Page 44 of Stolen Voices

I drop my arm from her shoulders and glance down at her dark-brown eyes. My instincts tell me there is so much she wants to say but won’t. Or can’t?

More alarm bells sound in my head. Not wanting to ruin the few minutes we get to share on our ride to the studio, by chatting about Silla, I agree, going against my instinct.

“I trust you, Callie. Just know you can always come to me. When you’re ready to talk, I’ll be here waiting and ready to help.”

“I know. Thank you, Eli. You don’t know how much your trust means to me.” Callie wraps her small hand around my wrist.

Her touch might as well be a hot iron branding on my skin with the way it burns, and the heat spreads through my body, lighting my entire nervous system on fire.

She releases her grip on me physically, but mentally, she’s had me in a tight grasp since I met her. The barrier I’ve erected between us starts to shake and crack. There’s no way the wall is going to withstand the hits from Callie’s battering ram. She’s breaking the damn construction down one hit at a time, and all I can do is brace for impact with open arms.

Because once she gets through, there’s no going back. I’ll never let her go.

And that scares the absolute fuck out of me.

twelve

Callie

Thesongends,andthe room erupts in applause, making my cheeks burn.

“That’s a wrap. Great work, Callie.” DJ Reigns grins and claps along with his crew.

“Thank you so much, Reigns. I truly appreciate all your hard work.”

This might not be all my music, but I enjoyed working with him and his team. Reigns is an extremely talented music producer, and when I suggested a few changes to the music and lyrics to the last song, he was receptive to my ideas. Some producers take offense, but Reigns was encouraging. I’d like to work with him again. On my own music.

“My pleasure. Maybe next time, we can work on more of those in there.” He nods at my journal sitting on the desk by the soundboard.

There are very few people who know I write music. When I started my career, I was too young to have a say, and as I got older, I stopped caring. Stopped standing up for myself. Eventually, my love for music fizzled.

Until a couple of weeks ago.

Of their own volition, my eyes search for him. His mismatching blue-green eyes find mine, and a jolt of heat hits me in the stomach, sending it into freefall. He quirks a brow at me before quickly glancing toward my journal. His questions are loud and clear, and he hasn’t said a single word.

Eli has been quietly listening and sitting in the background for the last session of recordings for my album that will release after the tour.

DJ Reigns looks at Eli and smiles before leaning in and giving me a quick side-hug. “You did good. This one is the hit. I can feel it.”

I shake my head. “No way.”

“You’re being modest, Callie. Eli, did you know our girl here can write some bangers?”

Eli approaches, and out of instinct, I go to his side, putting space between me and Reigns. Never mind that the man has been nothing but kind and respectful, but my body’s first reaction is to be as close to Eli as possible.

“Of course she can. She’s extremely talented.” Eli’s admission is like a cozy blanket wrapped around me.

A soft warmth fills my chest and cheeks. Not too long ago, Eli only saw me as a snooty pop princess with hardly enough talent to soar, but lately, I’m not so sure. I think he’s starting to see the real me.

“That, she is.” Reigns shakes Eli’s hand. “It was nice meeting you, Miller. Maybe we will cross paths again soon. Trade a favor? You never know. Now, if you don’t mind, since it’s an early night, I’m going to head home to the wife. You all have a good night.”

Trade a favor?What is that all about?

The room quickly clears, leaving me and Eli standing side by side in the empty room, thoughts of favors long gone.

“So …” It’s embarrassing how I keep losing the ability to speak near this man. I’m a strong, confident woman, but then Eli comes around and I feel like a teen girl with a crush.

He’s my agent. I’m his client,I remind myself, despite the desire to make us more than colleagues.