Page 65 of Playing With My Heart Strings

“Okay, I have to go for real.” I laugh as he steals another kiss. “They’re going to be suspicious.”

“Find me later tonight, okay?”

“I will. Now, let me go,” I tease as I steal one last glance and open the supply closet door. The hallway is clear, so I smooth out any wrinkles and take a deep breath.

Damn, that man sure knows what he’s doing.

“Baylor! There you are, where have you been?” Daniella’s tight grip on my arm breaks me out of my trance when I walk into the room where my interview is taking place.

“Sorry, I got…er…caught up doing something.” I’m a horrible liar. Always have been. Especially when it comes to Dani.

She lowers her voice. “You smell like sex and your shirt is on inside out. Come on.” She pulls me away from the film crew into a dressing room. “Here. You need this.” She hands me a bottle of perfume, and I spray a small amount on my wrists and neck. She hands me a new shirt next, because apparently I hadn’t smoothed out my clothes enough.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

“You’re welcome. Speaking as a publicist, you’re taking a risk. But as your best friend, you know I wantallof the details later.” She grins and sends me back out to the confessional room.

25

dusty

Dust

I haveto rush to my date with Aspen after my run-in with Baylor at the production studio. I just happened to be coming directly from filming some interviews when I caught a glimpse of her walking toward the confessional room. Getting to spend that time with her, even if it was in a supply closet, was well worth the time crunch.

“Where the hell have you been?” Brett snaps when I finally show up. He sniffs the air. “Also, you smell like…dust. What have you been doing?”

Oops. That desk did look like it hadn’t been used in ages. Better to smell like dust than sex, though, right?

I ignore Brett’s question. “None of your business, Ben, but I…”Think of something, Dusty.“…I got hit by a biker on the way here. Knocked me right into the dirt.” It’s not believable at all, especially considering my clothes are anything but dirty, but it stops him from asking any more questions. I like my other producer, Alex, better. Half of the time, he’s not even around, soI’m able to do whatever I want. He monitors me in the evenings, and I’m stuck with Brett during the day.

He throws his hands up in surrender as he walks toward the car. “Sure, okay. Come on, let’s get going.”

We’re meeting Aspen by the Cumberland River, because today’s date is a kayak tour. When we get there, I change into swim trunks. By the time I’m done, Aspen is already dressed in a bikini—a tiny one. I’d be lying if I said she didn’t look good, but my mind keeps flashing to Baylor.

We’ve shown each other all of ourselves physically, but I intend to show her all of myself emotionally, too. I want to know her on a deeper level. And I think music has a way of doing that. Performing is a gateway to the soul.

“We’ll get started over here,” a producer instructs, and the daydream of Baylor disappears. He walks us over to some kayaks and a pile of life jackets.

I shrug mine on, zipping it up and snapping the buckles. Aspen can’t quite get hers on, so I help her, but I’m careful not to touch her for longer than necessary.

“Everything okay?” she asks, her voice low, hardly a whisper.

“Mhm, yeah. Everything’s fine. You ready?” I gesture to the kayaks.

She nods, but the suspicion on her face lingers even as we push our kayaks off the shore and step in.

Similarly to my date with Baylor, the camera crew set us up with GoPros so they wouldn’t have to come out on the water. Our tour guide paddles a little bit ahead of us, so it still feels like an intimate setting.

Being out on the water is peaceful, the opposite of the woman in the kayak next to me. Aspen knows what she wants and she’s not afraid to go out and get it, I know that for sure.

Our tour guide drones on about the landmarks next to us, but we’ve both lived here for years, so although we do our best to listen and stay engaged, we also engage in our own conversation.

“Do you like Nashville?” I ask as I paddle along slowly.

“I love it here. I couldn’t see myself being anywhere else,” she replies.

“You mentioned on our last date that you’ve been trying to get signed by a record label, and it just got me thinking a lot. I can’t see why a label wouldn’t want someone like you. You’ve got an incredible, powerful voice.”

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