Chapter Eight
Brennan
Thank goodness we were back home. I enjoyed being here the best. Also, there was something to be said for a private jet. At the very least, we could bring Spencer home in a more comfortable manner than flying commercial.
The house was quiet as I went down to the kitchen. Spencer had been tucked in by Grace. Wes hauled Evan off to bed. Jett fell asleep watching a movie. Riley was playing video games.
I’d been catching up on work, mostly because I couldn’t sleep.
Now I was in the kitchen. Should I have a snack? Maybe? Oh. My eyes fell on all the mail on the table. In the pile was the sheet music I’d ordered for Grace.
I took the music upstairs. Putting on my headphones and setting the piano to soundless, I got out the music for Les Cloches de Mai and started to play.
Theodosia’s works weren’t my favorite, mostly because they required a lot of subtlety and maturity. You didn’t just play it with your fingers; you played it with your soul.
I didn’t enjoy baring my soul to anyone, let alone a concert hall full of people that I didn’t know.
At some point, I grew aware that I was being watched. I stopped playing and saw Grace standing there in some pajamas.
“Can’t sleep?” I asked.
“I’m afraid that if I have a nightmare, I’ll hurt Spence.” She rocked on the balls of her feet.
“I don’t think that you will. I’m also pretty sure that Wes and Evan won’t mind if you crawl in with them.” It felt like they were sleeping. Really, she should be with Spencer, but I understood; nightmares were no fun.
“What are you playing?” Grace eyed the music curiously.
“I ordered a couple of Theodosia’s pieces for you. Would you like to try one?” I stood and got her headphones out of the piano bench. Handing them to her, I sat back down.
Putting them on, she sat next to me.
“Which one do you want to try?” I set them out. Besides the one Spencer had suggested and Les Cloches de Mai, I’d also looked up her mother and found the one she often played in competitions.
Grace studied them for a moment. “This one.”
She’d chosen Danser Dans La Neige, Spencer’s favorite. I played it for her, trying to focus on the notes on the paper and not her face. This wasn’t a piece that I had memorized.
“It’s haunting,” she finally said as I finished.
“It is. Her pieces are complex in a very different way than Volkov or Kirkokov. Want to try?”
Grace studied the music for a moment, then started to play.
She was a good sight-reader, but a piece like this was difficult. Grace tried a few times. “Huh, maybe one of the other pieces?”
“Sure. It’s okay if you don’t like them. Really, they’re not my favorite,” I told her.
We tried the other two, then just ended up playing some duets.
“Thank you for getting me the music. I really like playing with you.” Grace looked up at me with those big, blue-grey eyes.
I wanted to fall into them.
Her pink lips were right there. It would be so easy to lean in and kiss her…
“There you are. It’s late. We all have work tomorrow.” Jett stood there, shirtless.
Annoyance shot through me. Jett gave me an amused look.
“You’re right. Back to work tomorrow.” Grace stood.
“I got you some tea at the market. You might like it better than what Evan gets. It’s in the cupboard,” Jett added.
“Thank you, Jett.” She smiled at him.
“I suppose we should go to sleep.” I gave Jett a look.
She kissed me on the cheek. “Good night, Bren.”
Taking off her headphones, she held them awkwardly. Getting up, I put mine and hers inside of the bench.
“Good night, Grace.” I hugged her.
“Good night, Jett.” She gave him a little kiss on the cheek, too, and went up the stairs.
“I wasn’t trying to cockblock you, Honey. It’s late, and I set off to find you.” He put an arm around me.
I sighed as we went into our bedroom. “What am I doing?”
“Not her, apparently.” Jett laughed as we went into our bedroom.
“Jett.” I playfully shoved him onto the bed. “We’re not like that. I just gave her the sheet music and was teaching her to play it.”
“Sure.” He gazed up at me, his long, dark hair loose.
I pinned him to the bed. “I’m sure.”
Well, for now.
Leaning in, I kissed Jett.
No. I wasn’t sure at all.
But that was a problem for another day.