It’s going to take way more than one slightly terrifying conversation with Anna to make me question our love or doubt our future. Honestly, there are very few things that could wreck our relationship at this point.
CHAPTER THREE
jake
“Sweetheart, we’re here,”I murmur, lightly running my fingers through Kate’s chocolate-brown hair as she sleeps soundly on my lap. Although I hate waking her, I don’t want her to miss the surprise. Anticipating the first weekend of the tour might be overwhelming, I rented us a house on 30-A in Florida to spend the next couple of days. There’s nothing that two days in the sun can’t fix.
“Hmmm. Where are we?” she asks without opening an eye.
She nuzzles her head into my lap, sending a jolt of excitement straight to my cock. If she keeps this up, we’re not going to be getting off this bus, and I’d much rather do all the incredibly dirty things I have planned in a much larger space.
“The beach,” I whisper, dragging a finger down her neck and stroking her collarbone.
Fuck. I need to control myself. If that’s even possible with this woman. I’d do anything for her. Give her the entire goddamn world.
She’s my endgame. I’ve known it from the moment my lips first touched hers at the lake. I’d marry her today if I thought she’d say yes. I shake my head and look at the ceiling. Thisis exactly what I need tonotdo—freak her out. The next few months are going to be a major adjustment as we navigate integrating our lives and she gets her first experience of what nonstop travel looks like for me. It doesn’t help that I’m also in the midst of writing and recording a new album, requiring even more of my time. My schedule is jam-packed almost every single day, except for the next two.
“Did you say beach?” Kate’s eyes pop open, a smile growing on her face. “Don’t you dare tease me with saltwater and sand if you’re not serious.”
“I know better than to joke about that,” I say playfully, staring into her mesmerizing hazel eyes and trailing my fingertips down her bare arm. “Do you want to see the beach house?”
She jolts up. “You’re serious? We’re at the beach?”
I nod, grinning at her.
“Eek! Oh my God. Let’s go. Why are we still on the bus?” She jumps off the couch and runs to the bedroom to grab a pair of shoes. I’m barely standing before she’s already back in the living area, ready to head out the door. “Come on, Jake! It’s beach time!”
Before she can open the door, I snag an arm around her waist, pull her into me, and crash my lips against hers. Fuck. I could kiss this woman every minute of every day for the rest of my life, and it wouldn’t be enough. Her lips part for me as I slide my tongue in, tangling with hers and quickly leaving both of us panting and wanting more.
I rest my forehead on hers, tracing the back of my hand down her cheek. “I love you, Kate.”
She exhales deeply, placing her palm on my chest, directly over my pounding heart. “I love you, Jake. Forever and always.”
“Forever and always.” I drop a chaste kiss on her forehead, then take her hand in mine. “Let’s take a quick look aroundbefore we grab our things. We probably have an hour before the bus needs to head out.”
The warm, salty air hits me the moment we step off the bus, and waves crash faintly in the distance. Immediately, the tension I’ve been carrying from the tour dissipates as I thread my fingers with Kate’s and walk toward the three-story beachfront home.
There’s always been something magical about how the beach makes me feel. I distinctly remember the trip Kate and I took with our moms to Destin when we turned thirteen. It was one of the very few vacations we ever went on because money was always tight, so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s also where Kate experienced the ocean for the first time, and I got to watch her fall in love with having her toes in the sand. One of the many reasons why I thought a couple of nights here might be a good change of pace for us after a long weekend. It’s also why I’m hoping to invest in a beach house in the future.
Kate’s mouth is agape as we stand in front of the massive coastal-style home with expansive balconies on all three levels. She stares at the house and then glances over at me and back again.
Did I go overboard when booking this house? One thousand percent.
Do I regret it? Absolutely not. Seeing her overcome with joy is worth every penny.
“How many people does this place sleep?” Kate asks as I enter the code into the front-door keypad.
“Twenty-something.” I step into the crisp air-conditioned home and immediately see the ocean, thanks to the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows.
“Oh. Who’s joining us?”
“Huh? No one. Just you and me.” I press a kiss to her temple and lead her into the spacious open floor-plan living room and kitchen.
“You did not rent this huge house just for the two of us! Jake!” Her mouth hangs open, and her eyes widen like she can’t believe I would dare do such a thing.
She’d better get used to it. I’m going to spoil her beyond her wildest dreams. Show her every day how much she means to me, with words and actions. How I would move heaven and earth for her. For our future.For us.
I chuckle, shrug, and throw her a wink.
