Page 13 of Composed
She lets out a breathy laugh.
I swing my keys around my finger, the tautness in my muscles easing.
While it’s not the welcome I was hoping for, I’m glad for the chance to get back on solid ground. Cole Hayes, Reckless Abandon frontman is a role I can play in my sleep.
“I don’t mean to be rude,” she says, eyes dancing over me. “But what the hell are you doing here? We don’t get a lot of big wigs in these parts.”
I twist the ring around my thumb. “I’m actually looking for someone.”
“Here?” Her nose scrunches, lips twisting down. “Really? The only person I’m currently working with is an opera singer, not sure that’s up your alley.”
“You’d be surprised.” I rock back on my heels as my throat tightens. “I’m looking for Hendrix Moore. Heard she owns the place or something?”
Her brows rocket upward. “You’re looking for Hendrix?”
“I am, yeah.”
She blinks. “You know Hendrix?”
“Kind of.” I lift a shoulder. Not sure it’s my place to spill the beans on all things Hendrix Moore and Cole Hayes to this woman if the former hasn’t already filled her in on the gritty details. “Is she here?”
“Sure. Yeah. I’ll erm—” She clears her throat and hikes a thumb toward the door. “I’ll just go grab her for you. Won’t be a minute.”
“No rush.”
“Right.” She watches me for a beat, lashes flickering as she blinks, then she makes a soft noise and darts inside on fast feet.
I press my back against the car door, the cold metal biting through my hoodie. Unlocking my phone, I scroll through my texts while I wait.
It’s not long before I hear her shout Hendrix.
Another minute passes.
Then, the door swings open, my head snaps up, and there she is…
My chest flutters.
Once-mousy hair falls to her waist, stained a crisp midnight black. Mirroring roses are inked either side of her neck, and a heart framed with daggers covers most of her visible chest. Her black and white chequered cardigan slips down one arm, teasing me with a peek of the American traditional patchwork wrapping her shoulder.
Fuck me. She is beautiful.
I jerk forward, as if pulled by an invisible string, and bridge the distance between.
“Cole?” She looks up at me, eyes wide, jaw slack, when I stop a meter away.
Pretty sure my heart falls through my arse and onto the floor in a puddle at her feet. I quirk my lips, fighting to stay composed even if my world is shattering to pieces just at the sight of her. “Hey, Rixie.”
Chapter five
Hendrix • Now
I Miss You – Blink-182
“Hendrix!”
I shoot up at Talia’s shout, my headphones snapping around my neck. I tug them off and toss them onto the mixing desk before spinning in my chair.
She barrels into the control room, her golden eyes wild with excitement.
