Page 52 of High Note

“Has any woman that you tried it on said no?”

“You have a point.” That earned her a wink. “What do you want to wear tonight?”

She pondered that for a second. “I’ve got that pretty green sweater. You know, the one that we bought at the farmer’s market?”

Kirsten nodded. “You mean the one Leanne made? I think it’s absolutely gorgeous on you. You totally wear that with a pair of jeans? You’re good to go.”

This was one of the reasons she was falling in love.

Not only did Kirsten remember the sweater, but she knew who knitted it. Hell, she probably knew the person who grew the goats or rabbits. Llamas? Emus? Did they make yarn out of emus? Okay, that was gross.

“Sounds good. I’ll have to have you do my makeup. I mean, I don’t have much here, just my little bag’s worth.”

“Well, we can call up Susan. I bet she’d come up here and do your hair and makeup, if you wanted to. I don’t have to be on until eight.”

Skyla actually considered it, because there was always the chance that there be somebody with a phone, somebody watching. Then the clip would be out on the Internet, and she’d have to defend her looks.

On the other hand, this was her moment. She could go with a little mascara, some lipstick, pull her hair back in a braid, and just be done with it.

“I don’t suppose you know how to do a French braid?”

Kirsten cackled. “Honey, I told you I used to have really long hair. And? I was in volleyball. I can do every sort of goddamn braid known in creation. Let me get a comb, and one of those little rubber bands.”

“I can do it.” She was thinking hard. This could be part of the transition she was making from the more bubblegum stuff to more serious music. Maybe some Red Dirt type of stuff…

But more importantly, this was sharing her life with Kirsten.

She found the comb and grabbed one of her hair ties, smiling at the sight of her things jumbled up with Kirsten’s on the vanity. Lord. That was fine.

“Here, honey.” She handed them over, then sat on the floor to let Kirsten sit up on the couch and have access to her hair. She did love that woman’s hands on her scalp. Skyla was getting addicted to the massages Kirsten gave her.

“So, what do you want to play tonight? You have a vibe in mind?” Kirsten started by brushing her hair out, nice and easy.

“Bluesy. Maybe a little redneck blues…” She chuckled. “We could sing our song.”

“Sure. Totally. We’ll slip it in in between covers to keep them from revolting.”

Yeah, the supper crowd wanted tunes they knew. Hell, the concert crowd wanted the same thing. But that was okay. One song wasn’t going to kill anyone. “If I was doing it in my show I’d pull a Garth Brooks and put the words on the big screen,” she teased.

“Yes, well, we’ll be lucky if the second mic works. You, my love, are slumming tonight.”

“I am loving that idea.” She missed playing small venues, truth be told. Oh, sure, an arena was a high. But any artist would tell people it meant more to see and read faces in the crowd.

Sometimes she wanted to be silly and goof off on a postage-stamp sized stage.

Once her braid was done, Kirsten kissed the top of her head. “Go get made up while I get dressed, huh? I’ll find your sweater.”

“Hopefully the cats didn’t make a home in it,” Skyla teased.

“Ugh.” Kirsten laughed, though. “Do we need to take the pup out to potty?”

“Yeah.” They didn’t even have to crate Reba now. The cats had learned how to get in the loft when she got playful, and she was used to living on a bus. Small spaces didn’t bother her at all. And she hadn’t chewed anything that wasn’t her toy since she was a pup. “I’ll take her right before we leave.”

“Sounds good. You look so young like that. So pretty.” Kirsten stroked the back of her neck, making her shiver.

“Mmm. Thank you.” She wiggled her hips, knowing Kirsten was watching her butt. She went to put on makeup, consciously keeping it light. Just enough to enhance her eyes and lips.

“Mmm…” Kirsten smiled, spiking her hair up, adding a little glitter.

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