| Chapter Three |
| As he took my hand gently and raised it, I couldn't help but stare. Right before me was the most beautiful face I had ever seen. I was stunned. Isaac's strong chestnut eyes twinkled as they bore into mine. His soft dawn-tinted lips sent a pulse of warmth through my hand that reached down to my toes. I didn't want his hand to let go of mine. Its rough calloused skin felt so delicious against my tiny palm. "So...." He trailed off, looking as if he was searching for words. "Well..." I couldn't find words either. Luckily, I didn't have to, for at that exact moment Bruce stumbled in with a large box, trailing the other two Hansons and a third man I didn't recognize behind him. Isaac shifted slightly, almost as if he was uncomfortable with the presence of other people in the room at such a time. I wonder if he felt that intensity too. "Julia, this is Taylor Hanson, Zac Hanson, their manager Mr. Sabec, and I see you have already met Isaac," Bruce huffed, depositing the box on the carpeted floor. "This is my assistant Julia." I slipped my hand out of Isaac's to begin the round of handshakes. "Nice to meet you Julia," Taylor smiled. "Same here," Zac grinned. "Please call me Chris. Mr Sabec makes me feel so old." "Is the place set up?" Chris turned to Bruce. "Everything's ready to go. The equipment I use is a little old and beat up, but it creates a un-rivalled sound you can't get anywhere else," he answered. His cell rang. Pause. "Really? Oh we'lll be right there. Excuse me Chris, " as he turned his attention back to us, "there's an executive meeting that we need to get to. Julia, shows the guys the general setup and go over with them the notations that they brought with them." The two older men left the room, leaving me with the Hansons. "I noticed your unusual set-up," Taylor commented, gesturing at the surrounding room. It certainly was unusual. Instead of the conventional seperate booths for each band member and their instrument, everything was in one room. The lone mic was at the centre of a collection of irregular-looking couches. "Most of this stuff was here when Bon Jovi came in back in the 80s to do 'Slippery When Wet.' Bruce is really supersticious, so nothing has been moved since. Down the hall, there's also a small theatre which Bruce sometimes uses when he wants a larger sound." "Cool. Mr. Fairburn mentioned that he wanted us to go over notations with you," Isaac said as Zac handed him a small white binder. "These are some lyrics and melodies that we've been working on for the past while." I rifled through the folder. "Are their any songs in paticular that you really want to work on?" "We've been toying around with the idea of covering Led Zeppelin's 'Thank You' for a little while," Zac piped up. "What do you guys think about laying that down and seeing out it comes out?" His brothers nodded in agreement. Zac took the folder from my hands and browsed through it. He handed me some lyrics and chords on a crumpled napkin. Bruce poked his head back in the door. "Taylor, Zac, the brass want to talk to you. Isaac, they'll talk to you later." With a confused look in my direction, Taylor and Zac left the room. "I need to hear how your version sounds before we even think about recording it. Do you mind playing it for me?" I asked Isaac. "Sure," he reached over to his guitar rack and grabbed two Gibsons, handing me the red one that had caught my fancy earlier. Sitting down on the worn couch, he gestured for me to join him. He hummed a few notes, quietly tuning the strings. He handed the other one to me. "You play right?" "Yeah." "Good. This song is based around only one guitar with one singer, but I really want to try it with two of both." "Um, I guess. I've never really played or sung for anyone before, yet alone a professional," I blushed deep red. "Please don't be nervous. It's just me," Isaac patted my shoulder re-assuringly. "I'll count in." And we began. If the sun refuse to shine I would still be loving you When mountains crumble to the sea There will still be you and me Kind woman I give you my all Kind woman, nothing more Little drops of rain whisper of the pain The tears of loves' lost in the days gone by My love is strong with you there is no wrong Together we shall go until we die Oh my my Inspiration's what you are to me Inspiration look see And so today my world it smiles You hand in mine we walk the miles But thanks to you it will be done For you to me are the only one Alright yeah Happiness no more be sad Happiness I'm glad If the sun refuse to shine I would still be loving you When mountains crumble to the sea There will still be you and me." Our voices faded out. The impassioned gaze between the two of us did not. "That was beautiful," Isaac whispered. He drew himself closer to me, gently stroking the delicate skin of my cheek. I said nothing. Leaning in even closer, he crushed his lips against mine. |