Page 66 of Symphony for Lies

That should’ve reassured me, but it was unsettling how natural his touch was becoming and how easily my body seemed to trust him.

As the engine roared to life, I wrapped my arms loosely around his waist, careful not to press too close to his back.

Still, his warmth seeped through his sweater, and his scent, clean, rich, and undeniably Zane, mixed with the cool air.

The ride should have been uneventful, but I quickly realized we weren’t heading toward the Cole mansion.

Confused, I glanced around, watching the scenery blur past us.

Wherearewe going?

Minutes later, Zane pulled up in front of a modern house.

Unlike his parents' grand, old-fashioned estate, the place was contemporary, with tall glass windows, a paved driveway linked with trimmed hedges, and a minimalistic aesthetic that somehow still looked inviting.

He stopped in front of the garage, killing the engine.

I hesitated.

He pulled off his helmet, making his hair slightly tousled.“Aren’t you getting off?”

“Aren’t we supposed to be going to the mansion?”

Zane smirked. “This is my place. My books are here.” He turned slightly, undoing my helmet with smooth movements. His thumb lightly brushed my cheek.

I swallowed, blinking at him.

That familiar, amused grin tugged at his lips.“Relax. I don’t bite.”

I exhaled sharply, getting off the bike.

He followed suit, stretching his arms. “You’re not mad, are you?”

I shook my head. “No. I just wasn’t expecting it.”

“Good,” he said smoothly. “Come on.” Without a warning, he took my hand. His grip was firm but gentle as he led me toward the entrance.

The second we stepped inside, I froze to take in the interior.

The open layout was stunning. The living room was spacious, lined with towering bookshelves full of old, worn-out manuscripts and pristine hardcovers. A grand piano sat in the center of the room, reminding me vaguely of his parents’ mansion, and glass walls provided a perfect view of the garden outside.

“You’re thefirst—”

“Don’t even dare say I’m the first woman you’ve brought here.”

He laughed. “Actually, I was about to say that.” Amusement flickered in his dark eyes. “Unless we count my mother, of course.”

I slipped off my shoes instinctively, not wanting to track in any dirt. Zane noticed and handed me a pair of house slippers. They were slightly too big for me, but I slid them on anyway.

He reached for my jacket next, slipping it off my shoulders. His movements were smooth, too natural for someone who shouldn’t be doing such things.He hung my coat near the entrance and gestured for me to follow him to a particular shelf.

Displayed on it was a carefully curated selection of works spanning centuries, from ancient music theories to modern research on sound psychology.

“Wow.”

Chapter 16

“I think I have everything there is to know about music,” Zane stated. He pulled out two books, handing them to me. “These are about hidden messages in music.”