Chapter Eighteen
Leo
Seeing Jody go from tears to laughter had been pretty triumphant. I couldn’t stop smiling. We’d strolled back to the apartment together, “Ugly Heart” leading into a bunch of other songs I had in that playlist. She’d started teasing me about my girly music collection.
“Hey, it’s from my niece. She sends me her faves each week, and the list just keeps on growing.”
“I love Spotify.” She’d grinned.
Yet another thing to like about her.
I frowned, walking to the stereo and pumping up the volume on “Go” by Boys Like Girls. I was a little addicted to ‘follow your dreams’ type music. It kept me focused, kept reminding me why I’d broken my mother’s heart and flown all the way over here. I had to keep my eye on Broadway.
I couldn’t let one afternoon with a blonde beauty, eyes like the sky on a perfect day, stop me from following where I had to go.
Stepping into the kitchen, I hitched up my sweats, still too hot after my scalding shower to put on a shirt. I didn’t know what to do with my evening. Part of me felt like composing, but I knew if I overdid that it’d end up hampering my creative flow, which was why I’d forced myself out for a walk earlier in the day and thank God I had. I’d wanted to rip that guy’s arm off, the way he was towering over Jody like that, ignoring Angel’s crying.
What a dickhead.
I hated the idea that he’d been with Jody. I could tell by his smarmy expression as he skulked away that he was all about the charm. He’d probably wooed Jody in with a few smiles, and she’d been putty in his hands.
Gripping the edge of the sink, I sucked in a calming breath and poured myself a glass of water, chugging it back.
“Now what are you going to do?” I wiped my bottom lip and gazed around the empty apartment, missing Gerry for a fleeting minute. I didn’t know why. Our marriage had been cold and detached. I felt just as lonely the day I left as I had over the two years we were married, but still...it’d been a presence in the house.
“Maybe I should get a dog.”
A rap at the door made me turn. Wiping my hands on my pants, I walked to the door and swung it open without bothering to check the peephole.
“Oh, hey.” My smile was way too big. I tried to tone it down but couldn’t quite do it.
Jody was standing there in the cutest PJ pants I’d ever seen. They had cartoon foxes all over them and a drawstring my fingers were itching to pull.
I pinched the door, taken aback by my thoughts. Where the hell had they come from?
Her cheeks were a little pink as she licked her lower lip. She seemed awkward, which I found strange after the easy-going day we’d shared.
Pushing a plate of cookies toward me, she cleared her throat and bobbed on her bare toes. Purple nail polish. Nice.
“I baked these for you, to say thanks.”
“For what?” I took them, trying not to cringe when I noticed how burnt they were around the edges.
“Making me feel better today. Giving me that song.”
“I’m glad it worked.” There it was again, that puff of triumphant pride. I loved the idea that I was responsible for making her feel better. “Music always does the trick. I didn’t want you wasting any more angst on a FIGJAM like that.”
“Fig jam?” Her nose wrinkled, her ponytail resting on her shoulder as she tipped her head.
“You don’t know that expression?”
She shook her head, her blue eyes dancing with anticipation.
I grinned, scratching the back of my neck. “It means, ah, Fuck I’m Good Just Ask Me.”
That melodic giggle of hers sprung free, dancing all over me before it was cut short by her crumpling expression. “Oh my gosh, Stefan is such a FIGJAM!”
“Yep, total arrogant shithead.” My voice grew sharp and snappy, making Jody’s eyebrow quirk. She pressed her lips together, fighting a smile. I cleared the venom from my throat and muttered, “‘Ugly Heart’ could be his theme song.”
Her smile grew as she nodded. “Your mom’s right, you know. You do have a song for everything.”
“I try to.” Damn. I was blushing; I could feel it. I tried to pretend I wasn’t, but I couldn’t believe she’d remembered me saying that. “Music and lyrics can teach us so much about life and love. I like to let music guide me.”
Jody’s blue gaze grew warm, her lips curling with a grin. “Let music guide your love,” she murmured. “I like that.”
I captured the words, letting them dance through my brain, my smile growing in time with my nod. I had to write that down!
Jody crossed her arms, pushing her breasts up without even realizing it. The shoestring tank top that accompanied her PJ pants was powder blue and doing things to my body that were kind of out of my control. I hoped her gaze stayed north, because this would be bloody impossible to hide when going commando in sweatpants.
Thankfully her eyes stayed on my face, her top teeth lightly brushing over her lower lip.
Geez, I was going to have to slam the door in her face in a minute.
Pull it together, Leo!
Jody’s head dipped, her high ponytail dropping over her shoulder. “You don’t have to tell me, but have you ever had your heart broken before?” Her cheeks flushed. “I probably shouldn’t even be asking you, but I keep thinking about today, and you were just so sympathetic and sweet and I just...” Her shoulders rose. “I couldn’t help wondering.”
Not loving the line of questioning, but appreciating the deflating effect it was having on my body, I decided to answer her. “Yeah, I was...married.”
Her eyebrows shot up. “Wow, okay.”
“Never really wanted to, but..." I rubbed my fingers through the stubble on my chin. "That’s partly why I came over here. I just needed to get away from everything. I signed those divorce papers and felt like such a loser, so I decided I needed to figure out what I really wanted.”
“So, you didn’t want to get married, but you did anyway?”
I sighed. “I did say I was a loser.”
Her lips pursed, her left shoulder hitching. “Sometimes it’s hard not to give in to the pressure around you. It takes courage to stand up and fight for what you really want.”
“I just hate that I dragged her down with me.”
Jody nodded, giving me a sweet smile.
“So, what do you really want?”
I hesitated for only a second. If anyone was going to understand this dream, it’d be her. “I’m writing a musical to sell to Broadway.”
Her eyes began to sparkle like fairy lights. “That is so cool.”
“Thanks.”
“Can I hear it?”
“Ah, no.” I chuckled.
Her lip popped into a pout.
“Not until I’m finished.”
“Okay.” She nodded.
I wasn’t quite sure what to say to her then. My throat had kind of swelled up with the idea of having to confess that she was my muse. I was worried if she heard any of the songs, saw me playing them for her, that she’d know in a heartbeat.
Her lips flirted with a shy grin before breaking past the emotion. She crossed her arms again, and I had to hold in my groan.
“Well, not to sound like a totally selfish bitch, but I’m kind of glad you understand that feeling of loss and heartache. I really appreciated that you got it today. You’ve never judged me or made me feel like an idiot for keeping Angel, and I know cookies and a thank you will never be enough.”
I grinned, lifting the plate in my hand. “It’s enough, Jo.”
“I hope you make it...to Broadway.”
“Me too,” I whispered, her sweet sentiment scratching at the edges of my heart.
Our gazes met, an intense connection that I could tell unnerved us both.
Jody stepped back from my door. “Okay, well, have a good night.”
“You too.” I tried to keep my gaze on her face, but my eyes just had to travel down her fine form one last
time.
My body responded instantly. Thank God she turned away, because when I looked down I wasn’t hiding anything. You could bloody camp out underneath that tent!
Rolling my eyes, I closed the door and headed back to the stereo, cranking it up one more notch and reminding myself why I’d come to America in the first place.
“New York, mate. Stay focused!”
Chapter Nineteen
Jody
Leo smiling.
Leo’s green eyes.
Leo’s accent.
Leo! Leo! Leo! How was it possible to go from total nonchalance to taking him to bed with me in my dreams every night?
Leo shirtless. Not to sound shallow, but that’s what did it.
Holy pectorals, the guy was ripped and he didn’t even know it, just stood there casually holding the door like it was no big deal. Stefan was always so aware of how good-looking he was; Leo seemed oblivious. It took all my willpower not to stare blatantly at that fine cut torso and start drooling.
It wasn’t just the shirtless-ness. I folded my arms tightly over my chest and forced myself to think about it. It was everything. It was the songs, it was the way his hand felt on my back when he comforted me, the way he threw my coffee cup away, the way he belted out those lyrics in an effort to make me laugh...the way he told Stefan to piss off and the way he stood up for me against the Cray-Cray.
It was all those little things that had taken him from Leo the nice but weird Aussie guy to Leo the I think I might be falling in love with you guy.
I squeezed my eyes shut. It was too fast, too sudden.
It was freaking insane!
“Jody, are you even listening?” Morgan’s voice was sharp staccato in my ears. My eyes popped open obediently and I leaned forward in my chair.
“Uh-huh,” I lied. “I was just closing my eyes to try and think of some more ideas.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ella bite her lips together, burying her nose in Angel’s hair to hide her smile.
Okay, so she didn’t believe me. At least she couldn’t read my mind! She already thought my neighbor was cute. The last thing I wanted to do was encourage my romantic bestie. If she could have her way, everyone in the world would be in love like her and Cole.
This couldn’t be happening to me. I was still getting over Stefan. Okay, so I was basically over Stefan, and not even three beats later I’m pining for Leo?
Yeah, that’s right, pining! Because the guy pretty much shut down after my cookie delivery, which meant I either sucked at baking or I should never have asked him about his broken heart.
I was such an idiot!
“So, what ideas have you had?” Morgan’s pen tapped on her notepad.
I didn’t know why she was so nervous about planning Sean’s twenty-fifth birthday party. She was the organizational queen, but she’d been a total stress bucket over this thing.
“Um, dancing. We should definitely have that.”
“It’s already on the list,” she snapped, turning back to Ella who was actually being helpful. “All we have to do now is finalize the food and beverages. Ella, make sure you guys keep a record of everything you give out at the bar so we can pay you back.”
As soon as her eyes were off me, my mind wandered back to Leo. So what was with him? I mean, I knew he was busy. I heard the piano every time I walked out my door. He was working his caboose off composing this musical of his.
Maybe he was just distracted.
Or maybe he thought I was coming on to him!
I held in my groan.
Kill me now!
“Jody, seriously, what is your problem today?” Morgan’s brown eyes always grew darker when she was annoyed.
“Nothing.” I shook my head, wishing I didn’t feel so small beside her sometimes. Not that I was a pipsqueak like Ella, but Morgan was seriously tall for a girl and with her personality, it made her a force to be reckoned with.
Her hard edge vanished as her head tipped to the side. “Is everything okay at work?”
“Yeah, it’s great.” I bobbed my head, so relieved that I’d finished cleaning the house when she’d popped over the week before. Two hours earlier and she would have been shipping me back home or trying to move in with me.
I couldn’t do that to her. She’d only just moved in with Sean. I didn’t think he’d forgive her if she did the old change-a-roo on him. He was a nice, patient guy, but every man had his limits. Surely.
“Well, what’s bothering you?”
“Nothing.” My eyebrows were raised so high I thought they might jump into my hairline.
I grinned at Morgan’s narrowed gaze, and thank goodness Angel started fussing. It was the perfect distraction. Ella passed her over. I nestled her against me, patting her back.
“You’re tired, aren’t you? Ready for a nap, huh?” I kept my voice soft and sweet. She nuzzled into my neck and I looked to Morgan. “I’m going to have to go soon. There’s no way she’ll fall asleep with us jabbering. Not unless I start walking.”
“That’s cool.” Morgan got that mushy look on her face as she leaned forward and stroked the back of Angel’s head. “Have you managed to find a babysitter for the party yet?”
“No.” I frowned, laying Angel down in her stroller and adjusting the back so she was lying flat.
“Jody, why not? The party’s this weekend.”
“I know that. It’s not like I haven’t been trying, but Grandma Deb’s off on the charity tour thing.”
“So ask Dad.”
“No way.” I threw her a sharp frown. “He hasn’t even been to the apartment yet. I’ve been living there for over two months now. We’ve said like five words to each other since the day I moved out. He hates me.”
“He doesn’t hate you.”
“He thinks I’m screwing up again. He’s mad at me.”
“He’s not mad, he’s hurting. You kind of cut him off at the knees. He’s waiting for you to make the next move.”
Of course Morgan was standing up for him. It’d always been that way. Morgan was Dad’s kid—same brown eyes, same outlook on life—but me...I was just like my mother.
Fear skittered through me at the very idea. I busied myself arranging Angel’s blanket, making sure she was snug for the walk home.
Thankfully Morgan dropped it, but that still didn’t solve my problem. Morgan would be gutted if I didn’t come to Sean’s party, but I couldn’t take my baby into a bar with thumping music and rowdy partygoers.
“Why don’t you ask Leo?” Ella’s question was soft and sweet, yet it still made me flinch.
“What?” Morgan spoke for me.
“Oh, come on, why not?” Ella shrugged, her big eyes innocent as she tucked a lock of mouse-brown hair behind her ear. “He lives just across the hall from you. You said he was great with Angel.”
He was!
Another reason to love him.
I frowned.
“It’s only one night. Angel will probably already be asleep by the time you leave, won’t she?”
“Close to it.” I nodded in spite of the fact I should have been shaking my head.
“So, if there’s no one else, it’s a viable option.”
I caught Morgan’s gaze on me and chose to ignore it. She’d only met Leo once and had already made up her mind about the guy before she spoke to him. Although, after some badgering from Ella, she did concede that he seemed nice enough for a boss. She was just annoyed with me for branching out on my own.
Or worried.
Whatever, she was being big sister Morgan.
I gripped the stroller handle and tried to think of a line to appease both of them. “I’ll think about it.”
I walked away before more could be said and sped home. Angel fell asleep within five minutes of leaving the cafe, so I put some buds in my ears and sang my way home. I was waiting for the elevator, quietly singing “How Sweet It Is” with Michael Buble when Leo appeared behind me. I saw the shadow out of the corner of my eye and
nearly jumped a mile.
He chuckled. “Sorry about that.”
“No problem.” I turned down the music, trying to keep my cool.
“Great song. Buble does the best version.”
“Yeah, I think so, too.” I grinned. “I love his voice so much.”
“He’s the modern-day Frank.”
“So true.”
We smiled at each other, our gazes kissing then jumping to the floor.
The elevator doors dinged open, and we stepped in together. Leo peeked into the stroller, his smile softening as he looked down at my sleeping Angel.
The expression on his face was adorable!
“Hey, I don’t suppose you’re free to babysit on Saturday, are you?”
Jody, what the hell are you doing?
“Um, sure. I think so.” Leo scratched the back of his neck. “You got a hot date or something?” His chuckle was hard and awkward.
“Ah, no.” I snickered, finding the idea ludicrous. “It’s my sister’s boyfriend’s birthday.”
“Oh, he’s that actor, right? The Superstar guy?”
“That’s the one.” I nodded. “She’s planning a big party, and she really wants me to be there.”
“Absolutely. I’ll be happy to watch Angel for ya.”
“Thank you.” The elevator reached the top floor and Leo let me push the stroller out first.
“So, what time?”
“She’s picking me up at seven. She’s forcing me to help her set up.”
Leo chuckled. “Siblings, aye?”
“Yeah.” I grinned.
“See you on Saturday then.”
“Okay.” I fumbled my keys trying to get them in the lock, scolding myself for being excited about what would no doubt be a ten-minute encounter with the guy in a few nights’ time.
I was so pathetic.
Chapter Twenty
Leo
I tried not to think too hard about seeing Jody on Saturday night. I’d kind of taken the chicken’s way out and avoided her since seeing her in her PJs. I’d only slept with one woman in my life, and she had never caught me off-guard like Jody did. I mean, Gerry had swooped me up pretty easily, but she’d really been trying. Jody hadn’t done anything but pass me a plate of cookies. She hadn’t been flirty and seemed completely unaware of her intoxicating power.
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