Page 135 of Hope & Harmony

The smirk.

I gasped and nearly fell out of my chair. Hands shaking, I bit down on my lip to keep myself from asking all the vulnerable questions, the explanations—no, the excuses.

“Ah, so she does know who I am.” He winked. “Whiskey really doesn’t taste the same after you, or was it maybe after the military?”

He could rap.

He could use his tongue—voice, I meantvoice, very well.

His hands played the guitar like I’m assuming he played every other person the way he played me.

“Just one song.” He’d teased after we wrapped up after a late night. “Come on, we’ll write it together. It could be a hit.”

“They should all be hits.” I was a bit drunk and a lot high off the way he moved around the room, finally spreading out on the couch in the corner. “Come on, Lyric, we’re practically best friends now.”

I rolled my eyes. “We met this morning.”

“It was three in the morning, and now it’s three in the morning the next day, so technically, we’ve known each other for at least two days.”

“Wow, someone’s reaching.”

“Reach for the stars.” He fell back against the couch, and his black joggers fell low over his hips, making his grey shirt ride up across his abs. His Yankees hat, too, had fallen off his head. “They always tell you it’s possible if you work hard enough, and then you realize the industry is full of liars with perfect smiles.” He jerked up to a sitting position. “Do you think it’s the veneers? Should we blame those?”

I burst out laughing. “Does it matter that I had braces for five years?”

“Oh.” He shot to his feet. “Well, that means you win, it means you’re a natural.” He leaned down next to my chair. “I’m manifesting it.”

“What?” I leaned forward. His hair was short and messy against his head, his brown eyes were bright and innocent; they matched mine. “What are you manifesting?”

“Us,” he said it so simply, like he was making a promise to the universe. “And, of course, the hit song we just recorded. I can’t wait to show the rest of the group.”

“Ah, and I can’t wait to meet this new crazy talented K-pop group. Be proud, you guys only debuted a little while ago, and you’ve already managed to get on Billboard.” I leaned forward and crooked my finger. “Be honest though, was that merch?”

“Wow!” He fell back on his ass. “Shots fired, and no, that was all organic, incredible talent from the lead singer.” He pointed at himself.

I got up and stumbled onto the ground, nearly kneeing him in the balls. “That wasn’t on purpose.”

“Even if it was...” He wrapped his arms around me and spun me onto my back, pinning me to the floor. “...I’d be okay with it because now I have you.”

“Do you, though?”

“May I?” he asked, oh God, he asked.

I opened my mouth and shut it, then opened it again like an idiot. “Nobody can know.”

“Who would find out that I kissed the words, the lyrics from Lyric right out of her mouth?” His thumb spread across my bottom lip. “Hmm?”

Everyone, was what I said in my head.

What ended up coming out was. “Nobody.”

“Good.” He leaned down and tugged my lower lip between his teeth while sliding his hand down my side. “Still okay?”

Why was it sexy that he asked?

Why did I care?

He wasn’t taking advantage, and I wanted him, he’d been brilliant during our session, and once I found out who he was, I was so intimidated I wanted to puke.

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