Page 155 of I Dreamt That You Loved Me

“He’s so eccentric,” I said in the most loving way.

“Yeah. This album should be interesting.”

“In what way?”

Eddie shrugged. “I don’t know. He played something for me on the phone last week. It had a lot of dissonance. Just all this tension. Pretty dark. More complex. And he sang the whole song in a low register. Like, why man? Your vocals are so powerful. Use them. I found it a little bit jarring, to be honest. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good but you know Gabriel. He doesn’t want to be put in a box.”

“Cleo!”

I spun around. “Dev!” I gave him a big smile. Blond-haired and blue-eyed and still cute but his hair was shorter now. He set down the amps he was carrying, and we hugged.

“You cut your hair,” I said.

“My summer style.”

Right behind him was Tyler who looked exactly the same with shaggy brown hair and a bashful smile. He was so quiet that I’d never heard him say more than a few words at a time. In lieu of a hug, he dipped his chin in greeting. “Cleo,” he said solemnly.

Once the greetings were out of the way, I shouldered my tote bag, already packed for a day at the beach, and said goodbye.

“I’ll see you guys at dinner,” I called over the sound of them tuning their instruments, and Eddie pounding out a beat on the drums.

They were all ready to go. No idea where their fearless leader was though.

As I was rounding the side of the house, I ran into him. Mystery solved. He was coming out of the outdoor shower in nothing but a towel slung around his narrow hips.

“Oh! Hi.” I gave him a dorky little wave as my gaze roamed down his bare chest. Beads of water dripped from his shower-damp hair, and it was all I could do to stop myself from running my tongue over his sun-kissed skin.

I took a step back. He grinned like he knew what I was thinking.

“Uh, the guys are here.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder.

He nodded. “I know.” No explanation for why he was taking a shower when he was supposed to be in the studio with his friends.

“Okay, well, I’ll see you later.”

His gaze dipped to my tote bag. “You don’t have to leave.”

“I’m taking a few days off,” I reminded him. We’d already discussed this last night. He’d insisted that they could rehearse in the living room but that was ridiculous. It washisstudio. “I haven’t spent much time at the beach. When I get back, I’ll run to the store and buy some food. So if there’s anything you need just leave a list on the kitchen counter with your car keys.”

His brow furrowed. I wasn’t sure if he was concerned about me getting behind the wheel of his Wrangler (valid) or something else. “You don’t have to do all that.”

“I want to. Besides, we need to eat. And you need to focus.” I stabbed my finger at his bare chest then realized my error when he grabbed it and guided it to his lips, sucking on it before releasing it with an impish grin. I lowered my arm to my side and cleared my throat. “So, uh, get to work. No slacking.”

I started walking away, but he called my name. I looked over my shoulder, brows raised.

“Give me your sunscreen. I’ll do your back.” He held out his hand.

I hesitated before fishing it out of my bag and handing it over then set down my tote bag and took off my tank top, giving him my back. My eyes drifted shut as he massaged the lotion into my skin.

Goose bumps raised the hairs on my arms and scattered across my stomach as his rough, calloused hands glided over my lower back, dipping under the string of my bikini before retreating. Another squeeze of the bottle and his magic hands moved to my upper back and shoulders.

An involuntary sigh escaped my lips. His hands really were magic, and I’d fight anyone who said otherwise. Firm but gentle. Dextrous and veiny. Strong and warm.

His hands created magic whenever he played a guitar…and whenever he touched me. All he had to do was rub sunscreen into my back and I felt like I might spontaneously combust into flames.

“They’re your hands. All of them,” I said, without giving him any context. But this was Gabriel. He didn’t need an explanation.

“I know.” He kissed the side of my neck and tucked the sunscreen into my bag. “Have a good day,” he said, his voice low.