“What the fuccc—?” he asks, obviously startled by my presence. It’s deja vu in reverse.
“Get out, Phoenix!” I shout. He stands there, blinking as he looks me up and down.
“I can’t believe this is what was under all that heavy makeup and baggy clothes. Then again, I knew it.”
“I’m not having this conversation with you right now. Please get out,” I beg. I’m near tears as he sees me in my most vulnerable state. It’s not my near nakedness, but the absence of my armor. The armor that keeps men from being attracted to me. I don’t want anybody to see me.
“Okay. Fine. We need to set up a bathroom schedule, though.” He backs out with his eyes on me the entire time. Once he is out, I run to the door and turn the lock on the door. This was my fault. I can’t believe I didn’t lock the fucking door. I’m living with four men.
I throw my clothes on in a flash. It would be my luck that the one person I didn’t want to see me without my armor is the one who did. The last thing I need is for him to coming sniffing my way. It’s not that I think I’m some catch, by any means, but guys always want the very thing they can’t have—the thrill of the chase. The women who clamor over him are way sexier than I could ever hope to be in my wildest dreams. Let him stick with those women in his league. I’m determined not to make this weird. After all, it was just like me walking in on him yesterday and gawking like a horny teenager. One good turn deserves another. I know he isn’t going to let this go, though. All I can do is put my face and armor back on, and act like I don’t give a rat’s ass about what he saw—which wasn’t much, body-wise.
When I walk out into the hall, the house is once again quiet. They’re obviously here somewhere, so I head downstairs to investigate. Just as I reach the bottom step to the first floor, the door across from me swings open. Ren walks past me to head upstairs. Asher didn’t get a chance to show me this room during the brief tour of the house he gave me because I was too infatuated with the second floor and the lake out back. I can clearly see now that they have the room set up as their makeshift studio.
My ears perk up at Phoenix’s rasp as he sings into the mic he’s holding. “You call the shots, babe. I just wanna be yours.” He sings the lyrics to Arctic Monkey’s, “I Wanna Be Yours,” and I swear he’s singing them to me. His stare pierces through me. Without all the noise of the women competing for his attention, I can focus strictly on his voice. The timbre of his voice is enthralling—so raw and captivating. He could sing the fucking Yellow Pages and get my attention. He closes his eyes as he gets lost in the lyrics, and I take this moment to stare. His body sways to the sexiness of the music. His denim jeans are snug against his muscular legs, and his black tank shows the work he puts in the gym. His chiseled chest begs to be caressed. God, this man makes me crazy. My thoughts are all over the damn place. I want to hold on to my comfort zone, yet he inspires all kinds of lustful thoughts. Not that I would act on any of them or even admit it to him, but damn he is insanely fucking sexy. I need to get my shit together. Nothing changes. Status quo. I don’t have time for men. I have goals, and men are not part of the plan. I will just ogle privately, but that is as far as I’m willing to take it. Simply put—nice eye candy.
I don’t realize I’m just standing in the doorway like a goof until Asher walks over to me.
“What do you need, Harlow?” he whispers, never missing a chord.
“Oh. I just came to see where everyone was,” I whisper back.
“Our practice sessions are closed. The guys need to be able to concentrate.” His eyebrows scrunch in concern. “Sorry.”
“No worries. I see you guys are busy. I’m going back upstairs.” Ren walks back in with a jug of water.
“We’ll be wrapping up in about an hour…okay?”
“Sure,” I tell Asher. He closes the door, and the sound is very faint now. You definitely wouldn’t be able to hear it upstairs. The riddle is solved. They’re in a soundproof room. I go back upstairs and try to decide what to do with myself. I’m bored. Then I get the brilliant idea to cook the guys breakfast. I don’t know if they ate already, but the kitchen doesn’t smell like it unless they ate out. Oh well, hopefully not. I pull out a carton of eggs, veggies, and even luck out and find some ham. I know Phoenix can’t have a regular omelet, so I separate some egg whites for him. I spray coconut oil into a skillet and make omelets for the guys with all the fixings. Then I make an egg white omelet for Phoenix with just veggies. I put on a pot of coffee and make scrambled eggs for myself. I’m mid-bite when the guys come up the stairs.
“What smells so good?” Ren asks.
“I made you guys all omelets. Phoenix, I made you an egg white omelet with veggies. I used coconut oil to coat the pan to keep it healthy for you.”
“Look at Phoenix getting special treatment already,” Ren jokes.
“Thank you, Harlow.” Phoenix smiles. “Are you trying to outshine me with the fellas?”
“Hush. No,” I say, punching him in the arm softly. Holy crap. He is solid.
Asher ignores the flirtatious undertone Ren is trying to insinuate. “Thank you for breakfast, princess. Especially since I kicked you out of our practice,” he says apologetically.
“Yeah, princess,” the guys echo in unison. Ugh. Asher needs to stop calling me princess in front of these guys. They can be so childish.
“Not a problem at all,” I reply. I grab a cup of coffee and take my omelet to the table. The guys grab theirs and all disappear, but not Phoenix. He joins me at the table.
“Thanks again for this,” he says seriously, pointing at his food. “That was very thoughtful. I know you weren’t too happy with me earlier.”
“It’s fine, Phoenix. I should have locked the door. That was my fault.”
“Yeah. You did leave it half open like I did yesterday.” He laughs.
“The house was quiet, so I thought everyone was gone. Both days.” I laugh once I realize I fell for the same shit two days in a row.
“See. Easy fix. We both just need to lock the door when we’re in there,” he suggests.
“Agreed.”
“I am curious about something, though,” he continues. Here we go. I knew it was coming. “Why all the makeup? You are so beautiful without it. And those curves, just wow. That petite waist and curvaceous ass. It’s a shame to cover all that up with those baggy clothes you wear.”
I slap his arm, not so softly this time. “Shut up, Phoenix. You didn’t see shit. And I wear the makeup because I like it.”
“I call bullshit. You’re hiding behind a persona you’ve created. You’re not Goth. I know people who are, and you’re not it,” he accuses.
“Who the fuck said I was Goth or even trying to be? You all assumed that. I just happen to like black and baggy clothes. Get the fuck off my case. It’s none of your damn business.” I push the plate away from me because I’ve lost my appetite.
“I just about have you pegged, princess. I know hurting when I see it. Don’t worry, I don’t plan to pry because it is your fucking business. Why would I give a shit? Oh, and I saw plenty with your naked ass pressed against the reflective glass. I saw the curves of your breasts too with that pitiful excuse for a towel you were holding up—such a waste.”