Bring on the Night (Love in Nashville Book 1), page 4
Her smile faded as she looked back into his eyes. “Are you serious?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.
He nodded and reached across the table to take hold of her hand. “Dead serious. I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. You … you’re everything. You’re gorgeous, you’re smart, you rule my world.” He smiled. “In a very real sense as well as the way you blow me away.”
She squeezed his hand briefly. “I thought … You just play the game … You do it with everyone … You …”
He lowered his head and looked up at her from under his lashes. “You can’t tell the difference? Sure, I’m the world’s biggest flirt, but you and me? That’s different. There’s a power play; I’m not denying that. But the biggest factor is that I’m nuts about you. I tell you that almost every day.”
She looked so vulnerable leaning toward him; all her edge was gone, she looked confused. He wanted to believe that she looked eager to believe him, but he didn’t know what was going on behind her big blue eyes. “It’s not just a game?” she asked eventually.
“Hell no. I mean, sure, we play it as a game but …” He shrugged. “I’m laying it all out there for you, baby girl.”
He wondered if she’d throw it back at him, turn this into a joke and move on in the safest way possible. It might be best if she did, but he was tired of the game. He wanted to make it real. He held his breath as he waited for her next words.
“It could never work. We work together.”
He frowned. “And we work well together. You can’t deny that. If we made as good a team as a couple as we do as a working partnership, we’d be amazing.”
She held his gaze for a long moment. “But what about when it ended?”
His heart was racing in his chest, and he could hear the blood rushing in his temples. Was she really considering it? If she was, she needed to know how he saw it—how he hoped it could work out. “What if it didn’t?”
Her eyebrows knit together in confusion.
He’d come this far; he might as well spell it out. “What if we got together, and it never ended?”
She let go of his hand and sat back as if she’d been slapped. And of course, at that moment, the server appeared with their food.
Chapter Five
Matt had been right. The food was fabulous. Autumn loved Vietnamese food. She’d barely been able to appreciate it though. Her mind was whirling, and her stomach was doing back-flips the whole time they sat there. If he was playing his usual games, then he’d won this one, hands down. He’d thrown her for a loop. He must be playing. He couldn’t be serious—could he?
She sipped the rest of her Cosmo while she waited for him to return from the bathroom. She shouldn’t have had that last one, but they were going down so easily, and if ever a girl needed a drink, it was on the night that the guy she’d had a huge crush on for years told her that they could make a great couple if she were willing to give it a try—and that her fears about how them breaking up would affect their working relationship would be unfounded if they didn’t ever break up. What did that even mean? Two people who got together and never broke up? They’d be together forever. “Pft!” She couldn’t help the little snort of disbelief that escaped her lips.
The waiter turned at the sound and smiled at her. A few moments later, he reappeared with yet another Cosmo. She held up her hand and shook her head. She’d had one too many already, but the guy smiled so eagerly. The staff here had been wonderful.
“On the house,” he said with a smile.
It’d be churlish to turn him down. Instead, she took it with a smile and a thank you and drained the last one.
She needed to get it together. Needed to get her guard back up. Whatever Matt was playing at, it couldn’t be as simple as he was saying—that he was attracted to her and wanted them to give it a shot. Could it? Everyone had told her for years that he liked her. Her sister always teased her that it was inevitable—that she knew Autumn liked him, too. She made a face to herself and took a slug of her fresh drink. So what? Of course, she was attracted to him—she didn’t know many women who weren’t. She sat back in her seat and looked out the window at the people scurrying by on the busy street. She couldn’t get involved with him. Even if he were for real that he wanted to. That crap about not breaking up was just that—crap! Everyone broke up, especially in Nashville. It would just be too difficult afterward. How would they work together afterward? How would she feel when she saw him going back to his usual ways after he’d been with her? Could she trust herself to still treat him as nothing more than one of the artists? She pursed her lips. Of course, she couldn’t. She was close to all of them. No.
Even if he was for real, there was too much on the line. She couldn’t risk their working relationship for the sake of the label. And she wouldn’t risk their friendship for her own sake. Yeah, he was a pain in the ass, but he was her pain in the ass, and she couldn’t imagine losing the bond they shared.
She glanced over at the men’s room, wondering what was taking him so long and had to smile when she saw him standing at the servers’ station talking to two of the waiters. That was just who he was. He had a kind word for everyone. More than that, he had a way of making people feel special. She doubted the waiters knew who he was—or would care if they did. They weren’t awed in the presence of a country music superstar. They were just enjoying the company of an appreciative customer. A gregarious customer who was taking a minute to make them smile.
He really was a good guy. For all his jokes and innuendo about being good in bed, she knew from experience that he was a decent, genuine human being. A little shiver ran down her spine. She’d love to experience just how good he was in bed, too. If you took away all their history, all the complications that made it impossible, she was still a woman. A young woman who had wants and needs. And if she was honest, those needs hadn’t been met in a long time. She was too busy with work to date. And even if she could find the time, she wouldn’t date anyway. She pressed her lips together, and a heavy ball of realization settled in her stomach. She wouldn’t want to date anyone else—because she was too hung up on Matt! Had she really not known that? Or had she successfully ignored it until right this minute?
She frowned. Was it just the Cosmos talking? There’d been quite a few of them.
“Excuse me?”
She turned to look at a guy who had approached the table. She wanted to laugh. It was as if the universe heard her musing that she wouldn’t want to date anyone else and had sent her a very hot guy to test her theory. Damn! She’d love to use him in a music video. He had short dark hair, big, blue eyes, and a chiseled jawline. He had the look of a marine and the body to match. She pulled herself together. “Yes?”
“I’m sorry to just barge in on you like this, but are you … you’re Autumn Breese, aren’t you?”
She sat back in her seat and looked up at him. She was used to the people she was with being recognized. It went with the territory when all your friends were famous singers, but it was rare that anyone approached her. She nodded. “I am.”
The guy grinned and slid into Matt’s seat across from her. “You’re amazing!”
She stared at him for a moment. “Thank you.” Was all she could think to say.
“Sorry.” The guy held out his hand, and she shook with him. “I’m Kent Eddy. I’m a huge fan. I followed your sister’s career, and since she retired, I’ve followed you. You’ve done such great things with McAdam Records.”
She smiled. “I’m just the one who holds it all together; it’s the artists who do great things.”
The guy shook his head. “They wouldn’t be anything without you. There are hundreds, thousands of talented singers out there. You’re the one who finds the best and guides and drives their careers.”
She smiled. “Thanks. It’s nice to be appreciated.”
“I’m sure. Most people only see the stars. I’m more interested in the brains,” he stopped and let his gaze run over her, “and the beauty who launches them.”
“Is this guy bothering you?”
They both looked up when Matt came to stand over the table.
“I hope not.” Kent caught Autumn’s eye. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on your business dinner.” He smiled at Matt. “But you can’t blame a guy for wanting to talk to your boss here.”
Matt scowled at him. “I can’t blame you, but I can ask you to back off. Tonight, she’s not my boss.”
“Oh! Shit! I’m sorry, man.” Kent got to his feet. “I didn’t know. I had no clue.”
Autumn scowled at Matt, but he slid back into his seat and looked up at Kent. “That’s okay. You weren’t to know.”
Kent gave Autumn an apologetic smile. “It was great to meet you.”
“You, too.” Autumn gave him her best smile. She was mad at Matt for shooing him off like that.
Kent looked at Matt. “You’re a lucky guy.”
Matt grinned at him. “I sure am.”
Once he’d gone, Autumn scowled at Matt. “What the hell are you playing at?”
Matt’s grin faded. “I thought I was rescuing you.”
She blew out a sigh. “Rescuing me from the hot guy who thinks I’m amazing?”
It was Matt’s turn to scowl. “Err, yeah. Why not, since you’re out for dinner with me?”
She wanted to stay mad at him, but she couldn’t help the warm feeling that spread through her at the thought that maybe he was a teeny bit jealous. She smiled. “So, you do care?”
“How many times and how many ways do I have to say it?”
She shrugged, vaguely aware that that last Cosmo was a really bad idea. “Maybe a couple more?” she said with a smile.
He smiled back and reached across the table to take hold of her hand. “I’ll tell you as many times as you like if you think there’s a chance you might end up believing me.”
“There may be a teeny chance.” She squeezed his hand. The sensible little voice in the back of her mind was screaming—asking her what the hell she thought she was playing at, but she didn’t want to listen to it, didn’t want to answer. What she wanted was to enjoy this feeling just for a while. Feeling that Matt wanted her was intoxicating—and when you added that to the job the Cosmos were already doing, she didn’t want to stop.
“Do you want to get out of here?”
She met his gaze and knew her decision was made. When his eyes locked with hers, she was lost. Those eyes had always invited her to come closer, and for the first time, her better judgment wasn’t strong enough to come to her rescue. Her senses were too busy enjoying the Cosmos to ask her to come back to them, and in that perfect storm moment, she nodded. “Yeah. I do.”
Matt got to his feet, and she had to laugh. “I know you’re in a hurry, but don’t you think we should pay first?”
He chuckled. “I already took care of it. I was settling the bill when I noticed that guy harassing you.”
“He wasn’t harassing me. He was very complimentary, actually. He recognized me for the genius that I am. He knows that all of you would be nothing without me.”
Matt made a face at her. “And you think we don’t know that?”
“Oh.” She’d been expecting that to ruffle his ego, but he shook his head.
“We know that we owe it all to you. And we try to tell you often enough.” He shot a glance at Kent, who raised a hand as he watched them leave. “It’s a shame that you’ll take it as a compliment from a complete stranger but won’t even listen when I tell you.”
She looked up at him, wondering whether he was serious, and he smiled and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “We need to work on that.”
“On what?”
“On you being more receptive to me.”
She chuckled. “I’m feeling very receptive right now.” She was, too. She’d probably regret this for a long time to come, but right now all she wanted to do was to get Matt back to the apartment and find out just how good he was—and prove just how receptive she was feeling. She slid her arm around his waist.
He winked at her and landed a peck on her lips and asked, “Then why are we still here?”
Chapter Six
Matt fumbled with his key card when they got back to the apartment building. He couldn’t believe this was really happening. Autumn leaned against the wall and smiled at him. “Do you need a hand?”
“No, thanks.” He pushed the door open and gestured for her to go in ahead of him.
She went straight to the elevators and pushed the button. “Have you ever done it in an elevator?”
He met her gaze and shook his head. “No.” He smiled. “Or should my answer be not yet?”
She laughed. “We won’t be changing your answer tonight. We’d have to be in a private building before we could risk that. I’m already worried enough about that Kent guy.”
Matt frowned. It was obvious that she’d had one too many, but he’d thought she was just a little tipsy. Now it seemed that she wasn’t even making sense. “What do you mean?”
“I’m pretty sure he snapped a photo of us before we left. Right when you landed a kiss on me.”
Matt shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“Not for me. I don’t have millions of adoring fans needing me to remain single, so they can fantasize about how someday I’ll be theirs.”
“My fans don’t need that. They’ll be thrilled to know we’re together.”
Autumn made a face and then the elevator arrived, and they stepped inside. When the doors closed, he turned to her and put his hands on her shoulders, backing her against the wall. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for this?”
She shrugged. “Just as long as I have.”
“You haven’t waited for this; you’ve never considered giving me a chance till now.”
“You honestly believe that? You think I’m the ice queen who’s immune to your charms? Well, uh-uh, Mister. Think again. It’s only my exterior that’s icy. Underneath, I’m warm.” She smiled. “And further down, I’m hot.” She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, and that was all he could take.
He traced the trail her tongue had left with his own. “I know you’re hot. You’re so damned hot.”
She shook her head. “I meant I’m hot for you, right now.”
He sank his fingers into her hair and covered her mouth with his own. The blood was surging in his veins, making him ache for her. His cock strained against his zipper as he leaned his weight against her and began to explore her with his tongue. Her arms came up around his shoulders, and she rocked her hips against him. The feel of her lithe body drove him wild, and he kissed her more deeply still, desperate for the moment when he could thrust more than his tongue inside her.
The elevator came to a halt, and they broke apart breathlessly. He took hold of her hand and led her toward his apartment. She stopped as they passed her room, and she tugged on his hand. “In here.”
He nodded and waited while she unlocked the door. Once they were inside, she backed him up against it and nibbled her way up his neck. He forced his hands to remain still at his sides and let the shivers roll through him. When she reached his lips, she looked up into his eyes.
“Do you want me, Matt?”
He closed his arms around her waist. “Hell, yeah, I want you. I’ve wanted you since the first time you blew into that tour meeting. You kicked asses and took names and knocked that whole thing into shape in no time. I got a hard-on watching you take charge and,” he rocked his hips against her, “I’ve had it all this time.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “You don’t need to make stuff up and bullshit me. This is happening. I just want you to be honest with me.”
He bit her bottom lip and ran his hands up her sides, resisting the temptation to cup her breasts. He knew once he did that there’d be no more talking for a while, and he still had a few things to say. “You want me to be honest?”
She nodded.
“Okay. I was sitting in Anton’s office wondering if my first big tour was going to shit because he was useless and kept dropping the ball. I got a call from Ashley Devlin to tell me that Autumn Breese was on her way over and was going to pull the tour together. I told the guys that we had a hard-ass bitch from the label coming in to shake things up and that we needed to make nice with you no matter how bad you were because you’d get things done. Half an hour later, you blew into that office, and you blew me away. You were wearing a navy-blue suit with a white blouse. There was a split in your skirt that I couldn’t take my eyes off of—wishing that it went just a little bit higher so I could see more of the best set of legs I ever laid eyes on—legs that I later told Levi that I wanted to feel wrapped around me. You put Anton in his place. You sorted out the next three dates before we left that office, and I had a boner for you the whole time.”
“The next time I saw you, I asked you to go to dinner. You totally ignored the bit about it being me and you—a date—and agreed to go to dinner and spent the whole time talking about the tour. I tried and I tried, and you blew me off at every turn.”
She rolled her eyes. “You were seeing Sheena.”
“I broke up with Sheena because I couldn’t think about anything but you.”
Autumn took a step back, but he tightened his arms around her and drew her back to him. “It’s true. I’ve wanted you for all this time. I’ve tried, and I’ve waited patiently. And I’ve tried some more. I’ve never given up.”
She cocked her head to one side. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
He nodded. “Deadly serious.”
“Wow.”
She turned away from him and went to sit on the sofa.
This wasn’t going the way he’d hoped. He hadn’t wanted to rush it, but he hadn’t planned on sitting and talking either, but she needed to understand. He needed her to know that this meant something to him. That he’d waited a long time for it. He frowned. If she thought that he just wanted to screw her and be done—then why was she up for it? What did it mean to her?
