Piper
He looked older than I assumed. I mean, I was nearly twenty-seven, and I knew he was twenty-four, so in my mind, I assumed he’d be this scrawny, just-graduated, college-looking dweeb with a guitar pick stuck between his teeth, a solid subscription to Proactiv, and exactly five hairs on his upper lip that he claimed was his ‘stash.
Not the case.
I took a sip of wine—the guy at least had good taste—and glanced around the large room. I had a balcony that overlooked the ocean, a closet to die for, and even though the room was stark white and a bit bare, I immediately loved it. I wasn’t one for lots of knickknacks. I liked solid colors, a good streamline, and Braden’s beach house had that in spades.
Braden… Just saying his name in my head reminded me of that firm handshake and the way his red hair fell over his perfectly sculpted face as his lips pressed together in a full line. Why did guys always get the strong jawlines and full lips? I shook my head and took a calming breath. My suitcases were in front of the bed. I knew before I left LA that I’d need to put on a bit of armor since I was working with a younger singer. I just didn’t expect…him.
I opened the first suitcase and saw that my black clothes were all still neatly folded.
Black was easy.
It matched at all times.
Was extremely slimming.
Hid stains.
And always looked on point when I was traveling.
Then again, I’d been living out of a suitcase for longer than usual considering the blow-up with my ex-boyfriend. I gritted my teeth then tried to focus on the positive.
New client who just needed to get over some stage fright.
Piece of cake.
I let out a snort just thinking about the poor rock star in the living room with his ginger hair, dimpled smile, many tattoos, ripped, gray T-shirt and distressed jeans.
Did he own any clothing that didn’t have holes in it?
Yeah, he was the exact opposite of order and organization.
When my boss called and said that he was tossing me into more celebrity-filled waters, I automatically went into work mode. I wrongly assumed that it would be some actress who needed direction or had a meltdown on set. Maybe an actor struggling through a life crisis, or someone who’d just had enough of the lifestyle and needed a good, solid life plan outside of being told what to do every single second of every single day.
I’d never once in my life dealt with anyone from the music industry. The firm I worked with was private, discreet, and catered to wealthier clients who, after realizing every goal they set out to accomplish, often became depressed with their lives and needed to find direction. A purpose outside of what used to be their passion. And nothing on Earth was more gratifying than witnessing that moment.
It was like a sunset that took your breath away.
The first snow.
Birth.
It was like someone shouting “hallelujah” in the middle of church.
People always talked about the moments in their lives, the ah-ha ones. And lucky for me, I was almost always the one who helped facilitate that with my clients.
It was what I did.
Normally, I loved that part of my job.
Which again brought me back to the present.
How the heck was I supposed to help a singer who’d, if the media was to be believed, had a meltdown on stage after someone used his concert as a way to make a personal statement by way of violence? It didn’t help that loud noises triggered him now, and concerts were notoriously loud.
Details were on lockdown.
The media had been oddly quiet about what had actually happened that day, despite all of the video footage. They feared there would be a copycat. And even though Braden had cooperated, he looked a lot different now versus the blurry footage of him on stage.
Haunted.
I’d watched all of his old YouTube videos from when he was nineteen and then graduated to his more recent stuff. He went from looking young to haunted. I wasn’t sure what I expected him to be like in person but this wasn’t it.
I quickly grabbed my notepad, my duffel bag full of fun, and my notes on the client, then slowly made my way back into the living room.
I could finish unpacking later.
I wanted to get to know Braden first. The real Braden, not the one that people saw on TV or worshiped while swaying to his nearly identical Sean Mendes-style voice.
“Braden?” I glanced around the bare-yet-gorgeous living room with its deep brown leather couches, fuzzy white throw pillows, and floor-to-ceiling fireplace.
The doors to the outside folded inside the kitchen. It automatically transported the area into an indoor/outdoor space that had two heaters, an outdoor fireplace, and several fur blankets next to red umbrellas that blocked the wind.
Braden had changed his clothes and was sitting outside with his guitar in his lap, staring out at the ocean. He wore a pair of worn brown Birkenstocks, a black Adidas sweatshirt, black sweats, and a beanie.
I was almost sad his hair was covered.
I’d never seen red hair on a guy that close, and his was like this fiery orange color that looked so shiny and wavy that I imagined it would feel like silk if I ran my fingers through it.
He strummed something on his guitar, a song I wasn’t familiar with. I shivered from the cold breeze entering the living room and repeated his name, this time louder.
“Braden?”
He didn’t turn around, but he did stop strumming. “Yes, Coach?”
I rolled my eyes, thankful that he couldn’t see my irritation. I could put up with a lot, but it would be easier if he wasn’t a dick for the next twenty-one days. “I have a name.”
He was quiet and then said, “Yes, Piper?” Slowly he turned, his blue eyes locking onto mine with an unnatural intensity, like he could see inside my soul.
I broke eye contact first and walked over to one of the brown wicker chairs. I sat, ankles crossed, posture perfect, lipstick on point. I was well aware that I looked every inch the professional.
Entirely reliable.
I needed to look that way so the clients had faith that if I was in control of myself, I could easily help them gain control of themselves.
I was the spiral stopper.
I lifted my chin and offered a polite smile. “Should we talk?”
His right eyebrow arched as he strummed with his left hand. His fingers were slender and graceful as they moved across the instrument. Why was I fixating on his fingers?
“See something you like, Coach?” He grinned.
I gave him another placating smile. “No, I was just noting that you do that really well.”
He barked out a laugh. “You mean strum the chords?”
“Right,” I chirped.
His laugh was rich. I liked it immediately. “Look, if you’re going to be in my house for the next twenty-one days attempting to fix my brain and life, you should probably relax. Your posture’s so rigid, even my back hurts, and I do yoga.”
“Huh?”
“I have a strong back.” He winked. “Normal people slump, by the way. It’s a thing.”
He went back to playing his guitar and watching the waves crash on the beach.
My smile started to falter. “I don’t slump. And your body sends signals to your brain when your posture shows defeat. If you stand straighter, sit straighter, your mind takes notice. Think of it as a way of sending a little alert to your nerves that says, ‘Hey, listen up, or look ready for action.’” I could feel my smile growing as I explained the art of body language. I mean, it really was fascinating. “You can even send—”
Braden slumped forward and made a snoring noise, then jerked his head up and laughed. “Did you get that message?”
I glared. “Be serious.”
“Hey, you’re the one trying to teach. Me being the good student I am, I gave you an example. See? Match made in heaven.”
“You were rude.”
“Maybe I am rude.”
I scowled. “Look, I know you don’t want me here, but I promise if you let me do my job, you’ll be out there touring in no time. Just think of this as a groupie hiatus if you have to, all right? I’m sorry you’re not getting bras tossed at you on stage, and women aren’t weeping in your presence right now, but this is going to be like a cleanse to your soul. After me, you’re going to feel like yourself again.”
His eyes narrowed. “You’ve never been to one of my concerts, have you?”
I shifted in my seat. “I don’t like concerts, they’re too loud.”
“You’re a bucket of fun, aren’t you?” Sarcasm dripped from every word.
“What? We all have our things. And I can assure you that I’ve studied your music extensively, watched your YouTube channel. I’ve taken notes. I know we can make this work, we just need a plan, and that’s where I come in.”
His eyes widened. “Didn’t think it was possible.”
“Making a plan is always possible,” I said reassuringly.
He snorted out a laugh. “No, not that. I just didn’t think it was possible to actually find someone more terrifying than my therapist, and she doesn’t even smile. But you? Your talk of plans and body language and that black duffel bag you creepily have by your feet… Yeah, I’m gonna give you a hard pass. Thanks for trying, but if my own therapist can’t cure me of this bullshit, I highly doubt a woman in six-thousand-dollar shoes is going to do any better.”
I opened my mouth to say they had been on sale…but then shut it.
“Exactly.” He stood. “I’m headed to bed. Sleep tight, Coach, and make sure you lock your door. I get violent when I sleepwalk.”
“Wh-what?” I grabbed his file and frantically looked through it. “This says nothing about sleepwalking!” My eyes narrowed. “Are you just being difficult?”
Braden shrugged his massive shoulders. “Better safe than sorry, Doc.”
“I’m not a doctor, I’m a life coach.”
“So sorry. Better safe than sorry, Coach.”
I clenched my teeth.
“By the way, the middle two buttons of your blouse have been open this entire time. And well, the wind wasn’t helping your situation. I like the pink lace.”
With that, he was gone.
And I was clutching my shirt closed as if he’d just seen me naked.
I counted to five.
Breathed in and out.
Grabbed my things and decided to change tactics. I rarely had to force clients to cooperate because they entered into the situation wanting help. Which meant I had to remind Braden why he needed me, and what was at stake if he didn’t cooperate.
After all, he was the one in danger of being in breach of contract, not me.