Page 51 of Speechless

She’s still nestled between my legs when she speaks. “I can’t believe this is finally happening. I’ve waited so long for you to say something. Why are you such a coward?”

“What?” I sit up to look at her but she’s gone, a blur. I can still taste the sugary espresso on my lips but Lucy’s a ghost, a sexy apparition. “Lucy!?”

I wake with a start,grabbing at my sheets as if I can hold on to the body that was never actually there. I sit up abruptly and look around the room before slamming my head back down on the pillow.

Fuck.

* * *

“I’ve finishedthe theme and a few other pieces, here.” I pass out the pages I’ve written to each of the guys. “Can you all get this done in the next week?”

“When did you do all this? Three days ago you said you were still tinkering with the opening frames?” Why does Graham always have to be so damn observant? It’s like every time I pull an all-nighter, he justknows.

“I’ve been quite focused recently. Inspiration strikes, you know . . .” What I’m not saying is this is the only thing I can do to stop thinking about Lucy. Lucy . . . God, if I could only get her perfect face out of my head.

Even my dreams aren’t safe anymore.

I’ll never be able to compose an entire season of warring dragons when every note I play sounds like bloody rainbows and unicorns.

“I take it paddle boarding was a bust then?”

“Paddle boarding was lovely. Why don’t you get to work, Graham. All of you, actually. I’d like to have something finished to share with the producers next week. And Preston, thank you for filling in on brass while I look for Craig’s replacement.”

“Not a problem at all. I actually think I’m better with horns. You know I love the sax but you always have to jump in to change my flute parts.” True, though I’ve never minded.

“Well, if you feel that way I see no reason to take it from you.”

“Yes, definitely. Hire a flautist. I’ve got horns.” Jayce starts snickering at Preston’s comment.

“Shut up, Jayce,” Graham jumps in, “you can laugh now but we all know you’re thinking about how to use that as a creepy pick-up line.”

I leavethem to it and head upstairs, I feel like I need fresh air or something. I’m about to make my way toward the pool when I see Lucy and Rowan outside. Is she training him? I see a bag of treats in her left hand as she makes different signs with the other. Is she . . . ? Yes, she is actually training him to give kisses. My God, I can’t decide which one of them is more adorable.

“Hello there, may I have a kiss?” I step outside and kneel down on the ground. Starting a conversation with Rowan seems easier than approaching Lucy. Although, I wish asking her for a kiss was this painless. Rowan attacks my face instantly, licking every inch he can.

“Row, oh my God, enough.” She snaps her fingers at him a few times and he sits, staring up at her expectantly.

“Sorry, once he gets going in a make out sesh, he just refuses to stop.” She has a bashful look on her face, like she wants to be embarrassed but secretly loves how affectionate Rowan is.

I’d like to show her the same affection if I can ever get the chance. It felt like there was a moment the other day, out on the water. I’m probably just imagining it.

Lucy moves to sit on the ground next to me. Rowan immediately plops himself on her lap, belly up, pawing at her hands for rubs.

“How’s the book coming along?”

“Ugh, I’m kind of stuck actually. You know every book I’ve written I started with the ending? I always wrote the last chapter first. But this time I took the linear approach, and I have no idea what the ending looks like. The whole story has just sort of unraveled as I’ve been writing it and now I’m basically waiting around to see how it ends, like I’ll just wake up one day and know. Is that crazy?”

“Not at all. I understand what you mean completely. Sometimes when I’m writing a new score I read the script and plan everything out, but other times I just start to play while I’m watching clips and see what happens. You don’t have to stick to one creative process. The best of us don’t.” She blinks at me in surprise. “Would you like me to round up HAAAM and have them act out different scenarios for you? They’re required to do anything I ask, it’s in their contracts.”

I nudge her shoulder playfully but I’m not sure it has the intended effect. I’ve been watching endless romantic comedies on my iPad these last few days, every time I’m alone. I thought it would help me learn flirting tactics but everything I do just comes across as awkward and creepy.

“Hmmm, can I get back to you on that? I don’t think it’ll help me write but I wouldn’t mind pretending just to screw with them. Just gotta come up with something really good first.” The twinkle in her eye has me dumbstruck for a moment.

“What are you doing tonight, Maestro?”

“Oh, busy, lots of work to do as usual.” Wait, was she going to ask me to spend time with her? Did I just completely blow it? Fuck. “Erm, what about you? Did you want to get out of the house, go do something?”

“No, I’m gonna stay here, Jayce said he’d hang out with me. He wants to get drunk and teach me to play the bongos.” She chuckles before rising to her feet and making more commands to Rowan.

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