That made him laugh outright, loud and surprised.It had been a long time since a woman had made him laughbeforeshe made him hard.The vibration felt good in his chest, loosening something that had been wound tight for weeks.
They talked for twenty minutes, easy and light, with no expectations hanging in the air between them.Harper was sharp and quick-witted, the kind of person who could make you laugh without even trying, and refreshingly uninterested in the whole rock-star fantasy most women at the studios seemed to chase.
She leaned back against the brick wall, grinning as she teased him.“Sounded like you were trying to murder that kit in the nicest possible way earlier.Poor drums didn’t stand a chance.”
Vic laughed again, the sound genuine and surprised.“Guilty.They were asking for it.”He tilted his head, giving her a playful once-over.“And you?I caught part of your session.That pop-country track sounded a little too polished.Like it could use some dirt under its fingernails and a lot less glitter.”
Harper’s eyes sparkled with amusement.She clutched her chest in mock offense.“Ouch.Straight for the jugular.I’ll have you know that glitter is very expensive.”
They bantered back and forth like old friends, trading jabs about overproduced radio songs versus raw garage energy, about the best and worst studio habits they’d seen.The conversation flowed effortlessly, no pressure, no pretense.For the first time in weeks, Vic felt himself relaxing into the moment, drawn in by her easy laugh and the way her green eyes lit up when she teased him.
Harper told him she’d been bouncing between Nashville and Kentucky for years, chasing songs and trying to keep her sanity.Vic found himself sharing more than he usually did—little pieces about growing up with Rosie, about the studio high he was riding, about how good it felt to make other people’s music better without losing himself in the process.
When she glanced at her phone and said she had to get back inside, she paused, biting her lip like she was debating something.
“You doing anything after wrap tonight?”she asked, voice casual but with a spark of real interest in her eyes.
Vic smiled, slow and warm.“Not a thing.”
Harper’s grin widened.“Good.There’s a little dive a couple of blocks from here that makes the best greasy burgers in town.My treat.Consider it payment for making my session sound halfway decent today.”
He tilted his head.“I did?”
She shook her head.“Not yet, but you will.”
Vic laughed again.“Lead the way.”
As they walked out of the courtyard together, he felt something light and dangerous bloom in his chest.It wasn’t love.It wasn’t even the start of something serious.
But it sure felt like something that might be fun.
Chapter Seven
Vic
Harper was great.Playful.She made him laugh in bed and out of it.They spent the next five days in a lighthearted blur—late-night drives with the windows down, greasy diner food at 2 a.m., stolen hours in her apartment when her roommate was gone.No heavy conversations.No promises.Just two adults enjoying each other with zero strings.
