3. Mack
Chapter 3
Mack
I recognize her the second I see her. Jesus , she’s even more beautiful in the flesh with her flawless features and her blonde hair tumbling around her shoulders. Her t-shirt stretches across generous tits, and her faded jeans hug her rounded hips and long legs.
But it’s the barely restrained panic in her eyes that has my senses on high alert. She searches the crowd, looking like a deer caught in headlights as people swarm around her, jostling her in their hurry to get wherever they’re going. Impatient assholes.
It suddenly occurs to me she’s looking for Harry. Didn’t he message her to tell her about the change of plans?
I’m pulled from my thoughts as a passenger bumps into her, pushing her off-balance. My feet are moving before I realize it, and I reach her in a flash, catching her as she pitches forward. She lifts her eyes to mine, and electricity rips through me. My heart starts pounding to a new beat. I feel it—the music in my soul that’s been absent for years.
And then she does something totally unexpected. She burrows into me like I’m the only thing holding her upright. And damn , if having her in my arms doesn’t complete me. One look, one touch, and she’s re-ignited the fire and filled an emptiness inside me. We haven’t even spoken yet, but this connection goes deeper than words.
After a moment, I pull back to look down at the woman in my arms, my forehead pleated in a frown. “Are you okay?”
A shiver runs through her before she pulls away reluctantly and takes a step back. “Yeah, I-I’m fine. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to throw myself at you. I’m not great in crowds.”
I regard her thoughtfully. “No problem. I’m guessing Harry didn’t text you to tell you I was picking you up?”
“Oh, um, not that I know of. I switched my phone to flight mode and haven’t changed it back yet, so…” She trails off and shrugs. “I didn’t expect you to meet me. I mean, I know you must be busy, and someone might recognize you.” She glances around nervously as if expecting a rabid fan to pounce on me at any moment.
“Mack,” I say, extending a hand toward her.
She hesitates slightly before placing her hand in mine. “Harmony Sinclair. It’s nice to meet you, Mack.”
Her umber eyes hold mine, and lust slithers down my spine, tightening my balls. Fuck , I’m in trouble.
The bustle of the airport falls away as my vision narrows to the beauty in front of me. A throbbing beat pounds through my veins as I gaze into her wide, innocent eyes. The beat takes hold of me, filling my chest and spilling into the dark corners of my heart.
“Is that Mack Solomon? Oh, my God!”
The piercing shriek breaks the spell, and I tear my gaze from Harmony’s to see a group of high school girls in tight jeans and crop tops headed our way. Shit.
I wrap my hand around Harmony’s and grab her small suitcase. Tugging her with me, I weave between the throng of passengers. I need to get us out of here. Now.
We emerge outside into the sunlight and heavy humidity. True to form, Matt pulls up with a squeal of tires and I usher Harmony into the back seat. I toss her case on the front seat and jump in after her, closing the door just as a bunch of sweaty hands slaps the window.
Max, my driver, quirks an eyebrow at me in the rearview mirror before navigating his way through the crowd now surrounding the limo. He shouts for people to move aside or risk being run over, and after a few hairy moments during which I think he’s going to make good on his threat, he leaves the fans behind and heads for the main road.
I blow out a breath and remove my baseball cap, running my fingers through my hair.
Harmony sits next to me, taking deep breaths. “So that’s what being famous is like, huh?”
My eyes narrow on her as she absently twangs the elastic band around her wrist. She looks as if she might puke all over the expensive leather interior of the limo.
“That was mild. Better get used to it if you’re gonna be singing with me. Your first taste of celebrity.”
My words come out harsher than I intended. It’s not fair to direct my frustration about this whole situation at Harmony.
She surprises me by laughing softly. “I’m sure no one will give me a second glance when you’re around.” She flushes adorably as if realizing what she’s revealed.
“Oh, I doubt that,” I reply, sliding my gaze up to meet hers.
She sucks in a breath, and I suppress the smile pulling at my mouth. She’s as unsettled by me as I am by her.
“If you’ve changed your mind about singing with Mr. Grumpy Butt here, I can turn around right now,” Max pipes up with a grin, glancing at Harmony in the rearview mirror
“There’s no way I’m getting on a plane again today,” Harmony says passionately. “I don’t care how grumpy he is, he’s still my favorite person right now.”
She’s joking, but warmth unfurls in my gut at her words.
Max smirks. “You haven’t seen him first thing in the morning after a month on the road.”
“Thanks for your overwhelming support,” I say sarcastically. “Harmony, the asshole at the wheel is my driver, Max.”
“Nice to meet you, Max. And for what it’s worth, I don’t think you’re an asshole,” she says with a bright smile.
I’d give my left nut to be on the receiving end of that smile. Max already looks smitten with her, which pisses me off, and a growl works its way up my chest.
Shit. She’s turning me into a goddamn caveman. I’ve never had such an immediate and visceral reaction to a woman. I can’t remember the last time I spent time with a woman other than my sister, Jessica, and I sure as hell can’t remember the last time I had sex. Years ago, and I was probably balls deep in booze or drugs ... or both. Thank fuck, I turned my life around when Mom died because Harmony deserves better than the man I was back then.
What if she doesn’t want you? What if you’re not enough?
I refuse to contemplate the traitorous whispers of my subconscious. Harmony is mine. I knew it the second I saw her sitting at that piano singing my song. I’ve done nothing but watch her videos since I left Harry’s office, becoming more entangled in her, in her voice with each song. Seeing her in the flesh has only cemented that knowledge, and I’ll do everything within my power to make her realize we’re meant to be together.
“The landscape is so different here,” Harmony murmurs as she gazes out the window at the high-rise buildings. “What was I thinking? I’m like a duck out of water. I’m a simple gal who eats too much junk food and lives like a hermit.” She says the last part so quietly, I also miss it.
Without thinking, I reach out and wrap my hand around hers, smoothing my thumb absently over her soft skin. “Is this the first time you’ve been out of Virginia?”
She glances at our entwined hands but doesn’t pull away. “First time out of Virginia. First time on a plane. First ride in a limo with a rock star. I still can’t believe this is happening. Last week I was singing in my living room, and now…” She shakes her head, looking a little lost and bewildered.
I frown. She has an unexpected vulnerability that triggers every one of my protective instincts. This industry will eat her alive without someone to watch out for her.
“Why are you here?” I ask softly. “You don’t strike me as someone who craves the limelight.”
“I don’t. I just love to write music and sing. It’s the only time I’m truly happy. I forget everything else and lose myself in the melody, in the moment.”
Yeah, I can relate. It’s the same for me.
Harmony sighs heavily. “But now I’m here, I can’t help thinking this is all some huge mistake.”
“I only learned you were coming this morning. Harry and the record company decided I was having a singing partner without telling me,” I hear myself confessing.
Harmony’s eyes widen in horror. “Oh, no! I knew this was too good to be true when?—"
“And then I heard you singing Visions of Her ,” I cut across her. “And it blew me away. You blew me away. Your voice stopped me in my tracks, Harmony, and even though I was pissed off at being kept out of the loop, I know talent when I hear it. I guess your parents knew you were gonna be a sweet singer when they named you.”
She shrugs. “I have no idea. My parents were killed in a car accident when I was four. My gran and gramps took me in and raised me. I lost Gramps three years ago to a heart attack, quickly followed by Gran. I’m sure she died from a broken heart when she lost her soulmate. They were married for fifty-two years.”
I bring her hand to my mouth, pressing a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m sorry. I know what it’s like to lose a parent. I never knew my father, and I lost my mom to cancer.”
“I know,” Harmony admits sheepishly. “I may have Googled you a few hundred times.”
“Yeah?” I usually hate that parts of my personal life are out there for anyone to find, but I like that Harmony has looked me up.
She nods, her cheeks flushing pink. “I’ve followed your career from the beginning.” She pauses as if debating her next words. “For the record, I’m not here as some groupie. I’ve supported myself alone for the last three years, and I’m not a money-hungry?—"
I place my fingers over her lips, stalling her words. “I know. But for the record, I don’t fucking care. I’m glad you’re here. I want you here.”
Harmony sucks in a breath as I rub my thumb over her plump lower lip. “Why?”
I swallow. Who the hell falls in love at first sight? Not a jaded rock star who’s lived the dark side of the industry. Yet I can’t deny this woman has sent blood flowing to my previously dormant heart, along with other areas further south. No, I can’t tell her. She’ll run a fucking mile. So I go with the next best thing.
“Because the minute I saw you on that video, I knew we were meant to sing together.
She searches my eyes for a long moment. “You’ve been lonely a long time too, huh?”
Her question is completely unexpected. Fuck, she sees deep. I shrug. “Hard to be alone when I’m surrounded by people twenty-four-seven.”
“Being alone isn’t the same as being lonely,” she says softly.
I’ve known this woman for less than an hour, and she’s already unraveling me. I want to grab her, haul her onto my lap, and wrap my arms around her. Harmony Sinclair has the power to wreck me. But she could also be my salvation.