Page 31 of Mysterious

“I think since you’re going to be away for the day I’ll take the guys to Houston and get the walkthrough done tomorrow instead of the day after. That way we’ll have one last day to do whatever we want before we head to the next show.”

Mia turns her head to look over toward the bed and then turns back to face me, wiggling her eyebrows. “I’ve got an idea about how we should spend that time, so you and your guys handle your thing and I’ll go record my song. I can’t wait for you to hear it.”

“Will you be singing it at the Houston show?” I ask, curious since I have no idea about how songs are written or how long they take to perfect for a live performance.

She thinks about it for a minute and nods. “Maybe. It only involves me singing and playing the piano, so theoretically, as long as I can get it down well enough for a show, I could do it then. Maybe the Kansas City show. But you’ll hear it eventually. You can be sure of that.”

I push her brown hair off her face and press a tiny kiss to her forehead. “Remember, you promised not to give the guys a hard time.”

For that, I get a big smile. “They aren’t you, but I’ll go easy on them. Be ready when I get back. I’m already planning to spend hours in that bed over there with you.”

“Thanks for the warning. I better hit the gym before you get back. I’m going to need to be in shape for our reunion,” I say, secretly letting myself off the hook a little bit more with every time she makes me smile.

Mia’s gaze drifts down my body and then back up to meet mine. “I’m not worried about you being in shape. From what I’ve seen, you’re perfect. I, however, better take some vitamins for what I have planned. I’ll see you tomorrow night by midnight.”

She kisses me one more time and then pulls away from my hold. I watch her leave and wish it was already tomorrow night and we were together in my bed.

Now to inform Kip and Brett that they’re making an unscheduled detour tonight. I didn’t tell Mia, but Brett’s the only man I trust to take my place. I respect Drew more than anyone else in the business, but pound for pound, it’s Brett I’ll always call to replace me.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Mia

My recording timeat my favorite studio turned out better than I expected. Rarely have I ever gotten a song down in one take, but I swear it’s like this song formed somewhere deep in my heart and knew it had to come out right now. At least it’s done and now I can play around with it to perfect each note before I perform it the first time.

Poking my head into the control room, I smile at Larry and Craig sitting at their mixing board. Brothers, they’re both big guys with long beards that make them look like they should be living in a cabin deep in the woods and not in a city like Miami. They started their business years before I was born, but they were the only people willing to give me studio time when I was first coming up. My mother always said they agreed because I was a cute kid.

Since that day they finally said yes, I try to record all my songs here at their studio. My record company always presses for me to go to bigger ones in LA or other places around the world, but I never agree.

“You were on fire in there,” Craig says with a big smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sound like that. You find Jesus or something?”

“Something,” I say with a chuckle. “Thanks so much for coming in here in the middle of the night for me, guys. I owe you big.”

The two of them look at one another and shake their heads. “You don’t owe us anything, baby. We’ve been on the Mia train since it pulled out of the station right here in Magic City,” Larry says, opening his arms to invite me in for one of those big bear hugs he loves to give.

I walk into the control room and hug each of them, so thankful for how much they’ve helped me. “This is going to be my next number one, guys. You watch.”

“That’s the attitude you need. Seriously, though, you seem different from how you usually are. What’s going on with you?”

Knowing Brett and Kip are out in the hallway waiting to escort me back to the plane, I can’t take a chance on telling the brothers about Liam and me. So I bend down and whisper to them, “I can’t say much, but let’s just say this. Love has a way of changing a girl.”

The two of them light up at my news, but I quickly wave my hands to stop them from getting loud, just in case my bodyguards are listening. “But don’t say anything, okay? It’s really new, and I don’t want anyone to know. Not yet, at least.”

Always the one to put a fine point on things, Craig levels his gaze on me and says, “Then you better keep it from that manager of yours or the whole world is going to know chapter and verse about this new guy in three point five seconds.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” I say with a laugh. “You might be underestimating Andrea. I don’t think it would take her that long.”

“Well, enjoy yourself, baby,” Larry says, grabbing my hand. “You deserve it. You’ve worked hard for a long time. Now you deserve some you time.”

“Thanks, guys. I’ll be back next week to see what I can do to get this just right. Until then, stay loose.”

That’s what they always say when I’m leaving. Stay loose. I guess it’s some throwback to their hippie days. What it means to me is stay safe and be happy.

“Stay loose, baby!” they call after me as I walk out.

Brett stands guard just outside the door, so I breathe a sigh of relief that I didn’t tell the brothers about Liam and me. Stony-faced, the enormous man stares down at me without a hint of a smile. He’s definitely not like my favorite bodyguard.

“Time to go back to New Orleans,” I say as I walk past him.

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