were sublime. I didn’t use that word lightly. And I didn’t give credit unless it was deserved, especially to him.
But the longing in his lilting voice evoked a response. His fans would swoon when he sang lines like, “I can’t find the magic when you’re not near,” and they’d probably tear up when the band quieted and it was just Dec whispering at the end, “I’m lost without you.”
Hell, I felt a little emotional just playing the beat behind him. And I was curious too. I wondered who he’d written this song for. It sounded like it came from somewhere deep inside.…It was pretty but painful. Whoever his muse was made an impression.
I tried to think of a few candidates, but I didn’t know much about Declan’s love life…on purpose, though there didn’t seem to be much to know. He either kept a very low profile or his reputation for being the king of meaningless hookups was based on fact. I’d never known him to have a serious boyfriend or girlfriend, which was interesting ’cause he was easily the most attractive human I’d ever met…on the outside anyway.
Dec was the kind of handsome that turned heads. All he had to do was flash one of his million-dollar grins, and he could have anyone he wanted. That was obviously his preferred mode of sexual encounter and the only explanation I had for why we ended up doing what we did in the office.
My gaze wandered over his broad shoulders, pausing to admire the flex and pull of his triceps as he adjusted his fingers on the fret before traveling along his tapered waist and landing on his ass. It was fucking perfect. Firm, tight, sexy. And that weird mental segue almost threw my rhythm to hell.
I closed my eyes and immediately refocused, letting the music pull me under until he stilled his guitar strings and sang, “I’m lost without you.”
The guys in the booth gave two thumbs-up, Charlie clapped and said something to make Gray smile. Maybe I’d imagined the earlier tension. I took off my headphones as I stood and high-fived Gill and Bobby J. See? Donuts worked.
Declan smiled, but he didn’t say a word. He seemed overwhelmed. I understood. Music did that to you sometimes. I made a small production of twirling my sticks, then slid them into my back pocket, giving him a moment to gather himself…because in spite of all the BS between us, I respected the creative process.
“That didn’t suck,” I offered.
Dec rolled his eyes. “Thanks.”
“No prob.”
He pushed the microphone aside as he stood and inclined his head toward Charlie and Gray on the other side of the glass. “Gray’s buddy is going to start helping us out at practice next week. You’re officially off the hook.”
I smiled wanly, inclining my head toward Charlie taking pics in my periphery. “What’s he up to?”
“Social media content. Look natural. This is probably going on our website.”
“Fucking social media,” I griped. “The business of making music isn’t so simple anymore.”
“It’s not that big of a deal. The hardest thing you have to do is pretend to like me.”
“That’s a tough one.”
“Likewise,” Dec huffed. “Can we just call a truce?”
I gave him a suspicious once-over. “Why?”
“Because I’m not going anywhere. We don’t have to be friends, but I’d rather not be enemies. We’re on the same team.”
“Until Xena calls.”
“She did call,” he replied woodenly.
“Excuse me?”
“She called. In the spirit of transparency, I’m telling you.…She wants Jealousy to open for her at Carmichael’s in exchange for her drummer and her manager.”
“And?”
“There is no ‘and,’ ” he scoffed. “I told you I’m not going anywhere. This is my best shot at making it in music. It might even be my last shot. I’m not going to jeopardize anything for anyone. Especially not Xena.”
“Maybe,” I agreed. “The problem is, I still have a hard time trusting you, Dec.”
I walked out of the studio before I gave in to the urge to ease up on my asshole routine. I believed him…sort of. Dec had more to gain by sticking with Charlie than he did playing local dives with Xena. But if that old saying about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer was true, I was going to have to stick to him like super glue…without touching him.
For a couple of weeks, that was what I did. I watched Dec from afar—laughing with his bandmates, joking around with the receptionist, and singing his heart out while he poured coffee in the break room…like