Page 157 of Hope & Harmony

The more I heard her speak, the more evident her stammer became. It didn’t put me off wanting to talk to her in the slightest, and now I was kind of hoping this was the reason she’d been reluctant to respond to me.

“I swear.” I made anxover my heart. “But I don’t think you’re going to do it, so I’m not too worried.”

She pressed her lips together in a sassy little smirk and shoved the songbook at me. “Watch.”

Striding to the stage, she swayed her hips, which was a contradiction to the shy girl she’d been showing me all day. And when she got there, she spoke to the guy running the music. He looked at her for longer than I would have called ‘friendly.’ My stomach rocked while watching their interaction. There was no reason for me to feel any kind of way about this pretty girl talking to other people, but I did. Those were words I wasn’t getting.

My heated thoughts were quickly interrupted when Selena unbuttoned her cardigan and slipped it off her shoulders. She tossed it on a nearby chair and smoothed her hands over her tank.

Selena wasbuilt. Dear god, was she hot. Big, round tits, a nipped waist, and hips that looked like the perfect place to rest my hands. Then she turned around to face the stage, and my tongue about rolled out of my mouth. Ass like a fairytale. Too good to be anything other than make-believe.

When Adam and Adelaide stepped off the stage, Selena took their place. She approached the mic like she already owned it, clutching it with both hands.

The music began, and moments later, Selena’s voice burst from her lungs and shot through me. Powerful and husky, she sang “Umbrella” like she was Rihanna’s more talented cousin.

No stuttering or hesitation, she owned the stage. Someone moved to the bench beside me, but I couldn’t tear my eyes off Selena.

“She’s incredible, isn’t she?” Iris murmured.

“Yeah.”

“She won’t listen to me and sing professionally, but she should.”

Either that or become my own private songbird and give me that voice every night before I tucked myself in bed.

Iris went on. “She’s a behind-the-scenes kind of girl. Her mind…the lyrics she writes…she is amazing.”

I tore my eyes from Selena for a second. “She’s a songwriter?”

“Mm-hmm. I write some of my own, but Selena has elevated my lyrics to another level. I love how she thinks. It’s beautiful.”

Selena swayed her hips during the chorus, and I followed them like a ticking clock. Back and forth, back and forth. My tongue darted out to wet my upper lip, but I wished it was her body I was licking instead.

Iris had planted the idea in my head, and now I wanted to hear Selena’s thoughts. When I had a chance, I’d look up some of the songs she’d written. Get to know her musical mind.

Selena and I had yet to exchange many words, but I already knew I wanted more. My gut told me I needed to get to know this woman in the short time I had left in the city.

The second Selena’s song came to an end, I released the breath that had been caught in my throat.

Selena beamed at the applauding crowd, showing her pretty white teeth. She blew a kiss, then scurried off the stage.

I was on my feet and crossing the bar before I knew I’d decided to go to her. Meeting her in the shadows, I helped her put her sweater back on, only dragging my knuckle along the soft skin of her shoulder for a moment.

“You blew me away, Selena.”

She spun around to face me, still grinning, mischief dancing in the golden flecks in her eyes. “You’re next.”

For a second, my mind went filthy, but I quickly pulled myself together and remembered the promise I’d made. I wouldhave rather gotten my foot run over by a semi, but I gave my word. No backing out.

“I’m ready. Did you pick a song for me?”

She nodded. “W-we’re doing it together.”

My brow popped. “A duet?”

“Mm-hmm. That okay?”

“Yeah, mama. That’s more than okay. If I’m going to make a fool of myself, then I’m taking you with me.” I scratched my jaw. “Although you look so good up on stage, you’re probably going to make me look even worse. On second thought, maybe I should go solo.”

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