I know what you're thinking. “You
were such a jerk, Nick!” Believe me, I know I screwed up the best thing I
had going in my life, but that was kind of my thing. I’d learned how to run cons
before I could even form complete sentences, and I'd always been selfish.
But I changed. Lila forgave me, my brother and I were getting along, and
I was trying to make a name for myself in the music world.
At least that was what I was trying
to do when I negotiated my way into the recording studio with pop superstar
Sadie Sinclair. I thought it would be a piece of cake—charm my way into her
heart and into her record label's good graces.
Just when I thought I had it all
figured out, I got mixed up in a web of lies, manipulation, and deception. A
web that had me questioning my motives and desires altogether.
Was the fame and fortune really worth
the price?
EXCERPT:
“Look, I totally get your
reservations about me,” I placated her, even though I knew I was more than
qualified to produce her album. It was
cookie cutter pop music. Anyone with half
a brain could do it.
“I may not have much experience with actual singers, but
I've been mixing music since I was a kid.”
“You're just a deejay,
Nick. And no offense, but that is not the same as a music producer.”
“You're right. Spinning records is about playing to a
crowd. Finding that perfect rhythm for
any circumstance. Sometimes they want a
carefree club mix to dance around to.
Other times they want a slow, sensual song to grind up on someone
to. I know how to read people and that's
beneficial in both cases. I'm a people
pleaser, but I'm also an artist.”
“How so?”
“Well, for one I can read
you. I know that you want people to hear
a new side of you. To hear the grown-up
version of Sadie Sinclair.”
“That's not reading me,
Nick. I told you that yesterday,” she
replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yes, you did,” I conceded
with a nod. “But it's not always about
what you say. I can tell by the way you
walk—the commanding click of your heels across the floor and the sway of your tight
little ass. You want to sing the kind of
music that causes a stir. You're tired
of singing songs about people falling in love and teeny-bopper breakups. You want to sing songs about people making
love. About passion and desire. About longing and fulfillment.” Her eyes glazed over as she stared into
mine. Her lips parted as she let out a
slow, steady breath.
I stepped closer to her and reached out, brushing my hand
down her arm. “You want to sing songs
that get under people's skin. Leaves
them wanting more. You want to seduce
them with your sound.”
“I do,” she answered
mindlessly, watching my hand stroke up and down her arm.
“You don't want to just
sing songs, Sadie Sinclair. You want to
sing... sex.”
Her eyes fell shut as she thought about what I was
saying. I was going out on a limb with
my assumption. For all I knew, she
wanted to sing gospel hymns to a reggae beat.
Lucky for me, the way she looked at me—like she wanted to eat me
alive—was a proper assessment of exactly the kind of person she was. She
finally opened her eyes and when she did, I knew I had her on the hook.
“Okay then, let's hear
it,” she insisted, pointing at the computer I was holding in my hand. “I want to see if you're any good.”
“Oh, I assure you that I'm more than just good.” She was
trying to play hardball, but if she thought for one second I didn't see the
glimmer of lust in her eyes, she was crazy.
“Take a seat, Miss Sinclair.” I pulled back one of the chairs for
her. She hesitated, like she didn't want
to seem too anxious to comply. I fired up my computer and pulled up a folder of
tracks I'd been working on. Careful not
to mess up her hair, I slipped a pair of headphones over her ears.
She started to protest. “What are you doing?
We can listen to it—”
“In order to get the full
Nick Kline experience, I need to get completely”—I paused leaning in inches
from her face—“and totally in your head.”
She breathed me in and relaxed into her chair. I was one song away from convincing Sadie
Sinclair that I was the perfect choice for her.
Musically and more.
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ABOUT ELIZABETH LEE:
When I'm not writing or playing the part of wife and mother, you can find me dancing back-up for Beyonce, singing back-up for Miranda, or sunning myself on the beach with a drink in hand. Here's the thing about being born and raised in a small town—you have a very vivid imagination! Now, I channel it all to create stories where the girl always ends up with the right guy, first kisses are magical, and a happy ending is just that!
LINKS:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/elizabethleewrites
Twitter: www.twitter.com/elwrites
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6542627.Elizabeth_Lee
Novel Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18463336-taking-something
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