I chuckle as I trade half my sandwich for hers. "You don't have to work on smooth."
"What if I want to become a master seductress?"
I cock a brow. "Who are you seducing?"
"You."
"Then stay the way you are." I brush a stray hair behind her ear. "I like that you're blunt, that you don't have moves or lines. It's sweet. Endearing."
She sticks out her tongue. "I don't want to be sweet."
"It's authentic."
Understanding spreads over her face. "I guess I'll stick with it then."
She goes back to her sandwich. I go back to mine. We sit on the sand, watching the water lap at the beach, until we've finished our meal.
Her company isn't like anyone else's. It fills me with the deep satisfaction that usually only comes with playing a great show or mastering a tricky song.
She downs her can of coffee then leans back with a satisfied sigh. "God, I was starving." She shifts onto her side to look up at me. "Thanks for dinner."
"Anytime."
"No comments about how I'm polite?"
"I like that you're polite." I finish my water and lay back on the sand. This used to be the kind of thing I avoided. Sand is already in my hair. It's already scuffing my leather jacket and my motorcycle boots.
But I don't mind.
Piper shifts onto her back and takes my hand.
This, lying on the sand with her, staring up at the stars, nothing but the waves and our breath as our music—this is why people write love songs.
Never wanted to write one before.
But I do right now.
Even though I might be bad for her.
Even though I might destroy her.
She runs her fingertips over my wrist. "Good dinner?"
Not the food. But her company— "Yeah."
"You were awfully pushy buying me all those acting classes."
"Don't go if you don't want to."
"I want to." She turns to her side, resting her weight on her elbow. Slowly, she runs her fingers over my chest, along the center of my button-up shirt. "For a performer, you were a pretty bad actor."
I let out a low, deep laugh. "You're almost as tactless as Violet."
She smiles. "I'm being honest with you because we're... what are we now?"
Never done this before. I'm not sure. "I still like more."