Page 12 of Wild Hope

He nodded.“You have no idea how special you are, Andi.”

Joel hit her with a pointed stare when she scoffed, instantly dismissing his comment.

“I mean it.When I heard you sing…” He paused as if searching for the words.When he spoke again, she was damn glad he’d found them.“It was as if your soul had called out to mine in a way I’ve never experienced before.”

Andi didn’t have a clue how to reply to that because those were the greatest words she’d ever heard.“I want to put that line in a song,” she whispered.

Joel leaned toward her and Andi followed suit, the two of them cutting the distance.She’d never felt such an instant attraction—and connection—to anyone before.He spoke about her soul speaking to his, but the feeling was mutual.

His gaze dropped to her lips briefly, letting her know his intent.She quickly swiped her lower one with her tongue, signaling her assent.

He kissed her, the one lingering longer than the one he’d given her last night.Her lips parted and he stole a quick taste, his tongue dipping in.

God.This man could kiss her for the rest of her life and she’d never—ever—want for another thing.To hell with her original list because her dreams hadn’t just gotten bigger, they’d exploded.

When they parted, he cupped her cheek in his hand.“Your dreams are more achievable than you realize.”

She smirked, ready to refute those words, but he didn’t relent.

“I made some calls today.”

She frowned, confused by his statement.“Okay.”

“I’ve started setting your dreams in motion.”

“I don’t understand,” she said.

“I want you and Dylan to come visit me in New York next weekend.”

Andi started to shake her head, but Joel was proving to be a very stubborn man.

“Take the time off, Andi.I’ll show you around the city, and then...”

“Then?”she prompted.

Joel ran the backs of his fingers over her cheeks, looking at her like she’d hung the sun and the moon.“Then, I’m taking you to a recording studio.You’re going to record ‘Bigger Dreams’.”

“What do you mean record it?”

He gave her a crooked grin.“You never asked me what I do for a living.”

Andi tilted her head, suddenly curious.She’d figured he was just some successful businessman from the city, doing some high-powered job like the one her brother hoped to land one day.“What do you do?”

“I’m a music producer.”

Her eyes widened.“What?”she whispered in sheer disbelief.

“I want to help you achieve your dreams, but more than that, I want to keep seeing you.”

“Joel,” she began.

He placed his finger on her lips.“Don’t say no.Think about it.I’m offering you a way to make all those wild hopes and dreams of yours come true.”

“We only just met, Joel.”

“You’re right.And I don’t have an argument for that, but dammit.I’m also old enough to know that doesn’t matter.This is going fast, but I don’t care.This,” he said, pointing to himself, then her.“This is powerful, overwhelming.It’s also right.I knew it from the second I met you, even before I heard you sing.”

Andi bit her lower lip.He’d been so open, so honest with her, she felt as if she owed him the same.“I feel it too.”