Me: Will do. Take your time. 4 страница

Her face wrinkles in sour skepticism. “What?”

“I don’t think she and Jarrett are having sex. We’ve all been really focused on getting ready for tonight.”

That’s the understatement of the year. From the second I told the boys I was definitely on board to do a show in Vegas, they insisted on two practices a day. Rhett didn’t have to tell me that performing at his old stomping grounds, in front of Thatcher and JC, was beyond important to him. Tonight’s show needs to be flawless.

“But even if they were, why would it matter? Do you and Jarrett have some arrangement or commitment I’m unaware of?” I ask her.

She puffs up, crossing her arms defensively. “Well, no, not exactly.”

“And can you look me in the face and honestly say you haven’t messed around with anyone else?” I challenge her with a loving smile.

“I get it, sheesh—whose side are you on?”

“Always yours.” I hold my arms open for a hug. “I’m sure Jarrett will enjoy his time with you while he’s here. Just don’t be mean to Jovie, okay? No scaring off the talent.” I laugh, giving her one last squeeze.

“Fine, but she’s not hanging out with us at our after party! I’m drawing the line there.”

I release her and step back. “Yes, she is. I brought her here and have no intention of making her feel like an outcast. And fair warning, I’m not hanging out for very long afterwards, Lan. Sorry, but I’ve got post-show plans of my own.”

Do I ever. Rhett never asked me what had started our fight that night several weeks ago; luckily he got distracted by getting us home and showing me the proper way to make-up. The rest of the weekend. Ever since, I look for reasons to squabble so he’ll remind me of such procedure. But most importantly, it bought me time—to come to my senses.

My initial reaction when Landry had suggested a show in Vegas was a resounding hell no! The thought of returning to my boyfriend’s old “sin den” and seeing women he’d been with in the ways he’s only with me now… no woman would knowingly put herself through that, right?

Wrong.

You only run from that which you’re afraid of, and I’m not afraid that Rhett doesn’t love me. Maybe he hasn’t actually said it yet, but he tells me every day in his smiles, looks, secrets, time. In everything he chooses to share with me, he tells me. So I tossed my “insecure panties” right out the window and strapped on my sneaky, confident girlfriend pair. He’ll never know I had doubts that night… or what hit him on this one.

“Reece, hello?” Landry waves her hand in front of my face, bringing me out of my fog. “I asked you a question.”

“Crap, we gotta go. Come on!” I grab her hand and rush back toward the stage.

“But you didn’t answer me,” she whines. “What’re these big plans that you’re ditching me for? I never get to see you!”

“I’ll tell you later, promise.” I let go of her hand and wave as I head backstage, and despite her frustration, she blows me a kiss.

Rhett’s pacing, twirling a drumstick through his fingers in double-time as I hurry up to him. “You sure you’re done? You weren’t gone very long,” he grumps sarcastically.

“I wasn’t pooping,” I blurt, fire springing to my cheeks.

“Well, okay, as long as you weren’t pooping.” He laughs, tapping the end of my nose. “Ozzie called, made me promise to tell you he said he loves you and good luck. Oh, and for me to break a leg, preferably both of them.”

I snicker and shake my head; even staying behind to run the company, my Ozzie thought of me—and found a way to harass Rhett (who secretly likes it, makes me feel important if he can keep Ozzie riled up). I love their banter. It’s their macho way of bonding, which they do more of every day, and it means the world to me to watch the two most important men in my life slowly accept one another.

“Where’s Jarrett?” I ask, looking around and coming up short.

He magically appears, a beaming Liz in tow. “Right here! Look who I found!”

“What the hell?” I don’t think Rhett realizes he said that out loud, wide-eyes on Liz. “What’re you doing here?”

“Ask your girlfriend.” She grins my way then hugs Rhett. “Cannon’s in the front row with his sister. Told me to tell you good luck.”

Rhett stares at me, his steely blue eyes brimming with gravity. “You?”

I nod and flash him a wink. I knew it’d mean the world to him to have Liz here tonight, so I snuck into his phone while he showered and made it happen. As an amazing man once said—I’m just full of surprises.

“Thank you,” he murmurs to me. “And you”—he looks at Liz—“thanks for coming. No Con-man this time either?”

She laughs. “No, you’re gonna have to come to him. He refuses to leave the girls.”

“I’ll see what I can do.” He glances at me then Jarrett, who’s already bobbing his head in agreement. “You got room for three, Mrs. Blackwell?”

“You know it.” She pats his chest. “I’m gonna go grab my seat. Show me something, boys!” She somehow finds my hand, and her squeeze brings my eyes to hers. “ You, show their asses up.”

“I heard that!” Jarrett yells at her retreating back.

“The hell you did,” she calls over her shoulder. “Everybody knows you can’t hear a damn thing!”

We give the Goldsbury crowd a phenomenal show if I do say so myself—which I do. As Jarrett strums the final notes on “Lone Worth,” our closer of the nine-song set, I glance down to front center and see Liz brush away a tear, Cannon leaning in to kiss the top of her head. Landry and JC are at their table, smiling just as wide as they have the entire performance. I’m gonna pretend I didn’t somehow notice where Sommerlyn disappeared to, or with whom.

I thank the crowd and step back, showcasing the guys. I’m ready to head off stage when his voice freezes me in place. I turn and watch him climb from behind the drums, his hair and shirt wet with sweat, biceps hyper-flexed and glistening from all that banging.

“One more, Tea,” he growls into his head mic, eyes searing into mine.

I barely register movement to my side—I assume it’s Jarrett setting me on a stool? But I can’t look away from Rhett to confirm. I’m entranced as he moves behind the keyboards. Apparently I’m not the only one with surprises up my sleeve.

“Anybody mind if I play one more?” he asks the crowd, receiving a booming response of whistles and cheers. When the roar dies down, he winks at me, the sexiest of all his smirks he’s saved til’ now on his face. “You always seem to listen better if I sing it, so hear me, Teaspoon.”

Using only his rich, sensuous voice and the keys, he never breaks our locked gazes as he sings “Never Stop,” the slow, wedding version, by SafetySuit. When he learned to play piano, I know not. I’m also a little fuzzy on where we are or my own name, but I know this song… and what he’s telling me with it.

He loves me.

I’ll never get used to him either.

Liz finally yawns. I was counting on her to tucker out long ago, and I’m so anxious, I’m squirming in my seat. Landry, incredibly concerned I wouldn’t stick around, wandered off with Jarrett at least an hour ago, and JC very kindly offered to “make sure Jovie found her room all right” about that same time. No one’s made mention of where anyone else is, and I’m certainly not bringing it up. So the four of us—me, Rhett, Liz, and Cannon—are the last ones standing.

“Thank you again for inviting us, Reece. I knew it’d be great, but I gotta say”—Liz grins at Rhett—“that finale? Wouldn’t have believed it if I hadn’t seen it with my own two eyes. I’m happy you’re happy, Rhett. You sure held out long enough, waiting for the best.” She shifts her thoughtful regard to me. “You succeeded.”

Arm around my shoulders, he pulls me in closer and lays a soft kiss on my temple. “Don’t give her a big head, Liz. She won’t be able to carry it around on her little body.”

“Cute, but you can drop the act. We’re all on to you after that song.” Liz rolls her eyes and stands. “If you wanna get laid with me awake, let’s go,” she tells her husband.

Cannon jumps up so fast his chair topples over, and we all laugh.

“Breakfast in the morning,” she yells while being carried away.

“Man’s so desperate to get some, he forgot to care where his sister is. Thank God—I’m not dealing with other people’s bullshit tonight. I need a shower, bed, and you.” Rhett stands and offers me his hand. “Where are we sleeping?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” I purr, knees trembling. I’m about to reveal my final surprise, my solution to any lingering doubts I had about coming back here. I pull the key card from between my cleavage and slip it into his palm. The final, lasting memory of any “trips” will be of us.

“Tonight, Mr. Foster, you and I are visiting Hawaii.”

Дата добавления: 2015-10-29