Page 163 of Hope & Harmony

“It was, but Iris is cool. She made me feel like her best friend from the start. I’ve worked with a lot of people now, but she’s my favorite. Iris had written some incredible lyrics, and our styles just mesh, you know? It’s like our brains are on the same wavelength when we’re writing together.”

“Is it like that with everyone?”

“I don’t write with others. Only Iris. The rest, I go solo.”

“Hmmm. Has anyone asked to cowrite with you?”

“Of course, but…”

He dipped down, his eyes latched on mine. “But that involves a lot of talking?”

“It does. It’s easier for me to talk through my lyrics, except with a few select people.”

He never looked away. “I like the hell out of talking with you, Selena.”

I rubbed my lips together, nervous from his sudden intensity. “You’re easy to talk to. You make me forget it's hard sometimes.”

With a groan, he rose, dragging me against his chest and sliding his fingers through the side of my hair. “You are incredible. Never want you to stop giving me your stardust.”

Then he kissed me, speaking to me in a whole different way but just as effectively.

CHAPTER 7

MARCO

My suitcase was packed.

This was the stage I was normally antsy to go home, but not today. After my night with Selena, I was in no rush to cross the country. I couldn’t hold off on my return, though, not even if I wanted to more than anything.

I had a club opening in LA I needed to oversee. Being physically present was necessary. Otherwise, I might’ve tried to convince Selena to allow me to work from her swanky-ass living room for a week or two so I could have my fill of her.

But even that didn’t feel true. A week or two would have just left me even more bereft, not cured of this sudden, inexplicable ache in my chest.

I picked up my phone and checked the time. A text from my boy, Julien, was waiting for me.

Jules: You’re coming back tomorrow, right?

Me: Yeah, unfortunately.

Jules: Unfortunately? I thought you’d be chomping at the bit to get back here so you can oversee your kingdom.

Jules and I went as far back as Amir and I did. For a long time, we’d been the three musketeers, then we graduated from college and the two of them turned into family men. I didn’t begrudge them that. They’d found something they had been looking for and treasured the hell out of it. My family life had been just fine. Mom and Dad were still married, and I had a couple nephews from my older sister. I wasn’t pining or needing to fill the void. Not the same way they had been.

But I had this ache square in the center of my chest. It intensified when I thought of getting on a plane tomorrow. Never seeing Selena again.

Me: I met a girl. Selena.

An instant later, Jules called. I had to laugh at his speed.

“What’s up?” I answered.

He exhaled. “Jesus, I was convinced your phone had been stolen. A girl, Marco?”

“I meet girls.”

“Oh, I know you’ve never had a shortage, but you’ve also never said those words to me. ‘I met a girl.’ As if she’s important. So, you’re going to need to explain Selena to me.”

Sinking into the leather chair near the floor-to-ceiling windows, I kicked my feet up on the desk. “Selena Cruz. She’s a songwriter. Genius. Sexy as hell. The kind of pretty that stops you in your tracks, combined with the kind of sweetness that I see you and Amir getting from your wives, but I’ve never had directed at me.” I groaned. “Lives in New York.”

---