Page 13 of This Side of Beautiful

Landon’s hands went up. “Hold up. We didn’t have sex. You ripped off your own dress because, according to you, it was too tight. You tried to come on to me right before you passed out. I covered you up and slept on top of the covers beside you. Nothing happened. I prefer my women fully conscious and able to consent.”

Women? He had women? The geeky man who seemed to avoid conversation, always wore a hat, and was awkward in a crowd hadwomen? Then again, Landon Hayes was an attractive, wealthy, musically gifted man, and judging from his recent nakedness, he was a hot one. A woman could do a whole lot worse.Ihad done a whole lot worse.

He studied his feet. “You’re not a waste, though I question your decisions. I meant Cash. I hate men like him. He believes his half-assed talents mean he deserves whoever he wants, whether she wants him back or not. Brags about being disrespectful to women.”

“Well, I’ve been dealing with men like him my entire career. I could tell you stories that’d make you blush.”

“Why do you allow it? You’re too strong and fierce for men’s bullshit egos.” He seemed only curious, not judgmental.

“Do I really have a choice? A flirt there, a little sex there, and I get closer to my goals.”

Landon shook his head. “Isn’t that how a prostitute thinks?”

Andthere’sthe judgment. “Stop insulting me. I get it. You don’t respect me, and in two months, you’ll never have to speak to me again.” I tried to rise too quickly from bed and fell back from my throbbing temples. “Ouch… my head is killing me.”

“I wasn’t insulting you. I was stating a fact. Prostitutes flirt and have sex to make money. Money is always their goal. Sounds like it is for you, too. It really shouldn’t be. You’re far too talented to believe people will only see that if you’re being sexual.”

I wanted to snarl, but that would take too much energy. “I wouldn’t expect you to understand. You can dress like you already do and barely speak, yet you are an acclaimed musician. If I’m quiet, I’m stuck-up. If I’m noisy, I’m too much. I want to be respected for my talent, just like you. Ain’t no one checking for the ones who refuse to sell sex anymore.” I rubbed my temples. “You have something for a headache?”

“We agree to disagree on that one.” He pointed to a cup on the bedside table. “I made that for you. Thought you might wake up in pain.”

I sniffed it, and it surprisingly smelled like lemon. “Please say this is a hot toddy. My cure is usually coffee laced with Amaretto.”

“Janae.” He picked up a black bandana from the bench at the end of the bed and covered his hair. The wrap emphasized his hazel bedroom eyes, the angular shape of his face, and his keen nose.

“Damn, Landon. When did you get all fine and sexy?” I gestured to his face and body. “I had no idea you were hiding all that under your hat and clothes.”

He blushed. “I don’t hide.”

I clapped my hands. “So adorbs. You’re actually red in the face.”

Landon gestured to the cup sternly. “Drink it all down. I won’t contribute to your destruction.”

“So dramatic.” I rolled my eyes and sipped on the lukewarm, bitter liquid. “I taste the turmeric and ginger. Not bad.”

“There’s pepper, too. It should ease your headache,” he added, and held on to the corner of the bed as he slid his feet into loafers.

“Is this what you use the next day?” I asked, curious about whether he drank or used anything. Most people in this business did. The Hollow Bones had indulged at least in alcohol. In the past two days, I’d noticed that he only drank water.

He looked at me. “I don’t drink.”

“Ever?”

“I don’t like the taste. Don’t understand why people want to get wasted or trashed. At the gala, you were sober, weren’t you? That’s why you wear that coin around your neck.” Landon’s unblinking gaze forced me to look down.

“Yes.” I held the cup with both hands and ingested more of his home remedy, unhappy at the reminder I no longer deserved to wear the coin that hung awkwardly around my neck, taunting me.

“And I’d never seen you more beautiful. I couldn’t stop staring, as you so eloquently pointed out.”

His soft-spoken compliment might have been the most arousing words I’d ever heard in my life, even more so because the intent was pure and honest. My stomach clenched painfully like it had at the gala, and the undercurrent of desire between us now danced as we looked at each other. All I had to do was lie back on this bed and wait for him to take me. Except Landon wasn’t that aggressive male. Just because I’d noticed him sexually, that wouldn’t suddenly change his personality.

“Why would you ever it again when so much ugliness comes from it? Please don’t.” It was a plea I’d heard many times over the years. Yet his quiet demand hit differently.

I crawled toward the end of the bed, and his chest heaved up and down as he watched me warily. I kneeled when I reached the edge. His tank hung loose around my breasts and barely covered my ass. The plush bench at the end of the bed became a barrier. “It was just a slide. One that I regret. Imagine having your first performance in over three years in front of that large hometown crowd. A place that doesn’t have the best memories. Then I messed up the rehearsal because I couldn’t control my emotions. I had to make sure I wouldn’t screw up the show. It wasn’t just me on the stage. I had a moment, it won’t happen again, and now I’m good.”

Landon’s brows rose. “Good? Are you sure? We have ten more shows starting next month. The last one is in Los Angeles. That’s your town, too, correct?”

“Yep.” I tried to sound more upbeat than I felt. “They love me there.”

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