Beautiful Noise

Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

K ori.

The next morning I was exhausted. After picking over my dinner, I went through a rotation of pacing, stopping, placing my ear to the door to listen for anyone coming my way, back to pacing. I kept that up until about just after two in the morning when I was too exhausted to worry about the cops bursting into the guest room I’d chosen to drag my behind out of his house.

Eventually I crawled into bed, burrowed under the covers, and with some effort, drifted to sleep, only to wake a few hours later in a panic remembering I was an intruder in Eccentric’s home.

Multi-platinum selling R&B crooner, sinfully handsome, and worldly sex symbol… Eccentric.

What are the odds?

And God, the man was just beautiful with his broad shoulders, dark eyes, and signature bearded face which housed a section of auburn. And that smile, I’d only been blessed with it for a brief moment but it was the kind of smile that caused problems. The kind of problems I wasn’t prepared to handle at the moment.

I was a fan of his music. Had every single album and could sing the lyrics to almost every song but his presence in person, versus the snippets I’d grown accustomed to from videos, live performances, and interviews, did little to truly highlight the man I’d experienced last night.

He was much bigger than I expected which was odd because most of the time, TV made short men appear much taller than they truly were. Eccentric was every bit of the powerful figure I’d fallen in love with. Okay so maybe I didn’t love him per se but I did truly love his soulful voice.

And experiencing him in person only sweetened the deal. The man’s presence was imperial and seemed to consume all the space in the room. And damn if he didn’t smell like a first-class trip to a sinful destination. One that included sweaty bodies being pushed beyond imaginable limits. Stop it, Kori. The man was impossible and off limits.

I wasn’t even turned off by his angry brooding after his mother told him he couldn’t put me out and I would swear to that man wanting to murder us both from the way heat and anger radiated from his hard, fine body.

Thank God for small favors.

But he saw me naked and I was in his home. I was also unfairly attracted to him and not because he had the voice of a fallen angel and the body to match. Or because he was one of the most famous singers known to man. Those things were a plus even if they weren’t things I cared about.

He just had that thing. I wasn’t sure how to explain it, or if I even could, but there were people you met and instantly knew they could change your world in ways you would never recover from. That was Eccentric. He was a dangerous combination of temptation and trouble. I was in his house and not going anywhere because, well… I didn’t have anywhere else to go.

“Fuck my life. Seriously, fuck my life.”

There were women who would offer up their kidneys for the opportunity I currently had but I felt anxious and irritated. This was the opportunity of a lifetime and I was in no position to take advantage. I needed to be figuring my life out and refused to be that woman. The one who slept with a celebrity and never recovered from the high.

Why the hell am I thinking about having sex with him?

He hates me. And I wasn’t sure I liked him very much either. And celebrities were all smoke and mirrors. How many times had I heard horror stories about people meeting their idols or celebrity crushes only to be devastatingly disappointed because said celebrities didn’t live up to the hype?

This man had flaws, he had to. No one could look that damn good, sing the way he did, and not have some type of imperfection. And who was to say he was even attracted to me? I was getting ahead of myself.

And also back to thinking about him and sex.

Good lord, I’m never going to survive this. Maybe I should just leave.

And go where, Kori? Get your shit together. You have a roof over your head for now and a decent job.

I needed to survive co-existing with Eccentric until I could afford to get my own place.

I tossed the covers back and swung my legs over the side of the bed, gripping the edge. “No more sex thoughts. Kori, avoid him and make this work,” I mumbled.

You can do this!

And I could, because I had to. After a quick shower, I dressed in a T-shirt, yoga pants, and fuzzy socks. Today, I needed to tackle thoroughly cleaning the other four guest rooms and the kitchen.

Not that any space in the house was dirty per se. The house was new construction so most of what I had to tackle was dust, removing stickers and labels from new installations of faucets, tubs, and closet doors.

Then there was mopping floors and vacuuming up dust particles left behind by the crews that worked on the home. Light work, but still exhausting nonetheless. Either way, I had a job to do and since Gwendolyn had been so kind to solve a major problem for me, I fully intended to hold up my end of the bargain.

Armed with my AirPods and phone, which I tucked into the waistband of my yoga pants, I gathered what I needed to get started. Elite had provided me with a cleaning kit consisting of industrial cleaning solutions, mop, dust mop, bucket, broom, and squeegees. Pretty much a high-end cleaning configuration I had been putting to good use. Oddly enough I didn’t hate my new job. It was soothing in a sense, mindless work to keep me busy and my thoughts about what the hell was next for me at bay.

Basically, a distraction.

A distraction that paid well, but also one I hadn’t foreseen as my life plan. If my mother could see me now, I was sure she’d lose her mind. Her precious daughter damaging her hands with cleaning solutions and rough rubber gloves.

As I collected my supplies, positioning them on my rolling cart, I snorted at what I knew she would say. I could literally hear her voice in my head.

That brain of yours is ordained by God Himself. Your sole purpose in life is to broaden young minds and arm them with the ability to shine in the darkest of spaces.

That woman was so dramatic. I just couldn’t fathom spending the rest of my life in blazers and heels peering at the unwelcoming faces of students who would rather be anywhere in the world than under my tutelage. Not that cleaning toilets was any better than teaching but at least this was temporary.

Releasing an exaggerated sigh, I removed my gloves and tossed them on the cart. That damn cart I’d had to assemble. I wasn’t sure how sturdy it was, but I’d managed. It was just after one and I had finished the three of the four bedrooms, deciding it was the perfect time for a lunch break.

For most of the morning I had been hidden away in the bedrooms, lost in my music and cleaning, but the minute my fuzzy socks touched the bamboo flooring of the hallway, I was painfully aware that the owner of the house was here… somewhere.

Or maybe he’d left.

It wasn’t like he had to check in with me or that he wanted to. I was an intruder forced on him by his mother. The thought of how he’d quietly but defiantly conceded to her demand of allowing me to stay placed a wide smile on my face. She was his boss and he loved her enough to comply.

As I passed his room, curiosity almost had me peeking inside. I paused just at the door, arms resting at my sides as my fingers curled and uncurled into my palms. I had no business invading his privacy…

Any more than I already had by taking up residency in his home.

But…

I couldn’t help myself. I inched closer, standing instantly still to make sure there wasn’t any movement coming from inside before I gently placed my hand on the handle and pushed just enough to get a good peek.

I gasped at the sea of brown skin that expanded across cream, cotton sheets. The contrast was temptingly appealing as my eyes roamed the massive, muscled figure lying face down on the bed. Broad shoulders, a tapered waist, and muscled thighs were what caught my attention.

His beautiful brown skin was artfully decorated with tasteful creations of ink. The left side of his body, from the neck extending down his shoulder and arm, was covered in musical notes. Whatever the song was created a full sleeve of sharp black lines. It was beautiful and hard not to enjoy the visual.

But I snapped out of my lustful haze once that same arm lifted and was forcefully shoved under the pillow where his head rested. I blinked several times and froze while he settled again, now facing the door, but his lids remained closed, exposing dark lashes. Not overexaggerated but still a contrast to the ruggedness of his facial structure.

Quietly, I stepped back, pulling the door with me.

This was definitely going to be torture. The man was a work of art. One I wanted to study closely until I had a full understanding of what made him so beautifully artful.

Not creepy at all, Kori.

Once I reached the kitchen, I decided a sub would suffice. I removed all of the ingredients I needed and began crafting an award-worthy sub that had my stomach growling and mouth watering. Gwendolyn had not only had groceries delivered but she’d selected some pretty good pickings. There was no way in hell I could work my way through all she’d had delivered in one weekend, which led me to believe she fully intended for me to stay beyond that time or she was anticipating her son’s return.

Ha!

This was a set up. Why I wasn’t sure, but there was no way she hadn’t known her son was not coming in next week, but the exact day she’d discovered I was squatting in his home.

The thought had me dialing her number with a frown in place and she answered with a cheery disposition.

“I see you and my son came to an agreement.”

“You set me up?”

“How so, dear?”

“I can’t help but feel that you knew exactly when your son was returning even though you alluded to him being away for a while. Either way, you knew and wanted me here.”

“Guilty. However, things seem to be working out, no?”

I snorted at the thought as my eyes drifted in the direction of where his bedroom was located.

“Not exactly. I’m sure he cursed me for a few hours but he didn’t call the cops or throw me out.”

Gwendolyn laughed lightly. “He will do no such thing because that would mean dealing with me and I assure you, he doesn’t want to be on my bad side.”

I found myself grinning. Eccentric in all his six foot plus glory was afraid of his mother with her barely five-foot self. I could see his dilemma. She was very sassy and had a no-nonsense demeanor. Gwendolyn wasn’t the type of woman you told no.

“I still don’t understand why you’re going out on a limb for me. I’m grateful. I truly am. I just…”

“Listen dear, things don’t always have to make sense. Our role is to accept the blessings granted and I’m your blessing.”

“I guess you’re right, but whereas you’re my blessing, I’m your son’s nightmare.”

She tsked. “Ezren will be just fine. I have a feeling you are exactly what he needs in his life.”

“So then you letting me stay was intentional?” I frowned.

“Of course dear, but not in the way you’re thinking. I’m not playing matchmaker, however, I wouldn’t be upset if the two of you did hit it off. You’re a far more suitable option than those no last name women he seems to favor.” She released a sigh. “My goal was only to see to it that you didn’t get yourself arrested squatting at another residence where the owners weren’t as understanding of your situation. I also think Ezren could use a bit of normalcy in his life.”

“You think me setting up shop in his home without his permission is normal?”

Gwendolyn laughed lightly. “Absolutely not, but you are.”

“How are you so confident that I’m normal or even worth the risk?”

“I’m trusting my gut…”

“Right, your gut,” I droned.

“We rely on what’s tried and true. My gut has never failed me. Now unless there’s anything else, I’m going to go for a moonlight dip in the ocean and I’m feeling frisky so I might just skip the bathing suit.”

“Umm…”

What the hell was I supposed to say to her admission of going skinny dipping in the ocean?

“Not to worry dear, the bungalows are spaced far enough apart that I have complete privacy, and if I don’t, then so be it. I put a lot of time into this body of mine and I must say, it’s still in fairly decent working order for an old lady.”

“You’re not old.” I grinned at the thought. She barely looked to be beyond her mid-thirties but considering Eccentric had just celebrated his thirtieth second birthday—yes I knew that about him—I had to assume she was at least early fifties.

“Old enough but I wear it well. Have a great day, Kori, and I’m only a phone call away if you need me. Nine hours difference but still just a phone call away.”

I cringed. She’d mentioned going on a vacation but hadn’t given full details of where and I was disturbing her.

“Right, sorry to bother you.”

“It’s no bother, dear. We’ll talk soon.” She paused. “Oh and the steaks I had delivered are for Ezren. They’re his favorite. I assume you wouldn’t mind whipping up a meal or two for him as a thank you.”

I thought about the plate of untouched pasta waiting for me on the counter. He hadn’t eaten it. I wasn’t sure why that’d stung as much as it had. Maybe I felt slighted by a man who didn’t owe me a damn thing but at least I had been kind enough to share. So the idea of intentionally cooking for him…

I frowned at the thought. “He’ll probably skip the meal assuming I’m going to poison him, but no, I don’t mind.”

She chuckled again. “He’ll be fine. Just give him a few days to get used to the idea of you being there. Talk soon.”

The call ended and I slumped slightly, glancing around the kitchen. There was not one thing normal about this situation but I was here and going to make the best of it.