Page 56 of Shattered Chords

The hour was almost up and the sun had slid below the horizon, its leftovers casting a soft orange glow across the roofs in my line of sight. My terrace was blissfully clean and smelled like pine, and I was pouring myself another glass of wine—my last one for today—when a rough gust knocked two of my string lights together. A few days ago, I’d rearranged them to hang across the back yard by tying the ends to a lamppost in the middle of the barbeque area, and now they were a tangle of wires and bulbs, helplessly jerking above my head, which defeated the whole purpose of my redecorating efforts.

In the living room, Ally played a tune I’d never heard before. It was slow and sad and absolutely breathtaking. For a moment, I even forgot what I was going to do, then another twister of hot air danced across my back yard and ravaged my poor flower beds, and I remembered I was about to try to separate the string lights.

Ally was still messing around on the guitar when I dragged my ladder from the laundry room to the middle of the lawn. Harper’s OCD must have gotten to me, because things out of place just weren’t right. Especially in my own home.

I was too preoccupied to pay attention to my surroundings and didn’t hear when the lesson ended or when Dante stepped out onto the terrace.

It was his voice that snapped me back to reality. I was caught in a compromising and very inelegant position with one knee on the tip-top step of the ladder and one hand clutching a broom in a desperate attempt to reach the string lights rattling several feet above my head.

“I don’t mean to be nosy,” Dante said, leaning his shoulder against the post. “But aren’t you not supposed to stand above the third highest step to avoid breaking your neck?”

“And how would you know such things?” I bit back. My muscles were burning from fighting the wind as it slapped against my face and ripped at my hair, and I dropped the broom, which landed on the ground with a clunk and a bounce.

“I’ve got a lot of time on my hands.” Dante smirked and moved in my direction. “Reading all sorts of useless facts online proves to be a great pastime.”

I flashed him a scowl and rolled my shoulders to release some tension.

“Would it be better to get a different ladder?”

“This is the only one I have. I borrowed a taller one from my neighbors when I was rearranging these,” I explained, motioning at the lights. Then I climbed a couple of steps down but stopped when our eyes were level. “How did the lesson go?”

“It went great. Thank you for letting me do this.”

“I didn’t. You tricked me into it.”

Dante laughed softly, small lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes. His skin was radiant in the evening light and I caught myself thinking that for a man his age, he looked intensely youthful. But not necessarily in a physical sense—there was something about him that screamed fun and adventure and all the things I hadn’t done, and I wanted to reach out and grab him so I could get a glimpse at even a tiny portion of what carefree would feel like.

Obviously, I didn’t. Instead, I said, “Are you sure you won’t accept payment? I paid the previous tutor.”

Dante shook his head and took another step forward, his body suddenly mere inches from mine. “No. You can’t afford me and I don’t really need the money.”

I nodded.

“What happened to the previous guitar teacher if you don’t mind my asking?”

“I’m surprised Renn didn’t tell you all the juicy details.”

“She mentioned he was...inappropriate.”

“He made a comment about Ally’s body.” I paused and waited for his reaction, but his face remained unmoving. “She’s a teenage girl who’s curious about everything, and while I do my best to explain certain things to her, she’s easily swayed. All teenagers are. Especially teenagers without fathers. So you understand why I’m wary about an older man with a spotty history being her tutor, right?”

“I understand perfectly. I was fifteen once too.”

“So was I.”

“You have nothing to worry about. Ally can take care of herself. She’s a very smart girl. And I don’t mind making the drive. It’s not far.”

I lowered my gaze for a moment because I hated what his dark, cunning eyes did to me. “As long as it’s not interfering with her school.”

“When do classes begin?”

I looked up at him through my lashes. “Less than two weeks.”

He nodded and plucked something from his pocket. Some candy. Paper rustled as he unwrapped it. “Is Ally’s father not in the picture?”

The question caused a small whirlpool of emotions to swirl inside me. “No. He’s not,” I responded, my voice trembling for a second.He didn’t even want her.

“Sorry.” Dante tilted his head to the side slightly and studied my face.

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