Page 36 of Hinder
“Technically you’ve only got me by ten months.” He holds my stare and heat spreads across every square inch of my skin.
Grams warned me about men like him, the ones with a touch of the devil in their eyes, but I can’t seem to look away. “Good to know.” I’m very much aware of how closely we sit, and how warm his body feels next to mine. A longing begins at my fingertips, goes straight to my heart and lands at the desire pooling between my legs. I want him. And I don’t know exactly what to do with that, other than scoot a few inches away and settle the instrument back in my arms. I don’t watch for his reaction because I don’t think I can handle the disappointment I might find there, or worse, indifference.
With all my focus I strum the chords, this time taking into account all of Leighton’s modifications from the last hour. The sound is better. More like the song that builds in my mind.
“Good. Louder. Don’t be afraid.”
He doesn’t understand. I’m afraid of everything. I worry my lower lip between my teeth, and a douse of self-doubt hits like a tidal wave. What the hell am I doing here? I don’t belong on this bus. With these people. Or with this instrument in my hands. It’s all a front to the tired and scared little girl who ran away from home.
“Hey.” His fingers skim across my forearm, the slightest of touches.
I raise my gaze to his. Gone is the teasing. The laughter. Or any trace of sexual interest. Instead all I find is warmth and encouragement. “You’ve got this. It takes time.”
I know he’s referring to the music, but his words extend and chase away the voice that belittles the huge changes I’ve made over the past month. I’m doing the best I can. Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. With another deep breath I lift my arm and try again, this time with a forced confidence I don’t really feel.
“Good. Yes. That’s it.” His encouragement means more than it should.
I continue to practice until my hands ache, and Leighton never leaves my side. He must be exhausted. Bored to death even, but if he is he doesn’t let on. The chords come together with more ease and he hums along.
Words form in my mind of their own accord and maybe it’s because I’m sleep deprived, or on a freaking rock tour, but I open my mouth and give voice to them.
“She won’t let on.
She won’t cry.
She’ll never let you see her say good-bye.”
I don’t lift my gaze to Leighton’s. Too much doubt already clouds my own mind. But he surprises me, his voice joining with mine and my made up lyrics. Boy. Can. Sing. I can’t deny that makes him more attractive, or this guitar lesson much more intimate.
A loud clang at the door halts my movements. My gaze darts across the space to find Trent, Sean, and Austin as they push inside.
“Quiet. Don’t wake the neighbors,” Trent stage whispers and the three of them fall into a fit of laughter. I study their movements, the heavier footsteps, the sloppy smiles. They’re most definitely inebriated.
“Hey, baby.” Austin’s gaze finds mine, his eyes lighting up when they find his guitar in my hands. Almost as if it pleases him to find it there. “Trying to make me jealous?” The heat in his gaze scrambles all reason from my mind. He stares as if I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. Or rather, the bus. Which is completely stupid. I am the only woman on this bus.
My answer catches in my throat and my reply comes out more squeak than words.
He closes the space between us in a few strides. “I thought you only played like that for me.” He’s teasing, and though there’s no reason, I feel as if I owe him an explanation.
“Sorry. Leighton offered to . . .”
“Movin’ in on my girl. I see that.” He knocks his boot against Leighton’s leg, as if to push him away, but focuses his stare back on me. “You tell him you’ve only been playing a few days?”
“What?” Leighton actually sounds impressed.
“It’s nothing.” Heat travels up my cheeks as I put the instrument back in the case. “I’m not any good.”
“But you will be. She’s got natural talent,” Austin says, a hint of pride in his tone that I want so badly to believe.
“I agree.” Leighton’s voice is soft, the low reverberations of his cadence a direct hit to my heart.
Oh, Lord. With both men’s gazes studying my every move, I know for certain I’m in over my head. I will not fall for a rock star. Not the way my mama did. I won’t throw away my virginity, and my life, on a man who can’t see past his own ambitions.
I will not fall. To temptation. To lust. It’s not worth the consequences. As much as I know it’s true, there’s something even more powerful that begs to differ. To challenge everything I’ve ever been told. And that feeling? It’s terrifying.
14
Leighton
