Page 79 of Home Coming

When he pulled back so they both could breathe, common sense took over again. The crew stood nearby waiting to reset the stage for the next act. Not to mention the packed arena of close to twenty-thousand fans who were witnessing this not so private moment and reacting to it with a deafening level of cheers.

“We’d better.” He tipped his head toward the wings.

She laughed. “Yeah.”

Backstage, she gazed up at him with trepidation in her eyes. As if she were afraid it wasn’t real. That his feelings weren’t real.

He could correct that. “You’re wrong, you know,” he said.

“About what?” she asked, sounding breathless.

“It was never unrequited like the song says. I’ve wanted you since that first day I found you in my parents’ house in nothing but a towel. I haven’t stopped wanting you since.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because there’s a good chance I’m really bad at this.”

“Bad at what?”

“Relationships. Love.”

She let out a short laugh “Quinn Baldwin, you’ve never been bad at anything in your life.”

“I’m told it was quite bad when I dumped Cassie before leaving for California. And I’m pretty sure my family would argue I can be a shitty son and brother sometimes.”

She shook her head. “To me you're perfect.”

“No. Not perfect. But I’m going to try my best to be that for you.”

Her hands rested on his chest. The two of them were pressed together from thighs to hips and still it wasn’t close enough for him. And there were still too many people around. Band members. Crew. The ever-present photographers.

He’d tempered his desire and his feelings for too long. He was ready to stop doing that now. But not with an audience.

But this was Bailey’s moment. The final show of a once in a lifetime dream come true concert tour. A sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden had sung her lyrics back to her and chanted her name. He would never ask her to leave early—

“You wanna get out of here?” she asked.

Shocked, but more than pleasantly surprised he laughed. “Yes. So badly.”

Grabbing his hand she said, “Come on!”

“Where are we going?” he asked after they dodged equipment and people and finally made their way to a door with an exit sign above it.

“I have a hotel room nearby. But there are probably going to be photographers right outside that door.”

“I think I can handle that. I do have some experience with security—” He frowned. “Hey, wait. Where is your security?”

“I sent him home when I saw you here. Is that okay? I just…didn’t want him when I could have you.”

She gazed up and his heart swelled.

He couldn’t keep the smile off his face as he nodded. “Yeah. It’s more than okay.”

He could only hope she was okay with what he intended to do to her the moment they were alone inside that hotel room.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-ONE

The door of the hotel room crashed against the wall.

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