Free The Right Note (BWWM Interracial Romance) by Naima DaCosta Page B

exasperation, "OK. umm, that's completely overwhelming and kind of scary but that I guess there's no other explanation that would make any kind of sense so I'll have to believe it. Next question: Why?"
    Jack was still avoiding her eyes he reached for his pants, laying on the small table the table in front of them and pulled out a set of keys out of the pockets.
    "I thought you could use a place where you can work undisturbed, especially at night."
    Hayley glanced at the keys and ignored his motion toward handing them to her. She continued her interrogation.
    "This doesn't make any sense.. I'd only be in your way.. I'd drive you crazy."
    Jack seemed almost embarrassed as he said, "Oh I don't think so, the suite has it's own bathroom and everything is soundproofed."
    Hayley looked around glumly he seemed serious, she was almost certain of that, how could he be such a fool?
    "Did you do this because you felt guilty about who you are? I thought you knew that I was okay with everything."
    Jack was shaking his head, "I just thought you deserved a decent place to work, I have nothing else I need to spend my money on at the moment."
    Hayley said nothing. Jack reached his hand over and placed it in hers and then removed it leaving the keys there, slightly clammy against her palm. She felt their weight like something crushing unbearably against her heart.
    Jack tried to muster something of his carefree attitude from earlier, "Look, when you have your first hit record you can pay me back, alright?" Hayley sighed and realized that he couldn't see the folly in all this and it was up to her to save the situation.
    "Jack, I love this space, I'm more touched by your gesture than I could ever tell you but I can't accept it. Maybe If and when I've earned this on my own I could be comfortable working here.. but it was you that taught me that wonderful things like this don't come easily I'd feel so awkward here under your umbrella. I want to earn this on my own the way you earned it."
    Jack spoke with a gruffness, covering his disappointment, "You're always welcome to sneak in and use it anyway.."
    Hayley smiled sadly, feeling so much love and gratitude but she unable to release it for fear of weakening and ruining everything.
    "No," Hayley handed the keys back and placed them firmly in his strong hand.
    He looked down at that hand saying, "I understand. Just so you know, I'll keep this all here for you until the day you decide ready."
    Hayley shook her head sorrowfully, " I won't expect you to."
    "Well, now you've seen what the future can hold for you- I would say it was worth it just to give you something to work towards."
    Standing up, Jack started walking back towards the door leading to his studio, motioning her to follow. Hayley got up, puzzled. Walking back through the door to his studio she noticed his bedroom door was open, it looked strangely empty. She felt like there were so many odd things going on here she didn't know how she could cope with all.
    "Where'd your bed go?" she asked pointedly.
    He answered easily, "Oh that, well I've been using that room to exercise in actually- I've been in pretty bad shape these last few years so I've been practicing with my old tap shoes and it's turned into a nice sort of morning ritual"
    "That's nice, but where do you sleep?"
    "Well I don't really sleep much anyway and I'm used to passing out on the couch."
    Hayley was immediately suspicious, "Oh no... did you try to give me your old bed too?"
    Jack glanced away, a worried look on his face, "Well, you'd need somewhere to crash after one of your marathon work sessions and I would have just thrown it away and gotten you a new one but I thought it might have a certain sentimental value, maybe not."
    Just then Hayley noticed the radio was on quietly, and he seemed to be half listening to it while talking to her, it was something he did that had always annoyed her. This behavior seemed totally out of place in this context, however.
    Jack’s ears