Relentless (Nashville Nights)

by Cheryl Douglas

  Mirroring J.T.’s fury would only prolong it, so she decided to try a different approach. She tipped her head back, looking him in the icy-blue depths of his eyes. Lord, the man had incredible eyes. “Please?”

  He framed her face in his hands, reaching down to brush a brief kiss across her lips. “Just don’t be too long, sugar.”

  “I won’t.” She tried to conceal his effect on her with Ty and Jake looking on, but she was sure it was as obvious to them as it was to the man himself; she turned to putty in his skillful hands.

  Watching him walk away, she guessed she’d allowed her gaze to linger on his fine backside a little too long because Ty chuckled, grasping her shoulder.

  “I’m going to head outside too. I need to call Avery.”

  “Sorry about your appointment time, Ty,” Jake said. “I know you’re a busy man.”

  “This is my fault,” Nikki said, turning to face the two men. “If you can hang tight for a few more minutes, you can take my time, since I obviously won’t be using it.”

  “Sure, no problem,” Ty said, extracting his phone from the pocket of his jeans. “I wasn’t having a very productive day in the studio anyhow. I could use some time to clear my head.”

  She waited until Ty made his way out of the room before turning her attention to Jake.

  They had been friends for a long time, though she knew he wished for more. It was time for them to have the conversation she’d been putting off for too long. “I’m sorry J.T. came here, getting in your face like that.”

  “He cares about you, a lot.”

  She tried to ignore the buzz his words evoked. She might not want a relationship with J.T. McCall, but she had been in lust with the man for years. She had the right to bask in the excitement for a minute, now that the feeling was finally mutual. “It’s not going to go anywhere, Jake. It can’t. I have my career to think about, and J.T. is obviously not a man who’s used to sharing his woman with anything or anyone.”

  He observed her carefully before asking, “If you were ready for a relationship, would he be the one?”

  She hated the thought of hurting Jake, but she knew prolonging the inevitable would only hurt him more in the end. “I don’t know, maybe.” She moved in closer. “You know I think you’re a great guy…”

  “Just not the guy for you, right?” He raised a hand, taking a step back. “It’s okay. I get it now.”

  She frowned, sensing his irritation. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “After meeting him, it’s pretty obvious. He and I are nothing alike.” He smiled, brushing a hand across her cheek. “I thought you wanted a nice guy who would treat you right. I wanted to be that guy for you.”

  “J.T. is…”

  “The man you want,” he said softly, dropping his hand to his side. “I’ve suspected that for a while. But seeing you together just now, it was painfully obvious.”

  She didn’t know what to say, how to bridge the burgeoning gap between them. Jake was her friend, first and foremost. She didn’t want to lose that. “Maybe we just need to take a break for a while. When I get back from the tour, I’ll call you. We’ll get together…”

  He pressed his fingertip against her lips, silencing her. “There’s no room for me in your life now.”

  “What are you talking about? Why would you say that?” It wasn’t the thought of losing him as her lover that rattled her. He was her confidante, her champion… She began to realize how selfish she had been. While she had been thinking of him as a friend, who sometimes satisfied her urge for an intimate touch, he thought of them as much more. She had to let him go, to find the kind of relationship he deserved. That was never going to happen as long as she was in his life, demanding her share of his time and attention.

  She brushed a tear away before pressing a kiss to his lips. “I’m going to miss you so much.”

  “I know, sweetheart. I’m going to miss you too, but I think we both knew this day was going to come sooner or later.”

  She nodded, clearing her throat. “You’re right. I just wish…”

  “No regrets,” he whispered, obviously battling his own surge of emotions. “Okay?”

  She reached up to wrap her arms around his neck. “Right, no regrets.”

  J.T. stalked the paved parking lot under the watchful eye of his brother. Ty was probably worried he was going to start tearing the place up if she didn’t come down soon. The thought had crossed his mind, but he wasn’t there yet. Just when he thought he’d worn a hole in sole of his custom boots, she finally put him out of his misery.

  Nikki smiled at Ty, and J.T.’s libido kicked into overdrive. Damn, if she could turn him on with a smile, he really was in trouble.

  “Sorry that took so long, Ty. You can head on up now.”

  Ty grinned, crooking a thumb over his shoulder. “I didn’t mind waiting. Too bad I can’t say the same for this guy.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Patience isn’t his strong suit, is it?”

  J.T. growled low in his throat. She was doing a damn good job of testing his patience right now.

  “You mind giving him a ride home?” Ty asked, still grinning, as though he was enjoying watching his brother squirm.

  J.T. had no doubt this was his way of getting even for all the grief he’d given him about Avery in the early days. “I can find my own ride home. You just head on upstairs.” He flashed a quick smile. “And make sure you’ve got a spotter. Wouldn’t want you to have an accident. It’s been a long time since you’ve lifted anything heavier than your guitar.”

  “Smart ass,” Ty mumbled. “Hey, I almost forgot, Nikki. Avery wanted me to invite you over for a barbeque tonight. There were a few things she wanted to talk to you about before we hit the road.”

  She smiled. “I’d love to come, thanks. I’ve missed that gorgeous daughter of yours.”

  Ty beamed like the proud papa he was. “You should see how much she’s grown. I can hardly believe she’ll be turning three next month.”

  Nikki frowned. “Next month? Does that mean you’ll miss her birthday?”

  “No way, I wouldn’t miss that for anything. We’ll be in Charleston around that time. Avery will bring her out. We’ll go out for dinner, and I’ll have a chance to spoil her rotten.” He winked. “She’s got her eye on this pony…”

  Nikki laughed. “Please tell me it’s the stuffed variety.”

  “Yeah, I wanted to get her the real deal, but her overprotective mama says she’s too young.” He shrugged. “Maybe by next year I can talk her into it.”

  “Unless her favorite uncle steals your thunder,” J.T. chimed in.

  Ty raised an eyebrow. “Derek’s gonna surprise her with a pony?”

  J.T. smirked. “Get your ass upstairs, big mouth.” He grabbed Ty’s shoulder before he could reach for the door. “Hey, did my sister-in-law say anything about inviting me to that barbecue?”

  “She’s been trying to get you to come out to dinner for months, but you’re always on the road. Hell, your niece asks for you every other day.”

  Anna Marie was his little princess. It killed him to think he may have disappointed her by not making more of an effort to spend time with her. He’d have to redeem himself with a trip to the toy store before he paid her a visit. “Tell my best girl I’ll be there at six sharp.”

  “You best be there,” Ty said, pointing a finger at him. “If you let my baby down, I’m gonna come lookin’ for you.”

  “Don’t worry, I’ll be there.” J.T. waited for Ty to pass through the glass door before he turned his attention to Nikki. “Hope you don’t mind that I honed in on your dinner invitation like that?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t mind.” She chuckled. “Kinda hard for me to picture you playing dolls with a toddler though.”

  He took a step closer, brushing his index finger down her cheek. “There’s a lot you don’t know about me, pretty lady. Stick around and I just might let you in on a few more secrets.” Like I’m falling for you.


  She shook her head, smiling. “You’re too much.” She positioned her hand over her eyes to block the sun. “About last night…”

  He took a step toward her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “Why don’t you come back to my place and we’ll…” He grinned. “Talk about it.”

  She laughed. “You sure you don’t want to re-enact it?”

  He would give anything for a do over. If he hadn’t been so anxious last night, they wouldn’t have to talk about it at all. He would have already sealed the deal and she would be his, period.

  “We’ve got a few hours before we have to be at my brother’s place.” He ran a hand up her bare arm. “A lot can happen in that amount of time.”

  She tipped her head back to look him in the eye. “That’s what I’m afraid of, cowboy.” She pressed her palms to his chest, and he took advantage of her close proximity to draw her into the circle of his arms. “You need to know, nothing’s changed for me. If anything, your little vanishing act just proved my point.”

  Frowning, he said, “I’m not the one who disappeared, darlin’.”

  She pushed his hands away, stepping out of his arms. “Really? What would you call it, then? I hadn’t even caught my breath and you’d already hit the shower.”

  An older couple walked past them toward the building’s entrance, eyeing them curiously.

  J.T. couldn’t decide if it was because they recognized Nikki or they had overheard snippets of their conversation. Either way, he wasn’t taking any chances. Raking his hand through his hair, he said, “Listen, we both agreed to dinner at Ty’s tonight, and the fact is, we can’t avoid seeing each other now that you’re hittin’ the road with my brother. I’d just as soon it not be awkward, wouldn’t you?” He knew a woman like Nikki wouldn’t respond well to pressure, but he had to make her see reason before his window of opportunity slammed shut. He knew once she started the tour, he would be relegated to the back of her mind again.

  Sighing, she tossed him a set of keys. “I’m tired. You can drive.”

  Her fine little backside mesmerized him as she crossed the parking lot to her Lexus SUV. Standing with her hand on her hip as she waited at the vehicle, she said, “Are you gonna stand there gawking at me all day, or are you gonna unlock the door?”

  Chuckling, he hit the switch and walked to her side of the truck to open the door for her. This was the first time he’d ever been able to say, in all honesty, that he loved everything about a woman. She was sweet enough to bring home to mama but sexy enough to rock his world. A combination that might prove to be hell on his heart.

  Gripping the hand rest, she climbed in, treating him to a view of the angle he loved so much.

  “Hot damn, girl,” he said, giving her a thorough onceover. “You don’t know what you’re doin’ to me.”

  Tongue in cheek, she replied, “Don’t be so sure.”

  He leaned over, stealing a quick kiss before he closed the door. Crossing the front of the vehicle, he realized all of the tension he’d felt earlier, about his career and his future, had dissipated.

  Being with her made him happier than he’d ever been astride a mean-ass bull, and that was saying a lot. He didn’t think he’d ever see the day when a woman would outrank a bull in his mind. When he claimed the driver’s seat, she was scrolling messages on her phone, a smile on her face. “What’s got you so happy, sugar?”

  “Just friends and fans congratulating me on the big win last night.” She slipped the phone back in her purse as she reached for the radio.

  He grabbed her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. “In case I didn’t say it properly last night, I’m real proud of you. You impress the hell out of me.”

  She looked taken aback by his words. A soft blush stained her cheeks and she smiled. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  “I mean it. You’re so damn talented, Nik,” he said, gruffly. He’d never had his brother’s way with words and it was moments like this he wished he did. He wanted her to know that he understood how much her career meant to her and he would never try and stand between her and her dream. He had never learned the fine art of subtlety, and he knew he often came on too strong when he should have the good sense to rein it in, but with Nikki, he felt like he needed to act quickly or risk missing out on the chance of a lifetime.

  “Thank you. That means a lot.”

  He felt so inept. How could he make her understand how much he appreciated and respected her and her music, without sounding like he had a serious case of hero worship? He wasn’t used to being on this side of the fence. He was usually the one who had to ward off the advances of overzealous buckle bunnies. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been the pursuer in a relationship.

  She glanced at the keys in his hand, looking uncomfortable. “Uh, are you ready to go, or have you changed your mind?”

  “No, sorry,” he mumbled, cursing his stupidity as he fired up the engine. His mind was racing with thoughts and feelings he couldn’t find the right words to express. He didn’t want to come on too strong and scare her away, but he didn’t want to live with the regret of not telling her how he felt when he had the chance. “You and your buddy sort things out?” he asked, finally.

  She shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. “Yeah, we’re not gonna be seeing each other for a while.”

  He gripped the steering wheel, trying to resist the urge to pump his fist in the air. Easing into the busy late afternoon traffic, he asked, “Really? Why’s that?”

  Her scornful look told him he wasn’t fooling her with his innocent act. “Like you don’t know.”

  “He told you what we talked about?” Not that J.T. would blame the guy for outing him. After his strong-arm approach, he probably deserved it.

  “He didn’t have to.”

  He stole a glance at her when they stopped at a traffic light. She seemed uneasy, like she was afraid of revealing too much. If that were the case, he’d have to keep digging until she told him what he wanted to hear. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I think he had a pretty good idea where things were headed when you showed up.”

  “Why’s that?”

  Crossing her arms over her midsection, she tapped her sandaled foot against the floorboards.

  “He’s convinced I’ve had a thing for you for a while now.”

  He grinned. Now they were getting somewhere. “I’m listening.”

  She scowled out the window. “I didn’t say he was right.”

  He reached across the seat, gripping her thigh. “No, but you didn’t deny it, either.”

  She looked at his hand and sighed. “I told you last night I’d been curious about you for a while. I guess I just didn’t realize I’d been so obvious about it.”

  He chuckled, reveling in her quiet admission. “So your boyfriend knew you were hot for me all along?”

  “He wasn’t my boyfriend; he was just a friend. And I never said I was hot for you. It was just a silly little infatuation.” She pressed the button to ease the window down. The cool air brushed across her face, stirring her hair. “I didn’t even know you.”

  He wanted to reach over and tuck the stray strands of hair behind her ear so he could see her beautiful face. “Maybe not, but you’re gettin’ to know me now.”

  She tipped her head to the side, looking him in the eye. “What’s your point?”

  He thought his point was obvious. What he felt for her went way beyond infatuation, and if she was honest with herself, he knew she’d admit that she was feeling it too. “Who knows where this might lead, if you’re willin’ to give it a chance.”

  She shook her head. “I thought I made myself clear last night. I’m not willing to give it a chance. I can’t…”

  He gripped the steering wheel, frustration warring with the little voice inside of his head that told him to stay calm, or he’d risk blowing his chance again. “You’re using your career as an excuse because you don’t want to risk getting hurt.”

  “Ho
w the hell would you know how I feel?”

  “I’ve been where you are, sugar. It’s easy to hide behind your career, not let anyone in. Then you wind up where I am. Alone, with a long road ahead of you and no idea where you’re goin’. Let me tell you, it’s scary. Don’t make the same mistakes I’ve made.”

  She gripped his hand, a tender look in her eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were thinking of retiring.”

  He didn’t want her pity; he wanted her promise that she would be smart enough to take advice from someone who’d been there and wore the battle scars to prove it. “It’s not like I have a choice. I can’t keep ridin’ forever.”

  “But you’re still on top…”

  He shrugged. “For now, but I know it’s only a matter of time before someone knocks me off my throne.” He forced a chuckle, trying to pretend he wasn’t bitter. “They’re all gunnin’ for me. Sooner or later, one of them will take the top spot from me.” After clearing his throat, he said, “I’d rather go out on my terms, as a winner.”

  “Any idea what you’ll do now?” she asked softly.

  “Not a clue.” The silence crowded the small space before he added, “I guess I’m gonna have to figure it out sooner rather than later. I’m comin’ to the end of my season. I’ll announce it then.”

  “If you ever need someone to talk to, to bounce ideas around with, I’m here.”

  He was surprised by her offer, but even more surprised by his willingness to confide in her. Twenty-four hours ago he wouldn’t have suspected he could open up to anyone, aside from his brother, about this. “Thanks for listening, Nik. It helps, a lot.”

  She smiled. “I’m glad. I know what it’s like to feel alone, J.T. This business is rough. You never know who likes you for you and who just wants to say they knew you when.”