Read Online Broken Sound by Karolyn James - Free Book Online

guitar.  Using his fingertips, he pulled at the headstock and held the guitar standing, waiting for Anna to take it.
    When she finally did. she knew she had to walk away from Davey’s warm, strong body that felt so good against hers.  Something about it, maybe because she felt the hardness and definition of muscle even through his shirt, made Anna feel that nothing bad could happen to her.  Nobody could find her and nobody could hurt her.
    When she sat on the couch, she looked up at Davey.
    “You just play,” he said.  “I’ll go get us another drink.”
    He moved away and Anna looked at the neck of the guitar, counting the strings, knowing that all six were there.  There were few times in her life playing an instrument left her nervous but as she closed her hands for a second, she realized how sweaty her hands were. 
    She knew the longer she waited to play, the stranger it would become.  She put her fingers to the strings and her left hand moved into a chord position.  Plucking three strings, Anna started, playing an E minor softly.  It was a sad chord and a sad sound, but as she moved up the neck a little, she let the open string notes ring wile switching chords, giving the audio illusion that more notes were being played than what really were. 
    As she relaxed into playing, her fingers on both her right and left hand worked together.  She recalled some classical pieces, stuff she had been playing since she was a kid.  Davey appeared in front of her, taking a seat across.  He leaned back on the other couch, holding his glass to his lips.  His eyes were dazed and purposeful, staring at the guitar.  Anna switched to just playing one string, climbing up a scale, ending on the same note she started with. 
    She paused and when Davey looked at her, she went into a Chasing Cross song.  She played the slow intro to a Chasing Cross song and watched as Davey’s face lit up.  He clapped his hands together and then hurried from the couch.  Anna watched as he grabbed another guitar and sat back down. 
    Holy hell , she thought, I’m playing guitar with Davey...
    Davey strummed the chords once as Anna plucked them. 
    “You strum now,” he said.
    Anna used her nails to strum and now it was her turn to be amazed.  Davey’s fingers took over and started to play the lead parts of the song, hitting them note for note, sounding more haunting and more beautiful on an acoustic guitar than the electric guitar played on the album. 
    It was Anna who finally stopped.  She swallowed hard, feeling the emotion of the music getting to her.  Davey followed suit and placed his guitar next to him.  He grabbed his drink and enjoyed it all in one gulp.  He went back to the kitchen area for another one.
    “Are you okay?” Anna asked. 
    Davey walked back to the couch and when he looked at Anna, she could see his eyes glazing over.  The whiskey was working. 
    “Is anybody okay?” Davey asked.
    “Good point.”
    Davey took a sip and reached for his guitar, flicking the strings.  “What’s your story, Anna?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Part-time waitress.  Full-time art and music teacher.  And now you’re in the hotel room of a rockstar.”
    “That about sums it up,” she said and smiled. 
    “No, it doesn’t.”  Davey leaned forward.  He put his drink down and pointed at Anna.  “I see something.  Behind those eyes.  Behind those beautiful blue eyes.”
    “I could say the same about you,” Anna said. 
    “No, I don’t believe that.  Not behind these dark eyes.  That’s why I love my eyes.”
    “You can still see in the darkness,” Anna said.
    Davey’s lips puckered.  “Christ, Anna, you should write music.  I should call Johnnie and tell him we have a song writer.”
    Anna blushed.  “I’m going to get another beer.”
    She stood and watched Davey’s eyes following her body bottom to top.  He had no worries about it now and that both enticed and scared Anna.  When she returned with