Here With You (A Laurel Heights Novel) - By Kate Perry Page 0,37

gave his original tune. He wrote down the lyrics, and then a few more lines that flowed with the rest.

KT craned her neck to look at his notebook. "Are those drawings part of the song?"

"Nicole gave me this book and told me to fill it with my thoughts."

"So you've been thinking a lot about stick figures with daggers in their hearts?"

He shrugged. "It's the only thing I can draw."

KT tipped her head and stared at him. "What's going on between you and Nicole?"

Amazing, amazing lovemaking. "Not what you're insinuating."

"Bullshit." KT arched her brow. "My ear is trained to hear subtle differences, and when you said her name, your tone changed."

He picked up the guitar and strummed the melody again, to drown her out.

"You can ignore me all you want, but I know what's going on," she said. "I recognize loving afterglow when I see it. Sex by itself is just messy."

"Only if you do it right, darlin'." He winked at her.

KT rolled her eyes. "Just be careful. Being a musician and having a relationship don't mix unless you're both on the same path."

He knew that. He'd seen too many couples fall apart—badly—to think that he could have a regular relationship alongside his career in its current incarnation. Hell—he'd tried it himself, but it'd become apparent really quickly that it wasn't going to work. "Nic was very clear about not wanting a relationship."

"All women want relationships."

"You don't."

His friend shrugged. "I'm the exception that proves the rule."

He kissed her forehead. "You're a nut, but you're cute, so at least you have that going for you."

KT pointed to the door. "Get out. I'm done with you."

Grinning, he returned the guitar to its stand. "Thanks for brainstorming my song with me."

"I expect to be credited." She ran her nimble fingers over the keyboard in a hard melody, but the corner of her mouth kicked up.

He tucked the notepad in his coat and tapped the top of the grand piano. "See ya."

She nodded, already immersed in her song.

He checked the time as he started to walk back to Nicole's apartment. She should be home from work by now.

The past few days had been strange. Not bad—just strange. He hadn't known what to expect, but the passion hadn't cooled. But it wasn't just sex either. Last night, they'd ended up having a nice dinner at home with Susan followed by a wicked game of Scrabble. Nicole, of course, lost interest halfway into the game, but Susan had managed to rally her to hang in there until the end.

Susan was a nice girl. He wasn't the least bit intrigued by her.

Nicole, on the other hand, fascinated him in a way he'd never experienced. It baffled him—he knew her already. He'd known her forever—there shouldn't have been any mystery left there.

But there was.

His phone rang. Thinking it might be Nicole, he pulled it out, wincing when he saw it was his manager again. He let it go and then listened to the voicemail.

"Grif, what the fu—eff are you doing in San Francisco? I saw the hotel charge on my American Express card, not to mention the pictures posted all over Facebook and Twitter of you dancing with that girl. This is how you work on your new music? The studio execs are not happy." There was a pause, then he added, "Call me. And please tell me you're using condoms. Paternity suits are a bitch."

Shaking his head, Grif tucked the phone away and walked up the steps to Nicole's apartment. The light was on inside, and his heart hammered with hope that it was her. Alone. He was dying to take her in his arms.

Nicole was already home, standing at the counter in the kitchen, reading a book as something warmed in the microwave. She looked up as he walked in.

His breath caught, the way it seemed to whenever he looked into her eyes. Given the choice between another hit album and Nicole, he knew exactly which one he'd choose, and Roddy wouldn't be psyched about his answer.

Grif took his hat and sunglasses off, setting them on the kitchen table. "Is Susan home yet?"

"She went out of town today for a couple days."

"Good." He strode up to Nic and kissed her, from the bottom of his soul, the way he'd been thinking of doing all day.

She melted against him instantly, her arms wrapping around his waist, her hands slipping inside his shirt, cold on his back.

He didn't care. He'd warm her up. "I need you. Now."

"The couch." She