“I told Callum you guys would make an appearance,” Jim argues.
“Well, then I guess you shouldn’t have told him that, without asking us first,” Joel says. “This morning you told us we just had the concert, then we’re ambushed by the press conference and the Dreamcatcher Competition.” Joel looks at Denise and winks. “Not that we mind that one. But now you expect us to go to a party, too? The answer is no.”
Jim throws up his arms in anger. Turning, he storms out of the room.
“He’s angry,” Denise whispers with a worried look on her face.
“Oh, don’t worry about him. He does that at least five times a day,” Jake says as he pulls up a chair to face the girl.
Ashley pops her head around the door, holding out two bags with a smile on her face.
“Thanks, sweetheart.” I take the bags from her. Looking inside, I see that she has added one of everything for Denise and Siena. “Well, it looks like we have a couple of treats for you beautiful ladies.” I make sure to include Denise in my comment because I have a feeling that Siena wouldn’t take the bag if I don’t. Walking towards a smiling Denise, I squat down, before pulling out a cap and placing it on her head.
She laughs at the gesture. She seems like such a carefree soul, but if what Jim told us is to be believed, she has lived a hard life for someone so young, but here she is, holding onto her hopes and dreams. “That suits you”
“Thank you so much.” I bump her under the chin with my thumb as I wink. Standing, I hold out the bag to Siena.
“No, it’s fine, thank you, one just for Denise is enough.”
Did this woman enter the competition or didn’t she?
“Tell me, Siena. Don’t you like our music?”
I see her look of surprise, then she looks at the other men before she finally looks back at me and nods. “Yes, I do,” she reluctantly takes the bag from my hand. Our fingers touch, sending a flash of electricity up my arm. The way she snaps the bag out of my hand and takes a step back, tells me that she felt the same as me. Her eyes are wide as she stares at me, her breathing choppy.
“Oh, Siena loves your music. She knows all the songs, and she has a beautiful voice. You must hear her sing,Lady wolf.”
I see Siena’s cheeks have darkened with embarrassment.
“That’s great, let’s play a tune just like in the old days and Siena here can sing with you Blue,” Joel states as he turns on his chair to lean down and pick up his guitar case.
“Oh no, I’m really not that good.” Sienna is flustered. She has a shocked look on her face.
“Yes, you are. You sing to me all the time.”
My woman can sing?
She looks at me like a deer sensing danger.
Joel starts playing a tune on his guitar. Kevin starts tapping the top of the table while Jake pulls his usual harmonica out of his top pocket and joins in. Denise claps in excitement as she looks at Siena. “Follow my lead,” I state.
At first, it’s clear that she’s nervous, but the moment she starts singing, I know that my woman is a natural. Her voice calms me like no sleeping pill ever would. Our voices rise in harmony. From the other’s faces, I can tell that they are just as surprised as me. When the song comes to an end, there is absolute silence for a couple of seconds before Kevin sighs.
“Damn, girl, where the hell have you been hiding? Why aren’t you singing?”
“I told you she sings really well, doesn’t she?” Denise asks as Siena shrugs.
“The artist's life isn’t for me. I like my job. It gives me a sense of fulfilment that no amount of singing ever would.” I’m surprised to see someone that would rather dedicate her life to helping others than making a fortune, and Siena would make a fortune with the voice she has. The calmness that fills me after her song is like nothing else I have ever felt. A calmness that I have fought for, for such a long time.
“We need to go, Denise.”
Siena’s words have me scowling. There is no way that I can let my woman leave my sight without making her mine.
“Already?” Denise asks in disappointment.
“You know the rules.”
Siena’s words have Denise nodding unhappily.