Page 118 of Pink and Country

“Don’t leave, Uncle Cattter,” Kimmie said. “I loooove you.” I spun the little girl around.

“Guys, I have a show tomorrow night. I promise to come back because I miss you guys too much.” Tristan jumped on the bed, and I unleashed my Tickle Monster on both their bellies. With a deep voice, I added, “You better be good to your mama, you little clever bunnies. Uncle Carter will know if you two are being naughty.” The sound of their laugher filled me with warmth. Tristan clung to my back as soon as I leashed the monster back. I lifted Kimberly in my arms, wading around like a robot.

Parked in front of their house, Ed honked twice.

“Time to go, guys. I’ll call your mama to set up another trip.” Tristan brought one of my bags to Ed, and Kimmie snaked her arms tighter around my neck. Maybe, one day, a little blue-eyed girl would do the same.The idea jumpstarted my heart.

After we left Stud and his family, we picked Juniper and Riley up at their hotel, and we all got going.

June sat in front, next to Ed, and dealt with last-minute details about Seattle. Riley sat behind her, already on his phone. He didn’t join me all the time on the road, but he said tagging along this time would do him some good. So here he was. We could’ve afforded better transportation to Seattle, but somehow, for a reason I never put too much thought in, we loved traveling all cramped up in an SUV. It felt like old times. Carter-Hills-Band times.

I sat in the far back, in the third row, the space uncomfortable for my tall self, and dialed April the moment we reached the interstate.

“Hey you.” My spine tingled at the sound of her soft voice. “I miss you. I can’t believe you’re gone for an entire week. How was your show last night?”

“Great. I think. I landed in a parallel universe and only sang my heart to you. You know those out-of-body experiences—”

“In a way, you sang to me. I played your songs in the order of your set list.”

She paused for a long minute.

When April spoke again, her voice was low and filled with emotions. “I’m sorry I couldn’t join you.”

“Next time, I’ll bring the handcuffs on the road to keep you close to me.”

“I’ve never tried handcuffs. Do you think I’d like that?” she asked, using her most sultry voice.

My pants tightened, and the SUV closed on me at her words.

“Christ, Fairy, don’t say things like these when you’re over two thousand miles away. You know I can’t resist you. I’ll do another round trip just to fuck the fantasy out of you.” She let out the most delicious, cock-jolting, restraint-loosening laughter I’d ever heard.

Why didn’t I insist on driving myself? Just this time. A spike of heat slammed into me, and I got rid of my jacket. Fuck, April would kill me.

Images of her, butt naked, flashed through my mind. I breathed through my nose to calm the surge of hormones making me hungry for her and hard.

My body got carried away at the idea of touching her silky skin. And hearing her moan my name.

Damn it.

My hand rubbed over my dick a few times to release the tension.

The almost three-hour drive to Seattle flew by. We exchanged goodbyes as I unfolded my body from the backseat into the parking garage at our hotel.

Tonight, April was having dinner at the Bensons’ place. In New York, they’d hinted at a long history between them. One for which words couldn’t carry all the weight. I still had to learn all about it. It got me unhinged, and I loathed the feeling.

My thumbnail found my forehead and gave it a scratch.

April only mentioned dating their son in college. But there was more to the story. I could tell. Would her ex-boyfriend be there tonight? A tightness grew around my heart. My skin itched. I shut my eyes, begging my brain to not go there.

What was April and—what was his name? Tim? Trevor? No, Travis. Yeah, that was it—Travis’s relationship like nowadays? Did they still talk? A string of unwelcome questions popped in my head.

I hated when my brain traveled to uncharted territories and got me all worried.

April loved me. She told me so herself. But did she still love him too? My lungs idled.

My thoughts started racing, and I suffocated. Breathe in. Breathe out.

April was mine. All mine. Did she need to close this chapter of her past to move forward with her life? Should I worry?