Page 4 of His Favorite Melody

“You made your happy noise; I was just asking if you were pleased.” He shrugs, then nods toward my plate. “Is it the sweet potato fries? I thought you’d enjoy them.”

Well, I certainly can’t tell him that it’s not the damn fries but instead these moments alone with him. When I foolishly pretend that we’re more than we actually are. When I let my silly heart preen over how he dotes on me, picking all my favorites and making sure if they don’t have them, he gets them from somewhere.

“Yes, the sweet potato fries were a nice surprise,” I say, then I shove one in my mouth so I don’t say anything else.

His phone buzzes, and he looks down, his brow furrowing as a frown settles. Then his jaw tightens.

My lady bits squeeze at the sight of that. Even knowing that whatever is on his phone is pissing him off, that simple clench of his teeth is so sexy.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

He’s typing furiously on his phone, then he taps the screen a few times and looks up at me. “Everything is great. The show was great tonight.”

“Oh, thanks.”

Again his phone buzzes, and again he picks it up, only to frown at the screen. His taps are angry and sharp, and frankly, I’m surprised he hasn’t cracked his screen doing that.

“Are you sure everything is okay? You seem stressed or angry.” I pick up a fry and look at him, trying my damndest to sound nonchalant as I ask, “Girlfriend troubles?”

His dark brown eyes turn to me. He stares at me for a beat. Not blinking, just looking as if he’s trying to see inside of me.

Being under his intense scrutiny is intoxicating and I think I might be panting. Surely that’s not normal.

“What’s with all the girlfriend talk tonight? You know I’m not hooking up with anyone.” Then those warm chocolate eyes narrow on me. “Wait a minute, are you trying to get me to leave so you can hook up with someone? Because that is fucking out of the question.”

My stomach flips because I’m a moron who thinks his words are about keeping me from other men because he wants me himself. But I’m pretty sure if he wanted me, he would have made a move by now.

“Don’t worry, there aren’t any men out there who want me, so there will be no hooking up of any kind,” I say.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Why would you even say that?”

“Because I have all the evidence to prove it.”

“Prove what? What evidence?”

“Okay, Hayes, think about it. The rest of the girls all get gifts and flowers and all these comments on their social media. I get nothing. It’s like crickets out there.”

“People comment on your stuff all the time,” he says.

“Yes, about my music, or the singing, and on occasion my dress. But no one tries to flirt with me. No one sends gifts to my dressing room. And no one has ever tried to get a little too close to me.”

“What the hell, woman, are you hoping to attract a stalker?”

“Of course not! But a little attention would be appreciated. I feel like a leper.”

“You are most definitely not a leper. And there are a lot of men who want you.”

I cock a brow at him. “Really? Name one.”

chapter

four

Hayes

Me! I want you.

That’s what I want to say. But I know I can’t so I try to deflect. “Where is this even coming from? I don’t understand.”