Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 72828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72828 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 243(@300wpm)
But I can hear the music.
I climb out of bed, pull his T-shirt over my head, and tug on a clean pair of panties before padding out into the living room, where Keaton’s seated on the piano bench, playing a song that I swear I know, but I can’t put my finger on it.
He’s only in jeans, and his bare foot presses on the pedal as he plays.
It could be the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen, this amazing man seated here in the dark, playing a beautiful melody.
“You can sit,” he says softly.
Not willing to pass on that invitation, I sit next to him on the bench as he scoots to make room for me, and I lean my head on his bare shoulder as he continues to play.
“What is it?” I ask.
“‘Unchained Melody’,” he says in a soft voice.
“That’s it,” I say with a sigh. “God, I love this song.”
He doesn’t reply; he just keeps playing so perfectly that it brings tears to my eyes.
So, I close them and don’t even swipe at the tears that roll down my cheeks. I’m soaking in the music, every beautiful note as he serenades me here in the dark. When he reaches the bridge, the intensity of each note leaves me breathless. The end of the song softens, the crescendo dissipates, and with the last note, Keaton lifts his hands from the keys and rests them on his thighs.
“Wow.” I wipe at the tears now, and he turns to kiss the crown of my head. “You’re so talented, Keaton.”
“Hmm.”
“Keep playing. Please?”
“You have a long drive today,” he whispers, his lips still pressed to my hair. “You should be sleeping.”
“I’d rather listen to you. I can sleep when I get there.”
He doesn’t move right away, but then he shifts, and notes fill the air once more. This one I recognize immediately.
Without even knowing it, he’s playing a song that’s so appropriate for this moment, because I can’t help falling in love with him.
Music always makes me emotional. It goes with the territory of being a musician. But this one has me all up in my feelings.
I’m content to sit here, next to this fascinating, sexy man, and listen to him play an instrument that I love so much. I’d sit here with him forever if it were possible.
But soon, the moment is over, and Keaton wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“You really should get some more sleep.”
“Come back to bed with me.”
He stands, holds his hand out for mine, and leads me to the bedroom.
“You’re here!” Maya jogs down to the car to greet me, throws her arms around me, and hugs me close. “I didn’t think you’d ever drive up.”
“Did you tell the parents that I was coming?”
“Nope, your secret is safe with me. They’re going to be so excited to see you.” My older sister grins and takes one of my bags to carry for me, her steps light and bouncy beside me.
Maya is shorter than me, with dark hair and the bluest eyes ever, but no one would ever mistake that we weren’t sisters.
We share the same laugh and the same eye shape.
She’s one of my favorite people in the world, and I’ve always looked up to her.
“How have things been here?” I ask as we climb the steps of our childhood home.
“Not bad, actually. The new medication that Mom’s trying is working wonders. She’s so much better with it, hasn’t fallen, and seems to be more herself lately.”
“That’s the best news ever. Where are they?”
“Dad took Mom to a checkup. They should be back in the next hour or so.”
“Perfect. That gives me time to unpack and chat with my favorite sister.”
“What a coincidence,” she says as we climb the steps to the second floor, where our bedrooms are. “You’re my favorite sister.”
It’s the same banter we’ve had since we were kids, and it makes us both smile since we’re each other’s only sisters.
“Want me to get you something to drink while you unpack?” she asks.
“Absolutely not. I want you to stay here and talk to me, and then we’ll go down and get something together.”
“Good. I wanted to lie on the bed and be lazy all along,” Maya says with a laugh and jumps onto the bed and cradles a pillow to her chest while I unzip a bag and dig in.
It feels good to stand after being in the car for so long today. But every mile, every minute of the drive, was well worth it.
“How are things in Seattle?” Maya asks when I return from the bathroom, where I just stowed my toiletries.
“It’s good. The weather’s been nice. Gray and Stella are disgustingly happy. Seriously, it’s kind of gross, the way they paw at each other all the time.”
Maya wrinkles her nose.
“But the Montgomery family is super nice.”