Page 93 of Dangerous Rhythm

He came around the kitchen island to her. “But I have my eyes on only one girl.”

“Right,” Lina said plainly, with a small smile.

Curtis’ grin grew, and he eyed her as if she’d issued him a challenge.

“I know it’s hard to believe. I mean, why would I, a sex symbol of my generation, want to settle down with one woman?” he boasted in exaggeration.

“Ooo...kay.” Lina laughed. “I never mentioned the words ‘sex symbol.’”

“But you think I’m sexy.”

She crunched her nose.

“I saw you watching me on stage every night, Lina Cheung,” he teased.

“I was working. I was supposed to be watching—”

“The crowd.” Curtis laughed.

“I had my guys on that. It’s called delegation.”

“Uh-huh.” He took her hand and said seriously, “Listen, I’ve watched other great musicians before me who can’t get past the fame, the partying, the girls or boys—whichever way theygravitate—and continue trying to get all those back even when their time has passed. I don’t want to be a cliché.

“Like I said, I hope my brothers and I can do this for the rest of our lives, but I also want more. I’ve been racking my brain out, searching for this ‘more.’ Until you showed up at my door, and things shifted inside me. With each day we’ve been on this crazy ride, all these odd notes playing in my head started to make sense. I can hear the music and what it’s telling me.”

Lina exhaled slowly. She was almost afraid to ask. “What is it telling you?”

“You remember when I jammed with Luc in Paris?” Curtis’ face lit up. “Every time I was there, I taught him a little more. He’s so good now. And at new year, teaching those kids how to play the guitar, sharing with them the love of music made me feel as good as writing and playing music.”

She nodded and smiled at the memory. “Yeah, I saw that. You were fantastic with them. So what does that mean? Are you gonna start teaching?”

“Maybe.” He pursed his lips, thinking. “I’m considering proposing to the band to start a foundation to bring music to underprivileged children or those stuck in hospitals being treated for illness.”

He was vibrating with excitement. “I don’t know. I haven’t really figured out the details yet. I found music early, and I know I was privileged to have access to instruments and classes, but it kept me from fucking up much.

“Maybe if more children had access to something similar, we’d have fewer Rocco Stilettos,” he finished with a thoughtful frown.

Lina cupped his jaw in her hand. “Curtis, that sounds like a pretty good idea.”

“You think?”

“Yes. It’s definitely something you should explore.”

He nodded with a self-satisfied grin. “I’m glad you agree, because there’s something else it’s telling me.”

“What?” She smiled.

A loud buzz snapped their attention to the door.

“That must be Marcus and Ken,” Lina said. “What were you saying?”

Curtis gave an easy shrug. “We’ll talk about it later, when this is all done.”

thirty-seven

Lina signaled Curtis to stay well back when she opened the door. She was ever-so-vigilant, even if nobody except for the four of them knew he was back in New York. After looking through the peephole briefly, she pulled back with her brows furrowed. She gave him a curious look before opening the door.

What was that?Curtis wondered.

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