Chapter Thirty-Eight
Another week later, they were wrapping up recording the final two songs for her album. But Jeff and Wren were both on pins and needles, feeling like they were waiting for the other shoe to drop because of her stalker.
The last note left in the trailer had sounded final. ‘This time, you won’t be able to get away. I’ll make sure of it.’
Downstairs in the basement, Wren was practicing on the piano that Jeff had moved from his studio into the family room, where they’d recently been spending a lot of their time. She’d found an untitled arrangement inside the piano bench and was tentatively punching the piano keys, trying to decide what to make of it.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured as Jeff joined her, handing over some coffee in a mug.
“My one and only effort at composing,” Jeff admitted, looking sheepish. “I forgot that I was going to talk to a singer songwriter friend of Emily Richardson about assisting me with lyrics.”
She grinned. “Why ask someone else when you’ve got me?”
“Okay. I’ll bite,” he said, sitting beside her on the piano bench. “Tell me how you come up with lyrics.”
“I usually have some kind of memory in mind when I compose,” she admitted. “Why don’t you tell me what inspired you when you wrote your music?”
“You,” he confessed softly. “It was always you. And that time in Germany when we first met, when you zeroed in on me in the audience.”
“I never forgot about you either,” she finally admitted. “I’m not sure why I pretended that I didn’t know who you were when I arrived. I recognized you right away when you took off your helmet that morning at the studio.”
And then they kissed – deeply, passionately – although they were both still holding back now that their time together was running short. It just wouldn’t be fair to lead him on, Wren decided.
“Tell you what. This is the original, but I’ve got a copy,” Jeff said, signing off at the bottom of the first page of music. “I’m giving this song to you, to do with what you wish.”
“It’s the most beautiful gift that you could give to me, Jeff,” she said softly, easing further into his arms and resting her head against his chest. “I’ll treasure it always.”