Questionable Love (A Love Beyond Labels #2)

by Danielle Rocco

  I will never be embarrassed of where my boy is right now, but I don’t want people to judge him because of it, so I don’t offer up the fact that he’s in prison. I’ve been given a great opportunity with Hunter as my first guitar student on my résumé, and I know if I do his song with him, I will benefit from it musically, but my relationship with Jace will always come first.

  My phone beeps again.

  Hunter: Chateau Marmont for coffee?

  Me: That’s a hotel.

  Hunter: Yeah, a hotel that has a killer dessert.

  Me: I like dessert.

  Hunter: Leaving now.

  I drop my phone into my bag and grab my guitar. After taking the time to listen to me, I guess I can meet him for dessert, and I know Jace would want me to do what’s best for my career. Hunter is nice. Maybe a tad flirtatious, but I can handle that. Dad’s right, too. I’d be a fool to not take great opportunities when presented. I’m not sure if I’ll do his song with him, but I can at least listen to what his plans are for it.

  I WALK INTO THE posh, celebrity-spotting hotel. Surrounded by people in the business, or people wanting to be in the business, Hunter’s sitting on a burgundy couch in the lounge area. With his baseball hat on low—that he seems to wear all the time—I plop down next to him.

  He looks up, startled. “Hey, I’ll call you back,” he says into his cell phone.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you.”

  “No, not at all. I was talking to my manager. I was kind of talking about you.” Just then an older gentleman walks up to us with a little pad in his hand.

  “Have you decided?” he says with a shaky voice. He reminds me of a grandpa that would tell great stories to his grandchildren.

  “Do you like chocolate cake, Shay?”

  “Who doesn’t like chocolate cake?” I answer. He chuckles.

  “It’s a big piece. Do you want to share?”

  “Sure.”

  “Bring us two spoons please,” he says, looking at me and smiling. “It doesn’t take much to please you, does it?”

  “What? I like chocolate cake.”

  “It’s not that. It’s just how you looked when you said it, and how your voice sounded.”

  I shrug my shoulders. “I wouldn’t say I’m too easy to please. There are things that are important to me that I find necessary…”

  “What would those things be?” he says, tilting his head.

  “Respect is a very important quality to me. If someone is respectful, that pleases me.”

  “You’re a positive person, aren’t you?”

  “I try to always see the good in everything around me, and chocolate cake is a good thing.”

  “I like that about you.” He smiles.

  I glance at the table that has a cup of coffee already sitting in front of me in a fancy small cup. I smile, pick it up, and bring it to my mouth as my eyes span the historic room.

  “I think those two girls just took a picture of us,” I tell Hunter, setting my cup back onto the old wooden tabletop.

  “Probably. It happens all the time.”

  “Doesn’t that bother you?”

  “Sometimes, but I’m used to it. Besides, you’re stunning, so I don’t mind being seen with you.” He laughs. “Does it bother you?” He glances at the mini paparazzi.

  “I just think it’s weird.” I shrug my shoulders.

  “Well, you better get used to it.”

  “I guess.”

  “Will your boyfriend mind you getting a lot of attention?”

  I think about that for a second, and I know Jace will not like the attention I might receive. He’s never been superficial or into materialistic things, and this business is very much driven by those very items. It can be a very fast-paced life, and Jace isn’t into doing things fast-paced. He will always be the guy who takes in the little things—sunsets, beach days, hand holding, wrapped up in each other’s arms talking. Those are the kinds of things that make Jace happy, that make me happy. He’s never been one to be around a lot of people, and he will never be a part of the high-living Hollywood lifestyle, even when we work together. I know my boy. “He’s a private person.”

  “What does he do? Is he in the entertainment business?”

  “No, he’s not. At least not at the moment, but we have plans to work together when the time is right.”

  “So, he’s a singer?” he asks.

  I let out a little laugh. “To me he is. I think he has a great voice, but singing really isn’t his thing. I guess you could say he was my first guitar student, though. I taught him when we were younger. We’ve always played together, and when I can get him to sing, he sounds amazing.”

  “Did you ask him to come with you right now?”

  “You ask a lot of questions.”

  “Well, did you?”

  “This isn’t his scene, so no, I didn’t.” God, if I keep working with Hunter, he’s going to force me to tell him why Jace isn’t around. I don’t want Jace to feel bad, but I also don’t want Hunter to think that Jace doesn’t care. He cares more than anyone will ever truly know.

  “Are you really going to record your song?”

  “Yes.”

  “You could totally use the one we just recorded. It was perfect.”

  “Well, I’ll leave that up to my dad.”

  “What about your song?”

  “It’s a ballad. It’s been a long time since I’ve recorded one, and I’ve never sung a duet, so I thought it would be cool to do it.” He continues, “Do you ever want to try something different, Shay?”

  “Depends on what it is.”

  He licks his lips as the waiter sets down our cake.

  “Thank you,” I tell him. I grab a spoon quickly and put a big bite into my mouth. Leaning in, Hunter chuckles and lifts his finger, running it against the side of my mouth. I move away from him.

  “Sorry. You had chocolate on your face.”

  “Oh, okay,” I say, glancing at the girls who are obviously trying to be discreet but failing miserably in the corner of the room. I know they are taking pictures, and it’s pissing me off. I take another big bite.

  “It’s good, huh?” He takes a bite. He has crumbs on his lips, but there is no way I’m brushing them off. I only touch one boy’s mouth. He grabs a napkin and wipes his face. “How about during my lesson tomorrow I show you the song I’ve been working on?”

  “Okay, sounds good.” I take a drink of my coffee.

  “How about nine in the morning?”

  “Actually, that time doesn’t work for me.”

  “All right. How about ten?”

  “That should be fine.” Hunter waves the waiter over. “Can you bring the check, please?” He smiles, throws a few twenties onto the table, and we get up.

  “That was thoughtful.”

  “I’m a generous kind of guy.” He winks, pulling his hat lower. “Let me take you to your car.” We walk to the valet area, and the attendant pulls up my car quickly. He leaves my door open, and I get inside. “I’ll see you tomorrow at ten,” Hunter says, smiling and shutting my door once the attendant walks away. I pull away and see those two girls outside. I don’t know how much I would enjoy someone watching my every move. It’s not normal, and it’s kind of creepy. I mean, I get that he’s Hunter Daniels, but seriously, he’s just a guy.

  I DON’T LIKE TO SHARE

  “YOU’RE RECORDING our song?”

  “Do you not want me to?”

  “I want you to do whatever will make you happy.”

  “Well, what makes me happy can’t be with me right now, but I will say that singing our song made me feel really happy.”

  “Under the moon and stars kind of happy, baby?” I jokingly say.

  “Like, the best calendar-worthy happy moment ever kind of happy,” she replies.

  “It really was.”

  “I know, and I will never, ever forget our first time under the moon and stars. The title of our song is always going to be
a sweet reminder.” I squeeze my eyes shut and see her dark hair lying all around our beach blanket. I feel her warm skin and the sound of the water rolling into shore while our hips move together slowly. The dim battery-operated candles pushed down into the sand, giving me just enough light to see her features as we make love for the very first time. Our song will always be my absolute favorite.

  “How do you really feel about it, Jace?”

  “What? You recording our song?”

  “Yes. Are you really okay with it?”

  “Listen, if I could keep us in a bubble forever, I would. I love you, and I’m really greedy when it comes to you, but I don’t want to be greedy with your talent. I want the world to hear how special you truly are. I want people to hear whatever music you want to release, and if our song is one you want to put out there, I’m going to support you doing that.”

  “But it’s ours.” She pouts into the phone.

  “Everything we do musically is going to be ours, because our love burns so damn bright.”

  “You’re right.”

  “Don’t do anything you don’t really feel comfortable with. If you don’t want to put it out there, then don’t. You know I love keeping you to myself, so don’t ever do something to please others.”

  “I just want to please you.”

  “Only you ever could, and you’ve been pleasing me since I first looked into your bright blue eyes, so don’t ever worry about that.”

  “I wish I could please you right now.”

  “Seriously, don’t talk like that to me right now,” I say. She giggles into the phone.

  “You always make everything perfect.”

  “Well, Hunter and my dad think it’s really good, and I should do it.”

  Hunter thinks it’s really good? Of course, Hunter Daniels thinks it’s good. “Well, they are the experts.”

  “Maybe they are, but I only care about what you think,” she says, reminding me that love is more important than what a fucking Hollywood boy thinks.

  “If your dad thinks you’re ready, then I’m right there with you.” She doesn’t respond right away. “Hey, where’s my girl?”

  “I’m here,” she answers gloomily.

  “You got quiet. What’s wrong?”

  “That’s the thing, Jace. You’re not here with me, and I hate it. I don’t want to do this without you by my side. This isn’t supposed to happen this way.”

  I pull at my hair. I’m such a fuck-up. “You’re right. I should be there by your side, and as soon as I get out of here, I’m never leaving it. But, right now, this is what you need to do. I don’t want you to wait when you’re getting such a great opportunity.”

  “Can I please come see you? I really want to have my boy wrap his arms around me and tell me I’m making the right decision.”

  I look up, conflicted, until I make eye contact with the fucker I got into a fight with on the other side of the room. I just can’t take the chance. “Sometimes I want to throw caution to the wind.”

  “Then please do.”

  “I can’t. I just don’t have it in me. I would die if something happened to you, Shay. I have to protect you from things I think could hurt you.”

  “She won’t hurt me.”

  “I don’t know that.”

  “I have to go,” she says quickly. Soft sniffles come through the phone, and I suck in the deepest fucking breath.

  “Don’t be upset. I want to climb over barbed wire when you cry.”

  “Don’t say that, Jace,” she cries harder.

  “I mean it. I would move mountains for you.”

  “I know you would.”

  I try to change the subject to give her something happy to talk about. “Did you finish decorating our room?”

  “I’m going to work on it tonight.”

  “What are you going to do, pretty girl?” I ask. She whimpers and clears her throat.

  “I’m going to finish hanging the pictures that were in my room at my parents’ house.”

  “I bet they look pretty.”

  “They do.”

  “I know they do. You’re in the pictures, so they’re all going to be beautiful on the wall.”

  “The two of us together in the pictures is what makes them beautiful, Jace,” she says, tear-free and happy again. “I can’t wait for you to come home and spoon me on our bed. Do you remember how to spoon?”

  I chuckle. “Yeah, I remember how to spoon you. I remember really well— how you feel backed up against me. I can’t wait to feel that again.”

  “Oh, by the way, Hunter mentioned he might want me to work on one of his songs with him,” she says, taking the sexy thoughts right out of my head, replacing them with fierce jealousy.

  I slowly breathe in and ask her, “What kind of song?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t heard it yet. It’s a duet.”

  “Oh,” I say quietly.

  “I haven’t heard the lyrics, and I haven’t committed to doing it with him.” Guitar lessons are one thing, and that’s hard enough for me, but singing a song with him? That’s a whole different kind of sharing my girl I don’t know if I’m willing to take on. I’m supposed to make music with Shay, not Hunter Daniels. “Jace?” she says loudly.

  “I’m here.” I bite down on my lip, hard. “I trust your judgment, Shay. If you think it’s a good opportunity, then go for it.”

  “Well, I guess I won’t know unless I try it and see—”

  “And if you’re comfortable with it,” I cut her off. “Then I’m one hundred percent behind you.”

  “I also want to make the best decision for us.”

  “Me, too, pretty girl. And, we always will. See how it goes and make that decision.”

  “Okay, More than anything, Jace.”

  “I love you, too.” The phone clicks along with my jaw. I walk outside to the yard and stare at the barbed wire fencing. If she only knew how tempted I am to climb these walls right now to get to her. Singing a duet with Hunter Daniels? That was our dream. Our dream…that I fucking ruined. I stare up into the bright sun, hating that Hunter gets my sunshine in front of him while I’m behind these damn walls. That’s a whole new level of intimacy—singing with another person. I don’t like it. Dammit! I don’t like anyone but me gazing into my girl’s eyes. Every time I’ve seen musicians sing together, it’s an intimate connection, and I don’t want my girl intimate with anyone other than me.

  Fuck! I wonder if Mr. Hollywood knows I’m in prison.

  Shay,

  One girl, one boy, one separation, and then we are never going to be apart again. One love, baby, only ever our love. I just want you to know how I feel and how I will only ever feel for you, pretty girl. I love you.

  Love, your boy

  HE’S NOT GOING TO LIKE THIS

  “SORRY I’M RUNNING LATE.” Hunter looks down at his watch.

  “It’s only ten after.”

  “I know, but I like to be on time. There was a little traffic.”

  “I know, right? It’s L.A.”

  “Hey, are you okay?” he asks, concerned.

  “Yeah, why do you ask?”

  “You look like you’ve been crying.”

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah.” I set my guitar against the wall and sit down. Hunter stares at me.

  “What?”

  “Even with puffy eyes you’re beautiful.”

  “Hunter,” I say, tilting my head.

  “I know you have a boyfriend. Where is he?”

  “Not here.”

  “I know that, smart ass. I would think he’d check out what we’re doing.”

  “He knows what I’m doing.”

  “Isn’t he curious to come down here and see you start your career?”

  “If he could, he would.”

  “Why can’t he?”

  “You ask too many questions, Hunter.”

  “You’re awfully secretive about the boyfriend.”

>   “I’m a private person.”

  “Okay,” he says, turning his Yankee hat backward. He grabs his guitar and rests it on his lap. Strumming it for a moment, he starts humming softly, then stops and pulls my stool closer to him.

  “Hey.” I laugh. “You almost made me fall.” He licks his full lips and leans in.

  “I’ll catch you if you fall.” Then with that sexy voice he’s known for, he starts humming again and strumming while staring into my eyes. “I want you close to me when I sing with you,” he says, lowering his voice, pulling me so close our knees are practically touching. I cross Converse-covered feet to keep from touching his and lean back against my chair.

  Deep breaths, slow sighs, baby, let’s get lost tonight

  You and me and no one else

  Let’s make love all night until the sun comes up

  Damp skin, slow moves, let’s get lost, just me and you

  I see you staring across the room

  It’s obvious you want me to make the move

  Deep breaths, slow sighs, baby, let’s get lost tonight

  I swallow slowly as Hunter sings directly to me. “That’s the chorus I’m working on,” he says when he stops strumming. I clear my throat.

  “That’s really nice.”

  “That’s what we would sing together.”

  “Oh.”

  “You don’t like it?”

  “No, that’s not it. It’s just really intimate.”

  “It’s a song, Shay.”

  “I know that. I’m just, you know…”

  “You don’t know if your boyfriend would like you singing it with me.”

  A nervous laugh escapes me. “Well, I can tell you. He won’t like it.”

  “I thought he supported you?”