He leaned down, so close that Hannah arched just a little, waiting on him to close that small gap between them. His warm breath washed over her and she could practically taste him.

  “That kiss was just as epic and damn amazing as your singing,” he murmured.

  And then he walked away.

  Out of the studio, out of her house. She heard the door close below and realized she’d been holding her breath.

  Damn that man for making her get all worked up. Common sense told her this was all a bad idea, that kissing her producer would only lead to trouble down the road.

  But that didn’t stop her from wanting more.

  Hannah went to her notebook and jotted down more lyrics. And why wouldn’t she? She now found herself smack-dab in the middle of living her own damn country song.

  SIX

  “The man is insufferable,” Hannah complained.

  Hallie continued searching through the rack of clothes without missing a beat.

  “You’ve said that three times since we left your house. Care to tell me what the problem is?”

  Hannah wasn’t in the mood to shop. When Hallie had called earlier and wanted to pop over to the Vintage Closet, Hannah agreed. The newest boutique in the Bay was all the rage...and was owned by a distant cousin of Dolly herself. Everyone in this area and in Nashville usually knew each other or could relate to each other somehow through the country music industry. Everything tied back to music, no matter the profession.

  This girls’ day out was good. Hannah had needed to hit up some new shops and grab lunch at Cowbells and Shotgun Shells. Despite the name, the place was an upscale café with the absolute best wraps and smoothies.

  Hannah had needed to get out of the house. She’d needed to get away from that lyric notebook and all of her intimate thoughts.

  Since Will left yesterday, Hannah had written two songs, both about wanting a man she couldn’t have. Could she be any more clichéd?

  Wanting Will wasn’t necessarily the problem. The problem stemmed from the fact they were both industry professionals who were just starting to work together and neither needed the black cloud of suspicion that would roll over their heads if they got involved romantically.

  Every move Hannah made was splashed across social media before she could take her next breath. The public was always interested in celebrities’ lives—in her case, from the lavish parties she attended to the strolls she made around the lake to clear her head. She had to be careful about being seen with any man because speculations would rise and rumors would spread.

  When Jake Carver, celebrity trainer, had moved to Beaumont Bay, she’d instantly hired him. That started tongues wagging, but he was just a good friend. He worked with everyone in the Bay to keep them in shape. The man was sexy as hell, but not her type.

  Will wasn’t her type, either. He couldn’t be.

  Hannah would much rather people talk about her career and her songs as opposed to her personal life, but that wasn’t how her world worked, not to mention living in this close-knit lakeside community. Here, certain members just loved to circulate any excitement they could find.

  “You’re not talking.”

  Hannah blinked and noted her sister was holding a yellow sundress in one hand and a plain green jumpsuit in the other, but was staring across the rack at Hannah.

  “I’m thinking,” Hannah grumbled.

  She also blamed Will for putting her in this bad mood. She couldn’t even get her thoughts together to form a coherent sentence and if she didn’t get her act together, Hallie was going to pick up on her concerns.

  Hannah didn’t like keeping secrets from her sister. In fact, she never did. But right now, she wasn’t ready to disclose what had happened or how it was making her feel.

  “I’m not typically a grouchy person,” Hannah added.

  Hallie laughed. “Are you asking me or telling me?”

  Hannah shrugged. “I don’t even know anymore. You see? He’s even got my thoughts all crazy.”

  “Oh, no.”

  Hannah jerked slightly. “‘Oh, no,’ what?”

  “You like him,” Hallie accused, then lowered her voice. “You like you-know-who.”

  Hannah glanced around and only saw two sales ladies who were assisting other customers.

  She leaned in, bracing her hand on the rack. “I do not,” she said through gritted teeth. “Didn’t you hear a word I said? He’s irritating and makes me crazy.”

  “Yeah, just like I said. You like him.”

  Hannah rolled her eyes. “I do not. I mean, I want him to help me launch this next phase of my career, but other than that, I don’t want him in my personal life.”

  “So how did he land there?” Hallie asked with a smile. “You put him smack-dab in the middle of your personal life, right?”

  Hannah sighed. “I didn’t mean to, damn it. I certainly didn’t mean for him to kiss me.”

  “What?”

  Hallie came around the rack and stood right next to Hannah.

  “What did you just say?” Hallie asked again.

  Hannah realized what had just slipped out and she shook her head. So much for keeping a secret.

  “Forget it. I didn’t say anything.”

  “Oh, you certainly did. Now tell me everything.” Hallie glanced around as a new customer came into the store. “Okay, maybe wait until we get back in the car for privacy, but you will tell me every single detail.”

  Suddenly Hannah wasn’t in a hurry to leave and shopping wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe if she stuck around here for a while Hallie would forget she’d said anything.

  Wishful thinking.

  Hannah reached for something on the rack without paying any attention to size or style. She needed an escape, so the dressing room would have to suffice. Besides, she wanted to find some new things for a photo shoot coming up and maybe something new for Mags’s charity event. Plus, there was the album cover she would be shooting soon. Not as if she didn’t have enough clothes sent to her from designers, but right now, she planned on spending a good amount of time in the dressing room until she figured out what to tell Hallie.

  “I’m going to try on some things,” she announced.

  Hallie narrowed her eyes. “Oh, now you’re interested in looking?”

  “I need a few new things.”

  Hallie laughed. “Oh, please. You know you just got a huge shipment from New York from your favorite designer.”

  It was true. Designers sent her their upcoming seasonal styles all the time. Anytime a celebrity of her caliber wore a brand in public, that was free publicity. Hannah usually kept her favorite pieces and donated the rest to charity fundraisers.

  Still, spending some non-work time with her sister was always necessary. Nobody got Hannah the way Hallie did. No one understood Hannah’s quirks and who she really was behind the bling and makeup.

  Which was why Hannah needed to sort out her thoughts before she figured out what to tell her sister. Maybe she needed twin advice. Maybe Hallie would offer some miracle plan to keep Will from invading her every thought.

  “Just tell me this,” Hallie went on, keeping her voice low. “Was he a good kisser?”

  Hannah couldn’t help but smile, but quickly bit her lip to try to hide it. She could practically still feel his strength, the warmth of his touch.

  “Oh, girl,” Hallie laughed. “You are in trouble.”

  Yeah, that’s precisely what Hannah was afraid of. Trouble. Too bad that country song had already been written.

  * * *

  Will walked through the carnage of what used to be his recording studio. The construction crew was hard at work, but this place was going to take a while to recover.

  Thankfully, his home had been spared any damage. Other homes around the lake weren’t so lucky. Some of the million-dollar mansions were having extensive work done and construction crews from all over the region were all hard at work trying to fit in everyone and their high demands. Many homeowners were also taking this opportunity to do add-ons and go even bigger than before.

  That was such a Beaumont Bay thing. Bigger was always better and so was more bling. They might love their well-worn cowboy boots, but they also loved the glitz and glam of their high-profile lifestyles.

  “Mr. Sutherland.”

  Will turned toward the forewoman. “Morning, Carrie.”

  She greeted him with a smile as she approached. “It’s a mess, but don’t worry, we’re still on track to be finished by the projected date.”

  They were nearing the end. That’s all he needed to see the light at the end of this dark tunnel. He wasn’t sure how she’d pull it off, but he trusted her. He couldn’t wait to get back in here and have everything all shiny and new. He planned on throwing an open house, inviting all of his artists and other top-level industry professionals.

  That was another commonality here in the Bay. Someone was always hosting a party for one reason or another. Residents and high rollers from the outside were always ready to mingle and chat or show off their latest accomplishment.

  “I’ll trust you on this one,” he laughed as he stepped around a pile of stacked tiles. “Rehabs certainly aren’t in my wheelhouse.”

  “You’re in luck, because this is what I love doing.”

  He’d heard Carrie’s construction company was the absolute best. The new studio would be even bigger and better than the last and the lobby area was getting a complete overhaul, as well. Pretty much the only thing staying the same was his office.

  “I’ve ordered all of the new equipment,” he told her. “I had it delivered to my house, so just let me know when to get it transferred over here.”

  Carrie nodded. “Anytime works. I can send my crew over to pick it all up. But I’m glad you stopped by. I wanted to discuss a few of the electrical outlets and lighting positions with you that I think might actually work better than what we originally drew up.”

  Will followed her around the area, going over the permanent placement of various pieces of equipment. His cell vibrated in his pocket several times, but he ignored it. This studio was top priority right now and he would answer texts or calls later.

  Likely it was just Hannah...the woman who hadn’t left his mind since he’d left her house. And he’d left in such a damn hurry because he was afraid if he’d stayed any longer, he would have done a hell of a lot more than just kiss her.

  That had been a line he never should have crossed.

  He tried to focus on Carrie and what she was telling him. Never in his life had anything distracted him from his work. Hannah Banks was not the first beautiful artist he’d had on his label, but she was the only one who had ever gotten under his skin, in his head, and twisted all of his thoughts into a jumble of inappropriateness.

  Once he was done with Carrie, Will left the studio, feeling much better about the renovations. The next few weeks might be a pain in the ass, but in the long run, his professional life would be better because of all the new changes.

  His artists were all understanding people and other than Hannah, he didn’t have anyone recording in the next couple weeks. That didn’t mean he wasn’t itching to get back to his normal routine.

  As he drove toward his house, his cell rang. Will tapped the screen on his dash and answered the speaker.

  “This is Will.”

  “Oh, so professional.”

  Hannah’s sultry tone filled his car and sent shivers through him. He wasn’t even face-to-face with the woman and she still had the ability to tap-dance on every sexual nerve he had. How the hell did he intend to keep this relationship professional and his hands off of her?

  There would be no greater test of his willpower than Hannah Banks.

  “Good morning, Hannah. What can I do for you?”

  “I never took you for the type to ask loaded questions,” she mocked.

  Will took a turn toward the lake. He waved to one of his neighbors who was pulling out of the gated community and nodded to the gate guard. Will passed the high-end shops that were always hopping with locals wanting the latest fashions. He forced himself to take a couple of deep breaths before replying.

  “Hannah, even though I’m a busy man, I’ll always have time for my artists, but did you call to play games?”

  Her sultry laughter flooded his car and his jeans were getting much too tight for comfort. He’d thought meeting in person was bad, but hearing her voice in stereo was just as much torture.

  “I do love a good game, but I did call for a purpose. Hallie received an email from Craze Magazine. Apparently I’ve been chosen as one of the top ten most inspiring female celebrities in the country.”

  Will turned into his drive and eased into his garage. He put the car in Park and slid off his seat belt, relaxing into his seat.

  “That’s great news,” he told her. “And well-deserved.”

  “Thank you. They want to do some photos at my house next week and I know we’re working on an entirely new album and style, so I need to get your input on the look we need to go for.”

  Will had a look in mind, but nothing that wouldn’t get him a lawsuit slapped in his face. Why did he let those damn images and fantasies creep into his mind? None of this was professional or even how he’d ever reacted to any of his artists before.

  “Do you have something in mind?”

  “I’m so glad you asked,” she replied.

  He could practically see her beaming, signature smile.

  “With Cheating Hearts I was always known for rhinestones and the bling,” she went on. “I still need to be glam and over-the-top because that’s who I am, but maybe in a more sophisticated way. Something that shows I’ve grown up, but that I’m still country, down-to-earth and relatable to my fans.”

  And that was one of the many reasons he wanted Hannah Banks on his team. The woman could sing like a thousand angels and she was more beautiful than any woman he knew, but she had a smart business head on those slender shoulders. She actually cared about every aspect of her career and that was something he most definitely appreciated.

  He thought her idea sounded perfect and her fans would love this new angle Hannah was taking. He knew she wanted to transition from teen/early twenties icon into the mature woman she had become while in the spotlight.

  “I’m on board with all of that,” he told her. “How about I come over later and we handle the details?”

  “Hallie is here now and we’re discussing some ideas. I’m supposed to meet some friends for a brunch tomorrow so let’s do this evening. I want to get the setting and theme perfect so I have time to decide what to wear.”

  “I have a few things to do, but I’ll try to get by later.”

  “No worries.”

  Will hung up and mentally rearranged his evening plans. He also attempted to prepare himself for another trip to Hannah’s house and another evening alone with the woman he couldn’t get out of his every fantasy.

  At least he’d be going in knowing exactly the impact she had on him. They would remain professional. He had an image to protect, a label, and other artists to worry about, and tarnishing any reputation—hers or his—at this point would be career suicide.

  Hannah Banks would just have to remain a fantasy because nothing good would come from a fling...no matter how bad he wanted her.

  * * *

  “I don’t like it.”

  Hannah stared at Hallie in the pale pink strapless maxi dress. The whole identical-twin thing often came in handy. Hannah would have Hallie try things on so Hannah could get a good idea of exactly how things would look to others for various occasions.

  Now they were in Hannah’s bedroom with clothes strewn over the bed, cluttering the chaise, hanging off all the doorknobs. Nothing seemed to be working for the vision Hannah wanted. But the main problem was she didn’t even know what she wanted. She was hoping some inspiration would hit her as she watched Hallie try on different outfits.

  “What about that white one-shoulder jumpsuit?” Hallie suggested. “Put that with some gold accessories and a simple manicure and you have both rich and classy.”

  Hannah did love that jumpsuit that had come in from one of her favorite designers. She’d been waiting for the perfect opportunity to wear it. Dominic would certainly love it if she sported that for the magazine spread.

  “Try that on, then,” Hannah suggested. “I’m going to put on that strapless black dress. You know the one that is a little Audrey Hepburn, a little Marilyn Monroe?”

  Hallie pursed her lips. “I’m not sure that’s the image you want to go for, sis.”

  At this point, Hannah didn’t know what she wanted. The original idea she had in her head seemed to be falling apart. She’d been in countless magazines over the years, she’d been splashed all over the internet in her best and worst outfits, but knowing she could guide this new look was so exciting. This spread would be celebrating women and Hannah wanted to get the vibe just right.

  Besides, this photo shoot would be her first chance to show off a new look related to the upcoming album launch. Everything had to be just right from the start. She didn’t want to let her fans down and she didn’t want to let Will down. That had nothing to do with her personal feelings and everything to do with her professional strategy.

  Damn it. As much as she was irritated at herself for getting caught up in her wayward thoughts about Will, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was something there. Was he attracted to her more than he let on? Had that kiss affected him like it had affected her? Did he even want to explore this...whatever this was?

  She didn’t miss the way he stared at her...or the way he got irritated with her. Maybe that’s how he coped with attraction? Weird, but men were an odd species.