Chills erupt over my entire body when he begins singing a song that I’ve never heard.
As I pull you close to me tonight
I want you to know that
Our love is so perfect and true
And I don’t want to live a single day without you
Now that you’re mine to have and hold
I’ll never let you go
He notices me standing in the doorway, and his deep chocolate brown eyes connect with my steel blue ones. He hits a bad key and stops playing, a huge smile spreading over his face. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Long enough to hear how beautiful that song is. Please don’t stop on my account.”
“Do you like it?” The hopeful anticipation that I see in his eyes reminds me of a child looking for praise.
“I didn’t hear much, but I loved the few lines that I did hear.”
“Scarlett is down?”
“She is.”
He pats the bench next to him. “Come sit with me. We’ll sing it together.”
I go to the piano and sit beside him on the bench. “How am I supposed to sing with you when I don’t know the song?”
He points to the sheet music on the piano. “Lyrics are right there.”
“I don’t know the music.”
He plays several notes. “Very easy melody to pick up on.”
“Says the musician.”
He plays the notes again and points to the lyrics. “I’ll pick up with the chorus right here, and you can join in when you have a feel for it.”
You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted
The only one I’ll ever need
‘Cause you’re everything to me
And every day that goes by
I only love you more
Than I did the day before
We finish the song and Judd turns to look at me. “You sly little fox. You know music, and you can sing.”
“Everyone can sing, but that doesn’t mean that they should.” I don’t have a great singing voice, and I know that. Reason I’ve never pursued anything more than chorus in high school.
“Your singing voice is raspy. You’ve got a Stevie Nicks-Bonnie Tyler vibe going on.”
“I’ve been told that my singing voice is . . . unusual.” It wasn’t loved by the chorus teacher.
“I wasn’t expecting to hear that kind of sound out of you. I thought you’d have an average voice.” He tilts his head. “But I’m impressed.”
“Then you’re far too easily impressed.”
“You could do something with it if you practiced.”
Do something with it? Like what? “I sing to Scarlett. She doesn’t care what I sound like, and that’s good enough for me.”
He gets up from the piano and fetches his guitar from its stand. “Will you indulge me for a minute?”
“Depends on how?”
“Do you know Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’?”
“Everyone knows ‘Jolene.’”
“That song would sound great with your raspy voice.”
I hold up my hands. “Oh no. I’ve sung all that I’m going to sing today.”
“Please, Leighton.”
I cover my face with my hand. “No . . . Judd. It’s embarrassing.” He’s a mega-superstar. It’s uncomfortable to sing in front of him.
“I love the sound of your voice. Just try the chorus. For me. Please?”
He begins playing, keeping rhythm with the tap of his foot and nod of his head. I see that he isn’t going to take no for an answer when he begins whispering the lyrics for me to join in.
I begin by whispering with him, gradually growing louder until I’m belting out the lyrics. And I sound pretty damn good if I do say so myself. Better than most of the contestants on these television singing competitions.
We finish the song, and I nearly die of humiliation when I hear someone clapping.
“Leighton . . . that was wonderful. I had no idea that you could sing,” Diane Mathews says.
I shrug. “We were just playing around.”
“The woman doesn’t realize how well she sings,” Judd tells his mom.
“Yes, she does sing well, but I missed most of that one. I want to hear a full song. A duet. Something older . . . and maybe by Dolly and Kenny.”
Diane winks and Judd grins. “She wants to hear ‘Islands in the Stream’ in case you didn’t figure that out on your own. It’s her all-time favorite song. Do you know the lyrics?”
I should lie and say that I don’t so I can get out of it. But that’s not what I do; I sort of like singing with Judd. And I love hearing his praise. “A little, but it’s been a while since I’ve heard it. I should probably look up the lyrics to be safe.”
“Sit close and hold up your phone so I can cheat with you.”
“You’re Judd Mathews, and you don’t know the words to a classic country song like ‘Islands in the Stream’? What kind of country musician are you?”
“I know the chorus well, but I’m not a hundred percent sure about the rest of the lyrics. I don’t go around singing that song all of the time, but I may take you on the road with me and start. I’m sure that the fans would love it.”
“Sorry. I have other job priorities involving the lady of the house.”
We lean close so we can both see the lyrics on my phone. Judd’s part of the duet comes first. And I’m glad he has to take the lead; I’m not entirely confident about singing this song. It’s been a while since I’ve listened to it.
Diane must love this song. She looks like she’s in heaven.
Judd’s eyes connect with mine, and for a moment it seems like we’re singing this song to each other. It feels like . . . we’re having a moment. A very intimate moment. And I like it, but it’s not real. The song and its lyrics about making love are fooling me into feeling something that isn’t there. To Judd, this is nothing more than simply singing a song together per his mother’s request.
Diane claps when we finish. “That was wonderful. Thank you for that treat, Leighton.”
Judd returns his guitar to its stand. “Did you come by to visit, or is something going on?”
“Just came by to see my sweet little grandbaby.” Diane is crazy about Scarlett. She can’t go long without coming by to see her.
I look at my watch. “She just went down for her nap. She won’t wake up until around one-thirty or one-forty.”
“You have our girl on a tight schedule.”
“I was a NICU nurse for too long to not keep her on a schedule. It’s the only way I know how to do it.”
“I don’t have anything to do if the two of you want to get out of here for a while.”
I’m with Scarlett day and night, and it’s fine because that’s my job, but I wouldn’t mind a little break.
Diane looks at Judd. “You should take Leighton out for lunch.”
“I would love to do that if people would leave us alone, but you know that they’ll harass the shit out of us. We won’t be able to eat in peace.”
I can’t imagine not being able to go out in public without being hounded by people.
“Then take her out for a ride. I’ll pack a lunch for you while you saddle the horses.”
Judd looks at me. “Would you want to do that?”
A girl has to eat, so why not? “I would love that. Sounds like fun.”
Judd Mathews on a horse . . . I have a feeling that I won’t mind seeing that at all.
Chapter Nine
Judd Mathews
FUCK. ME.
Leighton Mitchell is wearing cutoff denim shorts and cowgirl boots. How is it possible that she just walked into my barn wearing the two things that turn me on more than anything else in this world?
Her legs don’t stretch for miles the way most guys like. Hers are short but shapely—not too muscular, not too skinny. They’re sexy as fuck. And I know that they’d feel perfect wrapped around me.
Dammit.
I can’t have thoughts like
that about my daughter’s nanny. She’s my employee. Thinking about her beneath me is wrong. She’s a good girl, and I’m a dick for letting the thought even cross my mind.
But I can’t help myself. I’m so fucking horny. I haven’t been with a woman since Scarlett was born four months ago. I don’t remember the last time I went this long without sex.
I need to get off even if it’s with my own hand. That’s the only thing that might help me to stop having these thoughts about her.
Leighton holds up a basket. “I peeked. Your mom went all out.”
“What did she send?”
“A charcuterie platter with cheeses and grapes and a bottle of wine. And I think that I saw some fresh honey.”
A horseback ride. A charcuterie platter. Cheeses. Grapes. Wine.
No peanut butter and jelly with Coca-Colas.
Shit. Diane Mathews is playing matchmaker. It’s clear as day.
Does Leighton see it? Fuck, I hope not. She’s a professional. It would be disastrous for Scarlett and me if she were to feel sexually harassed on the job.
“Are you okay with this?” I need to know now if this is uncomfortable for her so that I don’t take it further.
“Yeah.” Her brows scrunch, forming some wrinkles over her forehead. “Are you okay with it?”
“I am if you are.”
“Is there a reason that I shouldn’t be?”
I take the food basket from her and work on securing it to my saddle. “No.”
Leighton goes to the horse that I’ve saddled for her. She looks even smaller standing next to the huge beast. “I’m probably going to need help getting on my horse unless you bring me a step stool. Short-leg syndrome.”
She puts her left boot in the stirrup, and I place my hands on her tiny waist. She bends at the knee to jump and she’s so light that it’s like lifting a child. “Up you go.”
My horse and I lead the way to the place that I consider the most beautiful spot on my ranch. It’s a short distance, so our ride isn’t a long one.
“This is beautiful, Judd.”
“It’s my favorite place in the world.”
I get off of my horse and go to Leighton. She plants her boot in the stirrup and slings her leg over the saddle, coming down to the ground with the assistance of my hands on her waist.
“I come out here to write songs when I want to get out of the house for some fresh air.”
“I can see why you would come here. This place is very inspirational.”
I fling the blanket outward and spread it on the grass. “This is where I wrote ’Everything I Need.’ Well, I pretty much wrote the whole album out here.”
“That album was a big hit for you, wasn’t it?”
That album was huge. It made me a very rich man. And it transformed my career into what it is today. “The album went multiplatinum the month that it released.” It’s approaching diamond status, but I doubt that Leighton knows what that means.
“That album means the world to me. And it was my proudest accomplishment . . . until Scarlett Leighton came along.”
“I see that you brought your guitar. Planning to write your next multiplatinum album while we have wine and cheese?”
“Perhaps. Or maybe I just want to hear you sing some more.”
Damn, I enjoyed singing with Leighton. I loved everything about the way our voices harmonized. Loved the way it felt to have her so near. Loved the way she looked at me while she was singing those lyrics about making love.
Fuck . . . I sound like a pussy.
“I’ve sung enough for today, but I’d love to hear what you’re working on.”
“Maybe. We’ll see.”
Leighton unpacks the food from the basket while I lie on my back and look at the sky and clouds above. The weather is perfect for a picnic. Slight overcast so it’s not too bright. Not too hot. Not too cool. “Beautiful day to do something like this.”
“It is. I’m glad your mama suggested it.”
Mom is crazy about Leighton. I’m sure that she’d love nothing more than to see me end up with her. I should probably expect a lot more suggestions like this one.
“I would have liked to have taken you somewhere, but I don’t get to do that kind of thing often. I learned a long time ago that it’s not worth the hassle.”
“The outing to get your mama’s birthday present was fine.”
“That old lady didn’t have a clue who I was. But that’s not the case with most people in this town.”
“I would have thought that your hometown wouldn’t be as bad since you grew up here.”
“It’s better, but still not worth the trouble of going out and tackling the crowd.” I continue looking at the sky. “I’m used to it, but I’d lose my shit if people harassed you.” Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, but it’s true. Leighton is nice. It would kill me to see her harassed on my account.
“I’m tough, Judd. Probably more so than you think.”
“You’ll have to be because as much as I hate it, I won’t be able to keep the vultures away from you forever.” Maybe not today or tomorrow but they’ll get to Scarlett and Leighton at some point. They always find a way.
My eyes are shut, but I open them when a shadow covers my face. “This is delicious. Open up.”
I open and Leighton drops a bite-size piece of meat into my mouth. Tastes like bacon, but with a different texture. Pork belly, maybe? “Mmm . . . that is good. More.”
I open my mouth and hold out my tongue, waiting to see what she’ll choose to give me next.
Creamy and pungent with an acidic after-bite. “Blue cheese?”
“Yes. Here . . . you need a cracker to go with it.”
The cracker helps cut the pungent acidic aftertaste but not enough. It’s still terrible. “Ugh. Give me something else to get that terrible taste out of my mouth.”
“Not a fan, huh?”
“Hell no.”
“Me either.” She giggles. “I just wanted to see what kind of face you would make.”
“You’re evil, woman.” I open and she drops a smooth sphere into my mouth. Sweet and juicy. A grape. “Much better. Thank you.”
I like this side of Leighton. Lighthearted. Playful. Genuine. It’s not typical to see those qualities in the people around me. Everyone wants something from me.
Leighton is a rarity.
We eat and talk and laugh and eat some more. She’s poked enough food in my mouth to keep me full until breakfast tomorrow. But I let her because I like it.
“Is the wine good?”
“Excellent. Want to try it?” She holds out her glass, but that’s not the way that I want to taste the wine. I’m so fucking tempted to grab the back of her neck and pull her close so my mouth can devour hers.
I contemplate doing it, just going for it, when I hear the sound of an ATV in the distance.
Who the hell is on my land? It better not be paparazzi. I won’t get finished kicking ass.
I sit up and cock my head, listening to hear which direction the sound is coming from.
“What is it?”
“I hear someone. An ATV. It’s coming from the direction of the house.”
Her eyes widen. “Scarlett . . .”
“My mom would have called if anything was wrong.”
The words are barely out of my mouth when the ping sound alerts me to an incoming text.
Diane: Doug is here. He left on the side-by-side to look for you.
Doug is here? At my house? Unannounced? That’s just fucking great. He’s the last person on earth that I want to see right now. Especially in this moment when I’m enjoying this alone time with Leighton.
Judd: Okay. Thanks.
Diane: Everything going okay?
Judd: It was.
This is the first time Leighton has left the house without Scarlett. Being here with her, having one-on-one adult time, has been great. And it had so much potential for getting even better.
But not now. Doug is ruining our brief
time away from our responsibilities at the house.
“Everything okay?”
No. Doug never shows up at my house unless he wants something. And it’s usually something that I don’t want to give him. “Mom says that it’s my manager. He’s looking for me.”
“Then I guess our little vacation is over.”
“I’m afraid so. Sorry.”
“It’s okay. It was fun while it lasted.” Leighton starts to pack the food basket while I fold the blanket. “Maybe we can try again soon.”
“I hope so.” I really do.
Judd: My mom texted that you’re looking for me. I’m on my way back to the house. I’ll meet you in the studio.
Doug: Okay. See you there.
Doug is an asshole, but he’s a beast when it comes to managing my career. He has played a huge part in my success. But we’re even: I have made him a very rich man.
I don’t invite Leighton to the studio to meet Doug. I’m not in the mood to hear any of the comments that he’d have about her.
I find him nosing through the sheet music of the songs that I’ve been working on. He holds up a sheet he has plucked from the piano. “Looks like Daddy has been hard at work.”
Doug was mad as hell when he learned about Scarlett. He said that I was going to be sorry as fuck that I didn’t find out about her in time to financially persuade Josie Burns into having an abortion. He said that my daughter was going to ruin my career.
And I believed him.
But then my feelings for that tiny little drowned-rat-looking kid began to change. I didn’t want her to die. I wanted her to be safe and healthy. I came to love and adore her.
But before I loved my daughter, she was already adored by Leighton. That woman showed me how to love my own flesh and blood. I’ll never be able to express my gratitude to her.
“I have new songs, thanks to my daughter. She’s been a source of inspiration for me in the studio.”
“Glad to hear that she’s been good for something.”
I have a lot of tolerance for Doug, but that ends when it comes to my child. He doesn’t need to push me where she is concerned. “Why did you come?”
“To let you know that you’re going back on the road.”
Wanted: Adored (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 4
