Chapter 6

It felt strange having a man in her home, eating her food, watching her work. As she sat at the kitchen table, she pulled her feet up on the chair and hummed a few bars in her head. Scratching the lyrics down, she frowned. It just wasn’t fitting.

“Your wear these bold and colorful designer dresses when you’re out, but when you’re here, you dress in yoga pants and sweatshirt,” he commented as he watched her.

“There’s no press here, so I can actually let my hair down,” she said with a shrug. “But don’t get me wrong. I like dressing up. There’s no reason that I can’t enjoy both.”

“I can’t argue with that. I certainly like both.”

Slightly irritated, she put her pencil down. “You don’t look like you’re working.”

Pulling out two chairs, he sat in one and put his feet up on the other. He looked incredibly sexy and at ease as he lounged and smiled lazily at her. “I’m always working.” He pointed to his temple. “There always some tune or some lyrics stuck in my head that’s just dying to be a song.”

“How’d you get started? You don’t look like a songwriter.”

“What does a songwriter look like?”

Someone who wasn’t covered in tattoos and looked like sin. “Not you,” she muttered. She was already regretting trying to start a personal conversation with him. It was like there were two different sides to Kade. When they were talking work, he was cool and professional, but when they weren’t, he looked at her like he wanted to devour her.

Even worse, she wanted him to.

“I used to jot down lines of poetry when I was a kid. I won a few contests, but it didn’t really go anywhere for a long time. It was more a hobby than anything else. I kept at it, and then Christopher offered to sell a few songs. After that, he started introducing me to artists.”

“But you don’t work for him?”

He shrugged. “I like working on my own terms. Christopher did me a favor for those first few songs, but once the interest grew, I started paying him a headhunting fee.”

Addilyn cocked her head. “You two are friends,” she observed softly. “That explains his willingness to put up with you.”

Rather than be offended, he just chuckled. “I met Christopher when I was in high school. He’s probably the only person I would consider a friend, but he also makes a lot of money off me. He certainly should want to put up with me. You of all people should understand that.”

“Excuse me?”

“It's obvious that this country thing wasn’t your idea. You talk about letting people control you, but the only person that I see controlling you is Peter Homes. He makes more than a lot of money off you.”

Addilyn stiffened. “Peter was the first person who gave me my big break. His daughter and I were acquaintances, and he’s always protected me. Do I make him an obscene amount of money? Yes, but when my PR teams wanted to parade me around in next to nothing on stage, he supported my decision to avoid sexualization.”

“There’s still tension between you two.”

Staring out the window, Addilyn remembers all too well Peter’s threat to drop her if she didn’t make the switch to country. “We don’t always see eye-to-eye,” she muttered.

“Do you have friends?”

“Of course I have friends!” She was offended that he’d insinuate otherwise. “When I’m in the city, I’m rarely alone.”

“Those aren’t friends,” Kade said as he rolled his eyes. “Those are people who want to be around you, and I know you’re smart enough to know the difference.”

She swallowed hard. He was right, of course. “Gia, my assistant. I treasure her as more than an employee. And I have my friend Phoebe. We met when I was doing a concert at a runway show. She’s a model. We just clicked. I only get to see her a couple of times a year, but we frequently talk over the phone.”

“You have two friends. That’s pretty sad.”

“You have one,” she snapped. “Not counting your kid of course. I’m sure it doesn’t know any better.”

“It is a girl, her name is Cadence, and she’s never complained in all her eleven years.”

“So you’re really a father? The fact that someone procreated with you is astonishing. You’re obviously not married with your reputation.”

“No, I’m not. Cadence’s mother left when things got tough, and had the good sense to stay away when things got good again.”

“So you’re daughter and one friend. What a life.” She scrunched up her nose still not believing he was a father.

“It’s by choice. I stay out of the spotlight.”

“Unless you’re sleeping with someone,” she muttered under her breath.

Kade raised an eyebrow. “What was that?”

“Nothing.”

“It sounds to me like you said unless I’m sleeping with someone.” Gazing at her intently, he put his feet back on the floor and rested his elbows on his knees. “Is there something that you want to ask me, Princess?”

“I told you not to call me that. You can save those silly nicknames for your daughter.”

His eyes suddenly hardened, and he stood. “I’m going for a walk. Finish your lyrics, and I’ll look them over dinner.”

His immediate switch in personality stunned her, but she didn’t stop him. Just when she thought she might be getting somewhere with him, he threw a wall up.

Just what made Kade tick? The chemistry between them was evident, but he’d done nothing to act on it. If he was the Casanova that Gia thought he was, why wasn’t he putting the moves on her?

****

“Today I have singing sensation America Holden with us, and let me tell you, she is a hard woman to get in touch with. I hear that’s because you’ve got something truly special in the works.”

A week after he’d left Addilyn’s place, Kade turned up the television and tipped his beer back. They were taking some time before they started recording. His songs were flawless, but the ones that she was working on still had a couple of hitches that they were trying to smooth out.

Still, he had to admit that she was talented. She just didn’t have the kind of practice that he did, but soon she wouldn’t even need help. Peter Homes was an idiot. He should have given her this chance years ago.

Working next to her was one of the hardest things that he’d ever done. Her scent was intoxicating, and even when she hid behind her beloved t-shirts and sweatshirts, she still couldn’t hide the curve of her hips and breasts. More than a couple times, he’d missed a chord because he was too busy imagining how she’d feel his arms.

How she’d taste on his lips.

She’d had a meeting with Peter a week ago, and he took that opportunity to leave the city. There was nothing more they needed to do together except work out the kinks in the recording studio, but first, she needed Peter’s approval. Normally he met with the producers, but he’d reached his limit. If he spent one more second with Addilyn Wheeler, he’d have her naked and bucking under him.

He knew that it pissed her off even more that he’d ignored her phone calls, but this was supposed to be a break, and God knew that he needed it.

“And now you’re writing your own songs. How is that?”

Addilyn grinned. “Exhilarating. One of the most amazing things about this industry is that artists can test their limits of creativity, and this opportunity has been amazing. I’ve had a little help from songwriter Kade Hardy, but I’m so excited to share with the world songs that coming from my heart and soul.”

Kade practically choked on the beer. Did she really just say what he thought she said? Immediately, he reached for the phone. “Christopher,” he growled. “Did you just see this fucking interview?”

“Kade, take a breath,” his friend warned. “Yes, I saw it. I spoke to Homes yesterday, and he’s thrilled with what you guys have come up with. She’s not trying to keep you from getting paid.”

“Some of those songs are my best work,” Kade snapped. “I’ll be damned if Peter pays me to keep quiet.”

Before Christopher could say anything, his doorbell rang. Going to the window, he opened the curtains and peered out. “Never mind. The pop princess is here. I’ll ask her myself.”

“Kade, don’t do anything—“

Hanging up on his friend, he tossed the phone on the couch. He was seething with anger. He did expect Addilyn to be the credit hogging type, but it wouldn’t the first time he’d underestimated the greed of a singer.

Kade threw open the door and glared at her. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" he hissed. He turned to make sure Cadence wasn’t around, but then remembered the girl was upstairs studying for a test.

"It's nice to see you too," she said coolly. Without waiting for an invitation, she brushed past him. "I can see that you're a little upset."

"A little upset?" His eyes glittered with anger as he whirled around and stalked her. "I just saw your interview. You just told millions of viewers that I provided a little help on your new album. A little help?"

"If you had answered any of my phone calls, this wouldn't have taken you by surprise. Peter Homes didn't even want to put my name on the lyric credits. I only did this so I could show people that I'm more than a pretty face, and there isn't a chance in hell that I'm going to give all the credit to you. I worked just as hard as you did!"

Furious, he stalked to the bar and poured him a drink. Downing it one fluid motion, he slammed the glass down and glared at her. "I haven't gotten paid yet, Addilyn. Peter Homes can tear up my contract if you continue spouting that I didn't do my share of the work. Did you even think of that?"

"Of course I thought of that!" She snatched the whiskey bottle from him and poured her own glass. Without breaking eye-contact, she tipped it back. Something primal shot through him when she moved the glass and the bottle out of reach and stepped closer to him. "I didn't do this to screw you, Kade. I spoke to Peter before the interview, and he's not going to let it affect your payment."

Her body pressed against him, and he narrowed his eyes. "What are you doing, Addilyn," he whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"I want to know why you're treating me like this," she murmured. "I want to know why you're so hot and cold."

It took every ounce of control to step away from her. "I've just been working, Addilyn. Just because we have a few songs done doesn't mean we're done. Your producer wants an album, and I just get more work done when you're not around." When she stiffened, he knew he'd made a mistake. Raking his hand through his hair in frustration, he grabbed her and pulled her close. "You're too distracting, Addilyn. You make me want to do things that I know is not a good idea."

She opened her mouth to speak, and Kade lost it. Lowering his head, he captured her sexy little mouth and drowned out whatever it was that she was going to say. A low moan escaped her throat, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body closer to him.

Circling her waist with his hand, he turned them and trapped her against the counter. She tasted every bit as sweet as he'd dreamed, and the more he deepened the kiss, the more he wanted. Growling, he slipped his hands under her shirt to caress her silky skin.

"Kade," she moaned, and he broke the kiss and tilted her chin so he could stare at her.

One kiss and he was ready to strip her naked. Never had a woman affected him as much as her.

It was dangerous, but God knows he wanted more.

"Fuck it," he muttered and dipped his head again for another dizzying taste of the woman who could very well ruin everything for him.