Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145746 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 729(@200wpm)___ 583(@250wpm)___ 486(@300wpm)
“And now,” I say, slapping my debit card onto the counter. “I’ll need shoes.”
ELEVEN
Monk
“I think we need to circle back to the bridge,” I say, communicating with the musicians in the booth using the talk-back button. “Gary, trumpet was flat on that second verse. Bret, something’s not right with that phrase you’re playing at the top.”
“Which one?” Bret frowns and runs through the section I’m talking about on keys.
I tilt my head back and listen, homing in on each note.
“Nope. Something’s still not…” I stand, walk the few feet to reach the booth, and open the door.
It’s a good size, large enough for the piano to roll in and for the drummer, trumpet player, and standing bass to fit easily. I nod to the bench where Bret is currently seated.
“You mind?” I ask.
He scoots off and leaves the bench for me. I run through the chords one by one, trying to isolate what isn’t fitting with the other parts. We need to figure it out before we burn through any more studio time and money.
“Here we go.” I hit the G several times. “It’s that one. You hear?”
I play the part, barely needing to glance at the sheet music. After I run through it with them twice, I slide off the bench and hand it back to Bret. “I think that should do it.”
“Thanks, man,” Bret replies.
“No problem,” I say. “Let’s take it from the top.”
They seem not to hear me, their eyes fixed over my shoulder.
“Shit,” Gary curses, licking his lips like a home-cooked meal was just set in front of him. “Who is that?”
“Oh, I hope she’s some kind of lost groupie,” Bret laughs. “’Cause I could convince her I am somebody just long enough for her to flash them titties.”
I glance back through the plexiglass that separates the booth from the soundboard. The woman in question is stunning in a very obvious way. Short dress barely long enough to cover her ass, long, leanly muscled legs on display. The bodice of the pink dress barely contains her breasts. Her hair is teased into a huge cloud of curls and her makeup is heavy, bordering on garish.
The lighting in there is dim, but it looks like…
“What the hell?” I mutter, heading for the door leading back to the control room, but stopping to glare at the musicians practically drooling all over their instruments. “That’s my girl. Stop… looking at her.”
Bret whistles. “Lucky sommabitch.”
I grit my teeth and try to keep my voice even when I reach Verity.
“Babe, what are you doing here?” I walk her to the corner and out of their line of vision.
“I thought I’d surprise you,” she says, her smile brighter than the skimpy pink dress.
“Uh, yeah. You did that.” I try to tug the two scraps of fabric that constitute the top together over her breasts, but it’s no use. The neckline plunges to her belly button and all the glowing skin I get to see every night is on full display for the musicians not even trying to hide their lust.
“What are you…” I pause and start again. “Vee, what are you wearing?”
“You like it?” She turns in a slow circle, and I almost swallow my tongue when I see the back of the dress. There is no back of the dress. Like at all. Naked skin, shoulders to waist and dipping so deep I see the shallow dimples above her butt. I’m pretty sure if she sneezes, her ass will fall out. She can’t be wearing underwear. I resent my dick for getting so hard at a time like this.
“I, um… I’ve never seen you wear anything like it,” I say.
“Don’t you want everyone to know you get to fuck a girl who looks like this?” She leans against the wall, a temptress grin curving her lips. “Or don’t you like my body?”
“You know I love your body.” I wave my hand up and down the length of her. “It just isn’t like you.”
The door opens behind us and I draw in a calming breath.
“Yo, Monk,” Bret says, reluctance in his tone. “Sorry to interrupt, but time is money. We need to get back to the song.”
“Yeah.” I nod, but don’t turn, shielding Verity’s body with my own. “I’m coming.”
“Okay,” Bret says. “From the top?”
“Yeah, let’s take it from the top.” I turn back to Verity. “I gotta get back in there. We still have a few hours left on this track.”
“Can I stay?”
My confusion and annoyance dissipate at her question.
“Of course.” I cup her jaw and tilt her chin up, searching her eyes. I don’t know what I’m looking for. Is she high? Exhausted? Something is making her behave out of character. “You can sit here with me for as long as you like, but you’ll probably get bored.”
“I’m never bored with you.” She grins up at me, leans forward, and presses her lips to mine. The way my body responds to her, my heart picking up speed, you’d think it had been days since I’d seen her, not this morning when she left my bed. She deepens the kiss, reaching up to grab my neck. Her hand slips between us and she unzips my jeans.