Page 36 of Beautiful Noise

“I was kidding.”

“I wasn’t.”

And there it was. The open-ended invitation was placed on the table, but I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to take that risk because the man offering was surely going to complicate my life in ways I wasn’t prepared to handle beingcomplicated.

The next morning, I received a call from Chantel stating that my job had been completed and the client gave rave reviews along with a very substantial tip. I grinned, knowing this was allGwendolyn Shaw. When I pulled up the app to see what my next assignment would be, I noticed I had two other locations in this neighborhood but there was also a block from Friday to Sunday where I was scheduled at the Grand Diamond property. The other two jobs were Tuesdays and Thursday from twelve to four.

I marched myself right down the hall, pushing open Ezren’s bedroom door, only to find his bed untouched and empty. My eyes swept the space before I moved on to my next location. His studio. When I pushed through the door, a jazzy melody with heavy bass slapped me in the face. It was insane to me how standing outside the door, you couldn’t hear a thing but inside the music was a few decibels away from permanently damaging your hearing.

My exploration was instantly paused when the deep sultry sound of Ezren’s voice flowed over the track playing.

Love blooms in the strangest of ways

Tryna speak your existence into my space

Tell me if it’s too much

I’ll chill, I won’t rush

And I’ll trust

Every word that you’re speaking

Playing through my mind frequent

The way you walk

The way you talk

In love with no order

Your aura is gorgeous

If you give me time I’ll show you love

If you give me time, I’ll show you trust

Listening to him sing, so many emotions flooded me all at once. His voice, his talent, his intensity. Was this about me or someone else? My mind went spiraling. Complications I didn’t need.

Pushing those thoughts aside, I forced my feet to move, crossing through the lounge area of his studio until I reached the production area. Ezren had his back to me while his face was lifted to the ceiling—eyes closed, expression pulled tight like he was concentrating on every note, lyric, and vocal. I shamelessly pulled up the camera app on my phone and captured a few shots of him before I crossed the room and placed my hand on his shoulder.

His eyes slowly peeled open and the tight expression he was sporting moments before relaxed. A smile ghosted his lips when his eyes appreciatively traveled down the length of my body.

Shit.

I’d stormed down here without dressing properly which meant I was only in a T-shirt that landed right at my upper thighs, thong, and no bra

“You really aren’t fucking with clothes, are you?”

My face heated and I rolled my eyes. “I can go change…”

He extended an arm which hooked my waist and brought me down onto his wide spread legs. I shifted and adjusted, trying not to make our position worse than it was.

“Nah, you’re good. I’m damn sure not complaining. Just trying to figure out what your beef is with them shits.” He smirked and brushed his fingers over my exposed thigh.

“I just got up and who sleeps in pants? I hope I wasn’t interrupting…” I glanced at the soundboard and he shook his head.

“You’re good, what’s up?”

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