Down to My Soul (Soul Series Book 2)(27)

And nothing excites me more than Kai. It’s because of her that, for the first time, I’m nervous behind the board. I booked Cherry, my favorite studio here at Wood. They all have state of the art equipment and boards, of course, but this one adjoins a room that holds nothing but one of my pianos. I can slip in there and add the things in my head on the spot.

I should be thanking my lucky stars, if I have any, that she’s forgiven me. But, no. Hard-to-please bastard that I am, I spent the night under my piano again, instead of in that cold bed, resenting the fact that she doesn’t want people to know. There’s this tiny, insistent voice somewhere deep down that keeps asking me if there’s more to it. Is it really her career she’s concerned with? Does it have anything to do with Dub? Does she not want anyone to know? Or does she not want him to know?

“Ready, boss?” Our receptionist Amber asks from the door, smiling at the other guys in the studio. Two engineers already sit at the large soundboard, checking levels and prepping for Luke and Kai’s arrival.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I give Amber a quick nod. “You seen Marlon?”

“He’s in Birch.” Amber grins, flicking a fall of tawny dreadlocks over her shoulder. “Gettin’ high.”

“Should’ve known.” I take my seat behind the board. “At least it’s somewhat legal now.”

“The law finally caught up to Grip . . . somewhat.” Amber laughs. “I’m up front all night. Let me know if you need anything.”

I swivel my chair to consider her. She’s here all times of the day, but especially when Marlon’s here. All the girls like him, and he only likes one girl. Not that he lets that stop his dick.

“Don’t you have class in the morning?” I ask.

“Yeah, but I gotta close.”

“Nah.” I wave my hand at her. “I’ll close up. You hang as long as you want, of course, but leave when you need to. I got this.”

Kai’s laugh from the hall cuts our conversation short. I turn my head to watch her through the door. She’s talking to Luke, her back to the studio. Her t-shirt, knotted just below her shoulder blades, leaves the golden skin between the shirt and the waistband of her leggings bare. All her hair is gathered high on her head, pierced by chopsticks. Her petite frame is slim and fit, soft and curved.

“Holy shit,” Gus, one of the engineers whispers to the other. “Who is that?”

“Dayummmmm. I’ve only seen her from the back,” Monty, the other, whispers back, “and I already know I’d hit that . . . from the back.”

“Not and live to tell it, you wouldn’t,” I mutter without looking up from the knobs I’m twisting.

“What?” Gus frowns. “Dude, I—”

Kai looks down the hall to smile at someone, her delicate profile clearly visible for the first time.

“Oh, hell.” Monty wide eyes me, genuine regret all over his freckled face. “I didn’t know that was Kai, Rhys. Sorry, man.”

I nod, but just go back to my knobs. I have enough to handle tonight without throwing in a jealous fit.

“It’s fine.” I glance toward the hall, my attention snagged and held by her still standing there. “I mean, don’t say that shit again, but I get it.”

Luke and Kai come in, both smiling. Luke gives out fist pounds to everyone in the studio. He grins at me, blue eyes excited.

“This song is the shit, Gray.” He leans against the board. “Thanks for doing this, man. I know you got your own stuff you’re working on. This is gonna blaze right out of the gate.”

“Happy to do it. I didn’t envision it as a duet when I wrote it.” My eyes shift to Kai at his side, who’s taking in her surroundings and smiling at the two engineers. “But I think it’ll work.”

“Yeah, and Kai’s gonna be so hot by the time this song drops, if Malcolm’s got anything to do with it. It’ll be perfect timing.”

He hooks an elbow around her neck, and I can see the fraternal affection he’s developed while they were on tour, but I still don’t like him touching my girl. I’ve heard about the lap dance she gives him every night on stage as part of the show. I have so many reasons to be glad when this tour is over.

She glances at me nervously, moving from under Luke’s arm. She knows me well.

“Let’s do this.” I pull out the charts I marked up, handing one to each of them. “I think you both got my notes, but I had some other thoughts today.”

We talk through the changes I’m proposing to the bridge. Kai nods, dark brows pulled together in concentration. She wears no makeup, and I could just stare at her all day, especially after two months of not seeing her at all. She looks up, catching my eyes on her, smiles a little before looking back to the chart.

“Let’s lay Luke’s verse first.” I roll out a chair for Kai. “You listen, Kai, to the things I tell him because a lot of it will hold for your verse, too.”

Luke’s good. Always has been, but the fatigue in his voice is evident. Maybe it wasn’t such a good idea to record this while they’re on tour. We’re professionals, used to singing through anything, but Malcolm sets a much more bruising pace than I would set for myself, or anyone else.

The raspiness fatigue lends Luke’s voice actually works for his verse, deepening it and adding grit. He’s a seasoned pro, so he takes guidance well and adjusts easily. He and I have worked together ever since I accompanied him for his performance piece junior year, so we know each other. He knows I don’t settle. I push. He’s prepared for it, and doesn’t push back, but just gives me what I need to make the song work.