Page 63 of Chasin’s Surrender

“Who’s Bent?” Chasin boomed.

“Bent Bromley,” Bobby told him. “He and Viv have written music together before.”

Bent was an ass. He was also an egomaniac who thought he was the best songwriter around. Which, if you went by the number of songs he wrote and sold in a year, he wasn’t entirely wrong, he was good. But the best, no. And he liked to call himself The Muse, which was just gross. In the past, I’d written a handful of songs with him, but told Bobby and Melissa both I wasn’t interested in doing it again.

“That’s not gonna happen and Melissa knows it. She wasted your time having you come here,” I told Len.

“Vivi, he’s gagging to work with you again. He’s got some great ideas. He sent over—”

“Len, I’m gonna stop you right there. I don’t want to see what he sent for a variety of reasons. The first being, I’m not working with Bent and anything he’s sent you is not for me to see, hear, or know about. The second reason is, in five minutes, Melissa will be getting notice from my attorney I’m severing ties. That means I’m no longer a client, therefore not entitled to any further information.”

“You can’t do that,” he seethed.

“I can’t?” My head tilted, my hip shot out, my hand found purchase, and my attitude bubbled to the surface. “Because I think I just did. Not only did I do it, but, Len, it’s effective immediately. Melissa no longer works for me, which means by extension you no longer do, either. Again, I’m real sorry she wasted your time. Y’all should go on back to Tennessee and take that up with her.”

“Damn, Evie,” Chasin whispered next to my ear. His warm breath fanning across my neck made me shiver, and when he chuckled, I knew he didn’t miss it. “We’re gonna talk about that sexy, slow, Southern drawl when we get home. Not the first I’ve heard you get pissed and it’s come out. But fuck, honey, every time it gets hotter and hotter.”

Chasin’s hand went to mine on my hip and he threaded our fingers together.

My gaze was still on Len so I watched as his eyes dropped to where Chasin was holding me. His eyes narrowed, and when he lifted them to look at me, he didn’t bother to hide his repulsion.

What the hell was that about?

“You’re gonna regret that, Vivi,” Len snipped.

Chasin’s body went rock hard behind me and his fingers tightened painfully.

“Regret what, exactly?”

“All of it.” His lips curled in disgust and he swiped his leather portfolio off the table. “I’d expect a call from Melissa’s attorney this afternoon.”

“No skin off my nose, sugar, I don’t take those calls, my people do. But if Melissa tries to reach out to me direct, I’m gonna take that as harassment. And as you’re well aware, I have enough shit piled on my plate, I’m not feelin’ real generous right now. She’d be smart not to try.”

“You think you’re hot shit. But you’re gonna see. You’re nothing.”

Len’s words were a direct shot, hitting me square in the chest where that ball of insecurity lived. But with Chasin at my back, Bobby standing next to me, I powered on.

“Right,” I huffed. “That’s why Bent’s gagging to work with me, and those were your words. And if I’m nothing, Melissa won’t care about losing the money I make her. The way I see it, that greedy cow knows I’m something. That’s why she sent you all the way over here to get me to hurry shit along. Problem is, she should’ve come herself.”

“I told her I’d come,” he admitted. Then amended, “She’s got better things to do than fly to Maryland.”

It was time to end this conversation. Not only was I over it but I could feel the men’s impatience closing in on me.

“Welp. Now she doesn’t have to bother with me at all. Have a nice day, Len. Safe travels.” I turned to look at Chasin and asked, “You ready?”

“Yeah, Evie, I’m ready.” He smiled brightly, holding back a chuckle.

“Great. I missed breakfast and I’m starved.”

“Right. We’ll grab something on our way.”

“That’s okay. I’ll cook something when we get home.”

If it was possible, his smile grew. I took in his grin, let the warmth coat my skin, and locked it down deep.

The ride back to the farm was done in silence. The whole drive, Chasin’s eyes flicked from one mirror to the other. He never stopped scanning. Bobby left me to my thoughts, knowing I needed time to digest what had happened.

And me? I couldn’t stop thinking about Len and the way he’d looked at me. Even as I stood in Chasin’s room and took in the mess I’d made earlier, I couldn’t stop thinking about how different Len had behaved.