Juliet was unapologetic in her admiration for Darcy’s physical form. “Yeah, that’s not really agotcha.”
“You also find my voice appealing,” Darcy added, putting her elbow in her lap, her chin in her hand, as she stared at Juliet with a wolfish smile. Daring her to disagree.
She was so close to it, too. Just on principle.
But the words wouldn’t come, not with anyrealweight behind them, which defeated the entire purpose.
“And you find mine appealing,” she countered, instead. “I guess we can say we’re even.”
“I find your voice more than appealing,” Darcy candidly agreed. “I’m really excited, for the record, about Shelby’s live concert in a couple of weeks.”
Juliet’s stomach fluttered with warmth at Darcy’s easy, honest compliment, before she really registered what she’d said about the concert. And yes, the next time they’d likely see one another was going to be in just under two weeks, in Nashville, as everyone featured on the album sang their renditions to be broadcast on TV.
“Are you?” She asked, winging up her eyebrow.
“Uh… yes?” Darcy’s gaze searched hers, like she couldn’t fathom what she was missing, here. “Why wouldn’t I be? We’re going to be performing at the Grand Ole Opry. That’s, like, a dream come true.”
“We’re going to be performing together. One-on-one, on the stage, televised. And now, we’re fucking. Think you can keep that off of your honest, open face?”
She was only half-teasing. The other half was serious as a heart attack.
“Canyou?” Darcy shot back. “I didn’t know you were gay when we recorded together at the studio, but when I think back about it… yeah, I can remember the way you were looking at me.”
Juliet felt the accusation all the way down to her toes. Her cheeks heated with it, hating that she knew it was true. She’d been so fucking into Darcy when they’d sang together. It was, for Juliet, the true beginning of the turning point.
“I’m a professional.” She sniffed, shaking her hair back. “I can handle you.”
“And I can handle you,” Darcy’s tone dipped, much like her eyes did down to Juliet’s mouth, both working in tandem to make Juliet’s heart beat a little faster.
The sound of vibration from somewhere on the floor broke into their moment, and she watched the dawning on Darcy’s face.
“My phone. Probably my sister,” she murmured, sliding out of the covers and getting out of bed as she walked to where her pants had been tossed to the floor last night.
Juliet reclined back, folding her hands over her stomach as she eyed Darcy with a very vested interest.
She could handle performing live with Darcy and not giving anything away. She was sure of it because she had to be. But… she’d certainly have to do some mental preparation.
Darcy didn’t answer the call, though, and instead quickly typed a message.
She glanced up at Juliet. “She doesn’t know I’m here.”
“I wasn’t going to inform her. Unlike some people, I know how to keep my mouth shut when someone else has a call,” she teased.
“Yeah, well, Laura apparently knew you had a whole plan for us, and my sister definitely doesn’t,” Darcy muttered back, as she returned to the bed.
Juliet’s ears perked up. “Your sister doesn’t know? Aboutusor aboutyou?”
That was utterly fascinating when she tried to slot it into place with honest-Darcy.
Whose face flushed. “About any of it,” she confirmed, quietly, after taking a beat. But she didn’t explain any more.
Juliet was a little galled at herself to realize she wanted to know.
Darcy cleared her throat, before she handed Juliet her phone. “If we’re going to keep doing this, we should maybe have one another’s numbers?”
“No, I love arranging our meet ups via locked backrooms and secret notes and shady alcoves.” She snatched Darcy’s phone from her.
“Um, well, when you say it like that, it’s actually really fun,” Darcy mused with a grin.
