Page 85 of Out of the Gold

“Still, I’d like to keep our relationship a secret. I really don’t want to give anyone the idea I’m trying to sleep my way to the top. After having my dad’s name brought up all the time, that’s all I need.”

Her words cut right to my core. “I’ll do anything you ask, Goldie. I don’t want to make this harder for you.” I make another corkscrew turn. “But, I do want to proudly walk with you on my arm soon.”

In a quiet voice, she replies, “Thanks.”

I hate having to hide our relationship, but I understand. All her life, she’s been touted as the daughter of Braxton Hunte, rather than as a very talented woman in her own right. I can give her this. For now.

Melody interrupts my thoughts. “Thomas said no one has seen me since they all got sick, and they thought I had a bad time of it. Why don’t we go with that? I’ll simply tell them I was down and out, too.”

I weigh her words. “Sounds like a good plan.” We approach the town. “Should I drop you off at your hotel?”

“It’s already after seven, and we need to get you sewn in. How about you drop me off down the road from your trailer and I’ll walk the rest of the way.”

I nod, unhappy but understanding her decision. “I’ll bring our luggage into my trailer and stow yours with your wardrobe kit.”

“Sounds like a plan.”

I maneuver to a stop in a quiet alley and she turns to leave. I clamp down on her shoulder. “Oh, no. You’re not getting away from me that easily.”

Spurred on by our first parting in days, I bring her back to me and kiss her one last time. When we break apart, she’s panting. And so am I.

Her hand lands on my cheek. “I’ll see you in a few minutes.” And then she’s gone.

I clutch the steering wheel for a long moment, and then pull away, leaving her trailing behind the car. A few minutes later, I park next to my trailer, my hand landing on the warm seat she vacated. Closing my eyes, I breathe in her vanilla scent.

Forcing my eyes open, I get out of the car and collect our bags. I reach my trailer and am about to pull out my key but realize someone’s already inside. And so it begins.

I open the door and walk up the steps. “Chase, you made it.”

“Hey, Thomas.” I place her bag next to her work suitcase. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better. I’m about at ninety percent. You never got it?”

I shake my head. “Getting away from everything felt good, though. I feel like a new man.” Not a lie.

My PA checks me up and down. “You look good, man. Better than I’ve seen you look in a long time.”

Instead of responding, I slap him on the back. Dumping my duffel in the bathroom, I open the refrigerator and grab one of my favorite specialty waters.

The trailer door opens and my heart begins to thump like an audio mixer was creating the score. Melody bounds up the steps, sees I’m not alone, and drops her head.

“Hi, Melody,” Thomas says. “How are you feeling?”

She fidgets with her purse strap. “I think I’m almost back to one hundred percent. How about you?” Melody gives me the side-eye as she passes to get to her design suitcase.

“Not quite that good but getting better,” Thomas responds.

“Some bug, huh?” She offers me a pair of black boxer briefs.

I busy myself by leaving for the bathroom. If Thomas weren’t here, I’d demand she settle me into these. With pleasant thoughts about how such a feat might go, I reenter the main area in only the underwear. When my eyes land on her, my cock stirs.

Corkscrew turns with buses coming straight at me.

Sheer vertical drops into the water without any guardrails.

Wrinkles.

I try to think of anything to divert my body’s reaction to being so near to my woman when I’m barely wearing any clothes. Thomas accomplishes this feat without even trying when he says, “So, Chase, we have a lot of ground to cover.” My libido dies.

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