Her eyes brightened. “Sure. That sounds nice and I have some really great cream I just bought.”
He drew her to a chaise longue and sat down with her between his thighs, her back to him. While she relaxed back against his chest, he took the cream and utilized some of the techniques she’d demonstrated on his feet, sliding his thumbs deep into the flesh of her palms.
“That feels really good,” she said, her head falling back against his shoulder.
She’d stripped down to a tank. Her breath slipped out in a happy sigh as his fingers traced up her arms and over her shoulders. He loved the way she fit against him. All soft, yielding curves and warm, enticing energy.
He thought they were getting somewhere until her phone rang. The discordant sound caused her to tense.
“Ignore it,” he murmured, kissing the side of her neck. “This is our time.”
“I really can’t.” She shifted forward and quickly moved beyond his grasp. “There’s this one song I really love, but I can’t quite get it right.” She checked her phone’s display and turned her back to him. “Hey, thanks for calling me back. Do you have some time later?”
Now Kyle was the one growing tense. From her body language and tone he knew exactly who was calling. Hunter. She shot a look over her shoulder in Kyle’s direction.
“Ah, sure, I can meet you in an hour. Thanks, I really appreciate it.”
“I thought Nate told you to take the rest of the day off.”
“He did, but there’s a really small window of opportunity...” She slipped her shirt over her head and once again donned her sweater. Moving with more speed than grace she began to gather up all that she’d brought.
Kyle stood with his arms crossed and watched her. “That was Hunter, wasn’t it?”
“Please don’t make a big deal out of this,” she pleaded. “It’s really just about my album.”
He couldn’t help but think she wouldn’t be running off if it wasn’t for Hunter. “Why aren’t you going to Nate for help?”
She wouldn’t meet his gaze. “I have gone to him. And to Mia. I just want another opinion.”
It was obvious that she was drowning in self-doubt. This album was her chance to prove to herself and the world she was a talented singer and songwriter. But more than that, deep down, part of her would forever be that starry-eyed teenager whose dreams had been trampled by her father’s brutal words.
“I understand.” She would never know what it cost him to say that. “But before you leave, can we please agree we’ll do date night on Wednesday?”
“Wednesday is perfect. Nate has given me a deadline of noon. After that...” She smiled through her anxiety. “I’m all yours.”
* * *
When the door to the rehearsal studio opened, Melody looked up and spied Nate. He frowned at her.
“Weren’t you supposed to be out of here two hours ago?”
“I’ve been working on this song for Ivy Bliss.”
She’d gotten caught up in working on something she shouldn’t be. Hunter had called around noon and asked for some changes to a song Ivy Bliss had started to record before switching to work with Hunter a month ago. Apparently, thanks to Hunter, she was back to being interested in the song again. But she wanted two new verses. Melody had been fiddling with the song all afternoon instead of working on her own album. Hunter was in LA tomorrow to work with Ivy and wanted the song today so they could look it over.
“Wait,” Melody said, as something Nate had asked just penetrated her creative fog. “Did you say two hours ago? What time is it?”
“Nearly four. I thought you and Kyle had some big dinner planned for tonight.”
“I lost track of time.” This was not good.
Today was day three of their relationship revitalization and they were supposed to have date night. The plan had been for her to head to his house at two. They were going grocery shopping and then would return to his place to prepare a four-course dinner. The point of the exercise was spending time together engaged in something fun and cooperative.
“What song?” Nate asked, bringing her thoughts back to the moment.
“The one you and Mia suggested she do. She wants me to change a couple verses.”
Nate shook his head. He knew the demanding pop star all too well. Not only had she been on tour with his band Free Fall, he was currently engaged to her sister.