Dani’s song comes to an end, and she finally opens her eyes. She catches sight of me through the window, and her eyes go comically wide.
I hit the stop button on the recording equipment. Then, pressing the intercom button, I say, “Get in here, now.”
She gulps visibly, but nods and moves toward the connecting door. I stay rooted to the spot as I watch her approach like a lamb to the slaughter. She starts speaking the moment she’s in front of me.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Bronson. I know I’m not supposed to be in here. I just…I just wanted a chance to record myself one time. I haven’t changed anything on the sound board. I just turned on the mic and the recording equipment, I promise.”
I hold up a hand to stop her, then I hold up the sheet music. Her face goes pale, and her eyes grow impossibly rounder. “Care to explain this?” I ask.
“Um. It’s, uh, music,” she stammers.
“I know it’s music, I can clearly see that. Is it yours?”
“It’s my sister’s,” she says.
I smirk. So, she’s going to stick to her lies, huh? I decide to call her bluff, taking a gamble on what I say next, since I have no idea if it’s actually true or not. “I’ve heard you sing before,Ella,” I say, putting extra emphasis on her name. “Remember karaoke at the last staff party? You sounded like a drowning cat. What I heard just now was the voice of an angel. How do you explain that?”
“Um, I had a cold that night,” she blurts quickly.
“Hm. I want to hear more,” I say. Then, I gesture at her with the sheet music I’m still holding. “Can you sing this?” I ask.
“Yes,” she says quickly and with a confidence I can’t help but admire. I hope she has the vocal range to back it up. I don’t know what it is about this girl, but as angry as I am over her lies, I really want to be blown away by her voice.
“Let me hear it,” I say.
She doesn’t get flustered, just starts to sing the song without any preamble. When she gets to the first high note, I point to the ceiling, and she raises an octave. I keep pointing and am pleasantly surprised at her range and control. She’s really good.
“Why are you keeping secrets like this from me, Ella?” I ask, leaning close to her. Now’s the time she should confess. We both know she’s been caught. She bites her lip and visibly swallows. I’m almost sorry my fun’s about to be over.
“I didn’t mean to,” she whispers. “I didn’t want you to find out.”
She dips her head and looks up at me through thick lashes. If it were anyone else, I’d assume she’s trying to be coy, but no one can fake the look of innocence and trepidation she’s giving me. God help me because I kind of like it. I want to get to know this alluring, bubbly sister of my buttoned-up assistant. And I really want to get that voice of hers on tape, so I decide not to give up our ruse just yet.
“How come you’re not a singer?” I ask accusingly. She’s good enough to be a top solo act.
She shrugs. “Um, because I’m your assistant.” There’s a longing in her eyes, one I see nearly every day of the week. It’s the artist’s burden. They want their dream so badly but can’t figure out how to make it happen. I want to make it happen for her, I realize with a jolt.
“Listen,” I say, “Take the sheet music and get back on the mic. I want to record this and go through the last one again. I’ve got a couple more tracks I want to get down, too. Do you think you can handle it?”
Her eyes get as big as saucers, and for a second, I think she might pass out. I reach for her in case she goes down.
“Are you serious?” she asks in a voice that’s sweet and eager, and her honey-colored eyes are full of excitement.
“Absolutely,” I say.
Chapter 3
Dani
I can’t breathe as I step back into the studio and take up my position in front of the mic. I’m getting my chance to finally sing in front of one of the top music industry executives in the world. A thought cuts through my excitement, and my heart sinks as I realize that I’m not getting my big chance after all, Ella is.Shit. Ella’s going to kill me; there’s no way I can turn down the chance to record a song in a professional studio for Bronson Records, even if it is just demo tracks and two of my own songs. There’s always the chance an artist will like my voice and offer me a gig as a backup singer, or maybe another exec will hear it and decide I’m good enough for a shot at a contract. I’ll just have to convince Ella to let me confess that I’m the voice on the recording. I could always get her to sing if anyone doubts me. Mr. Bronson wasn’t lying when he said her singing sounds like a dying animal. I can’t believe that my shy, uptight twin ever dared to sing karaoke in front of her coworkers.
Mr. Bronson walks in and hands me two more sheets of music. I look up to meet his eyes, and now that I’m not freaking out over being caught in the studio, I realize how gorgeous he really is. I thought he was attractive when I saw him in his office, it’s one of the reasons I popped in to ask him questions so much. I just wanted an excuse to look at him. But up close, I’m struck by the beauty of his deep blue eyes, a far cry from the brown I’d guessed they were.
I can feel my cheeks heating as I look at him, so I bend my head to study the lyric sheets he gave me. He moves to stand behind me and reaches around to adjust the height of the microphone. He’s so close, I can feel his breath near my ear. I can’t help but lean back the tiniest bit to give him more room, and my backside brushes up against him. I gasp when I feel his hard bulge, and I can feel wetness pool in my panties.
I’m no stranger to horny men. Working at a boxing club as a ring girl taught me quickly how to dodge groping hands and slip away from attempted embraces. But Tate is different, and I actually wish he’d touch me.
He backs up a little, seeming not at all embarrassed that I felt his arousal. I guess he shouldn’t be, since he certainly caught my interest.