Page 7 of Hard Rock Tease

My mind nearly exploded trying to imagine the sum of money that entailed. Way more than I'd ever gotten at my crappy part time jobs.

"But the band always composes their own songs," I protested, still unbelieving. "They never use outside songwriters. They have one hundred percent artistic control."

"You're right. August composes the basis of their songs and Noah writes the lyrics, then the guys all work together to flesh it out. But this time, each member of Darkest Days is creating a song solely on their own for their newest album, from composing the music to writing the lyrics. Therein lies the problem."

"Problem?"

"Noah is a lyricist."

I quickly glanced at the lead singer of Darkest Days. That was why he'd been so frustrated at the piano. I immediately felt bad for him. I understood that feeling all too well.

"You can't write songs? Just lyrics?"

The withering glare I received in return nearly made me shrink back, all sympathy fading.

"I can write songs," he said through gritted teeth.

"Then why haven't you?" Naomi arched an eyebrow. "You've had months."

Noah looked away with a disgruntled expression.

"I don't care if you've got writer's block or performance anxiety or what, but you need to composesomething," she stressed.

"Why can't one of the other band members help?" I asked.

He visibly blanched. "I can do it on my own."

"Clearly you can't," Naomi countered. "So if you won't ask the other members for help, we'll come up with another solution." She turned to me. "That's why we needed you to sign a nondisclosure agreement."

So I'd get fortune, but not fame. That was fine by me.

"If you don't want anyone to know, how are we going to explain me hanging around?"

"The same way we explained it with all the others. We'll say you're a consultant brought on to help with producing the album. No one will think it's odd to see you and Noah working together."

"So I'm supposed to work with the lead singer of Darkest Days to write a rock song and pass it off as being composed by him?"

"Exactly. Are you in?" Naomi asked.

I wondered what had happened to all the others they had hired that hadn't worked out. I caught a glimpse of Noah shifting in his seat out of the corner of my eye. He looked irritated beyond belief.

And that was why. Working with this man was clearly not going to be easy.

Especially not when I thought I caught a hint of heat in his eyes when he glanced at me. I couldn't be imagining the quick looks he was throwing my way. Looks that made my heart pump faster, looks that made my head swim.

We'd only just met and he'd already made comments on myhard nipplesandsoaked pussy.

If I didn't manage to get a grip, this was going to end up being difficult in more ways than one.

Then again, a professional career in music was never going to be easy. I had to take what I could get. And apparently what I could get was a job working with the lead singer of Darkest Days.

I nodded fervently to Naomi.

"Definitely. Yes. I'm very interested in the position. Thank you so much for this opportunity."

"You really think you can work with me?" Noah bit out. "You couldn't even string two words together the first time we met." His eyes fell to my chest again, leaving it unspoken how my body had responded to his.

I fought back a flush and pleaded with my body to cool down. "Well, I have lots to say now. We need to talk about what kind of song you want to write. What kind of sound you're going for."