“Yes.” I answer them both. We follow the man through the crowd of people standing near the doorway. Everyone is carrying on about the show. I don’t know why I can’t bring myself to call it a show. It was so much more than that. It’s something I can’t put into words. For a moment I thought she was dancing for me and me alone. That there was no one else in the theater. I could feel her every move down to my soul. She danced and played her way into my heart, making it so that living without her isn’t an option. I must sound crazy but I don’t care. I fight the irritation that tries to take hold of me, thinking that the other theatergoers felt the same way.
“You sure you’re okay?” My mom peeks over at me.
“I’m far from okay.” I sigh. I rub the back of my neck, wondering how this is going to go. I’m not even sure what the fuck I’m going to say. I feel like a school boy asking a girl out for a dance. She is clearly skittish from what I gathered from my mom. I’m the exact opposite, tending to be more on the pushy side. I’m used to getting what I want, but I can try to be patient with my Bunny.
“I’ve never seen you like this.” She smiles as she says it.
“I’ll take it from here,” I tell the man after he gets us past the security. At least they have this place locked up nice and tight. I still don’t like that I only had to make a call and was let back here. Money really can get you everything. I’d learned that quickly.
“If you need anything.” He nods. I notice his eyes flick to the door that has Bunny’s name on it.
“Go,” I bark at him. He jumps back before taking off. I’m a big man. It doesn't take much to get someone to back down. I’m not this size because I sit in boardrooms all day like everyone wants me to. I spend my time on the land. Getting things done. I feel more effective there. Mom has always been better at running the details. She enjoys it. Unlike my incompetent father, I listen to her advice.
“You going to knock or are we going to stand here?” I reach up to knock. Sounds of laughter pour from the room. I stop, listening for a moment. Even her laugh is sexy as fuck. Everything about her is. I want to be the one that brings a smile to her face every day for the rest of her life. The one that makes her laugh like she is now. It’s only fair since she’s ruined me for all others that she allow me to bring her happiness until the day I take my last breath.
How could I be so enthralled with a woman I’ve never talked to? I knock on the door. The laughter stops a moment before the door opens. The same woman that talked to me before stands there. The one who’d pulled Bunny off the stage. She tilts her head to the side, studying me. I can tell she’s taking in every detail, assessing if I’m a danger to Bunny.
“What can I help you with?” She doesn't open the door all the way. I have no doubt that my Bunny is inside the room, but her guard has no plans of letting me in.
“I wanted to meet Bunny Rose. I know it’s wildly inappropriate but my son here”—my mom puts her hand on my chest—“pulled some strings for his mom. He’s such a good son to me.” I fight a laugh at how thick my mom is laying it on. I am going to owe her another theater night and who knows what else after this.
“It’s okay.” Bunny steps out so I can see her. She’s already changed out of the skintight outfit that she had on. It hadn’t left anything to the imagination. Her beautiful curves had been on full display. There was no denying that she is all woman. Now in tight black pants and a sweater you can still see that. Her eyes go straight to me. I’m hard to miss. She licks her plump bottom lip.
Fuck me. She’s even more beautiful this close up.
“You sure?” The woman looks back at her.
“It’s okay, PJ.”
PJ gives me a look that tells me to watch myself before stepping back out of the doorway to let us in. My mom doesn't have to be asked twice. She drops her hand from me, making herself right at home as she enters what I’m guessing is the dressing room. There’s not much to it. I don’t know what I was expecting but my bunny deserves so much more than this. I’ll have to work on getting her something bigger and newer if she decides to continue performing after we’re married.
“You did wonderful, darling.” She holds her hand out. Bunny doesn't hesitate to take my mom's hand. Her eyes never leave me. I shift to the side. This is the one time I actually don’t care for my size. I don’t want to scare my little bunny away. She seems timid. I can see that she’s nervous. PJ doesn't stop giving me the stare-down. I don’t think she’s buying what my mom is selling but she’s not calling us out either.
“I’m Rebecca and this is my son, Jameson. He got me a ticket to come tonight. Even brought me.” She gives Bunny a giant smile. It makes Bunny smile, causing two dimples to appear in her cheeks. I want to pull her into me and kiss them both. Hell, I want to kiss her everywhere. Bunny holds out her hand for me to take.
“I’m Bunny Rose.” Her smile turns to me, almost taking me to my knees.
4
Bunny
He is here. He reaches out, taking my hand in his. My heart rate picks up a little. That feeling that I had on stage takes root inside of me again. I can feel my cheeks pinken. The feel of his hand is rough compared to mine. It doesn't match the rest of him. He looks well groomed in his fancy suit. It doesn’t go unnoticed that unlike everyone else, he has his suit undone because he doesn't want to be in it. That makes sense if he came for his mom. I find that rather endearing.
“Jameson Price. It’s nice to meet you.” He pulls on my hand, causing me to take a few steps toward him, or maybe I took them on my own. Again that pull that I felt draws me to him. My eyes stay locked with his. I can’t seem to take them off of him.
“Your eyes are breathtaking,” I tell him. I can hear myself saying the words but I almost can’t believe that they actually came out of my mouth. I usually don’t warm up to strangers quickly. Especially when it comes to men. But he has me doing all sorts of things that I’ve never done before. His eyes are such a contrast to his midnight black hair. It isn’t the only thing that’s breathtaking about him. He is handsome. His size was a little intimidating at first, but when his hand took mine I found it comforting.
“It’s the only good thing his father ever did for him,” Rebecca says, making me smile. I can understand an asshole father. I have one of my own. Jameson’s lips twitch into a smile. Again, he pulls me a little more into him. I take another step toward him.
“You should come to dinner with us.” I have to tilt my head back to look up at him.
“We have plans.” PJ cuts in like she always does when someone asks me to do something. Especially a man. “It’s been a long night and she’ll probably crash soon. She was on stage longer than normal.”
“You could come back to our hotel. We can order room service. That way I can crash after.” I can’t believe I said that. This man is making me blurt random things out. What the hell happened to all the shyness that everyone says I have? He makes me feel things that I can’t explain and I want to keep on feeling them.
“Can you give us a moment?” PJ cuts in again. It’s not a question but more of an order. Jameson’s hand tightens around mine. I find I don’t want him to let it go. What is it about this man that is pulling me toward him? I felt him when I was on stage. I felt him again outside my door.
“Sure.” Rebecca puts her hand on Jameson’s shoulder. She’s silently telling him to let me go. “We’ll wait outside.”
“We’ll wait,” he agrees. He lifts my hand, kissing it. All the air leaves my lungs when I feel his mouth on my skin. “I’ll be right outside.” He lets go of my hand before he reaches for my arm. He lifts my sweater that’s fallen off my shoulder, putting it back into place. His fingertips skim my skin, causing goosebumps to erupt all over me.
He steps back, guiding his mom out of the room. PJ shuts the door behind them flipping the lock.
“What was that?” She raises her eyebrows at me.
“He’s handsome.” I shrug and turn, grabbing my bag.
“He
is but do you really want him to come back to your hotel room?”
I bite my lip. I do. I don’t want everyone else coming too, but I can’t bring myself to say that.
“I should make friends. We’re staying here for a while,” I remind her. There is a reason I’d put this place last on the trail of my shows. I have plans to stay for a bit. It was time for me to put down some roots. I’ve been on the road for so long that I don’t really have anywhere to call home. This place is as good as any. Jameson being here is extra incentive for me to stay. It’s also a plus that it is far away from my father. The farther the better when it comes to him.
“All right.” She pulls out her cell phone, clicking away.
“What’s your little report say?” I already know what she’s up to.
“He’s loaded.” That much I already figured out between him and his mother. They weren't only in the front row of the show but his mother’s jewelry was nothing to shake a stick at. I grew up around money. It’s easy for me to spot who has it, often with only a glance. “Oil.”
“More than loaded.” It doesn’t matter. I have my own money. In fact, money often made me shy away from men. I know that’s all kinds of wrapped up in my daddy issues. It was the way that Jameson was with his mother that has me thinking that he’s different. No way in hell would my father ever take his mother—rest her soul—to a show of any kind.
“There isn't much on him.” PJ puts her phone away with a long sigh. I have no doubt she’ll keep on digging until she finds out everything she wants to know. I can’t even be mad at her because she’s only trying to protect me. I have a better idea of how to get to know him. One she’s going to give me a hard time about.
“So can I have a boy over tonight, Mom?” I tease her, making her snort a laugh.
“If you really want to do this, I’m not going to stop you. I’m just a little surprised is all.” That makes two of us. Dating has never been on my mind. Not with how I grew up. Boys weren’t really around. I went to an all girls school. Then my career blew up and there still weren't many boys. PJ points to the door. “That is not a boy. Just so we’re clear.” I lick my lips. She doesn’t have to remind me, I am very clear on that front. Jameson is all man. “You’re turning red.”
“I can’t help it.” I put my hands on my cheeks. PJ pulls them down.
“Don’t be shy. The man is clearly smitten with you.” She goes to open the door.
“Wait!” I half shout. “Maybe we should have a code word or something. In case I want you to you know…” I trail off.
“Get lost? Distract the mom?” She laughs.
“Shh.” What if he can hear us?
“Trust me. I know how to read you,” she says before pulling the door open. Jameson is leaning up against the wall outside and his eyes come right to me.
“Where did your mom go?” I step out, looking up and down the hallway.
“She ditched us.” He smirks as he pushes off the wall and reaches for my arm.
“Did you make her leave?” PJ asks with a snap to her tone. Somehow I know he wouldn't do that.
“I can’t make that woman do a damn thing.”
I lean into him. PJ’s eyes flick between us.
“You can follow her car or ride with her. She’s not riding with you,” PJ challenges him. He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. He hands her a card.
“You can call Jacob here.” He points to the card that she took from him. “He’ll tell you anything you want. The chief of police too.” PJ opens and closes her mouth. “But I’ll ride with Bunny tonight while you finish up your research on me.”
“Thanks.” She pockets the card. “I think.” PJ looks at me. “Brandon is waiting out back.”
“You’re not coming?” Now I’m the one who is a little shocked. I’m nervous too but it’s an exciting kind.
“I won’t be far behind.” She winks at me before heading the other way.
“I’ve got you, Bunny.”
I look back up to Jameson. I wrap my hand around his arm, feeling how hard he is. For a man in a suit he has a lot of muscles. “I don’t do this,” I tell him. “I’m a little nervous. I just want to put that out there.”
He brushes a lock of my hair that’s fallen out of my bun behind my ear. His touch is gentle but his fingers are rough. He doesn't feel at all like he spends his days in some fancy office. Not with hands like that. He uses them. For what, I don’t know yet, but hopefully I’ll find out soon. Thoughts of how those hands would feel all over my skin run through my mind. I, myself, get little calluses on the tips of my fingers when I play too long. My feet too. I’m sure I'll have some after tonight. I pushed myself without knowing it, having gotten lost in the moment.
“That makes two of us.” He guides me toward the back of the theater. I’m not sure what he means by that but I don’t ask him to clarify. There is no way that this man is nervous. He exudes confidence. So I push that comment to the back of my mind for now and continue to walk with him toward the exit. Then it hits me that he means go home with random women.
When we get to the back I’m surprised to not see Brandon waiting for us. I’m guessing PJ messaged him that I had someone with me. Jameson pushes open the door and I start to step out, but he pulls me back.
“Me first.” He steps out into the back alley behind the theater. I start to follow him but he pushes me back inside. “Don’t come out” is all he says before he pulls the door shut, leaving me alone. I stand there not sure what to do. I feel uneasy for the first time tonight. Jameson made me feel so at ease and safe. The loss of him next to me has my palms sweating with worry. Not only for myself but, more importantly, for his safety.
After a moment I do what PJ would want me to. I pull out my phone and text her. She’s by my side seconds later. She doesn't hesitate. She pulls out her gun, pushing the back door open.
“Shit,” she half-shouts, making my blood run cold. Something must be really wrong.
“I already called 911. I didn't see anyone else.” I try to follow PJ out to see what Jameson is talking about. “Don’t let her out here.”
PJ turns to look at me, gesturing with her hand for me to stop.
“What?” I take another step toward the door. Then I hear Brandon groan. “Let me by.” I step around PJ to see Brandon on the ground with a gash in his head. “Brandon.” I drop down next to him. I grab ahold of his hand to comfort him. Or maybe it’s to comfort me, I’m not sure. What I do know for sure is that this probably happened because of me.
“I didn't see him coming.” Blood runs down his forehead. The sound of sirens grows closer.
“I was on the phone with the police chief,” PJ says with her eyes now trained on Jameson. “I don’t want her here when the police get here. It will end up everywhere. Take the car and get her out of here. He told me you’re safe.” Brandon sits up a little more. I can tell he’s going to be okay, but he might need a few stitches. Guilt settles into my stomach making me feel a bit queasy. Whoever attacked him had been looking for me. Brandon happened to be in his way. Brandon reaches into his pocket, pulling out his keys.
“I can’t leave,” I protest. This man is hurt because of me; I can’t just take off. I have to make sure he’s okay.
“Go,” both Brandon and PJ say at the same time. I fight an inner battle of what to do as Brandon hands the keys to Jameson.
“I’ll be in touch,” PJ reassures me as her gaze goes back to Jameson. “Don’t make me kill you,” she tells him.
He only smirks but gives her a nod. Before I can say another word, Jameson is lifting me up and carrying me to the car. The exhaustion from the night suddenly hits me and I don’t put up a fight. Instead I curl into him and let his body give me the comfort I need as he puts me into the car. Within seconds he’s speeding out of the alley, leaving everything behind.
5
Jameson
This wasn't how I thought tonight would go when my mom all but ditched me, but I will take it.
Fuck, I hate that she was in danger but it also means that I am taking her home with me. Where I know she’ll be safe. Because I would give my life to protect hers.
“Where are we going?” Her voice is calm but she fidgets with her fingers in her lap. The need to soothe her has me putting my hand over hers. She wraps her fingers around it, holding on to me. “The hotel is that way.” She looks in the opposite direction of the way we’re going. I can tell she is tired.
“That’s where everyone will assume you are.” I take another sharp turn. My eyes flick to the rearview mirror to see if anyone is following us. It seems to be clear. I’ll be more positive of that the closer we get to my land. No other cars should be out around there and it’s too dark to drive without lights. I’ll know without a doubt if anyone is following us.
“So we’re going to another hotel?” She lets her head fall back. I can tell she’s tired. How can she not be with how she played on stage tonight? It’s been a long day for her.
“Home.” I pick up the speed as we hit the highway out of the city.
“You know I don’t have a home.” She keeps her head tilted back but turns a little to face me.
“You don’t have a home?”
She shakes her head no. “Only hotels and air bnb’s.”
“I hate hotels.” I hate them so much that I actually got a small condo in the city. I had to be there a lot early on when I used to be in the office daily. The traffic could be horrible getting back to the ranch so a condo worked out best. Now it sits empty for the most part. I’ve slowly been stepping back so that I don’t have to be so hands on with that side of business. I enjoy being on the land. It’s where I always feel the most at home. That city life isn’t for me. I don’t know how someone could go without having a place to call home.
Never Let go Page 2
