Page 92 of Driving Beats

I raise my chin. “Anything to add?”

His jaw hardens. I’ve never seen him give anyone a belligerent attitude before, but he’s throwing one to me now. Bring it, Grandpa.

“As a matter of fact, I do.” His voice vibrates with tension. “You are the most reckless, spontaneous, and infuriating woman I’ve ever met. You do whatever you want, when you want, damn the consequences.”

Alexis supplies, “That’s our Nese!”

I look toward the kitchen and give her a thumbs up. Returning to the infuriating man in my room, I say, “Better than raking the sand and sitting on pillows in my spare time.”

The inside of his cheek twitches. “This isn’t going how I thought it would. I should leave. Here.” He shoves a bag obviously filled with clothes at me. Since I’m still standing at the threshold, he can’t escape unless he physically picks me up. Judging from his demeanor, touching me is the last thing he wants.

“What’s this?” The bag is branded from the pricey boutique about a half-hour away from here.

He stares at the bag in my hands. From behind clenched teeth, he says, “It reminded me of you.”

I glance into his blazing hazel eyes and warning bells go off in my mind. I will not be sucked into his orbit again! My gaze returns to the bag, which I push toward him. “I don’t want it.”

“Well, I sure as hell am not going to wear it!”

I make the mistake of looking into his eyes once more. They’re begging me to take his gift. Indignation rises from my toes, knowing what I’m about to do is stupid. But I do it anyway. “Fine.” I rip open the bag, and a gorgeous blue dress glitters up at me. It has a pattern of barely-there butterflies. I blink.

“It matches your eyes.”

Damn. I drop the bag to the floor and something makes a loud noise.

“And shoes.”

Grabbing the hanger, I hold the dress up to my body and walk to the mirror hanging inside my room. One end of the hemline hits above my knee, then it slants down to about mid-calf. Have to give him props. “The color does make my eyes pop.”

He retrieves the shoes and puts them down in front of my feet. They’re silver with an open toe. “These look great with it, as well.”

I will not crumble for a dress and a pair of shoes. He still ordered me around like I was nothing more than his property—something I promised myself I’d never allow a man to do, after watching Kelvin do that to Ma. “I appreciate the gesture. You did well. Must’ve had a good teacher.” My cheek inflates.

“The best.”

I glance in the mirror with longing, then extend the hanger to him. “I can’t accept these.”

Quietly, he says, “I bought them for you, Nese. Keep them.”

“I don’t have anywhere to wear them.”

“The dress would fit right in at any club while UC’s on tour.”

There it is. He doesn’t say I could model it for him or anything. He mentions the entire band. “Why are you here, Coop? From my point of view, you wasted a trip.”

“I don’t think so.” He takes a couple of steps closer to me yet remains beyond reach. Smart man. “You will look amazing in this dress, and anyone would be proud to have you on his arm. Be it a roadie, a fan, Noah…”

“Noah?” I face him. “What about my roommate?”

“He told me in a roundabout way that you two sleep together.”

“Are you jealous, Coop? Is that what all this is about?”

“Hell, yes, I’m jealous.” His cheekbones tinge pink. “I hate the idea of you with anyone else. I don’t want any other man hearing those sounds you make—” He drags a hand through his hair, pacing now.

“I want you with me. On tour, on vacation… in my bed. I want you beside me. Not just for now.”

His voice drops.