Page 23 of Dissonance

“So?” She holds up her left hand, the diamond catching the light. “I can appreciate fine art without wanting to take it home.”

Despite myself, a laugh almost escapes.

“Sooo… You and the brooding bodyguard,” she muses. “Are you going to do it ag—?”

“No.” The word comes out before she’s even finished the question.

“Why not?”

Because it’s complicated in about fourteen different directions.

Because professionally, the optics of sleeping with Cooper’s bodyguard haven’t changed.

Because underneath it all, he’s the one person I’ve never quite known how to want safely.

And even if I did, Lockie’s life isn’t here. It’s wherever Cooper is—touring Europe, flying to London for a single interview, recording in Canada—and he follows without question because that’s the job. That’s who he is.

I don’t say any of that, though. Mae clears her throat and gives me the look she uses when she knows I’m overthinking. “You going to Reign Cooper’s celebration tonight?” she asks, shifting gears. “He’s booked out a little place downtown. Low-key drinks now that the single’s wrapped up.”

“I don’t know,” I answer honestly.

“What? Why?”

I stare at my keyboard, picking a piece of lint off it. “They don’t need me hovering.”

“Hovering?” She squints at me, genuinely confused. “They’ve just finished writing and recording their first collaboration. If it wasn’t for you, there’d be no reason for drinks tonight at all.” Turning, she heads toward the door, glancing back. “Go. Have fun. Flirt with your Scotsman.”

I watch her disappear back to her desk.

If I go tonight, there will be drinks. Music. Low lighting.

Him.

The thought alone makes the decision for me.

“Wait—” Mae’s footsteps stop, her head appearing around the doorframe at the sound of my voice. “You’re not going?”

“Girls’ night,” she says, wiggling her hips. “I’m going home, getting cute, and letting my friends get me drunk enough to forget about spreadsheets. I’m expecting a full report on Monday, by the way. Including any details if you end up bringing Lockie home.”

“Enjoy your night, Mae.” I laugh despite myself as she grabs her bag and waves over her shoulder.

The office settles back into quiet. Across town, they’ll already be gathering. Tyler riding the high of a real collaboration. Cooper relaxed, another hit under his belt. Lockie somewhere close by, watching it all from whatever wall he’s claimed as his.

The fact that I can picture exactly which wall without trying isn’t something I’m going to examine right now.

I reach for my coat, knowing the bar was never the destination. I knew that before Mae finished asking. Tonight, I’m going home, opening a bottle of wine, and finishing the contract I’ve been putting off all week. That’s fine. That’s the right call. And that’s what I tell myself all the way down in the elevator, through the lobby, and out into the cool night air.

And I do not think about Lockie at all.

Chapter Nine

Lockie

“How’s your week been?”

Setting her notepad on her knee, Joanne waits as I cross her office to the window, leaning against the wall, looking out over the small town of Taunton Falls. I know the drill; same routine since I started seeing her.

“Fine,” I say, watching a mother tug her son’s hand as the crossing lights change. “Busy.”