Page 79 of Heartbreaker

“Who are you gonna get to produce it?” There’s a gleam in his eyes and out of nowhere, it hits me what today was all about.

Crud.

He’s never come to visit before because he didn’t need anything.

Nowhe does.

After my recent success, he’s the next one jumping on the money train—he wants to produce the next album.

Darn.

“Royal Ewing is going to produce,” I say quietly. “We work well together. We wrote ‘Midnight Snow’ in a couple of hours.” That’s a bit of an exaggeration, but he doesn’t need to know about all the kissing and touching and making out that went on in between making music.

“I see.” He puts his fork down and meets my gaze steadily. “So…are you planning to replaceeveryonewho got you where you are?”

Guilt slices through me.

“Rico, no. That’s not it at all. Remember, you turned me down when I asked you to work on my second album, because you were doing more hip hop—I didn’t think youwantedto do country at all anymore.”

“But you could have asked.” His dark eyes are sad.

And I really hate that it’s because of me.

“I’m…sorry. Truly. You never said anything.”

“I didn’t think I had to.” He wipes his mouth and stands up. “And you already asked Royal, didn’t you?”

“Well, yes.” Not officially, but we discussed it. Again, not something I plan to share because this is so awkward already.

I nervously chew the inside of my cheek.

“Please don’t go,” I say quietly. “Maybe you can produce one of the songs and collaborate on?—”

“Give me a break. That’s the equivalent of a pity fuck,” he says, shaking his head. “This isn’t my first rodeo, Jade. And I guess you’re going to learn the hard way about not stepping on people on your way to the top. They’re the same people you have to pass on your way back down.”

My mouth opens but nothing comes out.

I’m too shocked to formulate a response.

“I think you should go.” That’s all I manage to choke out once I find my voice.

“When Royal Ewing chews you up and spits you out, don’t come crawling back to me,” he says as he heads for the door.

He closes it softly behind him and all I can do is stare.

What in the world just happened?

Why would he talk to me this way?

I thought we were friends.

Apparently, I was wrong.

Standing there in my foyer, the surge of loneliness that hits me is so strong, I almost can’t breathe. And then, because I’m just so tired of everything, I burst into tears.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Royal

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