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A delicate blush spread on her cheeks and a smile lifted the corners of her lips. “I might just break my personal record for turning in a promotional package.” Her gaze didn’t leave mine.
It might be possible that forever in the future when I sip some whisky I’ll be dreaming of the amber depths of her eyes and the thick lashes surrounding them.
Catie leaned in and pressed her cheek to mine, resting her palms on my thighs. “The waiting is hard, but the reward is sweet.” Her whisper sent shivers over my skin.
“Gorramright!” I echoed Aspen.
I walked her to her car, where I caved to the urge to kiss her goodbye. Nothing urgent, or passionate. Not a single tempting squeeze of her waist or groping of any other part of her body. Not in the least. This kiss was sweet and comfortable, awakening something deep in my chest that hadn’t been touched before.
Her delicate smile warmed me to my toes. As she drove off, I stood on the sweeping driveway, watching until her taillights disappeared, the fingertips of one hand pressed to my lips while the other rested on my heart, like a damn schoolgirl.
After being cooped up in the studio all morning, not that I minded, I didn’t head inside. I needed fresh air and the calming sound of tiny waves on the shore. Wandering around the side of the house, I strode toward the dock.
When I’d first bought the place, I’d purchased two Adirondack chairs, one blue, the other red, so I could sit on the pier and just breathe and center myself. I’d spent hours out here staring at the water and trees around me. My favorite moments were when mist ghosted off the lake on cool fall mornings, and the trees had just started to turn. Sometimes, I fished off the dock. Or rather, I’d cast my bait into the water, then prop the rod in a holder and sit back with a beer, waiting for the fish to strike. Other than my studio, this spot was my favorite part of the land I’d bought.
I settled in the blue one and stretched my legs out in front of me. The muscle memory of resting my forearms on the wide plank armrest zinged through me. I tipped my head back, shut my eyes and inhaled lazily, then exhaled the same way, another part of my recording rituals. Which brought back my thoughts of adding kisses from Catie into my traditions.
Not sure how long I rested there, but my drifting thoughts were interrupted by the thud of boots on the boards of the dock. Something cold hit my arm.
“Thought you might want a beer.” James tapped the icy bottle against my bicep.
“Thanks, brother.” I took it, twisted the cap free and took a long swig from the longneck. The IPA hit my tongue fresh, almost floral, then settled into smooth as it slid down my throat.
James set a six pack between the two chairs, then folded onto the red chair, his knees bent and legs falling open. He rested a bottle between his thighs and twisted the top off. It clinked on the wooden dock when he dropped it.
He tipped the bottle to his lips, but before sipping, James said, “She’s nice. I like her.” He gulped down some brew.
“Yeah? She is nice.”
“Fits right in with the core three here.” He was talking about me, him, and Aspen. Core three and a half, if you included Tobin in the mix. “Except for thatFireflything. I’d rather her be aDoctor Whofan, ya know? I think it’d be easier to overlook that.”
“Hey now. My dad liked the good Doctor.”
“I did not know that about him. Not sure what went wrong with you. I mean, Captain Kirk? And who names their kid Spock? Is that his first name or last name? At least with Luke you knew the dude’s last name was Skywalker.”
“Not sure they ever identified Princess Leia’s last name.”
“Organa.”
“Of course you’d know shit like that.” I knuckle-punched him in the bicep. But not hard.
“I like working on the sound board. Aspen is a great teacher.”Whoa! Quick subject change.
I jumped right over to that topic. “You’re a quick study. If you want, I can ask Carrie about any openings in the studio mixing area. I’m sure she’d find a spot for you.”
He drank thirstily from his beer. “Trying to get rid of me? Don’t need a security detail anymore.” He turned his head toward me and cocked an eyebrow.
Waving my arm around the area, I laughed. “Don’t see much need for it now. Don’t want you to go, but think of the opportunities, brother.”
“I’m good here for now.” He faced the lake again and sighed. The fading sunlight made the silver strands in his hair wink, and lightened the shadows flitting across his face. He’d told me a lot about himself, but never what made the sadness deepen on his expression in the middle of a joyful moment. He swept an arm wide, encompassing the small lake, the trees, and the peace of the place. “If I worked as a music producer, I’d have to leave all this behind.”
“Yeah, but…” But what? I didn’t want him to go, but I didn’t want him to miss out on his chance of doing something different. “You might love the lifestyle. Fast cars, huge mansions, interns cowering in fear while gagging to learn everything you know.”
James shuddered. “Sounds horrible. I’m a simple man, Cal. I like working here, for you. Learning from Aspen. I appreciate the offer, but I’m right where I want to be.”
“You know I’m going to have to go on tour for the release, right? Producers don’t have to tag along for that grueling schedule.”
He shoved his feet out in front and bounced his beer bottle on his thigh. “Yeah, but they miss the fun of discovering new cities. I propose we take an RV this time, instead of planes. Or hell, maybe a train. What guy doesn’t like trains?”
