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“You sure you’re okay?” I could see the concern in his dark stare. “We could fly to the next spot if being on the road is getting to be too much,” he offered, and part of me wanted to take him up on it.
Not because driving city to city and sleeping in tour buses was a little wearing, but because it would mean we’d get to be alone. I liked the band and having my friends on the road, but I really missed having time on my own with him.
“No.” I shook my head. It was gracious of him to offer, but there was no way I’d make him spend any more than he needed to on me. It was bad enough he had insisted on the big rock on my finger and a whole new wardrobe.
One day, I’d hand the ring back and make enough at my bakery to pay for the clothes, and we’d be even.As if this marriage never happened,a voice in my head whispered. I cleared my throat.
“I’ll be fast,” I promised. Jax stared at me and frowned.
“I don’t like it. These buses call enough attention as it is.” I looked out and studied them. He wasn’t wrong. They were huge. Black and sleek, it was obvious they were top of the line, but it wasn’t like their image was plastered all over them. “Please be careful.” He sighed, and I knew he was giving in.
“I will.” I winked. Without thinking, I leaned in and kissed him on the cheek. The scruffy skin tickled my lips, and when we looked at one another, it felt like the world stopped and the temperature changed. But as quickly as we found ourselves in that small, semi-intimate moment, the bubble burst the moment our driver opened the door.
The older gentleman smiled at me, and I smiled back. I quickly hopped out and hurried into the small store connected to the gas station.
I wasn’t even a little surprised when the small bell over the door jingled and Xander walked toward me. I looked up at the big guy.
“Let me guess. Jax?” I asked. He shrugged.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” he mumbled. “I needed a snack.” He pointed at the candy bars I’d been checking out. I looked at his body and started to laugh.
“I highly doubt you have consumed a gram of sugar in the last decade.” The guy was built and Soul Obsession’s main bodyguard for a reason.
“You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, Dani.” That killed the smile on my face.
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” I started to apologize. “I just thought Jax asked you to follow me because he made a fuss when I left,” I explained.
“He did,” he admitted, cracking a smile. “But still, you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover.”
“So, you like sweets?”
“Who doesn’t?” Xander shrugged. “And he did ask, in case you were wondering. Texted me the moment you got out. Just don’t tell him I told you.” I rolled my eyes. I noticed he stared at the bathroom behind him.
“Go.” I pointed to the bathroom. “I’m safe here.”
“I can’t. I’ll hit the head after you get your?—"
“No one knows who I am, Xander,” I cut him off. “I’ll be fine. Please don’t let your bladder explode because of me.” He looked torn. But I knew how long we’d been on the road, and I knew how weird it was to use the bathrooms on the buses.
“Fine. I’ll be fast. Don’t go anywhere.” He sternly pointed at me, and I saluted him like a smartass.
He left, and I kept picking up snacks. Not just things I liked but things I noticed Jax enjoyed. Sweet and salty goodness filled my arms as I moved through the store toward the coolers. I grabbed a couple of bottles of water for the two of us before I moved toward the front.
I was about to pick up a pack of gum when something in the store felt like it changed. The hairs on the back of my neck stoodup, and my skin pebbled up. I looked around and noticed three men staring at me.
They were been pointing at me, and the moment they noticed my eyes on them, their hands dropped to their sides. I swallowed hard, ignoring the way my mouth was suddenly dry and the heaviness in my gut. I glanced toward the bathroom to check if Xander was done, but he didn’t come out.
I walked to the cashier, and the girl behind it was staring at me like she really didn’t like me.
“Hi. Can I get these and—" I glanced down and noticed a magazine. It had the guys on the cover from their first show. Then I was surprised to see the magazine next to it. There was a picture of Jax and me.
I had started to buy magazines that had Soul Obsession on the covers after our wedding. I had been planning on making Jax a little scrapbook. I picked up the magazine. It was the first one with me on it, and it was weird to see the two of us together. In the image, I was staring up at him adoringly. Jax had his sunglasses on and looked pissed.
The headline read,Trouble in paradise already?I set the magazines on the counter. I was going to buy it because one, I’d never seen a picture of the two of us together, and two, I was pretty sure I could make Jax laugh it off before he accidently heard about it. I was about to tell the cashier that was all and check out when I heard it.
The distinct click of a camera.
But it wasn’t just one. It was multiple.
