Free Devotion by Marianne Evans

during the course of this call. Why did the idea of hearing her voice have his heart hammering in his chest?
    Kellen started to dial. Cancelling on her would be easy enough—he could call on any number of worthwhile, legitimate excuses...
    The office intercom buzzed, jarring him, leaving him to growl beneath his breath. Next came the voice of his assistant. “Kellen?”
    “Hey, Anna. What’s up?” Kellen remained standing, fisting his hands on his hips. With care, he schooled his voice to smooth courtesy.
    “I’ve got Frank Simpson on hold, and he said it’s urgent that he speak to you. He called just as you hung up with Landfield.”
    Kellen’s heart started pounding all over again, for an entirely different reason.
    “Transfer him in, Anna. Thanks.” Kellen picked up on the first ring. “Frank. How are you?”
    “This one is going to cost me as it is, Rossiter. I already know that—but so help me, if you put me in the middle of a bidding war to land this woman for my label, I swear…”
    Succinct to the point of being abrupt, without any form of preamble, Frank Simpson performed a tirade that was half-serious, half-humorous. The president of Summit Pointe had clearly heard Chloe’s demo. Kellen looked at his watch and did some quick calculating. Overnight shipping would have delivered the CD by eight o’clock in the morning. Not even an hour and a half later, the man had already listened to Swing Time . Better yet? He was openly hooked.
    Kellen walked the space behind his desk. “I take it you’re interested in meeting her.”
    Frank Simpson’s chuckle was laced with a sardonic undercurrent. “Don’t gloat. It’s beneath you.”
    “I’m not gloating. I’m simply asking if you’re interested in—”
    “Monday, four o’clock. Who’s my competition on this girl?”
    “Frank, c’mon now. Do you really think I’d tell you that?” On the inside, expectation caught fire and spread with wild abandon. You don’t have competition, Frank, Kellen thought. Your record label is exactly where she belongs—it’s a perfect fit. But he played it cool. “I need to check schedules. Let me call you right back.”
    “Don’t keep me waiting, Rossiter, because I’m about to bet the farm you already knew I’d be calling the minute I heard her voice—and the song is fantastic. Posturing aside, she’s a phenomenal talent.”
    “Give me an hour to confirm the meeting.”
    “Done.”
    When he disconnected the call and removed his earpiece, Kellen let out a short, satisfied whoop. He laughed and clapped his hands together to punctuate the moment. All of a sudden, he was grateful he hadn’t cancelled lunch with Chloe.
    He couldn’t wait to tell her the news.
     
     
     
     
     

8
     
     
    “Hey, Chloe.” Kellen joined her at the restaurant table, where she sat perusing a menu. He bent to kiss her cheek before even thinking about it. He froze for half a heartbeat afterwards but refused to allow himself to second-guess a simple, innocent gesture of welcome and affection. He moved past the moment quickly, though the satin of her skin lingered in his mind.
    “Hey, Kellen. How are you?”
    Bursting to tell you what just happened, he thought, but he wanted to draw out the anticipation…just for a few minutes. “I’m running behind. Sorry if I kept you waiting.”
    “Don’t even think about it. I wasn’t here that long.” Chloe was breezy and friendly—on the surface. In her gaze, he detected an unmistakable degree of deeper pleasure. She unfolded a menu and watched while he claimed the seat across from her. She propped her forearms against the table and leaned toward him. “I have to admit, I was people watching.”
    “People watching?” He could hardly contain himself about the phone call, but he opened his menu as well and reviewed the selections. “What caught your eye?”
    “Before you came in?”
    Kellen’s head jerked up, and Chloe’s lips curved in a teasing way. Teasing or not, Kellen