AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Summer stared at the suitcase at her feet. It didn’t hold much. The bulk of her clothes consisted of jeans and the outfits she wore for shows. She’d have to fancy things up a bit, but until she learned more about the clubs Frank had started booking for her, what she had would work. So far her bohemian funk style had served her well, and she wasn’t about to change everything all at once.
Bad enough she’d had to garage her car in favor of something more reliable that she could put some serious miles on. She’d bought a used SUV since four-wheel drive would come in handy this time of year. Plus, Kyle was coming too and they needed room for equipment and luggage and all that jazz. They might even end up with a small band at some point.
Though she could’ve afforded to fly, she didn’t want to. Part of the reason she’d wanted to become a singer was the chance to travel and see so much more of the world than she had through the lens of Yardley, New York. She’d finally been given that opportunity, and she wasn’t going to waste it.
But man, she would miss her sweet pink Caddy. Even more so now that it bore the faint imprint of her right butt cheek above the left headlight.
Swallowing hard, she stroked her thumb over the telescopic handle of her suitcase and debated going upstairs to change. She’d already swapped clothes twice, trying to ensure she presented the right image for this final meeting. She couldn’t show any weakness.
Or, yanno, sob like her heart was breaking.
She refused to let Chase Dixon know the impact he’d made on her. Sure, he obviously liked screwing her. La-di-da. Too bad she wanted so much more from him than that.
It was equally too bad he didn’t believe he could give it. If he even wanted to, and that was anyone’s guess.
But not hers. Mentally, she had to move on from Chase. That had been driven home to her on Thanksgiving, when they’d sat across from each other at Cass’s gorgeous antique dining table—one of Triple Scoop’s other family-less employees and Jax and his mom had also been in attendance—and pretended to be friends. And only friends.
They’d done their best to make the day festive. Chase’s dad was still in rehab, his mom spent the holiday in the company of her new family in Colorado and Summer’s mom was, at last check, in Sedona having her palm read, so Cass had been extra bubbly to cheer everyone up. At least until Jax tried to talk to her. Then she’d gone into super frost mode. Summer had attempted to eat her weight in turkey while trying not to smile at Chase and Jax’s mom getting to know each other again. Chase had ended the meal by giving her a butterscotch candy and she’d nearly sobbed in her hot cocoa.
It had been the strangest holiday of her life, and Christmas would be even worse, since she wouldn’t have Cass or even Chase’s glower to keep her warm. She’d probably still be on the road, which was all she wanted. Her time to seize the future had arrived, and she was happy as could be to be on the brink of seizing it. Alone.
Woo-freaking-hoo.
The doorbell rang and she rose, rubbing her damp palms on her floral peasant skirt. Lace-up boots and a frilly blouse completed the outfit. Since she’d also left her hair down, she probably looked more like an eighteenth century poet than a present day country-slash-pop-slash-rocker chick.
She crossed the foyer, her feet moving clumsily. This wasn’t a big deal. She and Chase weren’t anything but friends who’d seen each other naked. Partially naked in his case, since she’d never even seen all of him in the buff. He’d made her laugh and he’d made her come and he’d made her cry. End of story.
At least she’d gotten a couple of new songs out of it. She’d probably get more yet, when she was out on the road by herself with her guitar, a pen and a pad of paper. Always a bright side to every storm cloud. She knew that better than most. And this storm was only temporary. Being away from him would help. Eventually she’d forget.
She opened the door, her prepared speech at the forefront of her mind. I appreciate you stopping by. It’s been a real pleasure getting to know you better, and I’m grateful for your assistance with my security. Please accept this small payment for your services. Excuse me now, while I go fling myself off the balcony I don’t have.
Okay, so the last part was an impromptu addition.
“Hey.” Chase shook off the dusting of snow gathered on his ponytail and held out a tiny plastic bobblehead Christmas tree, a sheepish smile on his face. “Got this for you. For your car,” he added when she continued to stare. Her speech vanished from her brain.
Possibly her brain vanished too. Did they ever spontaneously disintegrate? She was almost positive she’d lost all functioning brain cells in one fell swoop.
Did his eyes have to look so…so green? His jaw so carved? His body, clad in tight jeans and a loose-tailed shirt under a bulky coat, so sinful?
Porn was definitely overrated. A hot guy in a white dress shirt and faded denim could do more havoc on her hormones than some dude sporting a massive penis.
Her gaze dropped to the obvious column in Chase’s jeans. He did all right on the massive penis score too, come to think of it. And she was. A lot.
“I know you like Christmas. Or you used to.” His Adam’s apple jerked. “Do you still?”
She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“Oh. Good. I figured you probably hadn’t had much time to decorate, considering everything going on. Especially since you’re leaving. Who decorates a soon-to-be-empty house?”
“No one,” she echoed softly.
“So I got the tree.” He unfurled his fingers and it bounced maniacally on his palm. “You can stick it on your dashboard. As a reminder, you know, of home.”
“Home.” She stepped closer and leaned up on her toes, sliding her hands up his chest to frame his jaw. She pulled his face to hers, not expecting the torrent of heat that crashed through her from the brush of their lips. “God, I need you.”
She hadn’t meant to say it, to even think it. But once the words were out, he locked his arms around her waist and lifted her right off her feet. She let out a startled gasp that disappeared into his mouth, since he was currently kissing her like he’d die if he didn’t.
“You aren’t getting away from me now,” he mumbled between kisses, and hell if that statement didn’t send warmth spiraling through her body. More warmth, since every part of her was already heating up just fine.
