"What? Like I'm going to ask you to give up your life and travel around the country with me? I've got a whole album's worth of songs to explain how that idea turns out."
Dane's eyes flash, and he clenches his jaw so tight that I hear his teeth creak. "Well, if you've written about it, then it must be true."
His eyes lock me in place, and my breath catches. My gaze drops to his mouth as he leans in close, and my heart pounds in my chest. I’ve never wanted to be kissed so badly in my life. He's close enough that his scent washes over me—peppermint and soap—clean, fresh, and something wholly Dane. I close my eyes, my breath catching as I wait for the touch of his lips on mine.
"I'll wait for you outside, Ms. Langford."
My eyes fly open to find him by the door. My hands drop to my sides as I realize he has no intention of kissing me ever again. My heart races like it's trying to outrun the disappointment. But he's right. I left without saying a proper goodbye, and for good reason—one that hasn't changed in the two months since we last saw each other. And here I am, ready to jump right back into acomplicated mess and make it harder for both of us when the weekend is over.
"Fine," I whisper, then clear my throat. "I'll be out in a minute." I'm pleased my voice doesn't wobble and betray my utter devastation, even as I tell myself it’s for the best.
The door closes behind him, and I let out a silent sob, my whole body shaking as I try to hold in the sound. I crumple to the floor and allow myself a muffled, ugly cry before wiping the tears and standing up.
I put both hands on the dressing room counter and stare into the mirror.
Tomorrow night, you are singing with Gia Golding on a stage full of fans. That is better than any dumb kiss.
Lies, my stubborn heart and horny vag hiss back at me.
I shake my head in an attempt to ignore them.
I am not going to let us get that close to another kiss for the entire weekend, but to hell if I'm going to let him pretend he doesn't find me attractive. I narrow my eyes at my reflection, already planning ways to throw him off his game.
As fun as that will be, I know deep down that all I want is him.
One weekend. Then I can go home to my mama and cry into a pint of cookie dough ice cream.
I can do this.
Chapter four
Dane
"Over here, Silver. Look over here!"
The clicking of cameras is incessant as lights flash and photographers demand Silver's attention. She takes it in stride, allowing Alice to manage her movements as she poses on the red carpet like a celebrity veteran.
I keep one eye on the crowd, assessing for threats as she makes her way down the press line, but the other is glued to that round ass that’s had me mesmerized since day one. In the past twenty-four hours, I've alternated between being furious with Silver and counting down the minutes until the assignment is over,and being hard as a goddamn rock and desperate to be within sniffing range of her delectable scent.
It's infuriating.
Yesterday, when we got back to the hotel, she insisted on going down to the pool. I had to watch her do laps back and forth in a sexy black swimsuit that made her tits look incredible.
This morning, while Alice walked me through the concert schedule for the fifteenth time, Silver applied lotion to her legs while wearing a bathrobe, and I almost came in my pants like a teenager.
I haven't allowed myself any close calls like that almost-kiss yesterday, but I'm barely holding on by a thread at this point.
The only thing keeping me from throwing her over my shoulder and taking her into the bedroom is the reminder of how it felt to find the note from her in Fox Falls. I thought our moment meant something—she said it did. I should’ve known better. But it felt special, important somehow. It was unlike anything I've ever experienced, that's for damn sure.
Then she was gone, and that was that. It was a punch to the gut, and I'm still trying to catch my breath.
By the time Silver is ready to go on stage, I've managed to calm my hard-on to a respectable half-chub as I walk her to the destination. I wait with her stage-right as she takes deep breaths, nervously playing with her necklace. You'd never suspect she suffered from stage fright when she’s performing. Her music is soulful, and her voice is like silk.
Silver shakes out her hand a few times, and I instinctively reach for it. She glances at me, giving me a small smile as she takes one more deep breath.
Then they call her name.
Silver squeezes my hand tightly, then releases it and heads out into the blinding lights.
