by Violet Paige
“I’ll be right back.” He pointed to the bedroom. “I might double up on those suckers this time .”
“Right,” I whispered .
We hadn’t talked about the condom breaking again, but it was best we didn’t tempt another powerful orgasm. The way Luke showed his want for me was liable to split another one .
I stretched out on the cool leather, barely able to contain myself. Every nerve I had was alive with pure lust. I lifted my hair off my neck in a sexy pose when I froze. Panic ran through my body. The lust turned to fear .
The backdoor to the utility room beeped and it slammed shut .
I heard loud footsteps walk through the kitchen .
A loud voice boomed through the hall. “Where the fuck are you, Luke ?”
Eighteen
Luke
I grabbed the entire box of condoms from the nightstand. I hated the idea that Alexa was leaving in the morning. I didn’t know if I could say that to her in words. But my body sure as hell could fuck it in to her. She’d know by the time she left the ranch that she was mine. She was coming back to me .
The timing couldn’t be worse. The season had just started, and I had more shit going on right now than usual. But I wasn’t letting this girl go .
I heard a scream and sprinted down the hall .
“What the fuck, Linc!” I hollered at my brother who was gawking at a very naked Alexa on the couch .
She had tried to arrange pillows to cover herself up .
“So I guess this is a thing.” He eyed her then me .
“Turn your fucking back, you pervert.” I didn’t have frilly blankets and throws. I ran back to the bedroom and grabbed a quilt on the end of the bed .
I hurriedly wrapped Alexa in it .
“Shit, I’m sorry .”
She made a triple wrap and secured it under her arm .
“Who is that?” she asked .
“My brother,” I grumbled .
“Hey, you’re the one who left the door open. No tie or sock on the door. That’s the universal signal for somebody’s gettin’ some.” He laughed. He extended his hand. “Sorry, to meet you like this. I’m Linc, Luke’s older and much more handsome and wiser brother .”
“Hi.” She was suddenly shy and quiet. “Alexa .”
“What are you doing over here?” I quizzed him .
“Not trying to bust up your night.” He kept stealing glances at Alexa .
“Then what ?”
“I wanted to talk to you about the campaign. I’m sure you two saw all the headlines .”
Alexa shook her head. “Not for a while. We turned everything off. It was too crazy .”
Linc looked surprised. “It’s the biggest headline tonight. You’ve made all the news cycles. You’re the hottest couple right now. Although no one can come up with a word that combines your names. You’ve stumped them. I did hear ‘ALuxi”, but that’s just dumb .”
“B-but…” Alexa’s eyes darted to me .
“We’re not a couple, Linc.” I stared hard at my brother .
“Just fuck buddies ?”
“Hey.” I glared at him .
“Sorry.” He grimaced at Alexa. “Didn’t mean to offend you. I’m just calling what I see. You two are clearly in the same house after the press caught you making out at the hospital. And the girl was completely naked when I walked in. Looks like you are something .”
I sat next to Alexa. Linc wasn’t going to believe any of this shit. But he was the only one I trusted. He was always the only one I could trust .
“Linc, we aren’t going public with this .”
His mouth dropped. “What ?”
“Maybe we should talk in the study,” I suggested .
Alexa sat forward. “I’d kind of like to be involved since this is about me. About us .”
Her blue eyes convinced me .
“Ok. Fine.” I put an arm around her. I didn’t know where all this protective instinct came from, but it was there when I was near her. “Alexa is off limits. Her brand. Her image. All of it. She and I are keeping this private .”
Linc finally took a seat across from us in my recliner. “You are fucking with me, aren’t you ?”
I shook my head. “No .”
Alexa spoke up. “Linc, this is not the way I wanted us to meet either.” She blushed. “But Luke and I have an agreement and we need your help. I can’t be involved with him publicly. Country music fans aren’t very forgiving when it comes to his kind of reputation .”
I saw Linc pull his shoulders back. “Luke is a good guy .”
“I know he is.” She smiled. “That’s why I’m willing to take this chance. But nonetheless it’s a chance. The fewer people who know the better .”
“You two are serious about this ?”
He looked between us .
“Yeah, we are. It can’t be part of the campaign to build my new brand. I have to do it on my own without Alexa. Understand ?”
“I do. But she could help you, brother .”
“It could ruin me.” Alexa’s eyes flared .
I didn’t want her to have to defend her position. We had already agreed how this was going to go. Linc had to get on board .
“It’s not going to.” I squeezed her shoulder. “Not a word of this to Charlie .”
He shook his head. “I won’t mention it .”
“Today was the last time I’ll ever use Alexa like that .”
“Got it.” He nodded .
“Good. Then will you get the hell out of my house so we can get back to what we were doing?” I held up the box of condoms .
Alexa yelped and scrambled to hide them from my brother .
I laughed .
“I’m out. I’ll talk to you tomorrow I guess .”
He strolled out of the living room. “Nice to meet you, Alexa .”
“Umm, yeah.” She was still trying to wrestle the box from my hands .
We heard the door close behind him .
“So that was your big brother ?”
“Yep. The one and only.” I was focused on figuring out how to get my hands on her. I didn’t want to talk about Linc .
“Do you like having him as your manager ?”
“Yeah. I can trust him, which means you can trust him.” I eyed her. The Canton brothers wouldn’t betray her. I wanted those doubts erased right away .
“That’s nice you have someone in your corner .”
“You don’t have anyone on your team like that ?”
“My stylist, Helena. We’re close. I can tell her pretty much anything. She’s great. Really .”
“Alexa Wilde, what am I going to do with you ?”
I tugged on the quilt that had her twirled up like Cleopatra in a Persian rug .
“I don’t know.” She bit her bottom lip .
“Liar,” I growled .
Our eyes locked and I only had one thing on my mind. I was going to use every fucking last condom in this box tonight .
Nineteen
Alexa
I didn’t realize Austin looked so small from the sky. I tried to identify Luke’s ranch but I was all turned around once we took off. I sighed and planted my forehead against the Plexiglas window .
I didn’t want to leave .
He had to shove me out the laundry door and into Linc’s truck. Linc had volunteered to drive me to the airport so we didn’t have to risk a loose-lipped driver telling someone he had driven Lexi Wilde from Luke Canton’s house .
It took a few minutes to get over the awkwardness of how Linc and I met when I was naked, but he was a nice guy. He was a slightly softer version of his brother. Still incredibly good looking and sexy. But I looked at him through different eyes now that I had Luke. Linc was playful and fun, while Luke maintained a brooding edge that I couldn’t help but find irresistible .
Jake was livid I had ignored him all day. I knew he would be waiting when I landed. Fuming. Glaring. Threatening .
I closed my eyes. It was wort
h it. Another night with Luke was worth anything I had to face when I was in Nashville. For two days I was able to be with him the way I’d always wanted to be with a man. Free. Exotic. Sensual .
I leaned into the leather first class seat. I had a mimosa in front of me, but I sipped it hesitantly. I needed every brain cell firing at full capacity when I faced Jake. He would throw every bit of ammunition he had. He would bring up the beginning. I knew he would .
I wondered what it would be like to show up in Nashville with Luke. One angry glare from him and Jake would back off. But Luke wasn’t my bodyguard. He couldn’t fight my battles. And I didn’t want him to know the secret Jake held over me. It could change everything. How Luke looked at me. How he felt .
I scooted the mimosa to the edge of the tray table. Ginger ale or a lime spritzer sounded better. I waved down the flight attendant and asked for another drink. In two hours I’d be on the ground .
Farther from Luke. Away from his bed. Out of reach of his arms .
I didn’t know if I was landing in the middle of the dream I had spent the past seven years creating, or running from the new one I wanted .
* * *
I slid the tortoise brown sunglasses over my eyes as I disembarked from the plane. I carried my guitar and heavy leather bag with me. I hoped it made me look like an up and comer. The way I used to look when I first started playing music .
As soon as I made it to baggage claim I realized my face was too recognizable to get away with that trick. There were a few reporters who staked out the baggage area regularly .
“Lexi! Lexi !”
I shielded my face, smiling as I side-stepped the men .
There was a firm grip on my elbow and I inhaled the strong scent of Jake’s cologne. He pecked me on the cheek .
“Good to see you, babe .”
He waved off the cameras before they took a few snaps .
“Hi.” I smiled sweetly .
“We need to talk.” His fingers dug deeper into my arm .
“There’s nothing to talk about.” I think it was my nonchalant attitude that set him off more .
He practically pushed me in the back of the Escalade .
“Ouch, Jake.” I rubbed my elbow .
The driver stepped out to help with my guitar .
I glared at my manager. “What’s your problem ?”
“You,” he seethed. “You can’t decide you aren’t going to fly home. You can’t turn off your phone.” He leaned in next to me. “And you can’t be seen kissing that asshole Luke Canton .”
I laughed. “You need to get laid, Jake. You are way too uptight .”
“Oh, so you got some and now you’re happy and walking on a cloud .”
I looked out the window, ignoring him. “Maybe .”
“Damn it, Lex. You did sleep with that Neanderthal, didn’t you? Look.” He waited until we pulled away from the curb to start his full tirade. I knew this was coming. “I think I have this situation contained, but it could have been catastrophic. Do you remember what happened to Whitney Rivers? Should I remind you about her story ?”
“That’s crazy.” My stomach did a flip .
“Crazy? She got pregnant. A single girl pregnant, singing country music? It was professional suicide. That girl had ten number one hits. Ten. And now she has a baby. She’s a walking country song. No man. A baby on her hip. No job .”
I rolled my eyes. “She could put out another song if she wanted to .”
He huffed. “You think she could? Last I checked no label would touch her. This isn’t rock. This isn’t pop. It’s fucking country music, Lex. She is finished. You know it. I know it .”
“Well, last I checked you can’t get pregnant from kissing. And in case you’re wondering that toilet seat thing is a rumor too,” I smarted off .
“This is a joke to you? Your brand is a fucking joke?” Jake tugged on his expensive cufflinks. “I made you, Lex and I can take you down faster than you can strut your little ass on stage .”
“You wouldn’t,” I countered .
“I would and I will if you try this kind of stunt again .”
He was bluffing. There was no way he’d ruin me and lose his golden ticket. It didn’t make sense .
“I think it’s tiring how you constantly threaten me, Jake. We both know it would ruin you too.” I rolled my eyes. “So, we’re stuck. We are fucking stuck. Let me live my life and you can live yours .”
His expression changed. There was a gleam in his eye. A twinkle I hadn’t seen in a long time. There was an uncomfortable nervousness in my belly. He was up to something .
“Jake?” I softened my tone .
“You had your few days of fun. I’m sure he was a good roll in the sheets. Hell, he should be. But trust me, he is dangerous .”
“He is not dangerous.” I didn’t know why I continued to argue with him .
“Oh yeah? What about the bar fights? The hotel suites he trashed from partying? The whores?” His eyes narrowed .
I couldn’t let Jake turn my time with Luke into something ugly. It wasn’t. I’d never seen those things Jake talked about .
I knew Luke. Yes, he had a rough exterior. But how else was he supposed to act when he had to be the strongest, toughest guy on the field? He was the kind of guy who drank too much. Let off too much steam. But Jake didn’t know there was vulnerability under Luke’s hardened exterior .
He was smart. He was funny .
He was protective. And he brought me back to life .
“Shut up, Jake,” I hissed .
“Don’t cross me, babe .”
I looked out the window. I had to find out what Jake had before he unleashed my past on the world. Because if there was one thing I knew, it was that the secret he had would strip away the fans. It would peel away the accolades. It would steal away the adoration from the press. I’d be left standing alone. Outcast. Shamed. Wrecked .
Twenty
Luke
T he sweat dripped from my brow. “Again!” I yelled .
I lined up to take the snap. The ball landed in my hands and I counted back to throw to James. He had run the wrong route again. Damn it. Where was his head today? Up his ass ?
“No!” I roared over the practice field. “Do it again .”
Three hours into practice and I refused to let the kid take a shower until he had this right. He had the skills. I had seen them. He was fast. He had the hands. He just needed to take some time to study the playbook .
James ran toward me. He was sweating harder than I was. He gasped, gripping his thighs. “I don’t know if I can keep going. The sun is a bitch today. Can we run it tomorrow? I’ll get it tomorrow. Swear .”
I looked up at the sky as if I hadn’t noticed it before now. “You’re a Warrior.” I smiled. “Warriors play in the Texas heat, son .”
He was the youngest guy out here. He couldn’t be the most out of shape. There were some guys close to thirty not huffing as much as he was. I remembered he wasn’t from the south. He had to get his conditioning under control. Texas was torture, but I wouldn’t live or play anywhere else .
He scowled at me, but took his position behind the line. “On my count,” I ordered. I called for the snap, waiting for him to run the fucking route the way we talked about .
If he wanted to be a blocker the rest of the season I could make that happen. I was feeling unusually generous and less dickish today. I’d give him one more chance .
And then I saw him. Wide open. Ready. He cut left then right, throwing the defender off track. My eyes darted to the opposite side of the field before I hurled the ball forward. It was a perfect spiral. Damn, it hit him square in the chest .
“That’s it.” I jogged toward him. “That’s fucking it.” I laughed .
I slapped the back of his helmet with a few taps when I got to him. “Now we can hit the showers .”
James fell to the ground with a thud. His legs and arms flailing in all directions. “Thank God,” he groaned .
>
I chuckled. “You said you wanted advice, so here it is. QBs throw to the same guys in the game who can catch during practice. There’s some confidence going into Sunday that he’s going to catch the ball. Get it out here and you get it on Sunday. Understand ?”
He rolled to his side, beating the ground with his fist. I knew he was hurting. I had run him hard. His eyes were closed. The trainers tried to step in, but I waved them off. Out here was my domain .
“Got it .”
It was the first time I’d actually given him a useful tip. A small glimpse into how I made decisions. I didn’t share often .
I knew I’d throw it to him. If he ran the route like that on Sunday, he would be my first target. I never made promises. The game always changed. Players were injured. Someone always had an unexpected breakout game. The circumstances unfolded like a storm on the field. And I was the one who had to navigate everyone through the lightning and blasting rain. This was my fucking ship .
Today’s grind felt good. Working my body to the point of exhaustion was something I was built for. And I realized how different it was showing up to practice sober. I had more speed. My engines fired with precision .
I walked off the field toward the locker rooms .
The trainer was waiting next to the tub. “I have everything ready for you, Canton. Just like you like it .”
The cold water filled the tub. I could almost feel the water on my skin now. I threw my gear in the equipment bin and plunged one leg and then another into the water. Robbie tipped the bucket and a fresh avalanche of ice floated on top of the water .
I exhaled, letting my head rest on the hard surface behind my skull .
“How are you feeling?” the trainer asked .
“Good,” I grunted. I wanted to let the heat evaporate. I was on fire .
“Your neck isn’t bothering you ?”
“No.” I had an injury last season that had irritated me off and on, but it never kept me out of a game. Robbie asked like clockwork .
Somewhere in that twisted head of his he wanted there to be something wrong. Something he could fix. There were plenty of guys on the team who could use help. I wasn’t one of them .
