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Three
Early the next morning, Gavin stepped into Elite Records and greeted his brother. Will was sitting at the conference table, coffee in hand. Hannah was with him, wearing a pink pantsuit, her blond hair curled and “out to there” as Alex had described last night. Gavin still got the biggest kick out of his oldest and most serious brother finding love with a woman who sparkled from head to toe.
“Hey, Han,” Gavin said as he sat down across from them.
“Hi.” Her head cocked to one side, she shot him an expression he couldn’t quite read. Could mean anything. She hadn’t responded to his text last night. He supposed there was an outside chance she’d never received it. Before he could ask, Hallie entered the room, her mood updated to Serious 2.0.
“Gavin.” Her usual businesslike tone had an edge.
Yep. Hannah had definitely shared what he’d said about Hallie at the party. He should have expected them to share everything. He also should have kept his damn thoughts to himself.
“I have the merchandising agreement for Hannah’s upcoming shows in the UK. The pricing is great, and from what I can tell they’re making a fair offer.” Hallie handed out packets, each fastened with a gold binder clip. She then took her seat to Gavin’s left—leaving one empty chair between them.
He slanted her a glance but she studiously ignored him. He turned his attention to the contract in front of him. As soon as he read the first line of the document, his personal concerns vanished. He became mesmerized by the legal speak that had once been a foreign language but was now second tongue.
He didn’t find any sketchy or sneaky phrasing, but there was a clause or two he could add to the contract to ensure Hannah was a more equal partner.
His goal when negotiating was to ensure each party clocked a win. It could be a challenge to orchestrate, which he never understood. Working relationships were best when everyone was happy. The greed in this industry never failed to amaze him. It was why he charged in first and gave his full attention to his client. Contract work was often viewed as boring and tedious, but it turned him on in a way not many people understood. Gavin was his clients’ biggest and best advantage.
“I’ll give their office a call this afternoon.” He held out his hand to take the other copies of the contracts. “We’ll have a few minor errors removed and the clause added, and you’ll be set.”
“Thanks, Gav.” Hannah smiled prettily, relieved. Making his clients feel at ease was rewarding.
“I’ll admit,” Will said as he stood from the table and tossed his copy of the contract over to Gavin, “I’m smart as hell, but I don’t see what you see when looking at those things.”
“Practice, brother. Lots and lots of practice.”
“If you’ll excuse us.” Will tucked his wife to his hip and sent her a heated gaze no one missed. “We have to discuss something in my office.”
Then they were out, Hannah whispering something into Will’s ear that Gavin was grateful he hadn’t overheard. He was happy for them—he was happy for all his brothers for achieving fiancé or husband status so effortlessly—but he also did not need to know details.
He turned to Hallie to say what, he didn’t know. How do you address someone you inadvertently insulted who refused to talk to you? “That went well.”
She blinked at him.
“The contract, I mean.”
She blinked again.
Oh-kay. He’d try a compliment.
“Music Keepers isn’t a company I’ve worked with before. Good job finding them. They might be worth a second look when it comes time to re-up Cash’s touring merch contract.”
“Yes.”
So, he’d squeezed one word out of her. At least it was an affirmative one.
“Hallie. What gives? I think I know, but I’d prefer you tell me.” If he knew one thing for sure, it was that he who speaks first loses. If he launched into an apology for what he’d said to Hannah, he might share more than Hallie knew. And he did not want her to know what he’d said last night if he could avoid it.
“Why would there be something wrong?” Her hazel eyes flashed, sending an answering jolt of awareness through his chest. The idea of a feisty Hallie set him off like a rocket. It was too bad he couldn’t consider her for even the briefest of flings. He’d bet he’d find passion hidden inside her if he managed to crack through her sharp exterior.
“You look different, is all,” he said, shaking the thought out of his head. Her twin was his brother’s wife. There was no way to have a brief anything with Hallie Banks—even if she didn’t hate him.
She made a choking sound in the back of her throat. He sent a brief scan down her outfit. Black trousers, silky beige blouse and sensible, black high heels. Her standard office attire. Her hair was smoothed back in a smart, professional ponytail, her makeup understated and soft. When she narrowed her eyelids at him, he figured it out.
She was looking him in the eyes. Well, technically she was glaring at him exactly like Hannah had last night, but still. Hallie almost never met his gaze.
“I got it.” He snapped his fingers. “No glasses.”
