Page 82 of Hold Still

Not letting her move out of my embrace, I ask, “How’s your mom? Did the docs give you some good news?”

She breaks our eye contact. “She’s doing alright.”

Bending down, I wrap my arms around her waist and lift her off the floor. “Glad to hear it,” I whisper into her ear.

Giggling, she arches her back. “How’s the song writing biz?”

I deposit her back on the floor. Grabbing her laptop case in one hand while interlocking our fingers with the other, I lead her to the music room. “Going well. The band and I worked late last night at the Jade—since you weren’t coming over—and we started a few more songs.”

She claps. “Awesome! I’m so happy for you. Let’s hear what you’ve got.”

Grabbing my guitar, I say, “I hope all my fans are as excited as you for new songs.” I play a few chords. “Oh, and did I mention I’m thrilled you used your key today?”

“Yeah, well, Bans had other ideas.” She cocks her head. “Maybe if you gave her another name, she wouldn’t be so angry all the time.”

“What? She loves her name.” I strap the guitar around my body and pull out the sheaf of sheet music I’ve been working on.

Booting up her laptop, she eyes Bans, who has walked into the room.

“Come here.” I stretch out my hand, motioning for her to take it, which she does. I lead her over to the dog. “She’s very friendly to people she likes, and I can tell she likes you. Why don’t you pet her?”

“Dogs make me jumpy,” she whispers.

I go on my haunches and Bans’s head comes up. Looking into McKenna’s eyes, I incline my head toward the dog. Taking McKenna’s hand in mine, we both pet the dog, whose tail wags with all the attention.

“She’s soft.”

“Aiden took her to the groomers yesterday for me.”

We continue petting her together. When she rolls over, I scratch her belly and stand. McKenna joins me. “See, she’s really a pussycat.”

Next to me, McKenna snorts. “I wouldn’t go that far, but she’s sweet.” Bans goes over to her bed and lies down, her tail wagging.

Once we resume our positions—McKenna at the table with her laptop and me by the instruments—I proceed to play all of my new songs. McKenna records them on her cell phone and scribbles notes onto a stray piece of sheet music. She offers her opinion on some of the songs and then goes off to work on her computer while I continue to play around with the notes.

My mind keeps straying to the letter Teresa sent me. I need her take on it. Without interrupting her work, I go into my office and pick up the notebook paper. Sitting next to McKenna, I offer it to her to read.

She holds it up. “What’s this?”

“Teresa sent it to me. Had it hand delivered, actually, by Luis. I’d like an outsider’s perspective.” I push it back so she can read it.

She bites her bottom lip. “Okay.” Her eyes skim the words, her eyebrows forming a frown. When she finishes, she places the paper down. Running her tongue over her lips, she asks, “What do you think about what she said?”

“You sort of nailed it. I didn’t take her life into consideration,” I reply. “But, I like to think I’ve changed.”

“Life makes change happen, one way or another. I’m sorry you had to go through this.” She kisses my cheek.

“I missed you yesterday.”

“And I missed you, too. But, I’m here now.”

She embraces me. I don’t care about anything but showing this woman how much she means to me. Now. “Dulcita.”

She doesn’t move. “Yes?”

My hands reach for her waist and pull out her shirt from her pants. “Off.”

Her hands fly up and I skim her blouse over her head. For her part, she unbuckles my belt and my cock stirs in anticipation. Like every other time, we’re naked in no time flat. Standing up with her, I grab her hand and head toward my bedroom.

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