Page 53 of Another Fox Bites the Dust

No one will work with me. Not that I expected anything different, but desperation drove me to the limits of my contact list.

We’re absolutely fucked, and even worse?

I need to explain all of this to Luke.

The conversation plays out in my mind. I’ll tell him the truth. He’ll be kind, considerate, and understanding, and I’ll be a giant ball of shame and disgrace. He will be absolutely in his right to terminate our contract considering I can’t fulfill my terms.

I can’t believe this is happening.

Then again, maybe it’s for the best. I can’t deny the attraction between us, and maybe it’s better to end things now before I do something truly horrible like throw myself at my only client and ruin my own life. Again.

It’s midday before I gather the courage to come clean to Luke. I have to tell him we have no producer and I won’t be able to get one in order to meet the deadlines outlined in our contract. It’s a breach of contract, and not only could he then break our agreement, he could also could sue me.

Luckily, I make it out of the main house without running into my family—everyone must be out and about—and I’m glad. I can’t face them right now.

I knock on Luke’s door and fidget on the doorstep, my heart in my throat by the time he answers.

“Hey. I’m glad you’re here.” He steps back to let me in.

He’s dressed in jeans and a sweater, his hair is a little mussed, and I might be distracted by his effortless appeal if I wasn’t ready to throw up because of the conversation looming between us.

I stalk into the living room, turning around to face him when his footsteps sound behind me. “We have to talk.”

He speaks at the same time. “I have to tell you—" He stops and grins. “Sorry, ladies first.”

I can’t sit. I’m too wired. I wave a hand. “No. Please, you go first.”

It’s not exactly like I’m in a hurry to talk about how I’ve totally fucked up.

“Yesterday I played for Jake and Archer, and I was barely nervous.”

“That’s wonderful.” I guess this is something he can hold on to after I tell him my news. At least his time here wasn’t a complete and total waste. He was able to work through some of his issues so he can go be a great musician for some other label that’s much more together than I am. I must not look very enthused because he’s eyeing me with skepticism.

“No, really. It’s incredible.”

He ducks his head. “Thanks. So did, uh, Taylor find anything out yet?”

I stare at him blankly. Taylor? “What do you mean?”

A crease forms between his brows. “Didn’t she tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

He rubs the back of his head. “When I was playing, she recorded a bit of it and emailed it to her friend Ursula, the one she talked about the other night over dinner.”

The shock hits me upside the head. I drop to the couch, staring up at Luke. “She did what?”

His smile falters. “I’m sorry. I thought you knew. She said she would tell you.” He sits next to me.

“Tell me what, exactly?”

A torrent of knocks hammers at the front of the cabin, making me jump.

Luke springs up to answer the door.

I’m still reeling, unmoving on the couch, when Finley comes charging in. “There you are. I have the best news.” Her face is flushed with excitement, and she’s out of breath.

“Taylor sent a clip of Luke’s song to Ursula, and Laila Mae wants to work with him.”

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