Chapter 12

Dressed modestly in a gorgeous blue knee-length blue skirt and crisp white blouse, Addilyn sat in the interview chair and laughed. “Steven, of course, I’ve seen the pictures. How could I not? They’re everywhere.”

The reporter leaned eagerly over. “And?”

“I’m sorry that disappoint everyone, but my heart has not been broken by the talented Kade Hardy. The truth is so much more humiliating.” Addilyn bit her bottom lip nervously. “Kade and his good friend and songwriter manager Christopher Park had some musicians over, and Kade thought it might be a good chance for me to unwind. I’ve been a little stressed about the new album. Anyway, I got there just as the party was breaking up. We started talking about music and this new and exciting change in my life, and I—“

She broke off for suspense. The reported urged her one. “Yes?”

“Steven, I started crying. Not like pretty crying but ugly crying completely with blotchy skin and blubbering. I think I actually terrified Kade, but I’ve just been so scared that this album is going to fail. I have the most fabulous fans who have followed me from the very beginning, and I’m so scared that I’m going to disappoint them.” As if on cue, a few tears formed in her eyes.

“Well I have heard the rumors that this album is going to be amazing, so I think that you have nothing to worry about.”

The interview continued, and the world ate her up with her fake tears. Almost angrily, Addilyn slammed her laptop shut. She’d only had time to schedule the one interview, but it was already playing on the news, and it was all over social media. Peter had no reason to be furious with her anymore. The world ate up her fake confession, and it only fueled the fire behind her new album.

“Addilyn?” Gia asked softly. “Are you okay?”

Peter had ordered her assistant to make sure that she and Kade were never alone, and since Kade was supposed to meet her today to go over Peter’s notes, that meant that Gia was glued to her side.

“I’m great,” Addilyn muttered dryly. “I just lied to all my fans, my producer is becoming my jail warden, and my songwriter is disgusted with me.”

“It’s not that bad,” Gia started, but she dropped her gaze to the floor.

“You’re right. My songwriter isn’t disgusted with me. He probably doesn’t feel anything, because why should he? It’s great for him. He got sex, and now I’m painting him as this wonderful, sensitive soul.”

Her assistant sat on the couch next to her and carefully removed the computer from her lap. “Addilyn, I don’t understand. You don’t have one-night stands. Why would you choose him?”

Crossing her arms over her stomach, she tried to ignore the hollow ache in her chest. “I didn’t think it would be a one-night stand. How could I have been so wrong? We have chemistry. Hell, we have more than chemistry, and I just wanted something that was mine. I’m not naive enough to think that Kade would fall in love with me, but I didn’t think that he’d kick me out of his after just one night. He’s notorious with his flings, but I’m not good enough to spend the night? He’s a player, but never has he been mean to anyone else to my knowledge.”

“He’s an idiot, and you are better than this,” Gia said firmly. “Now, normally I’d let you wallow, but he’ll be here in an hour, and you are not going to let him see you like this. Make him think that you got what you wanted from him and cast him aside. Last night, the tears were just a combination of the late hour and the alcohol. Today, you’re great. You’re America Holden, and you’re close to becoming a music sensation. If he wants even a taste of that fame, he needs to get on his knees and grovel.”

Unable to help herself, Addilyn chuckled. “I’m a wreck,” she admitted as she tugged at her hair. “I need a shower.”

“Go shower and pick out something sexy to wear. Not too sexy, though. I’ll clean up here, okay?”

“You’re a good friend,” Addilyn said as she got up. “And I guess now you’re a good bodyguard.”

“I’m just here to support you,” Gia said firmly. “This is not a prison.”

“It’s always been a prison,” Addilyn muttered. “It’s just now I’m finally starting to realize that.”

An hour later, she was showered and dressed. The soft music from Kade’s guitar filtered up the stairs, and she took a few deep breaths before joining him. She knew the moment that he saw her because the music abruptly stopped.

“Sorry I’m late,” she said casually. “My flight got in late from yesterday’s interview.”

“I saw it,” he said in a neutral voice. “You did well. Even tugged on my heartstrings.”

He didn’t have a heart, but pointing that out would mean showing her anger, and she intended to be nothing but professional. “What did you think of Peter’s notes?”

“Addilyn, I’m sorry. I guess one of the musicians saw and recognized you before they left the party.”

She put her hand up. “I already figured that, and your apology isn’t necessary because it’s not your fault. And while we’re on the subject, we might as well clear the air. What happened that night was consensual, and you were right. We needed to get it out of our system. Now, Peter’s pretty happy with most of the songs, but he wants a more upbeat tempo for Hometown Darling.”

He stared at her for a second, and she found herself holding her breath. She was barely hanging on by a thread, and if he pushed her too hard, she was afraid that she’d fall apart. Finally, he nodded. “I was thinking about that yesterday.” He played a few chords and quietly sang the lyrics. “What do you think?”

Slowly releasing her breath, she sank into the chair. He was going to work, and she was more than happy to hide behind her professional facade. An hour later, Gia interrupted with sandwiches. Addilyn tried to send her away, but Gia shook her head. “Peter’s threatening my job if you lose any more weight. He wants you in the pink of health for the upcoming interviews and for shooting the music videos.”

“I’m not about to turn down lunch,” Kade said as he reached for a sandwich. Gia glared at him, and it was enough to make him stop short. “You want Addilyn to eat both of them?”

Without answering him, she whirled around and marched angrily from the room. “Wow,” Kade muttered. “She hates me.”

“She’s my new bodyguard.”

He looked at her sharply. “Are you in danger?”

“No, she’s guarding me from you,” Addilyn said with a low chuckle. “Peter doesn’t trust my level of self-control around you.”

“Are you feeling in control?”

His voice was husky, and she had to use all of her discipline not to react to it. “I’m in control enough to remind you that we’re not doing this.”

“Not doing what?”

“We’re not flirting over sandwiches, Kade. You are welcome to discuss the music. You’re welcome to talk about the weather. You’re welcome to talk about anything except for sex.”

“Flirting and sex aren’t the same thing.”

“They are when it comes to you.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, she desperately wanted to take them back, but thankfully, Kade didn’t tease her about it. Instead, he put his sandwich down and stared at her.

“Addilyn, what happened that night—“

Gia chose that moment to walk in with her own half-eaten sandwich. “I thought I might join you guys and see how things are progressing.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Kade ground out. He sighed in frustration, and Addilyn couldn’t help but chuckle. It was nice to see Kade squirming for once.

“We’ve finished rewriting the music for Hometown Darling, and now we need to talk about Sweet Desire.”

“Sweet Desire is fine,” Kade snapped. “You’re going to beat it to death if you don’t leave it alone.”

“Sweet Desire is fine, but I want it to be more than fine,” she grumbled. “I want it to be amazing. I think it could be the next hit single, but it still needs something.”

Sweet Desire was her baby. It was the song that had been stuck in her head for years, and she wasn’t ready to share it with the world if it wasn’t absolutely perfect.

Kade sat his sandwich down and took her plate from her. “Close your eyes,” he ordered.

“What?”

“Close your eyes. I want you to sing Sweet Desire, but I want you to do it without your notes in front of you. Don’t analyze every single word, and don’t stop. Just sing it from your heart.”

Shooting him a suspicious look, she closed her eyes and sighed. A few seconds later, she heard the music playing from the computer. Not sure that this was going to help anything, she tried to do as he asked.

“I was seeing in black and white when you suddenly passed me by. All the colors were following you, and it pulled me out of my mind. When you flashed those baby blues at me, I just wanted to turn around and flee, but you made me stop and see all that I could do.”

Before she could reach the bridge for the chorus, she felt his hands take hers. Her breath hitched and she nearly pulled away, but the connection did something to her music. Her voice dropped to a sultry tone, and the shiver that ran down her spine vibrated in the song.

“Wrap me in your arms and make me feel every inch of you. Take me around the world. I want to see what I can do. Drenched in your sweet desire, I can finally fly. Every kiss just takes me higher. The skies are finally mine.”

He caressed her fingers, and she gasped and jerked her hands away. Her eyes opening as she swallowed hard.

“See?” he said in a low voice. “I told you. There’s nothing wrong with Sweet Desire.”

He was right. She’d been so focused on how to make the song better that she didn’t realize the problem was her. Staring at him, she slowly scooted back, out of his reach. The connection between them terrified her. It was a threat that she hadn’t imagined before. Kade had brought her songs to life, but she couldn’t rely on him anymore. She was the one who had to sing the songs. She was the one who had to make the listeners feel every word, every beat.

She had to do it without him. “You’re right,” she said with a hard edge to her voice. “Sweet Desire is perfect. I guess that means we’re done.”

Narrowing his eyes, he shook his head. “Addilyn.”

“No, that’s it. We went through Peter’s notes, and if there’s anything else that we have to do, I’m sure we can handle it over the phone. You can go back to Nashville.” It was painful to say, but it was true.

“Okay.” He stood up slowly and gave her a forced smile. “If you sing like that, then you have nothing to worry about. Everyone who hears you sing will fall in love with you.”

Will you?

“Gia will see you out.” Holding out her hand, she stiffened her back and met his gaze. “Thank you for this opportunity, Kade. I’ve learned a lot from you.”

“I’ll call you tonight.”

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” Releasing his hand quickly, she bent down and gathered her notebooks. She listened to his walk away, heard the door open and close, and fought every urge to run to the window and watch him leave. It was hard to admit, but he’d brought out her best voice, and but he’d also brought her to her lowest point. She couldn’t risk that again, so she’d just have to learn how to do it herself.

“That was incredible,” Gia said softly. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you sing like that before.”

“Yes. If you’ll excuse me, I have some practice that I have to do if I want to replicate it. Excuse me.” There was a catch in her throat, but she kept the tears at bay as she calmly walked passed Gia.

The memory of Kade would be a poor substitute, but it would have to do.