Chapter 26

He definitely heard her singing—and probably caught the fight too. Alice felt all kinds of awkward. She’d always kept a pretty calm and quiet image, especially after that "serious injury" she conveniently just recovered from. And now? Barely out of his house, already brawling outside a bar. Great. Just what she needed—her boss thinking she was some street thug. She rubbed the tip of her nose and gave a polite work-mode smile. “Just a hobby, really. Taught myself guitar too. Sorry if it was a bit rough, Mr. Hawthorne.” Edward took a step closer and asked, “Sing often?” His tall frame suddenly loomed over her, casting a shadow that practically swallowed her whole. Reflexively, she took a small step back to keep some space. “No, not really. I don’t usually sing in places like this.” She had been the lead vocalist in college and still recorded covers at home, uploading them now and then. But yeah—she avoided messy places like this whenever she could. Edward noticed her slight retreat and s