Dissonance by Michele Shriver Read Free Book Online

guess. Things went downhill quickly once we got married, and my dream turned into more of a nightmare.”
    Her tone was flat, emotionless, but Chase sensed Kenzie was deliberately trying to stay detached in order to keep it together. “Did he cheat on you? Was he abusive?” Chase didn’t know Jesse Cole, but he had a sudden urge to slug him.
    “I don’t know if he was unfaithful. It wouldn’t surprise me. I was never Jesse’s ideal wife, and he made sure I knew that. He constantly belittled me, picked at my appearance, told me I was nothing without him...” Kenzie’s voice trailed off as her eyes misted over. “He never hit me, though, so I guess that’s something.”
    She was grateful the abuse was only emotional and not physical? Chase clenched and unclenched a fist. Yeah, he definitely wanted to slug this SOB, and if he ever came face to face with Jesse, he’d probably do just that. “I’m sorry,” he said, but the words sounded hollow. What was he supposed to say?
    “Hey, I got out. Lots of women aren’t so lucky.” She wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. “Jesse was pissed, though, and he vowed to ruin me. Judging from how my career’s gone since I left him, he’s doing a pretty good job.”
    “That new single, the one you played for me yesterday...” Hearing her story, Chase understood more about how personal the song was to her. “You said it wasn’t a hit.”
    “Not even close. It bombed,” Kenzie said. “I’m on the verge of falling off the country music landscape if I don’t have a hit soon. So, you see, I’m kind of counting on this project with you. I need it, Chase. I need it to be a hit.”
    And to him, it was just a way to pass the time, and stretch himself musically, until Jordy was ready to come back to the band. They were in completely different places in their careers, but Chase couldn’t ignore the connection he felt with Kenzie. He wanted their song to be a hit for her. “It will be.” He set the glass of water down on the small kitchen table and walked over to her. “We’ll make sure it is,” he said, putting his arms around her. “And why wouldn’t it be? Top producer, great idea, two incredible singers...”
    “Well, when you put it like that...” A hint of a smile formed on Kenzie’s tear-stained face. “I’m sorry for breaking down in front of you.”
    “Breaking down? That wasn’t a break. Maybe just a little crack.” Chase used his finger to wipe away one of her tears, and then he couldn’t help it. She looked so uncertain, yet so beautiful, and he brushed his lips across hers.
    Just a peck. It was meant to be just a peck. He wanted to comfort her. Except at that moment, he wanted a lot more than to comfort her, and when Kenzie opened her lips and her tongue met his, Chase sensed she wanted more, too. He pulled away abruptly. He might be half crazy, but one thing he’d never do was take advantage of a vulnerable woman.
    “So, um, I guess we better get to work,” he said. “We have a song to write.”
     
    ***
     
    A song. Right. For a second there, when Chase’s arms were around her and his lips were on hers, Kenzie almost lost sight of what they were supposed to be doing. Fortunately, he seemed to have slightly more willpower, but the way he stood there awkwardly, his face a little flushed as he rubbed his hands on his jeans, told Kenzie all she needed to know. He felt it, too. He wanted her. And sooner or later, they might just have to act on the attraction to get it out of their systems.
    It wouldn’t be now, though, not since he was already halfway up the stairs to the loft area. Kenzie followed him, and got there just as Chase picked up her ukelele and began to strum a few chords.
    She smiled as she listened. “Pretty good. You can play.”
    “I want to play some uke in the song. I’m not sure how or where yet, since we don’t have any lyrics, but I want to.”
    Kenzie recalled his remark that he wanted to incorporate