Read Beautiful Music for Free Online

do this to her?
    The whoosh of the kitchen door startled her. She rolled her eyes when Chase entered. “What are you still doing here?”
    “You could at least pretend you’re happy to see me.”
    “I’m a lawyer, not an actress.”
    “No, not an actress,” he agreed. “What in that envelope has you so upset?”
    “Why would you think I’m upset?”
    “Jen, it’s me you’re talking to. Let me help you.”
    “You’re the problem,” she huffed as she dropped onto the couch.
    “Okay…” he drawled sitting next to her. “What’s in the envelope?”
    She hated the way he latched onto something and wouldn’t let it drop…she hated how her nerves danced across her skin whenever she was around him…and the way she noticed his bulging biceps when she was in the middle of a crisis. All he did was make her nervous and on edge. Jena wished she had the same ease around him she had so many years ago. There was nothing she couldn’t share with him. Her hand tightened around the envelope.
    “Jen?”
    He was going to find out anyway. She handed him the letter and watched as he read.
    His forehead wrinkled while looking at her. “What’s this about?”
    “Did you read it?”
    “Yes,” his voice rose. “It’s a bunch of lawyer mumbo jumbo.”
    “We have joint custody of Andrea,” she blurted.
    “Yeah. So?”
    He wasn’t getting it. Rubbing her hands up and down her face, she sighed. “I live in Ohio. The logistics will be a problem.”
    “Move here. What’s one more lawyer in Clearwater?”
    “My life is in Ohio.”
    “So, you just assumed you would get full custody?”
    She answered him with silence.
    “She’s my niece too, and I’ve been a constant in her life.”
    Ouch. He was playing the guilt card. “I’m Jasmine’s sister,” she paused, but got no reaction. “Andrea should be raised by a woman, not a traveling musician.”
    He laughed before responding. “Yes…I’m in a band. Some people have even heard of us.”
    Noting the sarcasm she replied with an equal dose, “I’m not going to allow my niece to be raised by a man I barely know traveling from bar to bar.”
    “That’s what you think of me? Hmm.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees, before replying in a sharp tone, “Well, I hate to break it to you, Beautiful, but I have every intention of raising my niece. You’re going to have to figure out how to deal with that.”
    The air left her lungs. A slap in the face would have been gentler. He had called her “Beautiful”—the nickname he used on her years ago. The mention of that single word left her reeling. He didn’t even realize it.
    “If you decide you want to work something out, give me a call.”
    He stood and walked out. Just like that. Placing a hand to her stomach, she tried to control her emotions by taking calming breaths. This emotional roller coaster was too much. Jena’s eyes drifted upwards. Jasmine, what were you thinking?
    She jumped at the sound of her cell phone ringing on the side table. Jena read the words “Blocked Call.” Frowning, she answered.
    A voice hissed the words in a whisper, “I’m watching every move you make, Jena Shea.”

Chapter Seven
    Jena threw the phone on the couch like it was on fire. How did the caller know her name? She sighed with relief. The Internet. It was probably some high school prank. She had bigger things to worry about. Like how to share custody with a man that lived across the country. A man who infuriated her.
    What was she going to do? This had been Andrea’s home since she was a baby. No judge would needlessly uproot her when there were other options. Chase would get primary custody. Why hadn’t Jasmine told her about this change in the will? This was so out of character. They discussed everything.
    Grabbing the letter from the end table she paced. She read it again. Ever since she arrived decisions were being made for her. She was a take-charge person. The time had come to take back control