They’d all decided to keep quiet about her stalker. As much as Nate trusted his staff, there were all sorts of people coming and going in the studio. It wouldn’t do for word to get out. And Melody couldn’t forget that the roses had been delivered here and the business with the CD of her ultrasound vanishing and reappearing had taken place in the studio, too.
“It will be good to go...” She’d been about to say home. “Get away.”
“How long do you think you’ll stay?” Mia asked.
Craig had returned his attention to the musicians, leaving the women to their conversation.
“I’m not sure. It depends on how things go.” She stared at her fingers for a second before adding, “Kyle wants us to spend Christmas together in LA.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I’d rather be with family.”
“But he’s your family, too,” Mia reminded her.
“Yes, but I don’t want to have to choose between you all and him.”
Mia eyed her sympathetically. “I understand how you feel. Ivy didn’t exactly ma
ke it easy for me when Nate and I were trying to sort out our relationship.” Not only were Mia and Ivy twins, but Mia had been Ivy’s constant companion ever since the pop star had started her career at age six. She’d even been her personal assistant once they were older.
“But in the end, you chose Nate because you loved him.”
“And you’ll choose Kyle for the same reasons.”
Melody nodded, even as she hoped that when the time came, Mia would be right.
* * *
It was day eight, another date night. Melody wanted to do something upbeat and fun after the emotionally exhausting discussion they’d had during the prior day’s exercise.
Day seven had been about communicating. Each person was supposed to take twenty minutes to talk uninterrupted about whatever was on their mind. Melody had spoken about her upcoming booking at The Roxy, sharing her excitement and fears about the solo show and how her new songs would be received.
Kyle had spoken about his father, sharing a story about how he’d canceled Kyle’s tenth birthday party at the last minute after his baseball team had lost in the final inning of the playoffs. Kyle had missed catching a fly ball and the other team had scored. Kyle’s father had declared only winners got to have a party.
Melody’s heart had broken while Kyle told his story. She wanted to call his father and scold him on Kyle’s behalf, but she knew it would do no good. Kyle’s father wasn’t going to apologize to his son for such misguided treatment because he thought he was teaching Kyle a life lesson by being so hard on him. Instead, she’d put her arms around Kyle and let him know she’d heard his pain.
The exchanges had brought them to a place of intimacy they hadn’t achieved before and filled Melody with confidence for their future.
For their eighth date, they were supposed to take a class in something that neither of them had done. Melody had been thinking about this for a while and decided she’d come up with an idea that would provide the sort of team spirit they were trying to achieve.
“I want to learn how to tango,” Melody said.
Ever since Kyle had treated her to an evening of sexual spoiling, she’d been feeling an increase in her libido. She wasn’t sure if it had something to do with the easing of her nausea, the second trimester hormones kicking in, or her album being done at last, but she’d become obsessed with getting her hands on Kyle as often as she could.
“Tango?” He looked more intrigued than resistant.
“It always looks so sexy when people do it on TV.”
He laughed. “I’m sure they’ve had tons of practice. But I’m game. If nothing else the class will be loads of fun.”
This was something else she could add to her growing list of things she appreciated about him. He was always ready to take on new challenges. Even ones that pushed him out of his comfort zone.
“I found someone who will give us a private lesson tonight at seven.”
“Dinner first or afterward?”
“First, I think.” She gave him a wicked smile. “I’m hoping tangling on the dance floor will prompt us to want to tangle in the sheets.”