He pointed at the headphones again. “I can adjust the speed.”
“Frick. Well, okay, never mind. Sorry. I didn’t realize … I wouldn’t have …” I trailed off awkwardly. I was stuck on this scene, and Harrison had a knack for getting me rolling, all joking aside, and now I felt like an insensitive jerk.
“I have an idea,” he said.
“I don’t love that look in your eyes.” I started to back away to the door.
He cleared the spot on the couch next to him and patted the cushion. “You could read it out loud to me.”
I blinked at the spot. Then at him. “It’s like you went into my brain and plucked out my literal idea of what hell would be.”
He laughed freely, and my guilt abated. I had to admit that few things made me feel as clever as when I was able to charm the charmer. “You know I’m reading it anyway. What’s the difference?”
“The difference is crucial. Trust me.”
“Come on. It won’t be so bad.”
“I think I would rather get Collette to try foie gras.”
“So dramatic.” He cocked his head and used his most Harrison Evans face on me. “I’m offering to help. I won’t even look at you. I’ll be over here folding the wash. Hardly even noticeable.”
“Hmm,” I grumbled. I really did need help. I chewed my lip, staring back in the direction of the office. “Fine. But no jokes. Of any kind. I won’t be able to handle it in my fragile state,” I warned.
“Your ego will be handled with kid gloves.”
I sighed but opened my laptop.
After spending way too much time trying to find a position to sit where I could read without being able to see him in my periphery, I cleared my throat. “I’m thirsty. I should get water.”
He handed me his. “Stop stalling.”
I grumbled a few obscenities under my breath but eventually started reading, voice shaking. My voice was so high and tight in my chest I forced myself to pause and take a slow, deep breath in and out. He waited patiently, not making any comments. When I started again, I slowed down and focused on getting through this. After a few lines, I glanced up at him, but his features were neutral, fully focused on the towels, for all intents and purposes.
After several paragraphs, I began to relax and read. A few pages in, I stopped to take a sip of water and risked a glance at Harrison.
He was on his phone. My jaw dropped. So much for riveting storytelling.
“Why’d you stop?” he asked without looking up.
“You aren’t paying attention,” I said, sounding indignant even to my own ears.
“Trust me, I am.”
I leaned over to look at him. “You’re playing jewel heist on your phone!”
“This is how I focus.”
“You aren’t even looking at me.”
“I could look at you.” He finally set the phone aside to meet my gaze. “But then I wouldn’t be paying attention anymore.”
The words were like a bird that seemed to swoop into my stomach and flutter around my chest.
“Oh. Ah.” A blush burned up my cheeks as I stumbled.
“Carry on.” He picked up his phone again, and I read until I got to the end of the first scene, awaiting feedback.
Harrison blinked back to himself and spoke. “Your voice is incredible. You know that? It’s so feminine but rich that even when you drop into the male voices I’m so lost in the story I forget you’re even reading it.”
