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“I’m D. Johnson,” I interrupted my manager, lifting my chin and straightening to my full height.
Levi’s rich brown eyes flicked to me. I didn’t miss his heady gaze assessing me from head to toe. He lowered the bloody rag from his face, lips parting to speak. “You’re D. Johnson?”
His stunned expression made my heart quicken.
“Is there a problem?” I braced my hands on my hips. Grinding my teeth, I leashed back my rising temper. I didn’t want it to get the best of me before we sealed the deal.
I’d already considered walking before the start of this painful interaction.
“No, not a problem.” Levi’s hands went up as he stepped forward. “I love the songs you write. It’s exactly what I’m looking for with my new album. However—” Levi invaded my space, and I instinctively took a step back, nearly bumping into the couch. “—I know you from somewhere.”
A spine-tingling chill raced down my back and my boots froze to the worn carpet. My heart lurched into my stomach, and I stopped breathing.
Heavy metal rockstar Levi Stark shouldn’t know me.
Buzzing and excited, he snapped his fingers. His other hand discarded the bloody rag on the vanity to point at me. “That’s right. I know who you are!”
Levi pivoted to his manager, who gaped back at a loss for words. My eyes targeted Damien with a silent cry for help. He had a split second to open his mouth before Levi snapped again.
“You’re Diana Winslow, aren’t you?” Levi laughed triumphantly, and the sound dipped straight into my lower stomach. “You’re that musical child prodigy that dropped off the face of the earth. You were a world-famous pop star. I know your old music, and your dad’s.”
“No.” The word tumbled past my lips. I’m not sure when it happened, but Levi wrapped his massive palm around my dainty hand and shook vigorously.
“It’s a real honor for me to meet you honestly. I didn’t know you were D. Johnson! This is crazy.” He dropped my hand and spun around to his stone-still manager. “Dude, that’s motherfucking Diana Winslow. Oh man, this is going to be great.”
With Levi’s back turned, I shot daggers at Damien, hoping he felt every single one of them. He tossed back an apologetic shrug stressed by a sheepish grin.
“You must have gotten a concussion with that blow to your head. Can we get this over with?” My haughty tone seemed to have the desired effect on Levi.
He cleared his throat, realizing that I wasn’t as awe-struck in his presence. His fingers tugged through his luscious, dark hair. “Right,” he drew the word out, baffled and gawking at me.
How did Levi Stark recognize me?
My thoughts raced, and my pulse quickened, threatening to slash through my emotionless demeanor. I needed to get out of here before I cracked.
Damien cleared his throat while drawing the contract from his satchel. All eyes went to him as he set it on the vanity. “Here are the terms we discussed over the phone and in our emails. D. Johnson has agreed to help write the songs for your upcoming album. Work schedule to be set at five days a week in the studio.”
“Dude, five days a week?” Levi turned on Raymond. “You know I have these local shows to keep up with. That’s why I can’t write the new album. I’m going on tour in two months.”
“She’s helping to write the lyrics, Levi, not making the entire album for you.” Raymond’s sudden stern tone even made me tense up. “You need to be able to sing and perform the music.”
Okay, maybe I’d judged him too quickly.
Levi shot me a sideways glance, his smile dropping further as he studied my expression. His skeleton makeup gave him a grave, dangerous aura with his dissatisfaction. The air grew heavier when he exhaled like a great beast on the verge of spewing fire. “Fine. Show me where to sign.”
Even his signature was intense and wild across the stark white page. I moved in next to sign my pseudonym next to his name. I scribbled quickly to get out of that cramped dressing room.
I didn’t expect him to stand so close with his body next to mine. The alarming warmth seeping from his toned arm pressing against mine elicited an unwanted flush across my face.
“Nice handwriting.” My breath caught in my throat when his heated breath tickled my cheek. His lowered tone awakened an aching pulse in my core.
The pen dropped from my hand, and I whirled around. I came face to face with Levi’s muscled chest under a tight black t-shirt that left little to the imagination.
Biting my tongue to hold in a squeal of surprise, I jerked my head to Damien. I screamed with my eyes, pleading to leave.
“Great meeting you two.” Damien took my cue, jumping in with dramatic flair. He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me away from Levi’s overwhelming body heat. “She’ll see you in the studio on Monday morning, Levi. Great show tonight.”
I didn’t hear Raymond’s reply as Damien jerked open the door.
