“Then you know why we need to take this slow, Knox.” She rested her hands on my jaw. “Like baby steps. The sex was amazing, no doubt. But even great sex isn’t worth jeopardizing what we have.”
“You really think I’d be willin’ to riskusfor sex?” Us represented my lifeline, my sometimes tenuous grip on sanity in a business that was as crazy as it was exhilarating. “You should know better than that.”
She nodded slowly. “I do. But I think we’re both just too caught up in the fantasy to think straight right now. We had a great time together. Scratched a long-standing itch, so to speak.” She smiled. “And I’m really glad we did. But that doesn’t mean we can rush into this, full-steam ahead, and announce to the world that we’re a couple. That would be crazy.”
Didn’t sound so crazy to me, but when I thought about the fact it was Cece’s reputation on the line, not mine, I understood her need for caution. I was used to people talking trash about me. Speculating about the women I was with and whether I was in a relationship. She wasn’t. She’d been able to fly under the radar and keep her private life private, and I was sure she wanted to keep it that way. A relationship with me would thrust her into the spotlight in a way she’d never wanted to be.
“So, what do you suggest?” I had to let this be her call, to let her move at a pace she was comfortable with, so as not to spook her.
“That we just keep this under wraps for now.” Her hands drifted to my shoulders. “People are used to us hanging out together, so that’s no big deal. Me going to your bus, that wouldn’t raise any eyebrows. But spending the night with you…”
“Can’t happen?” Damn. That was going to be tough. I wanted her with me, all the time, and letting her head back to her bus after we made love would be torture. But I got why she needed to draw the line and I had to respect her boundaries if I wanted this to work. And suddenly making this work was the most important thing in my life.
“Right.” She licked her lips, her eyes darting around us. “I’m not saying we can’tbetogether, or hang out, but we just can’t make it seem like we’re a couple. Tonight, what you pulled with that guy I was dancing with, that can’t happen again.”
It made sense, but that didn’t mean I had to like it. “Then don’t put yourself in a position where I want to knock someone’s teeth out.” She wasn’t the only one who could have ground rules. I’d need to have a few of my own if this new arrangement of ours was going to work.
Her lips twisted into a half-smile before she said, “Dancing with someone is a crime all of a sudden?”
“He tried to kiss you, Cece. That’s not okay.” She was crazy if she thought I was going to sit back and watch some other dude make a play for her. That wasn’t gonna happen.
“I get that.” She nodded slowly. “But just for the record, I wouldn’t be okay with you kissing someone else either.”
“Obviously.” Why the hell would I want to kiss anyone else when I’d already tasted the sweetest lips south of the Mason-Dixon Line? “And your buddy Auden, what about him?” Keeping him in the dark about us wasn’t an option for me, even if she wasn’t ready to enlighten our whole crew yet.
“I’ll talk to him. Explain things. I think we can count on his discretion, especially since your approval is so important to his career.”
When I frowned, she ran a hand up the back of my head, instantly making my eyes drift closed as the annoyance receded.
“Please don’t give him a hard time, Knox. None of this is his fault. So we slept together—”
“Don’t remind me,” I grumbled, pulling her closer. I knew we weren’t supposed to be indulging in PDAs, but that was going to be one of the biggest challenges I’d ever faced, with this girl. “I don’t even wanna think about you sleepin’ with him. Every time I look at him, I think about it, and just want to wipe that smug smile off his face.”
“There was nothing between us when I was with him. If I’d had any idea you felt this way about me, obviously I wouldn’t have been with Auden. But you can’t blame me, or him, for something that happened before—”
“I know.” I didn’t have to like it, but she was right. “It shouldn’t have taken me so long to figure things out.” The most stunningly beautiful creature in the world had been in my orbit for years. Loving me. Supporting me. Being the best friend a guy could ask for… and I’d been too stupid to realize she was every guy’s fantasy, including mine.
“And I can’t blame you forlivin’while I was doing the same.” I sighed. “And I can’t even fault Auden for seein’ what I was too blind to see.” I brushed my hand over her cheek. “You’re unbelievable, Ce. Seriously. Like every man’s fantasy. And I’m just so damn humbled that I’m finally gettin’ this chance with you.”
She looked a little stunned by my declaration before she said, “I feel the same way. Lucky. Humbled. Surprised.” She smiled. “But really, really grateful.” She rolled forward, pressing a chaste kiss to my lips. “This is gonna be good, Knox. We’re gonna be good… together. I really believe that. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be taking this leap of faith with you.”
That’s what this was, a huge leap of faith. But I suddenly wasn’t scared anymore. It felt right, like it was always meant to be and we’d finally figured it out.
Chapter 11
Cece
Iwoke up the morning after my talk with Knox feeling invigorated. After the bar he walked me to my bus, and we’d held each other for a long time, kissing, talking about what the new norm would look like for us, and it gave me clarity. I wanted this. This man. This chance. This crazy adventure we were about to embark on. I wanted it all. Even if it was scary as hell. I didn’t want to look back on my life ten years from now and regret the chance I didn’t take with my best friend.
The girls were already awake, preparing breakfast when I rolled out of my bunk.
Chris winked at me when I stumbled into the small living area of our bus. “You got in late last night. What’s that about?”
I poured myself a cup of liquid energy and muttered, “Drinks with Dade and Knox.”
“Oh yeah?” My friends shared a smirk before Chris asked, “How’d that go?”
I raised a shoulder as I leaned back against the counter. I knew keeping this secret from them wasn’t going to be easy, but I was determined. Things with Knox would be tough enough without having our every move scrutinized by our road family.
