by Jen Talty
“He wouldn’t have felt that way if he ever knew what happened between us.”
“That’s not true. Besides, nothing happened.”
He lifted his hand from underneath the blanket. “Tell that to these fingers. They remember massaging your breasts.”
“We were kids.”
“I was a grown-ass adult at twenty-two. You, on the other hand, had just turned eighteen and if memory serves me correct, you were a virgin.”
“I lied.”
He laughed, but he didn’t glance in her direction. “You’re lying now.”
“True,” she admitted. “But we didn’t sleep together, so I don’t know why you’re acting as if we committed a sin or something.”
“Because, I did. Every singer that went on the road with Cowboy Cal got a lecture every trip about how if we even looked at you sideways, we’d be kicked off the tour and then hunted like the animals we were.”
“You’re right. He would have castrated you.”
He groaned.
Laughing right now made her feel like life might eventually be okay. “I thought I’d never see you again after the night you tapped on my door and said adios.”
“Right before I left for the Army. Another night I crossed the line.” He rubbed the side of his face. “And I paid for it.”
“Had you tried to cop a feel that night, I would have kneed you,” she mused, touching her mouth, remembering his velvet tongue gliding between her lips in one hell of a goodbye kiss.
“I wanted you more than you’ll ever know. If I thought you could have dealt with leaving Nashville, or me staying, I would have done anything to have made love to you that night.”
“Well, my, my, Jaden Sawyer, you are drunk because you’re talking crazy speak.”
“I’m quite buzzed and hopefully won’t remember these confessions in the morning.” He chuckled. “Your father gave me a lecture about leaving, and it had nothing to do with music and everything to do with you.”
“These are not confessions. This is you being drunk.”
“They say we speak the truth when under the influence, so here’s another one for you. The only reason I never went back to Nashville was that I’ve always been afraid to see you.”
She laughed at the absurdity. “And why is that?”
“You know I couldn’t continue that life, but if I let anything happen with us, you’d be the kind of woman I’d change my mind over, and see, I couldn’t do that.”
“And I’m sure you’re glad you didn’t.” She let out a sigh. “Why are we having this conversation?”
“I loved being in the Army, and I love working for Hank. As happy as I was with you and Cal, I’m happier here. I’ve always missed you, but this is the life I was meant to be a part of.”
“You said something like that right before you kissed me goodbye. That hurt. And confused me.”
“I was young and stupid,” he said with a tone as sweet as caramel melting in the hot sun. “But could you have left Nashville? Your dad?”
“Not at eighteen, probably not, but you never even asked.”
“I didn’t need to, and you know it.”
“Well, if we’re clearing the air, I’ve got a few confessions of my own,” she said, hoping she’d come off lighthearted, as if she hadn’t thought about him every day for the last ten years.
That got his attention as he flipped to his back. “Get me more drink and do tell.”
“As long as you promise you will really forget or be smart enough to never, ever bring this up again.” Her fingers glided across his hands a little too long for someone who was just retrieving his glass.
His gaze met hers with a hint of yesterday, a promise of tomorrow, and a whole lot in-between.
Yep. She was about close to being drunk.
“Just spill it.” Once again, he patted the empty side of his bed.
This time, she brought the bottle and climbed in next to him, throwing caution to the wind. Her father’s death left her with a gigantic hole and even though being next to Jaden wouldn’t fill the void, it would help.
A little.
“Come on, tell me,” he whispered in a seductive voice she’d heard only when he sang a love ballad that only he could perform. His vocal range was unique to a country singer. He didn’t have that normal twang, like traditional stars, but it didn’t matter. The fans loved his songs. His voice.
Him.
“I overheard you and my dad talking a few months before Regina died. He was on your case to come visit while on leave. I found out where you lived outside of Fort Bragg, and I drove over to see you.”
He jerked to a full sitting position, crossing his legs, staring at her. “Like hell you did.”
She set the bottle and her glass on the floor, thankful her hand didn’t shake. “I sat outside your apartment complex for three hours trying to get the nerve to go ring your bell.”
“You’re not pulling my leg, are you?” His dark eyes widened in surprise.
She shook her head.
“What stopped you?”
“I saw you and a woman, arm in arm. I decided my timing would be pretty shitty.”
He reached out and brushed her long hair over her shoulder, letting his finger glide over the skin just below her ear.
A slow shiver built from her fingertips to the warmth in her belly. She didn’t know Jaden anymore. Everything she felt right at this moment had to do with memories heightened by bullets flying in her direction.
“That was probably Renee.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“Short-lived, but until she met her husband, we often hooked up.”
“Do you have a girlfriend now?”
His wicked smile shot the heat that had pooled in her gut straight to all the parts that made her a woman.
“Nope. What about you?”
“I’ve never had a girlfriend,” she said, smiling so much her cheeks hurt.
“Ha ha, funny girl. You know what I meant.”
“I had a relationship with a guy for about five years.”
“Steve. Your dad told me about him. Said he was nice enough, but not the right man for you.”
“My dad was right about that and my last boyfriend. Total mistake.”
“Sorry to hear that. Who was the guy?”
She wasn’t going to tell him she’d slept with Derek. That would probably wig him out more than it had her father, especially since Jaden and Derek didn’t really seem to trust each other. “No one worth mentioning.”
He traced his finger up the side of her arm. “I can’t believe you came to see me.”
She batted his hand away the second he slipped it in her robe, squeezing her shoulder gently, putting just the right amount of pressure necessary to make her girly parts throb. “You’re drunk.”
“I’m pretty close,” he admitted.
He traced his thumb over her lower lip.
“Jaden, stop. I’m not a swooning teenager anymore, and we’d both regret it in the morning.”
He dropped his hand to the bed with a thump before rolling to his back.
“We’re both hurting,” she whispered, resting her hand on his firm chest, but thought better of it and recoiled. “Sleeping with each other wouldn’t make either of us feel any better.”
Never, in a million years, did she think she’d turn down Jaden Sawyer. But she wouldn’t have a pity fuck. Not with him.
“You can’t tell me you’ve never thought about it,” he said.
“You know I did back then.”
“And now?” he winked. “Because I have.”
“Jaden. Stop this ridiculous teasing.”
He let out a short laugh. “I kind of can’t believe you’re here, and I’m trying desperately not to think too hard about the fact your father isn’t. I’m sorry my odd sense of humor keeps having a sexual tone. But you took my breath away when you walked through that door.”
“You said I used to do that when I sang.”
&n
bsp; He smiled wide. “Your voice is magical.”
“So is yours.”
He rolled to his side and propped his head up on his hand. “And neither one of us has sang professionally in ten years.”
She waggled her finger. “I did a Christmas album with my dad a few years ago.”
“I remember that.” His smile faded. “Since we can’t sleep, and we’re not going to sleep together, I think we should stop avoiding the conversation. I’ve read the police reports, seen the letters and emails, talked to Derek, but I would like to ask you a few things. While we will cover some of this tomorrow, perhaps you’ll give me a little more detail than you might in a room full of strangers.”
“Where do you want to start?”
“The media reported Cal had a new girlfriend.”
“The media was wrong. He’s still mourning over Regina’s death. Honestly, I don’t think he would have ever gotten over her and moved on. He didn’t tour for two years while she waged her war over cancer and Derek and I ran CC Music in his place.”
“Could he have been getting some action on the side? I mean, not to be a pig, but men do have needs.”
A chill rolled across her bare skin. Without thinking, she slipped under the covers and picked up her scotch. “So do women, but if he was seeing someone, even a fuck buddy, I never saw it, and we barely left each other’s side for the last three years. I was even going on this mini tour with him.”
“I know how much you hate being on the road.”
“It’s a grind and since I’ve done it my entire life, it’s nice to stay at home.” She held his gaze. Her heart hammered, making it difficult to swallow. She had no idea if that was because of the man lying next to her, or discussing her father’s death, or the alcohol.
Or all three.
Jaden cleared his throat. “So, to your knowledge, no scorned women other than the few crazy fans I’ve read about, which we’re checking into the ones that seem really over the top, like the one who tried to climb the fence.”
“And there is my mother, as Derek pointed out. And while I hate to even think it, who knows what that woman is capable of.”
“She’s done some pretty crazy shit over the years, including accusing him of sexual assault and child abuse.”
Her mother had actually tried to coach her when she’d been seven years old to say her father had hit her. “I spoke to her for the first time in five years the day my dad died. She tried to act remorseful, but I think deep down she was happy. But I don’t think she could have killed him. She had no reason to.”
“She hated him, that’s reason enough. Not to mention CC Music. She’s always wanted a bigger piece of the action. She could have easily hired someone. One of my buddies, Hogan, is following her.”
“Seriously?” She tucked her hands under her cheek, curling up next to Jaden. It seemed so natural to be with him. It was as if the last ten years hadn’t even existed. “Does he work for Hank too?”
“He and Shamus, who you’ll meet tomorrow, are the reason I ended up with the Brotherhood Protectors.”
“So, who else are you having followed?”
“Robert, your father’s first business partner, and we have someone at the house. Whoever killed your dad and tried to kill you at the funeral was a sharp shooter. A trained professional. Had that stupid hawk not gotten in the path of that bullet, we wouldn’t be lying on this pull-out, drinking scotch.”
She trembled from the inside out. “Why would someone want us dead? No matter who I look at from those lists, between my mom, ex-business partners, washed up singers, and one woman my dad had a brief affair with while still married to my mother, I don’t see any of these people wanting us both dead.”
“There is another theory you won’t like, but it’s possible you were the target from the get-go, so I really need to know the name of the guy you had a brief affair with. We’ve got someone looking into Steve—”
“What?” She bolted upright, twisting her body, glaring down at him. “Steve has nothing against my dad, or me, really. He’s the one who dumped me.”
“Because you didn’t want to live together or get married, not to mention your father never hired him.”
“How the hell did you know he’d even applied for a job at CC Music?” She shook her head. “Never mind. I don’t need to know. But Steve wouldn’t want me dead.”
“Maybe not, but we’re still looking into him, and I’d like to look into the last man you were dating, but you have to give me a name.”
“He wouldn’t hurt me or my dad.”
Jaden reached across his body and flicked off the lamp. “I was hoping you’d just tell me about you and Derek.” His voice had a touch of venom and if she wasn’t mistaken, a tiny speck of jealousy.
She gasped, covering her mouth. “How… how…”
“Your father, but also, Derek told me when he heard I was coming back to visit. I don’t think he’d take too kindly to his girlfriend snuggling up against me in the middle of the night.”
“I’m not his girlfriend. He and I ended months ago.”
“I was surprised your father didn’t can Derek.”
“It made things awkward for a while, but we all worked through it.” She rolled to her side, her back to Jaden. She was too tired and too drunk to walk up a flight of stairs. Pulling her arms through the robe and tossing it to the floor, she decided she wasn’t moving.
“Are you sure about that? I think at one point your father would have left him more than the ten percent he already owned. Giving me thirty-five percent had to have really pissed him off. And he’s already offered to buy me out.”
“I’ll admit that he was a little more than annoyed, but he understood why. You were always like the son my dad never had.”
“Maybe. But I’m still hung up on the fact you slept with Derek and now that you’re not together, he might have an ax to grind.” Jaden tucked his legs up behind her, wrapping his arm around her body. “He seems to think he has a claim on you.”
“He doesn’t.”
“Then why did he make it a point to tell me that you and he were an item when I told him he couldn’t come with you here.”
“He did no such thing.” Her eyelids grew heavy as she relaxed into Jaden’s body. “And even if he did imply something, I’m sure it’s just his weird way of protecting me.”
“He’s always had a jealous streak when it comes to women and your father. I told Cal a year ago that I thought something weird was going on with Derek.”
“That was because of me.”
“Maybe, but I’ve spent the last ten years trusting my instincts to stay alive, and my gut tells me Derek is up to no good, and I’ve got a pair of eyes on him as well.”
She froze, holding her breath for a few seconds. “Derek wouldn’t want to kill me or my dad, but you can’t sell him your part of the business.”
“I promised your father that the only person I’d ever give my share to was you, and I won’t go back on that.”
Her heart hammered against her chest. “You knew he was leaving you that much?”
“He sent me a copy of the will three months ago. I thought it strange, but he told me he was just getting all his ducks in a row, and he hadn’t changed his will since Regina died.”
She bit back a sob. “I can’t believe they’re both gone.”
“I know,” he whispered, pulling her close. “Now close your eyes and go to sleep. We’ll talk more in the morning.”
“I shouldn’t sleep here,” she said.
“But you’re going to.” His soft lips brushed across her temple.
Chapter 3
Jaden wrapped the terrycloth towel around his hips. He’d washed his body three times, and he still couldn’t get rid of the peach scent that had coated his skin after spending the night with his arms around Piper. He’d never been the jealous type, and he certainly hadn’t expected for her to be a twenty-eight-year-old virgin.
But Derek?
Not onl
y was he old enough to be her father, but he’d been working with her father for longer than Jaden had been in the picture. Derek and Cal often didn’t see eye to eye, especially when it came to Jaden. Derek would have preferred if Jaden had not only failed as a singer, but had turned out to be a criminal, robbing Cal blind.
There had been a number of times early on that Derek tried to either talk Jaden into leaving, or Cal into tossing Jaden back to the streets. When he did finally leave for the Army, Derek sent him off with a big grin and all but said, don’t return.
Ever.
Jaden stepped into his bedroom, dropping the towel as he pulled open the top drawer of his dresser.
“Shit. Sorry,” Piper’s voice echoed across the room, followed by a thud.
Then a crash
And another thud.
He hiked up his jeans, glancing over his shoulder and burst out laughing as he stared at Piper who’d fallen to the floor.
She rolled to her back, covering her eyes with her forearm. “I’m still a klutz.”
“Did you seriously turn and walk right into the wall, knowing the door was two feet to the left?” He fastened his pants before offering her a hand. “Did you like the view?”
“You’ve seen one tight ass, you’ve seen them all.”
He hoisted her to her feet, yanking her to his chest. Swallowing his breath, he wrapped his arms around her waist. “No one has ever looked as good as you in a bikini in your father’s hot tub.”
Her lips parted, and the faintest of moans fell from her mouth. Not a single day had gone by in Jaden’s life where he hadn’t wondered what might have happened if he’d been able to follow his dream and have the girl of his dreams. But she’d been too young and he too restless.
And terrified.
He spent the first couple of years telling himself he had no feelings for her whatsoever. Then he tried to forget her by being with other women.
But the last few years, he’d just given up and allowed her to enter his mind at any given moment. It had been one of the reasons he’d booked a plane ticket back to Nashville.
