The Nashville Bet

by Shana Gray

  “And me, too, Boots. Shh, just let’s get out of here,” he whispered into her ear, and she pressed her lips to his neck.

  They walked past her friends; they waved and had happy smiles. Fiona gave a thumbs-up and then it was her turn on the stage. She bounced up there, wiping her eyes, then said into the microphone, “Wasn’t that just the most romantic thing you ever saw?” The crowd roared their agreement and she launched into her song “Love is a Mystery.”

  Within moments Chase and Ava were outside, leaving behind the chaos and the noise. Once in his car, they were cocooned in silence and simply stared at each other.

  “Let’s go back to my hotel, it’s closer,” Ava said, and crawled into his lap, needing to be as close to him as possible.

  “Your wish is my command.”

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  It was all they could do to keep their hands off each other. Chase practically carried Ava through the lobby of the hotel. In the elevator, he pushed Ava into the corner and kissed her senseless. Dare he even hope she was going to stay with him? Hadn’t he proved to her how important she was to him? But he wasn’t even going to risk asking. At least not now. All he cared about was that she was here, with him, and in his arms.

  The elevator door opened and he swept her up, carrying her into the hall.

  “Which way?” He crashed his lips down on hers and she pointed. He drowned in her and went in the direction she indicated. At the door, she fumbled to get out the key card. Once inside, she pointed again and he headed to her bedroom. He kept kissing her as often as he could without walking them into a wall or piece of furniture.

  After he put her down, they didn’t waste any time and stripped the clothes from each other. Sending everything scattering around the room, they fell into each other’s arms naked, their bodies sliding against each other, friction of skin to skin, chest to chest, thigh to thigh. It was excruciatingly wonderful. He could tell she was just as aroused as he, by the frantic way they kissed, touched and were unable to get enough of each other.

  “Wait, hang on a moment,” Ava said breathlessly. She rummaged through the pile of clothes on the floor, looking for something.

  “What are you doing?” He stroked the back of her head, loving the silky feel of her hair as the strands slid through his fingers. She stood up and her bra dangled from her fingers. This time, it was a beautiful black-cherry color and he hadn’t even noticed it on her, they’d been so desperate to get naked.

  “Give me a moment. Gotta put it on the door.” She opened the bedroom door, dropped the straps over the handle and shut the door again.

  He laughed and said, “Don’t tell me you’re signaling—”

  She reached for him. “Yep, our signal from college. Just in case they come home earlier than we anticipate.”

  “Then we’d better get busy.”

  “I agree.”

  Chase strode over and grabbed her, lifting her up. Her back pressed against the wall, he handed her the package he’d taken from his pocket and she ripped it open. Ava rolled the condom over his hard cock and he moaned at the whisper of her touch. Both were panting with anticipation and he was barely able to stand the feel of her fingers on him.

  She stroked, she squeezed, then guided him to her hot center. He didn’t even wait, thrusting into her, and his knees nearly crumpled with the sensation that assaulted him. It took all his energy, his hands holding her ass, for him to stay upright. Her muscles tightened on him and he groaned, burying his face in her neck. Ava wrapped around his shoulders, her legs locked about his waist, and she molded to his chest.

  This time, there was no gentle romancing, this was pure desire, a need coming from deep inside him only she could fulfill. Her moans and her little gasps of pleasure drove him on, she met his thrusts and the picture beside them on the wall banged in time with their cadence. Chase lost himself in her. And when his orgasm overtook him he felt her muscles clamp around his cock. She let out a long cry and shuddered in his arms as he ground into her.

  After their orgasms subsided he cradled her in his arms. Holding her against him, he walked to the bed, ripped the covers back and laid her down. He crawled in beside her and pulled her to his side. Ava snuggled up to him, sliding her arm around his waist.

  “I never want you to go,” he told her quietly, and the stress of the day, the performance, the emotional turmoil he’d been in, all due to Ava telling him she wasn’t going to stay, took its toll.

  “Mmhm.” Ava nodded her head and he knew she’d drifted off as he sank down into the layers of sleep. He knew she’d be here in the morning.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  At a restaurant in the lobby of their hotel Ava and her friends were huddled around a table for breakfast. She was starving and wanted everything: bacon, eggs, hash browns, grits, toast. When her huge plate, fit for a lumberjack, was put before her, she could have dived in head first.

  “Oh, Ava. One can never say your eyes are bigger than your stomach,” Celia said with a wink.

  “You betcha,” Ava said, as she crinkled the bacon over her hash browns and dug in. “I’m not ashamed.”

  “Can you believe this is the last day of our vacation?” Bonni asked.

  Fredi shook her head and carefully placed her poached egg on a piece of toast. “No, actually, I can’t. It seems like we’ve been here for ever and yet the time has flown by.”

  Bonni swirled her coffee cup. “I love our weekends away together. And I’m sad this one is ending now.”

  Ava stopped eating long enough to say, “Don’t be sad, we’ll have more weekends. It’s not even that long until Bonni’s wedding!”

  “True, and you all have to be there for that.” Bonni pointed at each one of them, giving them her cop stare. Fredi rolled her eyes and Ava couldn’t exactly blame her.

  “Like any of us would miss it,” Ava told Bonni. “Something apocalypse-worthy would have to be happening to keep us from showing up.”

  “Exactly,” Celia agreed. “Oh, by the way, Ava, I know you already paid for your return ticket but we were talking and, if you can get a credit or your money back, we can give you a lift on the jet.”

  “Thanks, but I won’t need a lift. I’m not leaving.” She waited for the explosion of questions.

  Her friends immediately fixed their eyes on her and she gave them a saucy look. “What?”

  She feigned innocence because she didn’t want to tell them right away; she’d drag it out a little bit to build the drama. Ava speared more hash browns and bacon, swirled the forkful in the yolk of her fried egg and popped the gooey concoction into her mouth.

  “Okay, we need more than that,” Fredi demanded.

  “Damn straight. You don’t say something like that without giving any further explanation,” Celia told her, and lifted her cup to take a drink of coffee.

  Bonni sat back, nodding her head. “What they said.”

  “Well…I talked to Chase…then I talked to David…then I called Kate, my next-door neighbor…then I thought about it a little more…” Ava paused dramatically to take another large bite of her breakfast, chewing as slowly as possible. Celia looked ready to come over the table for her. “I’ve decided to stay an extra couple of days with Chase. Leaving now just didn’t seem right. It would be too rushed.”

  “After his grand gesture last night, you would be a fool to leave,” Celia told her.

  “Even I have to admit it was pretty special,” Fredi told her.

  “Well, I’m glad you guys agree with my decision. I would hate to go against your wishes,” Ava teased gently, knowing her friends wouldn’t give her a hard time about staying. In fact, they would probably give her a harder time if she’d decided to leave.

  “So unless Chase and Ava decide to do something wildly impulsive, I guess the next time we’ll be seeing each other is at Bonni’s wedding.” Celia pushed her empty plate away.

  “Yes, Quinn and I confirmed the location yesterday.” Ava could tell Bonni was excited and they
all started chattering on top of each other, demanding to know where the wedding was going to be held.

  Bonni held up her hands and they fell quiet. “So, are you guys up for a trip to Monaco?”

  Ava wanted to swoon. Oh, Monaco always sounded so glamorous, what with James Bond, gambling and Princess Grace! And now she was going to be a maid of honor at a wedding there! She made a mental note to see if Chase could be her plus one.

  Bonni was nearly bouncing in her chair with excitement. “Yes, I know, isn’t it amazing! We’re going to be going over there for a little while, before and after. Quinn swears up and down that he thinks it’ll be a fantastic setting for a wedding but I suspect there’s also a poker tournament there he wants to moonlight in.”

  “I can’t believe he’s deciding your wedding locale based on a poker tournament,” Fredi said, shaking her head in disbelief.

  “Hey, now, it was a joint decision. Besides, I knew who he was when I said yes and, remember, if it wasn’t for a lucky win, Quinn and I would never have met,” Bonni replied.

  “Wow, who would’ve ever thought the four of us little college girls would be going over to Monaco for one of our friends’ weddings?” Celia was shaking her head in wonder.

  “It’ll be beee-autiful,” Ava sighed, just thinking about it. “It’s so lovely over there. It’s been the setting of so many James Bond movies.”

  “You guys up for hearing more news?” Fredi asked her friends, and they all turned to look at her.

  “Of course, Fredi. You can always tell us anything,” Ava said to her.

  Fredi drew in a deep breath and Ava started to get excited; she had a feeling she knew what Fredi was going to say.

  Celia slightly rose from her seat. “Are you finally—”

  “You can’t even let me make my own announcement but, yes, I’ve decided to open up my own studio.”

  “It’s about freaking time!” Celia told her, springing from her chair to hug Fredi.

  Fredi tolerated it for a moment before saying, “Get off me, you heathen.”

  Celia was grinning as she retook her seat. “Are you taking the space that Landon offered?”

  “I rented a place for the studio off-property but I’m going to take him up on his offer to set up a showroom in some of his hotels. Is it still nepotism if it’s via a friend and not family?” Fredi asked.

  “We are family,” Bonni said quietly. “And I can’t wait to wear a Fredi original down the aisle at my wedding.”

  “For sure, Bonni. I’ve already got ideas we can discuss. But I was actually inspired by someone else on this trip.” Fredi leaned down and pulled her sketchbook from her bag.

  Fredi put the book on the table, placed her hand on it and caressed the cover lovingly. “Ava, you have nearly driven me mad over the years with the back-and-forth about your perfect dress but, seeing you here in Nashville, it clicked for me.” She cast a glance at Ava and blew her a kiss. Turning the sketchbook around so her friends could see, she opened it. “I give you the ‘Ava’ dress. Take a look and tell me what you think.”

  Silence fell around the table. Ava stared down at the dress and tears filled her eyes.

  “Oh, Fredi, it’s my dress. Fredi, it’s my dress! I can’t believe it,” she whispered, and reached out to touch the edge of the paper with her fingers. She glanced up at Fredi and was almost overcome. “You’ve nailed it. All those ideas, all those designs, and you put everything together into this wonderful dress. It’s perfection.”

  “Look a little closer,” Fredi said softly.

  Ava leaned in and let out an excited cry of delight. “And the boots! The model’s wearing my boots.” She couldn’t believe what she was looking at. “You did this while we were here?”

  “You know I always have my sketchbook. It’s your dress, Ava, for when you’re ready. And I have a feeling it’s not going to be too far off.” She glanced over Ava’s shoulder and quickly shut the book.

  Ava turned around to see Chase walking toward them. She burst from the seat and ran into his arms. The women watched the two and, when Ava looked back, they all had blissful smiles on their faces.

  Chase took Ava’s hand and they returned to the table.

  “I just wanted to come and say goodbye. I know all you ladies are leaving, except this one.” He hitched his head in Ava’s direction. She was helpless to stop the smile that went from ear to ear.

  “Hopefully, we’ll see you in Monaco as Ava’s plus one?” Bonni inquired.

  “Monaco?” He glanced at Ava then back to Bonni.

  “We’ll talk about it,” Ava said. “There’s a lot to talk about, and now we have the time to do it.”

  Chase brushed his knuckles tenderly across her cheek before saying his goodbyes to the women. He touched the tip of his hat and stepped back to give Ava room for her own goodbyes.

  “Stay in touch, girls. We have much to discuss,” Ava instructed, and they shared a big group hug. After extracting herself from them, Ava turned to Chase and held out her hand.

  They walked through the lobby of the Opryland Hotel hand in hand. All Ava’s angst about her decision had fled. She knew she was in the right place, with the right man, and was going to do her darndest to make it work.

  “I have something to tell you,” Chase leaned down to her and continued. “My label wants me to release the song I wrote for you, but I just want to make sure you’re okay with that. Because once it’s out there, it’ll belong to everyone.”

  “I don’t mind. It’s okay,” she replied to him. “Because you belong only to me.”

  “I’ve been waiting to hear you say that, Boots. I tell ya, I can’t imagine being happier than I am right now,” Chase said.

  Ava gave him a seductive pout. “Wanna bet?”

  Chapter Forty

  Ava leaned back against Chase’s chest and thought she’d died and gone to heaven. The steaming hot-tub water swirled and a mist rose up around them. All the tension in her muscles slowly faded away and she was in complete bliss.

  Once Bonni, Celia and Fredi had left, Chase and Ava had driven back to his house. It didn’t matter how many times she had said goodbye to her friends, there was always the usual drama involving crying, tight hugs and promises of getting together soon.

  It had taken the drive back to Chase’s house from the Opryland Hotel for her to stop tearing up. He’d held her hand the whole way as she gazed out the window, the soft sound of country music filling the truck. Once they’d arrived he’d suggested that relaxing in the hot tub with a glass of wine was just what she needed.

  The man knew her well, and he was absolutely right.

  So here she was, naked and finally chilling with him. They were alone and she couldn’t be happier. Before they’d shed their robes and eased themselves down into the heated water Chase had poured a delicious fragrance into the bubbles and Ava now inhaled the calming scent that floated on the air.

  “Come here,” Chase said, and closed his fingers around her wrist, pulling her closer so she could settle between his powerful thighs.

  “Mmm, I could get used to this.” She dropped her head back on his chest and gazed up at the starry sky filtering through the slatted roof of the arbor and the vines that wound along the wood. Beautiful flowers hung down, their exotic perfume mingling with the eucalyptus and citrus scent of the water.

  “Good. I want you to, so that you’ll never leave.” His voice was enticingly low and deep and Ava smiled. He gently massaged her scalp, pushing his fingers into the thick strands of her hair.

  “You do know how to treat a girl.” She was hard pressed not to let her eyelids droop closed under his skilled hands. “I can’t believe it’s only been a few days since we met. It feels like I’ve known you for ever.”

  “I want to discover everything about you, and we’ve only just begun.” He pressed a kiss to her temple and Ava twisted in his arms to lie across his thighs. She wiggled a little so that his erection was nicely positioned between her legs. A distraction, i
ndeed.

  “I thought you wanted to talk,” he whispered against her lips.

  She nodded her head. “I do.”

  “We have all night to play, and hopefully many more as well.” He gazed down at her, his dark eyes full of passion and promise.

  Ava rose a little higher and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Yes, a whole lot longer than just tonight.”

  He grinned, his teeth white against his beard and mustache. The candles they’d lit and placed around the hot tub cast them in a romantic glow that filled Ava’s heart. Fireflies winked on and off in the trees, creating an even more mystical mood.

  “This place is just magical. I love it.” Ava drew in a very contented breath.

  “Music to my ears, Boots,” Chase told her as he ran his hands up and down her back before cupping her bottom with a firm grip. “I’ll take that as an affirmation that you could live here.”

  Ava nodded vigorously. Droplets of water sprinkled off the damp tendrils of hair that curled around her face. “Oh yes, I definitely could. It’s wonderful—you thought of everything when you designed it. Any woman would be thrilled to live here.”

  “You’re not just any woman, though, Ava. You’re mine. So we need to figure out how to make us happen beyond tonight.”

  “I know. And we will.” She was silent for a moment, just as determined as he was to figure out a solution to their tricky situation. “I know we can.”

  He tipped up her chin with his finger. “It’s not gonna be easy. I have a tour coming up and I know your contract isn’t up for another year so you can’t come with me. But have you thought about going freelance? You could base here out of Nashville and it would give you more flexibility to join me on the road when you wanted to.”

  “I hadn’t really thought of it from that perspective before.” It was encouraging, but then she deflated. “Honestly, I could break my contract and just eat the financial penalties, but I don’t want to do that to David or my clients. I want to be with you but I don’t want to turn my back on my commitments,” she said forlornly, and raised her arms in the air then let them drop with a splash into the water. “Stupid work ethic.”