he throws me a pained look, and we all follow Harlow into the parlour.

Each of us settle on the large sectional that’s big enough to comfortably seat twenty, let alone the six of us. Harlow pulls out the stool beneath the baby grand piano, and settles herself onto the seat. Silence descends as her fingers hover over the keys and I catch her briefly looking over at Sterling, her smooth, honeyedvoice following shortly after as she begins to play the opening verse ofSomeone You Loved.

I steal glances at Sterling and notice a mix of emotions flickering across his face as she sings—longing, regret, desire, it all plays out in time to the melody. Recognising the turmoil he’s going though, I know that he is unequivocably fucked. Next to me, Daisy’s eyes glisten with unshed tears, as captivated by her voice as Lia appears to be.

“Wow,” Lia whispers, leaning into Drix’s arms as he hauls her into his side and she wraps her arm around his waist.

Daisy shudders next to me and I automatically reach for her, my hand resting over hers. She doesn’t lean into my side like Lia does Drix, she simply remains focused on Harlow, and I can’t help but feel the pain of her snub. It lances through me, gutting me in a way I never thought possible. Despite that, I continue to hold on. She’s pushing me away because she thinks there’s no future for us, but there is, and I’ll be damned if I’ll let her give up on us.

“Damn,” Ben mutters, as affected as the rest of us by the raw emotion in Harlow’s performance.

Tension crackles in the air as Sterling stares at Harlow intently, completely and utterly entranced. I notice how his fingers curl into the arm rest, knuckles white, his face paling as he’s drawn in by the beauty of her voice, and I can’t help but wonder what he sees when he hears her sing. He tried to explain to me once, and I still find it difficult to wrap my head around. All I know is that he translates what he sees when he hears music or someone singing into a masterpiece on canvas. Right now he looks like he’s on the verge of running away from the torment. After the final note dissipates, there is a brief moment of stillness before Lia starts applauding.

“You’re amazing!” she exclaims, jumping up from the couch and rushing towards Harlow, pulling her in for a hug as the rest of us murmur our agreement.

“Thank you,” Harlow says softly, her eyes flicking to Sterling who remains frozen in his seat.

"I… I need some air," he manages to rasp, before getting up on his feet and striding from the room, ending the evening with his disappearance.

Half an hour later, after saying our goodbyes, we’re pulling up to Highwood Manor. I put the car in park, but don’t unlock the doors, needing to speak with Daisy to tell her about Sterling’s offer and my decision to walk away from my inheritance. She reaches for the handle, ready to bolt, but when she realises it’s locked she turns to face me.

“The door’s locked.”

“It is,” I agree, unclipping my seatbelt and shifting in my seat to face her.

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