Read Online Fighting Faith by Brandie Buckwine - Free Book Online

but the relief she wasn’t out trying to get laid, did. He had to say something, something so the others wouldn’t be suspicious of their silence and something that didn’t make it sound like anything changed between them. Had it? He wasn’t sure where they stood with each other, but he wanted to find out.
    “Who would ever want to beat on Faith?” He laced the comment with sarcasm, but when she looked up at him, he hoped his eyes conveyed a message of regret.
    She grinned back. “Anyone who tried it would wind up a sorry puddle on the ground, so go ahead, give me your best shot. I dare you.”
    Eric held up his hands in surrender. “I have no doubt you’d kick my ass in the end, but I would never even try to hurt a lady, or you.”
    “Don’t you two even start that shit,” Sarah said, her brow creased in frustration as she slammed her beer mug on the table. “Can we just enjoy a few drinks in peace?”
    “Alright, we’ll be good,” said Faith, looking into her beer, attempting to hide a coy smile.
    Eric nodded and scooted out from his end spot. “I’ll grab us another pitcher.” Things were back to normal, maybe even better, and as he squeezed through the crowd to get to the bar, he couldn’t conceal the smile that spread from his heart to his face.

    ***

    After that night, Eric’s muses returned with a full agenda. He couldn’t get the songs down quick enough, and the long hours spent in the studio flew by. No one complained.

    “If a few off days can lead you to this, you have my permission to take as many as you need,” Jose said, his face glowing in exhilaration. He shook his head, “I think this is your best song yet. I can’t believe we got it down so quickly, just incredible.”
    “Yep, definitely, this is the one that’s gonna put us on the map,” Tim said.
    Eric thought it was too, but he was reluctant to take full credit. It didn’t even feel like he wrote it, more like something took him over and he was just the vessel used to transfer the message. “We’ll see.”
    “Since we’re going to be rich and famous, would it be okay to take a quick break and run over to the burger joint? The last thing I ate was a hardboiled egg this morning,” Jose said.
    Although his stomach rumbled too, Eric was reluctant to leave and lose the newfound groove. “Yeah, go ahead. Bring me back a burger and fries.”
    “You’re not coming?”
    “No, I want to listen to the track a few times and see if there’s anything we need to add or lose.”
    “Faith, you coming?” Daniel asked.
    “No, thanks. I want to review the footage I got.”
    Eric’s pulse raced. He hadn’t been alone with Faith since their encounter, and though she was never far from his mind, he’d been able to ignore the fact, throughout the week, she’d never been far from him physically. Maybe I should go with them. What if she wants to talk? What if she rips me a new one while we’re alone? No, we’re past that now— she’ll just act like I’m not here.
    “Want us to bring you something? A burger?”
    Faith was focused on her video screen. “Huh?”
    “Do you want anything?” Daniel repeated.
    “Sure. A cheeseburger,” she said, never taking her eyes off her video.
    They left and Eric sat at the soundboard, donned the headphones, and started the song from the beginning. There wasn’t really anything he wanted to add or take away from the track.
    It was great as it was; he just wanted to listen to it a few more times. Had they really recorded such an incredible song? Everything was there— all the right percussion, the harmonies were soulful, the guitar riffs were solid, and the little bit of piano added in just the right places, made it perfect. It had a heartfelt earnestness he never imagined they could achieve.

    His eyes flew open and he grabbed at his headphones when his chair rolled away from the console, and he felt a hand slide up the inside of his thigh. Under the soundboard, Faith crouched with a wicked