“She knows your name,” Anson growled. “Knock it off, Lori.”
I snapped my head up, looking at Anson and then Lori. With the way Anson was treating her, I had to wonder what his beef was with reporters. And why in the world was a reporter seated at our table?
I cleared my throat and tried to push through the now-awkward feeling surrounding our table. “To answer your question, no. This is my first time here.”
She gave me a smile so fake I wondered why she even tried.
“There are so many places to see and things to do. How long will you be in town for, Bristol?” Lindsey asked.
“Not long, we’re leaving tomorrow to head back to Texas,” I stated as I reached for a water and took a sip.
“How sweet that you can come in for the weekend and then sneak Anson back to Texas with you,” Lori said coolly. “Tell me, Anson, will you be living in Texas now?”
“This isn’t an interview, Lori. It’s a charity dinner.”
She let out a laugh so conniving that it sent a shiver down my back. “Trust me, Anson. I remember what our interviews were like.”
“That’s enough, Lori,” Robert stated in a firm voice.
Lori looked my way and smirked as she held up her wine glass and toasted me before she drank the whole thing down.
“Bristol, tell me what you do for a living!” Lindsey said. Bless her for trying to change the subject.
“I own a tea room in Comfort. It’s been a dream of mine since I was a little girl. My folks own a farm right outside of town, and my mother had her own catering business for years. Once I managed to get my own place, I opened up Farmhouse Tea.”
“Adorable name!” Lindsey said.
“Yes, adorable,” Lori deadpanned.
I ignored her and spoke mainly to the other two couples. All Anson did the entire dinner was either talk to Robert and Ryan or glare at Lori. When it was over, and Lori and Beckham stood to go dance, I felt myself finally relax. The tension eased out of Anson’s body as well.
“How in the hell was she seated here?” he bit out.
Robert shot him a warning look. “Now’s not the time or place, Anson. I’ll figure it out later.”
I wanted to ask him what his problem was with this Lori, but I decided now that she was gone, the last thing I wanted to do was bring her up.
As the night progressed, Anson’s mood lightened considerably, and he was soon back to himself. I, on the other hand, was becoming increasingly tired, and my stomach felt a bit off.
“Anson, how much longer before we can leave?” I asked.
He looked down at me, concern on his face. “We can leave now if you want. Is everything okay?”
I swallowed and tried to keep the sudden feeling of sickness down.
“We should probably leave. I’m not feeling very well.”
Anson placed his hand gently on my lower back and guided us through the room. As we got near the exit, Lori appeared out of thin air.
“Leaving so soon? I was hoping to talk to you both, maybe schedule a little threesome interview.”
Anson looked like he was ready to rip this woman’s head off.
“You know how it works. If you want an interview, go through Robert.”
He brushed past her, and when I walked by, she winked at me.
When we were finally in the limo and on our way back to Anson’s house I relaxed into the seat and cracked the window for fresh air. I could feel the anger coming off of Anson in waves.
“Why does she get you so worked up?” I asked, my head back and my eyes closed.
“What? Who?”
“Lori Miller. I thought you were going to rip her head off as we were leaving. If she’s not a good reporter, why was she there in a room full of important people? Hell, I’m pretty sure at one point I saw Garth Brooks.”
Anson sighed. “I don’t want to talk about Lori tonight, Bri.”
That made me open my eyes. “You dated her?”
He snapped his head over to look at me. “I didn’t date her.”
My eyes narrowed as I took in his reaction. “Well, something happened between the two of you then.”
Anson sighed. “Not tonight, Bri.”
I felt my jaw ache as I clenched down my anger.
“So is this what Nashville does to you, Anson?”
He looked at me with a confused expression.
“Makes you act like an asshole? Listen, if you had a relationship with this woman, I don’t give two flying fucks about it. It was in the past. Don’t lie to me about it, though. I’ve had to come face to face with two women this evening who insinuated you had relations with them, and I was totally caught off guard by one. The other clearly knew something I didn’t, and I don’t like being made a fool of. I would much rather be prepared the next time I’m faced with a woman you’ve slept with rather than be left in the dark like a stupid idiot.”
“I didn’t sleep with Monica. Ever.”
And why did it hurt that he hadn’t denied sleeping with Lori? Ugh.
I looked out the window and fought to keep the instant jealousy at bay. Why had it not bothered me when I wasn’t sure if he had slept with her? Once he confirmed it, it felt like I couldn’t breathe.
Once I got my emotions in check, I said, “I get that you had a past here, Anson. I’m simply asking you not to hide it from me. If I’m going to be a part of this world, I need to know that you aren’t carrying around secrets that I’m going to read about online someday.”
He took off his cowboy hat and tossed it to the side, then jammed his fingers into his hair.
“Lori and I slept together a few times. She never meant anything to me, and it was simply a way for me to…I guess it’s like you and Josh. It was always a way for me to try and forget for a while. She knew there were no strings attached, and it was easy. The first time was at my old loft in Nashville. She interviewed me, and one thing led to another. When I cut things off between us last year, she got pissed. I thought she was over it, but I guess seeing you tonight proved me wrong.”
“So all those little jokes about interviewing you, she was actually talking about having sex with you?”
He nodded.
I looked straight ahead and then snarled my lip. “Gross—was she really suggesting a threesome with us back there?”
He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I doubt it, but with Lori I guess I wouldn’t be too surprised.”
Letting out a deep breath, I dropped my head back against the seat again. “I guess it will always be exciting when we’re here.”
Anson didn’t say anything, so I opened my eyes to see him staring out the window.
“Is anything else bothering you?” I asked as I took his hand in mine.
He turned and smiled, and my stomach went from upset to pulsing with desire.
“No, I just don’t like seeing you upset.”
I gave him my sexiest smile, then moved my dress out of the way and straddled him.
“The only thing I am right now is horny.”
He licked his lips and grabbed my waist. “I’ve been dying to see what you’ve got on under this dress.”
I glanced over my shoulder to the black window that separated us from the driver. Then I looked back at Anson.
“Do you want to get naughty, Ms. Overmann?”
“Very much so.”
Anson pushed a button on the side of the armrest and said, “Mikey, drive around for a bit before you take us home. I’ll need some privacy back here.”
The driver’s voice came over the speaker. “Yes, Sir. The privacy window is up, Sir.”
A slow, sexy smile moved over Anson’s face as he slipped his hand under my dress. I gasped when he pressed my clit through the lace fabric. The feel of his hard length against my needy body and his touch on my sensitive bud had me rocking against him.
“Fuck, Bristol.”
I dropped my head back and rocked more. My orgasm didn’t take long to start building up.
“Yes,” I whispered as I pushed against him.
Anson moved my lace panties to the side to play with my clit more.
Then he pulled his hand away and groaned in protest.
“I want to be inside you.”
“Yes,” I panted as I lifted so he could undo his pants. He took his hard length out, and I moaned in delight at the sight of it. I needed him inside me. Desperately. He reached for his wallet, took out a condom, and ripped it open.
“Anson, hurry. I need to come so badly,” I begged.
After he rolled the condom on, he pushed his fingers inside of me while I hovered over him.
The feel of him touching me left me breathless.
“Jesus, you’re soaking wet.”
“Please!” I nearly shouted as he took me by the hips and guided me down onto his shaft.
We both moaned, and I closed my eyes and sat there, not moving an inch. The feel of the man I loved buried so deep inside me left me so emotional that I had to pause for a moment. I needed to make this last longer.
I dropped my forehead to his and simply moved my hips ever so slightly.
“Bri. Goddamnit. I’m going to come just sitting here.”
Laughing, I pulled back and shot him a warning look. “You better not, Mister. The idea of fucking you in a limo just moved up to my top five fantasies.”
“This is not a fantasy, Baby.”
With a smile, I rocked faster. “It most certainly is not.”
Anson
MY HEAD SPUN, and my heart pounded in my chest. Holy shit. Bristol was straddling me in the back of the limo. No. I was buried deep inside her while she fucked me in the back of the limo. That was even better.
She tasted like mint and honey as my tongue moved against hers. The taste left me even more hungry for her.
I lifted her up some and brought her back down on me. She groaned and rotated her hips.
“Bri, fuck me harder and faster.”
A sexy grin spread over her beautiful face as she placed her hands on my shoulders and moved faster.
It wasn’t going to take me long to come if I didn’t concentrate.
“Anson, oh, God. Touch me!”
I moved my hand between where our two bodies were connected. She was soaking wet, and I had to bite down on my lip hard—nearly drawing blood—to keep from coming.
My thumb pressed against her clit, and she exploded.
Her mouth slammed against mine as she moaned with her release. I felt my own hips coming up to meet her, and then I lost all control and we came together.
When Bristol finally stopped moving, she collapsed against my chest. Both of us breathing like we just ran a race.
“That was hot as hell,” I said as I squeezed her ass cheeks. Bristol laughed and then buried her face into my neck.
“Oh my God. What came over me?” she asked with a giggle.
“Hell if I know, but I hope whatever it was happens a lot more often.”
Bristol pulled back and looked into my eyes. Her fingers moved through my hair, and she sighed like a woman who had just been thoroughly satisfied.
“This was a lot more comfortable than Irwin’s truck.”
My head dropped back as I laughed. “Yes, yes, it was. Now, let me take you home so I can make love to you and then hold you while you sleep in my arms.”
Bristol yawned, and I had a feeling the making love part would have to wait until morning.
She slid off me and watched as I took care of the condom and then informed the driver to head to my place. She snuggled up next to me, and I couldn’t help but stare at her while she drifted off to sleep.
Bristol Overmann was an amazing woman. And after the events of tonight, I already knew my answer for Robert.
I pulled out my phone and called him. The sound of Bristol’s breathing told me she was fast asleep.
“Hey, you left before we could say goodnight,” Robert said.
“Bristol wasn’t feeling well, so we took off.”
“No worries. I’m sorry about Lori. I’ll find out who seated her there.”
“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”
“Okay, you sure? You seemed pretty pissed off.”
Bristol let out a little snore, and I smiled. “I’m sure. Are you able to meet me tomorrow morning before I head back to Texas? My house first thing in the morning?”
“I’ll be there after your morning run.”
“Thanks, Robert. Have a good evening and tell Jane I’m sorry we didn’t get to say goodnight.”
“I will. See you in the morning.”
When the call ended, I reached down and pulled Bristol onto my lap. She didn’t even wake up. Once the driver stopped and opened the door, I slid out with my sleeping beauty in my arms and then brought her into the house and up to my room.
“Bri, let’s get you undressed,” I whispered as I gently placed her onto the bed. She sleepily helped me, then I tucked her under the covers and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
I stood and took in a slow, deep breath as I stared at her. I had never loved her more than I did in that moment. Turning on my heels, I walked into the bathroom, put on sweats and a T-shirt, and made my way down to my office. I had a lot of emails to write and things to plan before my meeting with Robert in the morning.
Robert took a sip of his coffee, nodded, and then placed it back down on the table. We were in my recording studio away from the main house. When I left for my run at 5:30 this morning, Bristol was still sound asleep.
“You’re sure?” he asked.
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
“They’re going to think you want more money.”
“Truth be told, Robert, I don’t care what the record company thinks.”
The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile.
“Okay, then, I’ll give them a call tomorrow morning and tell them you’re passing on the contract.”
A weight instantly lifted off my shoulders.
“I’ve already sent out an email to those I’ve worked closely with in the past and told them I’m leaving Nashville, but I’ll be keeping a place here. I still want to write songs, and if Nashville is easier for some artists, then I’ll make it happen. Otherwise, I’ll have a studio built in Comfort. I’ve already got a few ideas rattling around in my head about what the future will hold. I’m interested in starting my own record label with you.”
He smiled. “Good, you’re not the only one who wants a change. I like your plan. What about the European tour? You’re under contract to finish it.”
“I’m thinking it’ll make for a nice honeymoon.”
Robert lifted his brows. “I did see that rock on her hand last night and was wondering when you were going to mention that.”
“Honestly, it wasn’t planned at all. The moment was there, I had the ring, so I asked her. And for some crazy ass reason, she said yes.”
“Anyone can see by the way you two look at one another that you’re head over heels in love.”
My chest tightened as I thought about all those lost years. Bristol was right. The past was the past, and we needed to focus on the future.
“I’m hoping I can have a recording studio built in Comfort pretty quickly. Besides, I could also indie release songs if I really wanted to.”
He nodded. “You could, no doubt about it. I think we need to make sure folks know you’re not retiring, simply stepping back to start the next phase in your life. You’ve already established yourself as a songwriter, so you’ve got nothing to prove there. As it is, people are already begging to work with you.”
“We should probably get a statement ready before we let the record company know. That way, we can be on top of it.”
Robert pulled out his phone and started to type. “Let me get RuthAnne on that. There’s a reason I hired her for PR. She’ll be able to come up with the perfect wording for it all and get it out at the same time I’m breaking the news to the label.”
&nb
sp; My phone buzzed and I looked down to see it was Bristol.
Bri: Where are you?
Me: I’m in the recording studio, I’ll be right there.
“Sleeping Beauty is awake, and I need to get some stuff packed up.”
Robert and I both stood and made our way over to the door.
“What about the house here?”
I looked around the studio. “I think I’ll sell it and buy something farther out. When we come to Nashville, I think Bri will want to be in the country, especially when we start having kids.”
“Kids?” Robert asked with a laugh. “Are you planning on having them sooner rather than later?”
“I think we’ll let it happen when it happens. I’ve gotten Bristol back and intend on spending every spare moment we have together. Just the two of us.”
He nodded and walked toward his BMW. “That’s a good plan, but kids do add another level of happiness.”
I shrugged. “Yeah, maybe. I guess so.”
Robert studied me for a moment and then nodded. “Right. Okay, have a safe trip back to Texas.”
“Hey, Robert?”
He paused, before slipping into his sports car.
“I want to say thank you for seeing that young kid on stage that night and believing in him. I wouldn’t have been able to live out my dream if it hadn’t been for you.”
With a wide smile, he replied, “I saw great talent in you then, and I see even greater things happening for you in the future, Anson.”
I cleared my throat as I tried to keep the emotions I was suddenly feeling at bay.
Robert did the same, then said, “Talk to you soon.”
When I walked into the kitchen, I couldn’t help but laugh. Bristol had the music up loud and was dancing to Tyler Rich’s song “Leave Her Wild” as she made eggs. I leaned against the wall and smiled as I watched her shake her ass and cook. The song changed to Tenille Arts’ “Slow It Down,” and I nearly forgot how to breathe when she started to sing along.
I pushed off the wall and started to move toward her. But when she hit the chorus, I stopped in my tracks.
What in the hell?
How had I never noticed her voice? Chills ran over my entire body as I listened to the woman I loved belt out in a voice so beautiful she could give me more than a ran for my money when it came to singing.
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