Checking the time, I ask Adam if Ainsley works tonight.
“She’s sick,” he calls out as he takes an order.
Damn.
Before I can change my mind, I pay for my drink and leave Clarke’s, heading home to grab the chili my mom made yesterday. On my way to Ainsley’s house, I stop at the grocery store and buy Fritos and cheese.
“Hello?” a mussed, blanket-wrapped Ainsley answers the door. “What are you doing here?” Her eyes are slits as she peeks up at me.
“Heard you were sick and I brought some comfort food.” I hold up the bag and container.
“You didn’t have to.” She shakes her head, looking down at herself. All I see is the blanket burrito she’s wrapped in.
“I wanted to,” I smirk and wait for her to let me in.
“Thanks.” She sneezes as she opens the door wider.
“Bless you. Now, take a seat while I prep this.” I walk straight into her kitchen and get to heating up the chili.
“Did you make chili?” she hovers over me.
“My mom did, and I thought it’d be perfect for some Frito pie. I went to Clarke’s, but Adam told me you were sick, so here I am.” I open my arms wide, motioning around her apartment.
“Thanks.” She sits at the table. “How was LA?”
I peer over my shoulder at her. “Great,” I smile with a nod.
“I’ll take it everything worked out?” She wipes her red nose with a wrinkled tissue.
“Yeah. It will be shared officially soon, but I was able to end my contract with the label, keeping only the New Year’s Eve show I had planned.”
“That’s awesome. Congrats! Although, it’s kind of odd to congratulate an artist for no longer having a record deal,” she chuckles, which causes her to sneeze.
“What can I say? I’m here to keep things interesting,” I smirk.
“That you are,” her words are a whisper, but I pick up on them. I glance her way quickly and catch a blush as she pretends to cough into her blanket. She’s definitely not an actress.
“Okay, ready for Frito pie?” I ask her, placing two bowls on the table.
“I’m always ready for Frito pie.” She takes a bite and moans. “Oh man, this chili beats canned chili any day of the week. It’s almost as good as my Geema’s.” Her eyes sparkle.
“Glad you like it.” One side of my lip tilts up in a smile as I watch her devour the next bite.
We eat in silence for a few minutes before she speaks up again. “Thanks for bringing this. I’ll confess I was starving and didn’t have the energy to make anything.”
“You’re welcome. Figured it was the least I could do.” I’m not sure why I feel like I owe her something, or maybe it’s just an excuse to see her.
“Well, I appreciate it.” She sighs and leans back, the blanket having dropped around her waist while she ate, making it obvious she isn’t wearing a bra under her sweater. I clear my throat and shift in my seat as I take a long drink of water.
I’m not blind to Ainsley’s natural beauty, even sick with a cold, but it wouldn’t be fair to her. I need to be fully over Reese and my mistakes before I let a woman into my life. Even if she’s funny, gorgeous, and carries herself with confidence.
“Do you want more?” I offer.
“No, thanks.” She covers herself with the blanket again as I clear the table and wash the dishes. I quickly adjust myself before turning back toward her.
“Want to watch a movie?” she smiles, hopeful.
“Sure.” I sit on the couch next to her, a need to take care of her filling me. I shake it off, questioning what the hell is going on with me.
Without asking, she puts on a movie and leans back into the couch as a Christmas movie begins to play on the television. A content sigh escapes her lips as a soft smile forms on her face. She looks peaceful.
“I love cheesy Christmas movies,” she turns to look at me. “I know they’re totally predictable, but they’re so romantic.” Her body relaxes and moves closer to me on her exhale.
I remain quiet as the movie plays, not paying attention to it. Instead, I’m wondering what it is this woman is making me feel. Hope, for starters. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt hopeful about my life, and it’s been even longer since I felt like I could care about another woman who wasn’t Reese, but this funny and courageous woman is changing my belief.
I look to my left when I feel a thud on my shoulder. Holding in my laughter, I move Ainsley’s sleeping body a bit, so her head can rest comfortably on my shoulder, and I wrap an arm around her body. Her warmth surrounds me, and I tighten my arm around her.
I lean my head back on the sofa and close my eyes. Pressure builds in my chest as I hold her, wanting more than this. I also want to hold her when she’s awake, when she’s aware of my arms around her body.
I push back loose strands of hair from her face and take in her peaceful, sleeping face. Her breath is soft, her lips parted, tempting me to kiss her. She’s peace wrapped in a body, and I’ve been soaking her up, every last drop.
I lick my dry lips and clear my throat as I reach for the remote to lower the volume. Ainsley shifts next to me and squints her eyes open.
“Sorry,” her voice is hoarse as she sits up and stretches her arms over her head, exposing her hard nipples through her sweater.
Fuck. My dick notices, too, wanting to make itself present.
I clear my throat. “It’s okay. Why don’t you get some rest so you can feel better tomorrow?”
She nods as she blinks her eyes open. “Thanks.” Her eyes bore into mine, holding me captive with her gaze.
“Anytime.” I reach out, cupping her cheek and running my thumb over her soft skin. I lean forward and kiss her forehead, her breath catching in her throat. “Feel better,” I whisper as I stand from the couch.
She follows me to the door, watching me step into the elevator before locking up behind her.
As I drive home, I think of the possibility of falling for another person. For so many years, I didn’t have that freedom, and I imagine what it would be like.
Would I want to expose that person to the challenges that come with my name and career? It’s why I decided to keep my relationship with Reese a secret and look at how that turned out. I won’t do that again. The next woman I make a part of my life will not be a secret. It would have to be her choice to be with someone like me, a celebrity who can’t exactly hide and expect to have privacy. It’s a rare chance I get complete solitude, even in this small town.
I rub the back of my neck as I breathe heavily. I don’t even know if Ainsley would want anything to do with me romantically, but I can’t be the only one that feels the chemistry between us.
Ainsley may just be the woman who makes me believe in second chances.
Ainsley
I stretch my body in bed, yawning widely and kicking off the heavy blanket. As I rub my eyes, I smile. Knox came over yesterday and brought comfort food. I touch my forehead, where the memory of his kiss is imprinted. I push my head against the pillow and squeeze my eyes shut, but that doesn’t stop my smile from growing.
As much as my crush on him has been growing, his life is complicated. Besides, he’s a famous musician. There’s no way someone like him will stay in a town like this for long, even if it is his home, especially for a woman like me who moved on a whim, working a job with no real future.
My smile turns into a frown.
Sometimes I shake my own head at my crazy idea, but I don’t regret it one bit. Moving here was the best adventure, even if it has been challenging immersing myself into the town camaraderie.
Knox is one of the few who has been genuinely kind. I’m not an idiot, I know most of the men that have been nice to me have ulterior motives. I may seem young, but I’ve got enough life experience to know the difference between authentic friendship and someone looking out for themselves.
Feeling better after a full night’s rest, I get out of bed and make coffee before finding
my phone sitting on the table in front of the couch. I plop on the worn cushions and take a sip of my coffee while scrolling through my Instagram feed. I can’t resist the temptation, so I check Knox’s account and see that most of his posts are tour dates, short music teasers, and concert photos. I’m guessing he isn’t the one who manages that account, but a girl can wish that he’d suddenly post a photo of himself she can daydream about.
My eyebrows furrow as I click on the newest post and zoom in a bit to read. Wide eyes reflect on the screen as I read the headline. It’s a photo of Music & Life Magazine confirming that his divorce to Amelia Stanford has been settled. The only thing his caption says is that he and Amelia have both decided it was best to go their separate ways and ask for privacy during this time.
Well, damn. I lean back, my shoulders sagging. Knox didn’t mention this when I asked him how his trip went.
I think back to all the recent gossip shared about him and remember seeing a photo of him with another woman, along with allegations of cheating. Is she the reason he asked for a divorce? I know nothing about his life, and here I am harboring a crush on him, which grows every time I see him.
He’s different than I imagined, and he’s definitely not the grouch that first showed up at the bar with Axel a few weeks ago. For some reason, I wanted to make him smile from the first moment I met him. I felt so bad for all the crap they were saying. He’s proven to be a good guy, from defending me at Clarke’s when the men were disrespectful to bringing dinner yesterday when he heard I was sick. Someone who wasn’t kind-hearted wouldn’t go through the trouble.
I shake my head, a sad smile on my lips. I can’t help but believe I’m not the woman he wants to restart his life with. He’s a friend, I think, or he just feels bad because I mentioned how hard it’s been to make friends in this town and took it upon himself to mend that.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. I like hanging out with him, and it’s nice to have someone to talk to outside of the bar. I’m not letting a few rough bumps stop me from enjoying this life and attempting to make some friends. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that you fight for the dream until it becomes a reality. Then, you fight to keep that reality the best version for you.
When I finish my coffee, I take medicine I picked up at the pharmacy yesterday and shower. I can only stay home and rest for so long. Besides, I need to go to work tonight. Tips are the majority of my income, and with the holidays around the corner, I’m saving to send gifts to Geema and my parents, although I’m hoping they’ll be able to stop here for Christmas. It’s too hectic of a time for me to ask for a holiday, and I’ve been told Christmas is amazing here.
I tread slowly to my car, careful not to slip on a patch of ice, and let out a breath once I’m sitting safely in my car. They weren’t kidding when they said the snow starts early here. It’s only November, and the ground has already accumulated snow for a few days. It’s beautiful, but driving in it scares the heck out of me.
I stop for another cup of coffee after running a few errands. The warmth as I enter Cup-O-Joe makes me want to stay in here all day and read.
“Hey,” I hear a voice call out from somewhere next to me. I turn to find Axel sitting at a table.
“Hey.” I smile at him and place my order before walking toward him. “How are you?”
“Good. Taking a break from the ranch, so I came to grab some coffee.” Axel was the first friend I made here, building a relationship throughout the few months I’ve lived here. I know if I ever need anything, I can call him, and he’ll make himself available to help me.
“Cool. I was running errands and stopped by for a latte. It’s cold out there,” I shiver.
Laughing, he nods. “It’s only gonna get colder. You better bundle up because winter here is no joke.”
“I see that. It’s not even Thanksgiving, and the snow is falling. It is beautiful though,” I stare out the window, admiring the white blanket on the ground. “Hey,” I turn back to look at him. “How’s Knox? I heard about the divorce.”
“He’s doing okay. If I know him, he’ll spend a few days locked up at home.” He shakes his head as if he didn’t approve of his brother’s coping mechanisms. “Why?” He raises his eyebrows.
“I was curious. He’s been nice to me, and I wanted to make sure he was okay,” I throw a bullshit excuse, and Axel doesn’t buy it.
A wide smile appears on his face. “Really? And here I thought I was going to gain a sister-in-law I actually liked,” he winks as he teases me.
“What? No!” I feel the heat of my blush all over my face and neck. Axel laughs, his head tilting back as his cackles echo around the coffee shop. It’s not lost on me that he said a sister-in-law he actually likes. I take it Knox’s family wasn’t Amelia’s biggest fans.
“I’m only teasing you, Ainsley, but I wouldn’t lie and say I’d be upset if you two had something.”
“Are you playing matchmaker?” I tilt my head.
“All I’m saying is that I know what’s good for him,” he winks and finishes off his coffee. “Well, I gotta go. I’ll see you later if I can drag my brother out of the house for a drink.” Axel stands from his seat, putting on his cowboy hat. It amazes me how everyone here wears their hats wherever they go, including Clarke’s at night.
Sure, I’m from Texas, but Dallas isn’t a rancher town, and I am now living in The Cowboy State.
“You’re a good brother,” I compliment him.
“I don’t do anything he wouldn’t do for me,” he shrugs. “We’ve always had each other’s backs, and that’s not going to change anytime soon.”
Hoping he could get Knox to go to Clarke’s tonight, I head home to eat something and rest before having to work this afternoon.
…
I’ve spent the first two hours of work checking the door every time someone new walks in. I’m officially obsessing over seeing Knox tonight. Trying to focus on something else, I organize the glasses behind the bar and make sure my customers don’t need any refills or want to put in a food order.
I surrender to the idea that he won’t be coming tonight, probably wanting to keep to himself for obvious reasons. The rumor mill has been high today around this town with people blatantly talking about his divorce. Besides, it’s not like I won’t run into him again, that seems to be our thing.
“Hey.” I turn around, smiling at Axel and see Knox taking a seat next to him.
“Hi, guys.”
“How are you feeling?” Knox asks as Axel looks between us.
“Better, thanks. I’m probably close to getting high on cold medicine, but it’s keeping me on my feet. I don’t think I could stay home another night,” I ramble, wiping the bar top. “Anyway, beer and whiskey?” I ask, looking between them.
Axel chuckles and nods. I roll my eyes at him and serve their drinks, keeping my hands in the pockets of my waist apron to stop myself from fidgeting with a pen.
I’m aware of Knox’s gaze as I work, smirking in his direction when I catch his eyes. We don’t speak as the weekend crowd picks up, but he’s present, giving me attention that I’m not sure he wants to really give me.
I shake away those negative thoughts and do the job I love, chatting with customers, moving to the music, and laughing. I head toward Knox when he waves me over, noticing Axel’s absence.
“Do you want another round?” I ask, leaning forward on the bar.
“Please.” A subtle smile appears on his face, dissipating my nerves. “Thanks,” he says as I finish pouring the whiskey. “You’re really feeling better?” he adds with furrowed brows.
“Yes, honestly. I slept through the night and into the morning, which helped big time. How are you?” I give him a sideways glance.
“Good.”
“I heard about the divorce,” I whisper. “If you need someone to talk to, I’m a good listener.” I leave it at that, wanting him to know he has a support system outside of his family, even if I am just one person and not so mu
ch a system.
“Thanks, but I’m okay.”
“Good,” I perk up, about to walk away when his hand rests on mine. I face him, my eyes meeting his, intense and sad.
“I appreciate it, more than you know.” He squeezes my fingers before releasing me, but that doesn’t remove the hold he has on me. Knox Bentley is different than I imagined, in a good way, and I’m having a hard time keeping my feelings platonic.
Knox
I stare out my patio doors, steaming cup of coffee in my hand, as I watch the snow fall in the early morning hours. Winter came early this year. This is foreign to me after living in Los Angeles for so many years. I run a hand through the mussed waves of hair, taking a moment to pause before the day starts.
The weekend has been full of divorce talk on social media, articles sharing the news on online media sites, and the fans in a frenzy because their favorite couple has split up.
If they only knew…
As for me, the weekend has been freeing. For the first time in years, I felt like I wasn’t attached to something holding me back. As much as I wanted to stay in for a few days, I took Axel up on his offer to go to Clarke’s on Saturday after he mentioned Ainsley asked about me. I can’t stop thinking about her—the shine in her eyes, her laughter, the way she looked wrapped in her blanket, the shape of her breasts when the blanket fell around her waist as she ate.
Fuck.
I adjust myself on the outside of my sweatpants, half-tempted to jump in the shower and rub one like a teen boy.
I grab my phone from my pocket and open Instagram. Ignoring all the notifications but one, I click on her profile and send a private message. I’ve never been one to slide into DMs, but since I don’t have her number, yet, I’m left with no choice.
Hoping she answers quickly, I jump in the shower in case she’ll want to spend the morning with me. Today is a new start in all aspects of my life. Harris told me RWB Records is releasing a statement this morning about our professional separation, and I’m ready to release my own afterward.
Write You a Love Song Page 6
