Page 16 of Strike a Chord
“So wait a minute.Your ex—”
“Tom.”
“Right.Tom.So Tom dated Emma.Who is married to James.Who is the brother of Amy.Who is my ex?”
She nodded slowly.“I think so.”
“I will also add, Amy and James own Block 9 in Vancouver.It’s a really prestigious gallery and they carry a lot of my art.”
“Okaaaayyy.”Worry prickled the back of her neck.
A slow smile crept to his lips.“Small fucking world, eh?”
“Are you still in love with Amy?”she asked, inwardly cringing at how he must think she was some jealous idiot.They were friends.Nothing more.And yet the idea of him still being in love with Amy gutted her to the bone.
He shook his head.“No.We’ve talked since.Come to an understanding.I have my closure and I’ve moved on.My heart has moved on.”He pulled up the sleeve of his Henley to reveal a heart tattoo with a guitar piercing through it rather than an arrow.“I even covered up her initials in the heart.”
She sucked in a breath.“Okay, so married and divorced, but no kids?”
Something sad flickered in his gaze.“No kids.I wanted them.But besides the baby Amy lost, I haven’t been blessed.”He scratched at the back of his neck and his cheeks filled with color.“I hope there aren’t any little versions of me running around out there from some of my one-night stand dalliances while on tour.But I guess it’s possible.”
That made her smile.“Be honest, if someone knocked on your door and was like ‘Daddy!’you’d be excited.”
Now he was grinning.“Okay.Maybe a little.”
She glanced around at all the instruments.There were at least six guitars that she could see.A couple of basses, a drum set, a keyboard, a standup piano, and even a saxophone case in the corner.“Play me something.”
It only took him a moment before he nodded, stood up and grabbed the same guitar he’d let Levi use.First, he started to strum just random, beautiful tunes that she couldn’t recognize.But soon, he fell into a song, shut his eyes and let his fingers and soul do the work.
It only took her a moment to recognize the song.
He was playing Unstoppable by Sia.
Emotion clogged her throat as he reached the chorus and she sung the powerful words in her head.This man had really struck a chord inside of her.He was good and kind and patient.He connected with her son, and lo and behold they had an even deeper connection.What were the odds of Tom’s ex being married to Dax’s ex’s brother?
She already knew that he was doing all of this out of the goodness of his heart, because even though they were few and far between, good guys still existed.But was it wrong of her to hope he was open to more?That there was a reason her battery wouldn’t start behind his truck.And then he was behind her on the road when she was struck by the Tesla.And he had a house with a woodstove and a generator.
It wasn’t just pure coincidence, right?
After an endless stream of bad choices when it came to men, was the universe finally throwing her a bone and presenting her with a good one?
She’d be an idiot to ignore the signs.To ignore the stirring feelings in her belly.
When the song ended, he opened his eyes and smiled at her.
She met his gaze.“Kiss me.”
He blinked for a moment.“I’m not expecting—”
“I know.Kiss me.”
Conviction filled his eyes and he nodded, stood up and set the guitar back in its stand before he wrapped his hand behind the back of her head and took her mouth.
Nothing in Jennifer’s life had ever made sense until that moment.Or at least nothing made clearer sense than Dax’s lips on hers.Than Dax cradling her head, taking her mouth and filling her heart with hope.
After a moment, he pulled away, studying her.Checking in.
She blinked at him, her chest heaving.“Again.”Then she grappled at him, reaching for the hem of his Henley and peeling it over his head.
