I slid my hands beneath his shirt, trailing my fingertips along his firm chest. I traced along his v lines and slipped my fingers into his belt loops, tugging him closer. His hands traveled slowly up my body, tangling in my hair as he kissed me deeply. Breathless, we finally broke apart, and he leaned his head against mine. I pressed one last kiss to his lips before I moved past him down the hall toward the bedroom.
I heard his seductive voice call after me. “Turn around.” Slowly, I turned to face him, a soft smile playing on my lips. “Damn, I’m the luckiest guy in the world.” He closed the distance between us, crashing his lips to mine, and we tore at each other’s clothes to the soundtrack of Mama knocking the ornaments off the tree one by one.
Jax and I spent New Year’s Day basking in the afterglow of the show the night before. The internet was going crazy for Jax & Liv. Meanwhile, Cash was already fielding requests from record labels and media outlets left and right. We took this last opportunity to shut out the rest of the world and enjoy the last little bit of calm before the year started off in a full-blown storm of press, recording, label meetings, and so many more things I had yet to wrap my mind around. I still had a few things to finish up at the bakery before I could fully dive into the world of Jax & Liv, but decided they could wait one more day. Instead of thinking for one second about work, we snuggled the day away on the couch under Mama’s contented gaze.
Jax wasn’t in bed when I woke the next morning. I stretched leisurely as the light bathed me in a soft golden glow, figuring he would be returning with coffee soon. I mentally started running down the list of things I needed to finish at the shop, both excited and nervous about the prospect of taking some extended time away.
While I waited, I fumbled my hand over the nightstand to retrieve my phone off the charger.
I rubbed my eyes as I illuminated the screen. My heart immediately plummeted to my stomach when I saw seventeen missed calls, the majority of them from Ella, and twice as many unread text messages. My social media notifications were in the thousands. I slid my finger across the screen to access my messages, but before I could, Ella’s name flashed with an incoming call.
“Ella, are you okay?” I answered, my voice panicked.
“Oh, thank God.” Ella sighed into the phone. “Liv, don’t come to the store. Katie and I have this under control. We’ve already called the police on these damn paparazzi assholes, but right now it’s a freaking zoo.”
“What?” I gasped. “What are you talking about?” Suddenly, the line went quiet. “Ella, what is going on?”
“You haven’t seen it yet?” Her voice was soft with concern.
“Seen what?” I asked, my mind confused and severely under-caffeinated.
“Liv, whatever you do, don’t look at the news. Don’t get on social media, and don’t turn on the tv. I’m begging you. Please don’t. Just wait a few minutes, and I’ll be there,” she pleaded.
“What?” I asked, my blood turning to ice. I pulled the phone away from my ear, flicked it to speaker and immediately pulled up my newsfeed.
“Liv,please,”Ella begged. “Please don’t.”
My mouth went dry, and beads of cold sweat started to form over my entire body as I was assaulted by headline after headline:
Jaxon Slade debuts new project with middle-aged divorce´e.
Why Jaxon Slade’s cougar mystery woman wanted to remain a secret.
Failing bakery owner, Olivia Sinclair, latches on to Midnight in Dallas Frontman, Jaxon Slade.
Benton Wyatt’s gold-digger ex-wife, Liv Sinclair, and her boy toy mid-life crisis.
My eyes flickered over the articles as phrases jumped out, slapping me hard across the face:
Washed up, wannabe country singer
Liv Sinclair’s plan to save her failing business, with the help of Jaxon Slade
Benton Wyatt’s barren ex-wife, Olivia Sinclair
“Oh my God,” I whispered. My eyes traveled down to the comments section:
She hasn’t even been divorced long. Bet she cheated on her ex to further her career.
Yuck. This woman needs a plastic surgeon. She looks OLD.
Ugh. I hate women like that. Opportunistic bitch. Jaxon deserves better. Like me. LOL
Let’s say for a second they ARE in love, which I doubt. But I know I saw an interview recently where Jaxon Slade said he wants kids. Has she not thought about this?
I felt bile rising to my throat, and I choked out a sob.
“Fuck,” Ella said quietly. “Liv, are you okay? Where is Jax?”
