Chapter 7

Addilyn told Gia that she needed a little something wild in her life, and that kiss with Kade was a damn good start. Her toes continued to curl as she thought about the heat of his body pressed against hers and his mouth assaulted all her senses.

She’d melted against him and was ready to give him everything, but he’d stepped away and shattered all her fantasies.

Go home, Addilyn.

That was it. No attempts to get her naked, and no explanation for why he was turning her out. He told her to go home, kissed her again as though he desperately wanted her to stay, and walked away.

She’d wondered if it was because of his daughter, the eleven-year-old he claimed to be raising alone. Or perhaps the housekeeper he’d mentioned. Maybe that was all it was, and she was ready to test that theory.

Today, she’d dressed altogether differently than usual. The green dress cut low across her cleavage and stopped high on her thighs. When she walked into Peter’s recording studio, his eyes practically bulged out of his head, but he didn’t say anything. She offered no explanation. He didn’t need to know that she’d dressed a little more daring because this was the first time she’d seen Kade since his heart-stopping kiss.

She had seduction on her mind, and she couldn’t wait to test the strength of Kade’s control.

“Addilyn,” Peter said quietly He cleared his throat and nervously fiddled with the buttons on the control board. “I know that things have been strained between us for the past couple of months.”

She shot him a steely look. “You threatened to drop me if I didn’t move to the country.”

“But look at how excited you are!”

“I’m excited because I finally get to sing my own songs,” she said coldly. “We could have gotten here years ago if you’d just listened to me.”

His eyes softened, and she realized for the first time that he really was sorry. Sometimes she forgot that in addition to being the man who protected her, he was also a ruthless businessman. Still, she wasn’t ready to forget their conversation so easily. “Let’s just see how the next few days go.”

“I want to run through the full track today and give you my thoughts. I trust that you and Kade will be able to be civil for the next few weeks as we record the demos?”

“I plan on being sweet as sugar, but I can’t guarantee how Kade will react,” she said with a sly smile. Peter gave her a startled look, and his frown deepened as his eyes swept over her outfit. She didn’t date much. Between recording albums and her tours, she never had much downtown, and she never had any interest in spending time with a stranger during her precious alone time. Whereas Peter spent an obscene amount of money covering up scandals with his other artists, she was always on her best behavior.

Now it was time to test her wild side.

“Mr. Homes, Kade Hardy is here,” a woman’s voice announced through the intercom.

“Send him in.”

Addilyn stood, and a minute later, the door unlocked, and Kade strode in. Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the tight black t-shirt and sexy pair of jeans. It was almost unfair. She’d meant to take his breath away, and here she was, struggling not to run into his arms and wrap her legs around his waist.

His eyes swept over her, and she recognized the registered surprise. His eyes darkened with lust, and she gave him a slow smile.

The next few weeks were going to be fun.

“Kade,” Peter said gruffly. “I hope you enjoyed your time off because we’ve got a lot of work to do. As I just explained to Addilyn, I want to hear the full track today, issues and all. We’ll talk out the problems before I go, and then I want you both hard at work on a flawless demo with the guitar. I want to be able to start recording with the rest of the band next month, so I need you to focus.”

Kade cleared his throat. “Shouldn’t be a problem.” He met Addilyn’s gaze, and she read the warning in them.

“Great. I’ve got a conference call in fifteen minutes, so I want you two to practice. I’ll be back in, say an hour? Then we’ll go through everything.” Peter checked his phone and muttered under his breath as he left the recording studio. Alone, with Kade, she sat in the chair and crossed her legs. Her dress rode just a little higher up her thigh, and he opened stared. Picking up the guitar, she settled it on her lap and smiled.

“How was the rest of your vacation? Restful?” The unspoken questions circled her mind. Did you think about me? Did you wish I’d stayed? Did you have someone else over?

He pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to her. “I spent most of it thinking about your album. I think you’ll find these lyrics for the third stanza of Homegrown might work a little better.”

As she took the paper, she deliberately let her fingers slid over his hand. A jolt of electricity sizzled at the contact, and he inhaled sharply. Unfolding the paper, she glanced over it and hummed the bars out loud as she sang the words in her head. It was cleaner. Crisper. Taking out her own notes, she crossed out the original lyrics and wrote them in. “You are a genius,” she muttered.

“How did your interview go over with Peter?”

After Peter had threatened to withhold credit on the songs she’d co-written, she casually mentioned on television in front of millions how Kade had just helped a little with the songs. He’d hit the roof, but it was nothing to how Peter had reacted. “He’s agreed to put my name on as a co-writer for Sweet Desire and the Art of Love.”

“That’s good,” he said. His voice thickened just a bit, and she watched as his gaze slid down her body. “You’re thinking of going for a more sultry image? It’s certainly working.”

“I’m glad you liked it,” she said huskily. “Aren’t you going to ask me how the rest of my vacation went?”

“I think maybe we should just focus on the work.”

Standing up, she took a few steps towards him. She saw the hesitation in his eyes, but he didn’t back away. “Addilyn,” he warned. “We need to practice.”

“We are. I just need to get my guitar.” With an innocent look, she brushed past him, casually running her fingers over his arm. It was almost freeing to be this bold, and she reveled in every second of it.

To keep him on his toes, she was on her best behavior as the ran through the songs, but when Peter returned, the sexual tension hung thick and heavy around them. Her whole body pulsed with desire, and he couldn’t keep his eyes off her.

Peter handed her a bottle of water. “All right. Let’s do this.”

Chugging it down, she handed the guitar to Kade, and they headed to the recording booth. Out in the hall, he grabbed her arms and pulled her hard up against him. “What do you think you’re doing, Addilyn?” he whispered. His lips were only inches from hers, and she closed her eyes as his heat surrounded her. “You’re playing with fire.”

“You want me,” she murmured. “Why are you holding back?”

“We are working.” Even as he spoke, his hands slid down her dress, and for a moment, she thought he was going to lift the hem right there.

“And when you aren’t working? Tonight? Are you going to go home alone?” Ever nerve in her body screamed for him to kiss her, but he still just teased her.

“I won’t be alone tonight. My daughter is home, and Christopher is coming over. Tomorrow night he’s got some musicians coming over, and he wants to purchase some music for them.”

She reached up and stroked his cheek. “Tomorrow night? That sounds like a party. I like parties.”

“You need to go home alone and lock your door.”

“Are you sure? I’ve got a particularly fun dress that I’ve been waiting for just the right occasion to wear it to.”

Suddenly, he released her and stepped back. Without another word, he opened the door to the studio and stepped in. She needed a few seconds to compose herself. Drinking the rest of the water, she tossed in the recycling bin and followed him in.

It was a grueling session, but having Kade next to her made it all worth it. She could barely take his eyes off him, and whenever she got a particularly sexy line, heat rose to her cheeks.

When it was over, she took off her headphones and stepped away from the microphone. Kade put his guitar away and hit the mute button in the studio. “I’m renting an apartment in the city,” he said quietly. “Come over at eleven-thirty tomorrow night. I’ll text you the details.”

A thrill of excitement raced up her spine, but he was already walking away from her. She thought about his kiss and touched her lips. Tomorrow night, would she finally be able to get her fill of Kade Hardy?

“It’s good,” Peter said quietly when they joined him back in the studio. “I’ll make some notes tonight and send them to you tomorrow. Addilyn, can’t I have a minute?”

Nodding, she grabbed another bottle of water from her purse. It had warmed slightly, and it was easier on her vocal cords as she chugged it down. Tonight’s she’d make some tea and try to relax.

When Kade closed the door behind them, he whirled around with fire in his eyes. “What in God’s name are you thinking?” he hissed.

Blinking, she stared at him. “I thought you just said you like the music.”

“This isn’t about the music! This is about you screwing around with Kade Hardy!”

Inhaling sharply, she drew herself up to her full height. “Excuse me?” she asked in a low voice. From the very beginning of her relationship with Peter, she’d always made it very clear. As long as she stayed away from drugs and excessive drinking, her personal life was hers.

“Don’t think that you can hide it from me. I saw the way you two were looking at each other. Have you been fucking him from the very beginning? Do you have any idea what would happen if the press got wind of this? He doesn’t sleep with singers because he likes them! He does it so that his name is attached to theirs in the press! He does it for the publicity!”

“I highly doubt he does it for more than companionship. It’s not his fault the press gets ahold of every little tidbit. Besides, he can’t be that bad. He has a daughter, and maybe I’m not looking for a love match,” she shouted. “Did you ever think of that? Peter, I’m going to be thirty years old this year, and I feel like I’ve lost all control of my life! Maybe I don’t care if Kade is using me because maybe I want to use him. Maybe I want to have a little fun.”

“For the love of God,” Peter shook his head. “And you think now is a good time for your little rebellion! You’re an adult, Addilyn. Surely you can see that all eyes are on you right now. If there was ever a time for you to stay away from scandal, it’s now.”

She shook her head. “Why don’t you focus on managing my music, and I’ll go back to managing my life. Obviously, this is a conversation that we should have had years ago.”

Livid, she shouldered her back and marched from the room. Peter was still calling her name, but she had no intentions of going back and apologizing. For the first time in her life, she finally felt like she was gaining some control, and she wasn’t about to let anyone take it from her.