“I didn’t think you were coming.” She frowns and glances at her phone.

“Label management had me on the phone the last thirty minutes. It happens.”

“I’ve been waiting for eighty.”

Touché. I have no other reason for being late, other than I was in the middle of writing a song when I noticed the time. Tipping my hat, I slide into the booth and immediately pick up an assortment of intoxicating scents—her hot skin, vanilla body spray, and something…primal. Damn. “Best things come to those who wait.”

“Then, good things should be due soon.” In a huff, Elena makes room for me in the booth. “Since I’ve been waiting.”

Quincy, best waiter at Vanguard and guitarist extraordinaire, appears in our private cove and slides my Jack straight on the rocks across the table. “Your usual, sir.”

“Thanks, Quince. Let’s get this party started.” I wink at Elena and take a swig, loving the smooth, sweet aftertaste. “You should hear Quincy play sometime,” I tell Elena. “Real soulful voice and an attitude to match. So, what are you drinkin’?” I ask, peering into her glass. “Water?”

She sips from it all daintily. “Yes, you said this is a business meeting. I don’t usually drink during meetings. Or ever, actually. I mean, I barely drink. Except sometimes.” Nervously, she glances away. She’s so darn cute. When she looks at me again, she checks me out without being forward about it. Maybe I was wrong about her being a beginner.

“Sure, but that don’t mean you can’t enjoy a little kickback. Here, try mine. It’ll take the edge off. Tennessee Honey, extra sweet.” Just like that cleavage I’m dying to dip my tongue into. My eyes soak up her tight curves. Good God, that hair, that dress, those legs and heels…

“That good, huh?” she asks. Manicured nails rake through her hair. They weren’t manicured yesterday. Her hand rests lightly at the quartz pendant around her neck again, calling even more attention to her round tits. “I’ll have to try it. Maybe later.”

Delaying her attraction to me. I can take it. “So, what’s this necklace about? There’s gotta be some reason why you touch it so much.” Every time she feels nervous, as a matter of fact. Both times I’ve talked to her.

“This? Oh, it was my grandmother’s. When she passed away, my mom and I found tons of trinkets, fake jewelry and stuff in her drawers. I don’t know.” She looks at it with admiration. “It sort of speaks to me. I know it’s probably worth like ten cents or something. But I don’t care.”

“Worth more than that if it belonged to Grandma. Hell, I still have a sock monkey my grandma knitted for me. Keep it in my closet, actually.”

“No, you don’t.” She laughs.

“Swear to God. It sits right up there next to my G.I. Joe and My Little Pony.”

“Stop.” She laughs, her smile lighting up the room, as water nearly dribbles out of her pretty little mouth. My cock twitches. “You’re messing with me.”

I lift my glass. “A toast…to quartz pendants, grannies, and Dolly Parton.”

Elena eyes me suspiciously. “What does Dolly have to do with anything?”

“She’s my grandma.”

“No, she’s not. Stop.” She tilts back her head to laugh, and I get a great shot of her slender neck and the pulsating spot on her throat that I want to kiss.

“Swear to God.” I swig back the rest of the shot and ask for another. Grew up around alcohol. Takes a bit to affect me, not something I’m proud of.

Staring at Elena, I take in the truth—she’s all class. I see it in the way she holds herself, the way she crosses her delicate legs, sips water like she’s pacing herself. She’s East Coast middle-class, whereas me, I’m Tennessee Hills poor, and no amount of money can ever erase that.

“So, why are we here, Mr. Owens?” Elena rights herself back to center.

I know she’s dying to get to the heart of the matter, but I can’t stop drinking her in. “We are here, because you have the voice of an angel, I want to work with you, and you look damn fine in that dress.” I feel the soft frilly edge of her sleeve hanging off her smooth shoulder.

“In that order?” She watches my fingertips closely. Clucking tongue is a good sign. She’s loosening up instead of denying her attraction. But she’s still sitting too stiff, though not as stiff as my cock.

“No, the dress definitely comes first.”

She gives me that look women like to give, like I’m out of line. But I’m not. Because I can’t help being attracted to her. That’s the way God intended it, and it ain’t ever gonna change.

“Shortcake, I’m a man. What do you expect?” I take another swig of my drink. Need to get under that dress tonight. Between her legs would be better. Nails digging into my back would be best.

“Mr. Owens—”

“Jayce.” I remind her. “Look, hon, I wasn’t joking about your YouTube videos rocking my socks. Your voice is trained and clear, and you’ve almost mastered the country sound, even though you’re not country. Vermont?”

“New Hampshire.”

I nod. “Music degree from Such-and-Such?”

“University of New Hampshire.”

“Same thing. Alright, look. My producers didn’t think another ballad on the album was necessary, but I beg to differ. I’ve been thinking about this, and what I think the album needs is a duet. It appeals to my female audience, and seventy-eight percent of my audience is female. So, we do one song together. If we don’t click, you lose nothing. You still get paid, come back for vocals when we need it, and I’m thinking we will. Click, that is.”

That little smile unfurls on her lips again. “I’m good with that.”

“Excellent.” I smile. “And if it works out, you’ll come with us on the road maybe. You up for touring?”

“I—”

Now I’m the one giving her a warning look. If she knows what’s good for her career, she’ll say yes without hesitation. Especially since I still don’t see a ring on that finger, and I’ll be damned if she’s had any kids. Far as I can tell, with that voice, she’s prime to start a career in country music at any given moment. Ain’t no better way to do that than go on the road with an established outfit.

“Are you offering me a job, Jayce Owens?” Absently, she taps the side of her glass.

“What I’m saying is, we’ll take it slow. Start with a one-song collaboration, then see how it goes from there.” Reasonable. No commitment, just enough to get her to agree.

She rests her chin in her hand, elbow propped. “Funny, I didn’t think of you as a go-slow kind of guy.” That beautiful tongue clucks again.

Shortcake might be playing innocent, but she’s a tease, hard to get, and it’s exciting as all hell. I should take her into my hands right now and see how that tongue tastes laced with honey whiskey.

“Let me tell you something…” I lean into her and sense a change in breathing. She’s holding back her desire, but she’s one note away from bending. “From the moment I saw you, I had to talk to you. From the moment I talked to you, I had to touch you, and now that I get to touch you…” The back of my hand gently caresses her arm. Soft skin, pretty light hairs that stand up at my touch, goose bumps giving her away. “There’s little to stop me from going the whole way.”

Her green eyes flare; resolute is firm. “Even offer me a steady job?”

I suppose I can’t blame her for trying to stay focused. I like that. “Elena, you’re talented, but make no mistake, the fact that you’re driving me crazy has nothing to do with your skills. Well…skills do factor in.” Chuckling, I finish my drink and signal to Quincy for another. “There is that oral test we talked about.”

“Ah, yes, the aural ‘listening test’ you didn’t think I’d pass with flying colors.”

I’m focused on her pretty cock-sucking lips. “I have no doubts, Shortcake.”

We’re hinged on a moment, unspoken words between us like static electricity.

One more second, and I’ll reach out to kiss her. But she pulls away, and it’s back to business.

“So…” She clears her throat, pushing her hair behind her ear. If she had a legal pad, she’d pull that out, too. And a pen. “When did you want to collaborate? This week, next month? I have to work out a schedule with my job.”

All business and no play makes Elena a dull girl.

I want to collaborate with you every night, Shortcake. And every day. And mornings, especially, when our bodies are still warm under the sheets, and sunlight just starts to seep in through the curtains. Before worries get into your head, and I can fuck your sweet pussy wide awake.

Her arched eyebrow reminds me I haven’t answered her yet.

What was her question again? Ah, yes. Schedules. “Starting Monday would be great,” I say. “I’m at Bluebird every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from one to ten. So, whenever you can come in, we’ll get started.”

“Am I free to compose any music or lyrics, or will we use all your material?”

Damn, what’s with this woman? “We can use my material,” I tell her, even though what I heard on her videos was good. I lean in to soak in her sweet aura. “But I have an idea. Since what I want is a duet, I was thinking… Maybe we should test our chemistry. See if we’re right for each other. For the song, of course.”

Elena chews on her quivering lip. “Jayce, this is supposed to be about business.”

“It is.”

“Good, because I promised myself, my family, pretty much everyone who matters to me…that I’d succeed in this business on my own. I don’t want a reputation for sleeping my way to the top.”

“But you do want a reputation, right?” I smile.

“Yes. I mean, no.” She shakes her head. “Not that kind. I want people in the biz to know me for my hard work, for my music, because…my music is good.”

“I know it. Trust me, I know. I can see how you might think I’m not serious about your talent, because of the shitty job I’m doing of controlling myself around you, but I wouldn’t have asked you to collaborate with me unless you were amazing.” It just so happens that she’s hot, too, so I’m losing my mind.

“Then, this is really hard for me, because I’m definitely attracted to you, but…” She closes her eyes and sighs. “I’m going to have to ask you to keep things separate. This is a business meeting, not a date.”

Wow.

Pretty fucking impressive. In four years, I haven’t run into one woman (single or married or otherwise), who wants me to stay professional with them. Most women make their attraction clear.

But I’ve got to taste those lips before this night is over.

“Elena, I gotta say, your professionalism is refreshing. But you’re also driving me insane. So I’ll make you a deal.”

“What is it?” Her nostrils flare in that soft way when a woman is having trouble controlling her breath. It’s sexy and primal and daring me.

“It’s more of a challenge actually,” I say in a low voice, staring at her lips. “ “Which is?” Her voice trembles. It’s like she already knows my idea without having heard it.

“One kiss.” I hold her chin in my hand and swipe my thumb across it. “If you can walk away tonight and honestly tell me you’re not affected by it, then I leave you alone. We collaborate on the song, what’s done is done. But if you feel something—anything—I get to see you again outside of the studio. Deal?”

In the club, Quincy’s taken the stage. The opening notes of his guitar tell the story of a man and a woman and a long, lonely night.

Elena’s lips part, and her eyes close. She takes in a deep, shuddery breath. “Deal.”

“Good.” Dipping my thumb into the honey whiskey, I run it across her bottom lip and lean in.