Love Ever After: Eleven All-New Romances!

by Nina Lane

  CHAPTER NINE

  Margo woke to a lot of sun that didn’t belong in her bedroom. Simon may have loved the view from their bedroom, but he had a special tint on the windows so that it didn’t sear the eyeballs first thing in the morning.

  She loved that about their room.

  And loved that he thought of those things.

  She groaned into the small gray pillow she’d commandeered in the night. Lila had tried to coax her into her spare bedroom, but the second bottle of wine had done her in. She’d meant to sleep just enough to kill some of the alcohol and get home before dawn. She had much to discuss with Simon. And she was fairly certain dawn had traded time with noon.

  She rolled to a seated position and moaned. The clock definitely said 11:47 AM. Thankfully, she didn’t have a studio session with the guys today. There was no way she’d live down being late twice. Professional, her big butt.

  “You live.”

  Margo pushed her hair out of her face. “You’re here.”

  “I live here.”

  “Well, yeah, but I figured you’d be at work.”

  “I’ve been working from here. Nothing pressing at the office.”

  Lila was wearing a sleeveless white flowing shirt and old jeans with frayed bottoms. The mere fact that Lila owned jeans was just odd. She pretty much personified the corporate raider look. Suits, more suits, and oh…more suits. All with superior shoes and perfectly coiffed hair.

  Okay, so even in the jeans she was pretty much perfect. Lila’s hair was pulled back into a simple tail and her eyes didn’t show a single hour of the drunk shenanigans they’d gotten into the night before. There was no justice in the world.

  Lila came over with a large mug. “I figured the coffeemaker would wake you up.”

  “God, yes.” She accepted the mug and took a sip. “Bless you.”

  “Bless Keurig.”

  “Done.” She took another sip. “So much wine.”

  “Yeah, I haven’t drunk that much wine in one sitting since…well, it’s been years.”

  “And I hate that you look so good.”

  “I’d say take a shower and wear something of mine but…”

  “My ass would not fit in your clothes.”

  Lila grinned. “No. Sorry. Maybe my shirts. We are quite chesty.”

  “Can say that again. Simon’s forever…” Margo trailed off. He probably wouldn’t be groping her anytime soon.

  “It’s okay. You know you need to go get him back, right?”

  She stared at the perfectly creamed coffee and blew on it. “Why would he want me back?”

  “Duh. He loves you. Madly. Just tell him.”

  “I tell him.”

  “Mean it. He needs to know.” Lila rolled her eyes. “Grand gestures aren’t just for girls at the end of romantic comedies. Go get him.”

  “He’s working.”

  Lila held out Margo’s phone. “All charged. Call Stef.”

  Margo took the phone and swiped it to life. She flicked through her contacts until she found Stef Wesley, Simon’s agent. “The levels of unprofessional are epic here.”

  “Good. Adds to the appeal. Simon knows how you’re built. Doing this is big.”

  “Instigator.”

  “Look, I didn’t do this stuff, all right? I just let my marriage slide into what it became. My husband had plenty of blame in the demise, but I didn’t try to fix things. Not after a certain point anyway. You two don’t deserve that.”

  “We’re not married.”

  “Yet.”

  “Marriage really doesn’t work out for the Reece family.”

  “You are not your parents, Margo. Do you need that tattooed to your arm, hand, or forehead?”

  She let out a half laugh. “No, but you have to agree that my background isn’t ideal.”

  “Simon isn’t your father. But you know what? Even if he doesn’t turn out to be the guy I’m fairly certain he is…treating him like he’s already committed the sin will surely make it happen.”

  Margo slumped against the couch, her phone on her lap. She’d never thought of it that way.

  “I’m not saying it can’t happen.” Lila sat next to her. “Being faithful was not one of my husband’s finer qualities.”

  Margo gripped Lila’s hand. “Then you know what I mean.”

  “Has he given you any reason to mistrust him? Any at all?”

  She forced herself to think about it. On the island, she’d seen the girls crawl on him—even the tour, women had been less than subtle about their availability. Simon never made a woman feel bad about throwing the offer out there, but he always extricated himself from the situation when she’d been around.

  And even when he didn’t know she’d been there. He was a natural toucher which had been weird for her to get used to, but it had been far too easy to get used to. Before Simon there had never been half naked Chinese food in bed while binge watching Netflix. Nor had there been reason for her to have to rewatch an episode because half naked Chinese often ended up all naked with sex for dessert.

  Even more so, there’d been lovemaking instead of just sex.

  There were still times when the lust turned to pure, driving sex. They were still as powerful as those forbidden stairwell assignations during the Lit tour. Simon never lacked for stamina or creativity, but he also was the most passionate and intense lover she’d ever had—emphasis on the lover part.

  “He scares me.” The confession was out and she couldn’t take it back.

  “Good. That shows it means something. Don’t you think it’s scary for him, too?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Lila bumped her with her shoulder. “Call Stefan. Make this right before you regret it.”

  Margo picked up her phone. When she brought it to life, Simon’s agent’s name was right there. She didn’t let herself analyze the why or the why nots. She hit the green call button and crossed her fingers.

  CHAPTER TEN

  “Simon. If you don’t fucking clue in, I’m going to smash my camera into the back of your head.”

  He tipped his head back and took a deep breath in, then out.

  Two of the most beautiful and sought after women in music were lounging over him and he kept zoning out.

  He wanted only one woman. Her lush body fit his as if it had been created for him. Her berry stained lips were the ones he wanted next to his face. Her honeysuckle scent was the one he wanted all over him.

  Right now some sweet flower from Lindsey and a spicy fall scent came off Jamie—both mixed to give his already raging headache a little more power. “Sorry.”

  “I’m not asking a lot. Just look like you actually want to have these two beautiful women in your lap.” Roman crouched in front of the throne-sized chair. “Now give me sexy.”

  Jamie turned his head toward her and pressed her forehead to his. “At least try and look like you’re not going to murder everyone in the place. How’s that?”

  Simon let out a half-laugh. “Deal.”

  “There we go.” Roman moved around them in his favorite bent-into-a-pretzel style.

  Lindsey slipped her arm around Simon’s neck and hovered her lips a breath away from his jaw.

  At Roman’s orders, Jamie crawled behind Simon in the chair. Her ridiculously long, coltish legs allowed her to perch on the arms behind him, and she pressed her body flush to his. “Don’t get any ideas, pal.”

  Simon grinned. “Wouldn’t dream of it, tiger.”

  Roman continued calling out orders to move around for new shots. For the next one, Lindsey straddled Simon and looked over her shoulder at the camera.

  A year ago, this would have been his ultimate dream. The unfairness of his complete lack of enjoyment was soul-destroying. At least for the Super Slut he used to be. He’d earned that name and had no problem with his love for women. But nothing could compare with Margo now.

  Not even the two amazing women practicing Twister with his body.

  “Right there.”
Roman knelt down in front of the chair. His camera was clicking away, but with each successive shutter frame the lens rose until Simon was pretty sure it was simply Jamie in his crosshairs. Simon craned his neck and saw the smolder and his skin sizzled off the sexual chocolate simmering between the designer and guitarist.

  “Need a room?” Simon asked.

  Jamie blinked and cleared her throat, then pressed a knee into his shoulder blade.

  Simon choked on a laugh as Roman barked orders. A flash of white drew his gaze to the doorway and he stilled. Jamie’s knee was between his legs and her foot behind his back. Both girls were balancing precariously on either arm of the chair and using his shoulders to prop themselves up.

  Margo.

  She stood there in old jeans that showed off her incredible legs and curves and a little white tank that made his mouth water. At least until he saw the blank expression on her face. Then she started backing away.

  “Margo!”

  Jamie’s head swiveled then she looked down at their rather intimate situation and said, “Fuck.”

  Simon lifted Jamie and her eyes widened.

  “Whoa, cowboy.”

  Lindsey hopped down on her own. “Go get her.”

  “I’m going.” Simon set Jamie down and ignored Roman’s bark to come back. He clomped across the set, around wires and lights and huge screens. He met Ellie at the doorway and she pointed.

  “Hot brunette went that way.”

  “Fuck.” He kicked off the too-big-for-him boots. It didn’t matter when he was sitting for the last hour and a half, but now that he needed to move that wasn’t going to work. He picked his way across the equipment still set up for outside shots. He still had three more sittings to do. He spotted her near the large mural that was going to be their next shoot. “Margo.”

  She froze.

  “Dammit, babe. Why’d you run?”

  She hunched her shoulders. “I know you told me to go, but I couldn’t. Seeing them—Jamie and Lindsey all over you. I couldn’t. I just—” She hugged herself.

  “It’s for the camera. The entire time all I could think was God, why isn’t this Margo? The only one who fits me is my Violin Girl. No other girl comes even close.” He moved closer. “No other woman could come close.”

  She turned around. Her dark eyes were full of emotion, tears starring her lashes. “Seeing you like this, I don’t know if I can do it.”

  “I quit.”

  “What?” Her eyebrows shot up. “No, you can’t quit.”

  “I’ll find another way. Right now. Done.”

  “Uh, Simon?” A voice behind him made him turn. Jase, Roman’s right hand man and builder extraordinaire, lifted an eyebrow. “Contract,” he whispered.

  “Don’t care.”

  Margo took a step forward. “He doesn’t mean that.”

  Jase folded his arms. “Oh, I know or I’ll break his spine.”

  Simon swallowed down the very real lump in his throat. If anyone could snap him like an overstrung guitar string it would be Jase Rhoderick. He was pretty sure the guy’s shoulders were as wide as he was tall. “Losing you isn’t an option. Period.”

  Margo’s hands fell to her sides and her chest rose and fell faster. “But you said—”

  “I was pissed off and embarrassed.” He looked at his glowing white feet peeking from the leather pants. “I’m hung over and still pissed off, but not at you. Not really anyway.” His gaze locked with hers. “I’m trying here, Margo. I’m new to this whole relationship deal, too.”

  She frowned. “Hung over?”

  He sighed. “I fucked up.”

  She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s my fault, too. I was so upset last night I did the same damn thing. Woke up on Lila’s couch. I meant to go home. I swear I did.”

  A few of the knots in his belly eased.

  “I’m sorry.” She looked over his shoulder and her cheeks paled.

  “Ignore them.”

  “There’s a whole lot to ignore,” she muttered.

  Simon had been modeling long enough to know that this was prime Twitter and Facebook-worthy stuff. Jesus fuck, it would probably be on YouTube. But he couldn’t focus on that, even if there were probably twenty people behind him watching. If he let her slip through his fingers now, she’d clam up. He knew her. Knew her down to the bones, no matter what she believed.

  And loved her beyond that. If she left him right now, he’d never recover. “You’re it for me, Violin Girl.”

  “There’s stuff I need to tell you. Stuff that cannot go on social media.” She nodded to the people over his shoulder. “But I love you, Simon. So much that it scares the hell out of me.”

  He moved closer. “Yeah well, the only part that scares me is losing you. So let’s not do that, huh? But you gotta trust me. A little part of me doesn’t mind the jealousy, but a lot more of me wishes you believed I’d never do anything to fuck this up.”

  She nodded and rushed to him, her arms curling around his neck. “I know. At least I’m trying to believe that. Nothing feels right without you.”

  God, she felt so good.

  She pulled back enough that their lips lined up. “You’re the one who brought real music into my life.” Her voice was low and intimate. “Without you, it’s just chamber music, but with you it’s magic.”

  His chest tightened. He’d pushed so hard to get back to the band to have that life back inside him, but what he’d really needed to hear was this. “I’m going to kick ass and get back to making music with you again. I swear it.”

  Her breath shuddered out. “Good. Because I’d really like that. Your voice belongs with my strings. You know that, right?”

  “Baby, it was meant to be from the very beginning.”

  He tasted salt on her lips and felt the sorrow fade out inside him. He replaced it with all the love he had to give. This woman was the end of the line. And he wasn’t going to let her go.

  Ever.

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake, just go,” Roman snarled.

  Simon broke the kiss and looked over his shoulder. “Oh, shit.”

  Twenty people had been a supreme understatement. The entire crew and all the models were crowded into the little garden. Roman stood with his hands on his hips and a frown on his face. “Just know you lost the cover of Rolling Stone if I didn’t get the perfect shot last session,” he said and turned on his heel.

  “Worth it,” Simon said against Margo’s cheek.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  The wait for Simon to change and get back to his car was eternal. It felt like everyone in the entire garden was staring at her. She tucked her hair behind her ear and sat on the edge of the patinated fountain. Better to just study the old cobblestone.

  “If I was a romantic, that shit would have been tear-worthy.”

  Margo swiveled and then stood when Jamie DuCaine came up beside her. Margo wasn’t exactly short, but Jamie was all legs and lean perfection, standing as tall as Simon with her boots on. Margo gave her a tight-lipped smile. “Yeah, the vids on the internet are going to haunt me.”

  “Oh yeah, they are.”

  Margo winced. “Just wait until you’re stupid in love.”

  Jamie snorted. “The chances of that are equal to me jumping off a cliff.”

  “I thought so, too.” She hadn’t been looking for love when Simon happened. And he was also the worst choice if her brain had been engaged in the process. Too bad her heart had taken over long ago.

  “Simon’s a good guy. He was moping for you all damn morning. These pictures? Simon Kagan, lovesick puppy.” Jamie bent her long fingers into a C and slid it across the air as if to mime a headline. “Totally going to be front page on Rolling Stone.”

  Margo laughed in spite of her embarrassment. “Didn’t seem like it.”

  “We finally got him to laugh and lo and behold there you were. We look like two hoes crawling all over him. You can blame Roman. Sex sells and Simon is sex on a stick walking.”

  Margo
’s eyebrow winged up. “You don’t say.”

  Jamie threw her head back, her laugh loud and not the least bit apologetic. “I’ve got eyes. I just have impulse control.” She slapped Margo’s arm. “Sometimes. Take care, chick.” She waved to Simon as he came out of the dressing tent. “Bye, stud. Be good.” She winked at Margo and sauntered off.

  Simon’s hair was wet and slicked back. The makeup was scrubbed from his face, leaving him all cheekbones and intensely blue eyes. He wore jeans just as battered as her own and one of his beloved concert T-shirts. He even wore his flips. It was the first time she’d seen him look like his old self in too many months to count.

  He was always on lately. Whether he was wearing Roman originals for a premiere, or dressed up for one of his other half dozen personal appearances, she’d seen a suited up Simon more than the relaxed man she’d fallen for on tour. She hadn’t realized just how much she’d missed him until he came up to her and slung his arm around her shoulders and dragged her against him.

  She tipped her head up and met his mouth with hers. The kiss went from a sweet hello to hot and deep in a flash. He turned until she was flush with him from hip to chest and one of his hands dipped into her back pocket. He squeezed her cheek until there was no denying the hard length of him pressed against her belly.

  She didn’t steer him away from the intimacy. In fact, she cupped his jaw and went headlong into that delightful haze that only Simon could bring out in her. Where instinct and lust blended with oxygen and bloomed to life like a flame. The fingers of his other hand drilled into her hair and tightened so he could turn her head where he wanted it. And what he wanted was deep, tongue-sucking kisses that liquefied her knees.

  The urge to drag him into the shadows like she used to was almost undeniable.

  Almost.

  Curiosity was a little too high on this set.

  She went up on her toes and cupped his face with both hands, slowing the kiss down until it was breath and mint, sighs and a half groan from him that made her spine tingle. “Home.”

  He smiled into the last of the kiss. “Home.” He took her hand and lead her out of the little garden with the mossy green-flecked cherub and uneven cobblestones into the cement jungle that was downtown Los Angeles. She played with the silver rope chain around his wrist as they waited at the crosswalk.