Page 20 of Hard Rock Deceit

Before I could finish asking, August offered me a bottle of water with hisotherhand.

I popped a pill out of the foil packet and downed it with a sip ofwater.

"I'm sorry,"hesaid.

"For what? It's not your fault I getcarsick."

"I mean for before. For whatIsaid."

"For when you metaphorically cracked open my skull and revealed my deepest darkestsecrets?"

"Feeling out of place and reserved isn't a dark secret. It's just another part of you." He sat on the side of the bed, turning those unnerving eyes to mine. "Still, I'm sorry for freaking you out. I hate to see you doubt yourself. I want tohelpyou."

Feeling all kinds of awkward and hesitant, I couldn't help but repeat his previouswords.

"Help me express mypassion?"

"If youletme."

That offer had so many differentconnotations.

I prodded my finger into a small hole in the hem of my shirt, worrying at the thinmaterial.

"In what way?" I asked, almost afraid of theanswer.

The fierce look that flared up in August's eyes sent my heart racing. My cheeksflushed.

"You said—" I stumbled over my words. "You said passion doesn't have to besexual."

"Not always," heagreed.

I heard his unspoken words. A tingling sensation spiked through my body, into my chest, between my legs, to the tips of my fingersandtoes.

Feeling overwhelmed, I pulled my knees to my chest, my upper thighs clenchedunconsciously.

August's gaze softened, the heat in his eyeseasing.

"I did the same with the guys," he saideasily.

My mouth popped open. Was hesaying—?

He chuckled at myshockedlook.

"Not in the way you're thinking," he said. "The other guys, when I first found them, they all had an abundance of talent. They had that inner fire all great artists have. But that fire was untempered. Directionless. I knew they had amazing potential, if only someone could teach them to harness it. To channel that passion intobrilliance."

"And that's what you want to dowithme?"

"Yes," he saidsimply.

"So I'm another one of yourprojects?"

His lips twisted, lookingthoughtful.

"I suppose you could call it that," he conceded. "But I never waste my time on those who don't have the potential forgreatness."

Potential for greatness. I liked the sound of that. I wanted to be great. And if August could help get methere…

I summoned all mycourage.