Jace, page 19
The checkout lady gave him his total, then looked back and forth between them. “Ohmygawd. Ohmygawd. You’re that guy—the one that won that show. I voted for you every week. You can sing, you deserved to win. And, now, I saw you and Krystal King together. Saw you two this morning, all sweet together. And you’re…” She clapped her hands. “You’re Travis. Ohmygawd. The Travis King.”
“That I am,” Travis offered. “He’s Jace.”
“Right, Jace.” The woman was all smiles, eyeing the stash Jace had deposited on the checkout counter. “You sure got a sweet tooth.”
“It’s not all for me.” He held up the dog treats.
“Those are for Clementine, aren’t they?” The woman nodded. “And everyone knows Krystal’s favorite candy are Red Vines.” She held up the bag. “Smart fella, to keep his woman happy.”
Travis eyed his stash. “Guess you’re not riding with me?”
Jace smiled. Hopefully not. But there was no predicting how Krystal would respond to his shameless bribe. He might end up walking the rest of the way to Austin.
The woman grinned. “You be safe on the roads.”
Jace paid and nodded his thanks. “Not getting anything?”
“Still looking.” Travis shook his head, searching the end rack of artificially sweetened cakes and donuts. He picked up a pack of chocolate-covered cupcakes. “I told her.”
“What?” Jace asked.
“Krystal. About you two. The whole friends crap.” He grabbed a pink cupcake pack, too. “And now this pretend relationship. There’s nothing pretend about it and you know it.” He sighed. “Why are women so damn stubborn?”
“You’re asking me?” Jace laughed. “See you in Austin.”
Travis nodded. “Beef jerky.” He headed to the massive rack of dried jerky as Jace slipped out and crossed the parking lot.
“Hey, George.” He nodded at the driver. “Anyone awake in there?”
“Check for yourself.” He smiled.
It was dark inside the bus, the red glow of the emergency lights doing only so much. Once his eyes adjusted to the gloom, he walked to the end of the hall—Krystal’s room. Light spilled out from under the door. He knocked and Clementine barked.
“Just me,” he whispered.
She shushed Clem, her words and footsteps muffled until she opened the door. “I’m pretty sure you’re on the wrong bus.” But she didn’t look or sound irritated—just curious.
“Maybe.” He held out the bag. “I brought you something. Both of you. Thought you might want a snack.”
She stepped back, waving him in, then closed the door. “You bought dog biscuits?” That had her smiling. “Look at that, Clementine. He knows the way to a gal’s heart. Dog treats and chocolate caramels. Oh, wait, Red Vines and sour gummy bears?” Her smile grew. “You must want something.”
“Nope.” He held his hands up. “I come in peace. No ulterior motives.”
“Hmm. We’ll see.” She gave him a full toes-to-head assessment.
Her long hair was down, no makeup, rainbow-striped fuzzy socks, and a massive T-shirt with a unicorn on it. She looked adorable. Until he read her shirt. “I’m a unicorn. I will cut you.” He frowned. “That’s…cute.”
“Travis. He thought it was hysterical.” She shrugged and flopped down on her bed. “You can stay, but I’m sort of in the middle of something.” Papers covered her bed—scraps of paper, note cards, a napkin, some sheet music highlighted and scribbled notations in a variety of vibrant colors.
“World domination?” The sheet music caught his attention.
“That’s next on my to-do list.” She stared up at him, green eyes flashing. “If you stay, I might tell you.”
“I’ll take that as an invitation.” Which was good because this was exactly where he wanted to be.
“Sit.” She patted the bed. “I could use a fresh set of ears.” She sat cross-legged, tugged her shirt over her bare knees, and scooped her guitar off the ground. “Working on the melody mostly. I have a few ideas.” She pointed at one sheet. “But I’ll know what I want when I hear it.” She tapped out a soft beat against the side of her guitar.
He nodded, his eyes scanning the music. It was the music she’d been humming that night in her kitchen. “This is the pie night song.”
“Pie night?” She laughed, her fingers stopping. “You remember that?”
“Damn good pie.” He winked her way before reading over the lyrics. “You want to play it for me?”
She hesitated, chewing her lip again. With a nod of her head, she said, “If you open those Red Vines, I might consider it.”
He opened the bag and held one out to her. She leaned down, mouth open, to bite the end of the Red Vine. But she changed direction and leaned farther forward, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. Red Vine in her mouth, she sat back, grinning.
A kiss on the cheek and he was happy. Damn happy. “What was that for?”
“Nothing.” She shrugged, the Red Vine hanging from the corner of her mouth. Her fingers strummed over the guitar strings, her gaze moving over the pages in front of her. “I’m thinking this.” She plucked out the notes, pausing now and then to try a different chord or tempo.
“Faster but lower.” He nodded when she got it. “That.”
She leaned forward, her Red Vine almost gone, to scribble more notes on the page. “I like that.”
“I’ve held her forever, right here in my arms. Protect her and love her and keep her from harm. From my baby girl to the love of his life. More than my daughter, now she’s his wife.” He paused. “The sunshine, the flowers, the smile on her face. A walk down the aisle, to her favorite place. Standing beside the one who she loves. Exchanging promises before the man up above.”
He paused, reading ahead. “Wait…”
“That’s the chorus.” She tapped the paper with her Red Vine.
He nodded, hummed, then sang. “She’s smiling, she’s happy, in her pretty white dress. And I gave her up, ‘cause I knew he was best…” He glanced up at her, then back at the page. “We both love her, need her, will put her first. But it’s his turn now. I’m watching her dancing, dancing, in someone else’s arms.” He stared at her. “Father-daughter song?”
Krystal nodded, another Red Vine in her mouth. “For my daddy. If he likes it.”
“He will.” Jace stared at the words. “Might be a good wedding song? That whole daddy-daughter dance thing.” He sat forward, grabbing a pencil from the pile of writing tools and jotting a note. “Fiddle. Right here?” He looked at her. “And guitar.”
She picked up the page, her green eyes widening. “Yes. You are a genius.” She stared at him.
“You won’t hear me argue.” He leaned back against the wall, lifting his arm so Clementine could make herself at home in his lap. “You heard her, right, Clem? That right there was a compliment. From your momma.”
“Don’t get used to it.” She waved her Red Vine at him, yawning.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.” But he caught her Red Vine in his mouth and yanked it out of her hand.
“I thought those were for me?” Another yawn.
“I thought you’d share?” He lifted up Clementine. “What’s that? You’re disappointed in her?”
Krystal’s smile faded a little. “Join the club.”
It was like a punch to the gut. Not just her words, but her attempt at dismissing the slip that said so much. She didn’t want his sympathy or his questions but she did want him. He’d work with what he had. He set Clem down on the bed beside him, stacked up the papers and note cards, and put them on the floor by the bed.
“What are you doing?” she asked, watching as he kicked off his boots.
“Getting some sleep.” He stood, tugging off his shirt and opening her closet for a hanger. “Borrowing this.” No answer. He hung up his shirt and turned to find her staring at his tattoos. She had a thing for his tattoos. “If that’s okay?”
“Sleep?” she repeated, definitely staring at his tattoos.
At least he had her full attention. “Unless there was something else you had in mind?” He paused, the zipper on his jeans halfway down.
She shook her head.
“You sure?” He waited, hands on hips.
She shook her head again.
He grinned, pushing his jeans off and laying them over her dresser.
She giggled then. “What the hell are you wearing?”
He stared down. “Boxers.” The green repeating pattern wasn’t so bad. But over the front closure was the print of one large hundred-dollar bill.
“What is on them?” she asked, leaning forward.
“Money.” He bobbed his eyebrows at her. “Gives a whole new meaning to ‘show me the money.’”
Their eyes met. “I’ve seen it.” Her voice was husky.
He nodded. In two long steps, he’d flopped onto the bed beside her. “Good damn thing, too. I’m worn out. All this pretend relationship stuff is hard work.”
She was staring at him, conflicted.
He held his arms out to her. “Come here.”
She hesitated. “To sleep?”
“That’s the plan.” He yawned.
“You came here to sleep?” She was crawling up the mattress, hair falling over her shoulder, fighting back a yawn.
He hadn’t had a single expectation when he’d knocked on her door. “I came here to see you.”
She sat, staring down at him. “Jace.”
“Krystal.” He reached up, running his fingers through her hair.
“This is pretend,” she whispered, even as she leaned into his touch. “We agreed.”
“I know.” You keep telling yourself that.
“You’re making things all…mixed up.” Her gaze was mapping his tattoos. Then her finger, slowly, along the outside of his arm to the inside of his elbow. She shuddered.
“How?” He murmured, the dilation of her pupils and hitch in her breath challenging the whole sleep and comfort thing. He’d have to be dead not to respond to her. But, tonight, he wanted to hold on to this different, fragile intimacy building between the two of them.
“Now. Doing…this.” She shook her head, blinking. “Being…you.”
He caught her hand in his. “I knew you weren’t a fan of the name…”
She laughed, her hand squeezing his. “Stop.”
“I’m not doing a thing.” He tried to pull his hand away, but she held on. “I’m trying to sleep.”
With an eye roll, she lay down, her head resting on his chest. “Fine.”
“Fine.” He stared up at the ceiling, smiling.
Her hand rested lightly over his heart.
“Good?” He couldn’t resist pulling her closer, resting his hand on her side, turning into her, burying his nose at her temple.
She nodded, her fingers pressing against his bare skin. “It’s growing on me.”
“Oh?” Her scent flooded his nostrils.
“Your name,” she whispered, draping her arm across his waist.
He chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
Chapter 13
Krystal woke to the stop and start of the bus. She peered at the clock. Almost seven. If they were on track, they’d be turning onto the long drive of her family home within an hour.
She stared down at Jace, who was snoring softly.
An hour before the rest of the world interrupted.
She rested her chin on his chest, studying him in the dim light slipping through the blinds of her window. Where had he come from? How had he wound up here? And how was she ever going to get over him? The last question hurt. Whether she liked it or not, she cared about Jace. She’d practically attacked him onstage because she’d missed him so much. Not his body, him.
His voice. His honesty. The way he looked at her—the way he saw her.
What am I doing?
He was gorgeous. Every inch of him. He’d thrown his arm up over his head, showcasing muscles and ink. His face, turned toward her, had dark stubble along his jaw. A thick, chiseled, manly jaw. His mouth? That was one of her favorite features. Not only could his smile turn her to mush, but the man could kiss.
What am I doing?
She should get up, take a shower, get dressed, and do her best to put some distance between them. She wasn’t ready to admit the damage was done between them; she couldn’t. Jace Black wasn’t meant to wind up with someone like her. She tore her gaze from his face, doing her best to get a handle on the very real, very overwhelming sense of joy and dread, hope and loss, want and self-loathing.
“What am I doing?” She lay back on the bed, her heart aching.
The bed shifted and Jace was leaning over her. “Kissing me good morning.”
She nodded, cradling his face—his beautiful face—in her hands.
A crease formed between his brows. Cautious. Maybe even a little bit concerned.
She pulled him down, her lips catching his in a lingering caress. One hand pressed to her cheek, his thumb stroking her cheekbone. He was gentle with her, like she was something to treasure. His smile, against her lips, was impossible to resist. His mouth, the sweep of his tongue, his soft moan against her throat.
Terrifying or not, she was falling for him.
His kiss deepened, slow and leisurely.
She shuddered, her hands sliding down his back.
“You okay?” he whispered against her cheek.
She nodded. “I…” She swallowed, needing him. If she didn’t get out of her head, her heart would lead her down a path she’d never survive. He would leave her. She couldn’t love him. She couldn’t love. Even if he made her wish she could.
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, the tip of her nose, her chin.
“Please,” she whispered, aching for him. All of him. So much.
He smoothed her hair from her face and stared down at her, the fire in his eyes tempered with something infinitely more powerful. And binding.
It was different this time. His invasion was slow and sweet, filling her completely. Her fingers dug into his hips, reveling in the weight of his body against hers. Every thrust was deliberate, stroking something deep inside, demanding her response. Her body clenched and he paused, his breath powering out of him. He kissed her, his gaze boring into hers as he started to move again.
Would he still look at her like this if he knew what she’d done?
She pressed her eyes closed.
“Krystal.” His lips moved over hers. “Hey. Look at me.”
Her eyes fluttered open, her hands resting on his shoulders as their eyes locked.
He smiled down at her, one hand sliding beneath her shirt to lift her hips. Between the torturous rhythm he’d set, the kneading of his hands on her hips, and the look on his face, she had no choice. It was too intense. Too perfect. Too real. And it rolled over her with a ferocity she wasn’t prepared for. “Jace.” She gasped. “I’m coming.” In that instant, she split into a million blissful pieces—and every single one of them loved him.
He groaned, bending forward to kiss her and holding her against him. Watching his release was mesmerizing. His jaw locked, nostrils flared, the cords in his neck… He held nothing back from her and it left her shaken.
It took a few minutes to realize the bus was no longer moving.
“Shit.” She stared up at him. “Shit. Shit.”
“I’m taking it there’s a problem?” He was grinning, so damn gorgeous she was almost willing to ignore the fact that they could be discovered at any moment.
“The bus.” She squeaked. “Jace. We’re not moving.”
He rolled off her. “Got it.”
He was dressed in no time, smoothing the bed and feeding Clementine before she’d found something to wear. “I’m going to take this little lady out to do her business.”
Clementine danced on dainty feet, whimpering.
“I think she’d appreciate that.” Krystal nodded.
With a wink and a nod, he and Clementine left her alone. She sat on the edge of the bed, more than a little unsettled.
“Hey.” Emmy Lou poked her head in. “We got behind last night so we’re fueling up. Still an hour or so out.”
Krystal moaned and flopped back on her bed. “Good.”
Emmy laughed. “Don’t be too relieved. Travis and Daddy brought breakfast.”
Krystal covered her face. “Great.”
The bed sank beside her and Emmy Lou took her hand. “I’m pretty sure you’re the only one in denial at this point.”
She didn’t answer. There wasn’t a single thing she could say.
“What were you two working on?” Emmy asked. “Looks like you got a lot done.”
Krystal peeked through her fingers. Her sister wasn’t the type to make sex jokes. That was when she saw the music sheets in her sister’s hand. She giggled.
Emmy shot her a look. “Daddy seen this yet?”
“We just finished it.” She sat up. “Think he’ll like it?”
“He’s going to love it.” She handed her the pages. “You should show him.”
“As a distraction? Or because you think the song is ready?” There were so many notes, scratch throughs, and rewrites, she was amazed Emmy could make out any of it.
Emmy blushed. “It can’t hurt to show him the song.”
With a sigh, Krystal followed her sister down the hall to the main cabin. Her father, Travis, and Jace were all eating sausage rolls and laughing. Apparently, she’d been worrying for nothing. She and Emmy exchanged a “whatever” look.
“Hungry?” her father asked.
“Probably starving,” Travis said, smiling up at her.
“I am.” Krystal took a sausage roll. “Here, Daddy. Jace and I wrote this.”
