Page 81 of Between Never and Forever
The muscle in his cheek twitches again as we stare at each other. It’s a new tell, I realize, but I’m not sure yet what it’s giving away. I wait for him to make the same jab—bring up my mom’s drug use and rotating list of bedroom guests—but he doesn’t. I resist the urge to let my eyes scan his face and instead I hold his hard gaze. I have a lifetime of experience shielding myself from the judgment of others. It stopped bothering me a long time ago.
No one’s opinion of me could ever hurt worse than my own.
Until now.
The distance between us seems to shrink as he leans forward, looming over me.
“Stay away from her,” he repeats, and the protectiveness in his tone gives me chills that I don’t want him to see.
I take a giant step back, cock my head to the side, and bring my left hand up in a mock salute. I force a sweet smile and flutter my eyelashes, a pleasant picture of obedience.
“Whatever you say, Sir. Any other requests before I kick your pompous, patronizing ass out of my courtyard?”
The corner of his mouth twitches, a whisper of a ghost of a smile. His eyes drop to my smirking lips and stick there for long enough that my breath catches. Then they land on my emerald engagement ring again. He jerks his headno, a response to my question, then starts to stride toward his truck. As he passes me, his steps slow. He’s so close I can feel his heat even though we aren’t touching.
“Welcome to town,Ms. Loveless,” he says, his deep voice curling around my stage name in a way that feels almost indecent. “See you Monday.”
It takes a moment for his last sentence to register in my mind. When it does, he’s already backed out of my drive and Red is closing the gate.
See you Monday?
I hear Red’s boots on the cobblestone as he comes to stand next to me.
“Is he the guy from—”
“The lap dance and the Perv Pen,” I confirm with a nod.
Red hums in surprise but doesn’t say anything else. When I feel his eyes on me, I glance up at him and scowl.
“Ms. Loveless? Really?”
Red shrugs. “Professionalism.”
I snort and roll my eyes. Professionalism my ass. He just wanted to be intimidating, as if being 6’5”, jacked and covered in tats isn’t enough.
I turn and walk toward the house. I need to find my dog and my guitar.
See you Monday?
Damn it. I’m almost afraid to find out.
19
My hands gripthe steering wheel so tightly my knuckles are white.
She looks good. Really good.
I’ve seen her picture in magazines and on the television, but there’s something different about seeing her in person. Before, I could pretend she was just another celebrity. The silver hair made it easier. I could separate the lead singer of The Hometown Heartless from the wild brunette girl with laughing eyes in my memories. But in the coffee shop today, with her long hair pulled back and hidden beneath a ball cap, she was Savannah, the girl I still consider mine.
Who I’ve always considered mine.
Her voice is a little deeper, a little raspier. It’s sexy in a way that shoots right through me. I can’t stop thinking of what it would sound like now compared to then. Telling me secrets in the dark, or ribbing me with a mischievous grin, or coaxing me into doing something we both know I shouldn’t. Moaning my name.
Would she still own me the way she did? Still rule my heart and my head completely?
I already know the answer.
I squeeze the steering wheel harder and flick my eyes to the rearview mirror.
