fervently, his eyes clear, indicating he hadn t been out drinking the night before. We
don t have time to rework it.
Dominic leaned forward in his chair, his gaze scanning each occupant in the room.
Can we afford not to?
Nick cursed under his breath.
What do you think, Pete? Dominic asked, drawing the man into the conversation.
With anxiety tightening his gut, Noah closed his eyes and pressed his fingers
against his lids where a pounding ache flared anew. He knew where this conversation
was headed but it was too late to go back now. Too late to change what he d set in
motion.
Pete turned his back to the mixing console. I know of a few skilled pianists in the
area. However, if you want it done without having to start over, there s only one.
No, Noah stated as the pain in his skull intensified. No way.
She s got the skill, Pete continued. Hell, something on this small a scale wouldn t
be difficult for her at all.
Who? Nick asked.
I m confused, Dominic said as he pushed his hand through his hair. I thought
after the car accident
It wasn t her injuries that stopped her from making music.
Noah shot Pete a questioning glance. The man obviously knew more than he was
saying.
Alex leaned in and repeated Nick s question, Who?
Dominic turned to Noah and regarded him for a moment. She might do it for you.
I m the last person she d do it for.
Will someone please tell me who we re discussing? Nick asked, his irritation
evident.
Isabeau, Dom answered, openly studying Noah.
Although Noah couldn t decipher the look in Dom s eyes, he found it was enough to
make him uncomfortable. It was all he could do to keep his features neutral.
Izzy plays the piano? Alex asked, clearly taken by surprise.
Not any more, Noah stated, but no one appeared to be listening to him.
Nick blinked, surprised. Is she any good?
You can t imagine, Pete replied.
Abruptly, Noah pushed to his feet. He crossed to the opposite side of the room,
suddenly feeling like the walls were closing in on him.
How do you know this? Nick asked Pete.
She recorded all four of her albums here, in this studio.
Nick shook his head. Four? How come I m the only one who didn t know Izzy
played the piano?
I didn t know, Alex interjected.
Four? Nick continued, Izzy, Noah s Izzy, has recorded four albums?
Yes, Pete replied, a broad smile on his face. Isabeau Montgomery was a true
virtuoso. She was six when she recorded her first album, and rumored to be the best
pianist in the world.
Six?
So small she couldn t reach the pedals without an extension, but you should have
seen her. Lord, could she play. She was a sight to behold.
Ask her, Alex said simply. What have we got to lose?
Noah shook his head. She doesn t play anymore. She won t do it.
But she could, Dominic surmised.
She could, Noah confirmed.
Alex shrugged. Then I don t see that we have any other choice.
Noah pushed off the wall he d been leaning against and began to pace. A line
formed between Dominic s eyes as he tracked his movements from one wall to the
other and back again.
You don t have any other choice, Pete stated bluntly. There is no one else. Not in
this area and definitely not in your time frame.
We need this one, Nick said matter-of-factly. And a piano would make the song
everything it can be.
You ll have to ask her, Noah, Alex persisted.
Expelling a heavy breath, Noah rubbed his hand over the tight muscles in his neck.
Dominic gave him a dubious, narrow-eyed look. What s going on here, Noah?
What aren t you telling us?
Noah slid his hand in his pocket and glanced around the room, taking notice that
all eyes were looking to him for an answer. She hasn t played since her mom died, he
stated, choosing to give them the simplest answer, instead of the one that was tying
him in knots. She can, but doesn t.
Averting his gaze, Pete went back to the mixing console. No doubt about it, the
man knew something. Something he wasn t sharing.
I don t see the harm in asking, Alex exclaimed.
She knows how important this demo is to us, Dominic stated. To you, Noah.
Noah retraced his steps and lowered himself onto his chair. She ll think it s a set- [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]