Dissonance Read Free

searching for clues about what she thought. Was she in? Was she still skeptical? Was her mind reeling as fast as his was? “I think I need to think,” he said. “And eat. I need to eat.” He’d gone straight from the airport to the producer’s office and hadn’t had any food. A quick glance at his watch told him it was well past lunch time, no matter which time zone he was in. “Want to go grab a bite together, talk about this proposal of his?”
    After a flicker of hesitation, Kenzie nodded. “Sure. I guess that’s okay. There’s probably something you should know about me first, though, so you don’t get any ideas,” she said. “I don’t date men.”
    Whoa. So not what he expected. Chase searched for a response. He wasn’t a homophobe, not by any means, but still, what the hell was he supposed to say to that? “That’s a pity, then, for my gender, but I’m sure you’ll make some lucky lady very happy, if you haven’t already.”
    ***
     
    Lucky lady? Oh my God, he thinks I’m a lesbian. Kenzie couldn’t help but laugh.
    Chase frowned, and his eyes narrowed. “Is something funny?”
    “You think I bat for the girls’ team.”
    “Well, don’t you? I mean you just said... never mind.” He was cute, very cute, with sandy blond hair that hung over his brow, and a day or two’s growth of beard. He was dressed casually, in jeans and a T-shirt that was tucked in the front and not the back. Yeah, he looked like an alternative rocker, and the look suited him, but Kenzie wondered what he’d look like in a Western shirt, with a hat and cowboy boots, rather than the combat style boots he currently sported.
    And what was she doing checking him out, and mentally making him over, when she’d sworn off men and relationships? Get a grip, Kenzie . “I said I don’t date men. That doesn’t mean I date women. I don’t date anyone, period,” she clarified. “I just thought I should get that out there, in case you were getting any ideas.”
    “So are you married?” Chase’s eyes darted to her left hand, which was ringless, exactly the way Kenzie wanted to keep it. She’d celebrated the day she removed Jesse’s ring, with a bottle of champagne and a pep talk in front of the mirror in which she reassured herself she didn’t need anyone and asserted her independence. After that, she’d flushed the ring down the toilet. Hopefully she hadn’t flushed her music career away along with it. Even if she had, it was worth it to be free of that horror show that others called a marriage.
    “Nope. Not married, either. Just not into dating,” Kenzie said. “Is that a problem for you?”
    “No problem, no.” Chase gave a casual shrug and rocked back on his heels. “I didn’t come to Tennessee looking to score. This is a business trip for me. An opportunity was presented to me, and I have to evaluate it. Is this something that can help me further my career, or help me grow as a musician? It’s really as simple as that.”
    Some would probably interpret his statement as arrogant, and maybe it was, but Kenzie was relieved. If he wasn’t interested in getting into her pants, this would all be so much easier. Assuming she could ignore her attraction to him. That might be the hardest part. “It’s simple for me, too. So with that out of the way, let’s go find some food and try to figure out whether this is something that’s going to work for us.” She grabbed her purse and swung it over her shoulder. “I’m guessing this is your first time here, so I’ll have to pick the restaurant. What do you like to eat?”
    “Food,” Chase answered. “I like food. Real food.” His eyes scanned her body. “Is that something you can handle, or are you one of those salad and veggie kind of girls?”
    He didn’t even bother to disguise the fact that he was checking her out, but she couldn’t be sure whether he liked what he saw or not. Either way, Kenzie didn’t care. She no longer had Jesse harping on her