Take It Off Page 11

  “Life’s good, Trev.” I smiled as he shook his head at me. “Real good.”

  “Sucks we have to go home tomorrow though. You guys talked about how you’ll handle that—the separation?”

  “We’ll make it work.” I’d miss her like crazy, but as long as I knew I could see her or talk to her whenever I wanted, I’d deal.

  “You think she’ll move out to Nashville?”

  “When she’s ready.” I was trying not to push this time. I wanted her to be the one to make the decision when it felt right to her.

  “Have you asked her?”

  “Too soon for that,” I said, reaching for my guitar. It wasn’t too soon for me. I’d love to have her move in with me, but I knew that had been an issue for her before and I suspected it would be again. Only this time I wouldn’t let it come between us. We’d find a way to compromise, to make it work. We had to because I couldn’t lose this girl again. “We’ll know when the time is right.”

  Trev shrugged. “If you say so.” He played the first chords of a new song we’d been working on. “You let Len hear any of the new stuff yet?”

  “No, let him suffer a little longer,” I said, flashing a smile.

  Now that I was in a better place, my brother and I had been able to write a couple of new songs for the album. At least it would get my manager and label off my back. And I hated to admit it, but it would make the album more balanced.

  “Carolyn is so excited about doing this,” Trev said, chuckling. “I’m glad you asked her.”

  “You guys seem pretty tight lately. Anything goin’ on there?”

  “Just friends, man. After seein’ what you and Keira went through tryin’ to make the long-distance thing work, I wouldn’t sign on for it.”

  I couldn’t blame him, but I’d rather have Keira a few hours a month than any other woman twenty-four seven.

  My girl wandered back behind the makeshift stage area that had been set up in the large park that was hosting the benefit. It was an outdoor event, since we wanted to accommodate as many people as possible and unfortunately the town didn’t have an indoor venue that would fit the bill.

  “Hey you,” she said, slipping into my arms. “Just wanted to wish you luck. Not that you’ll need it.”

  I kissed her, tightening the grip on my guitar as a reminder that I had a show to do in a bit. What I really wanted to do was find a dark corner or a wall to pin her against, even though we’d woken up together that morning and I’d taken her in the shower even before we had our morning coffee.

  “Think I’ll go check on Carolyn,” Trev muttered uncomfortably when my lips started to trail down Keira’s neck.

  “I just did,” she told him, slapping my chest with a giggle when I palmed her round ass. “She’s nervous, but doin’ okay.”

  He smiled before rolling his eyes at the two of us. “Fine, maybe I’ll go grab a drink then. Anything so I don’t have to watch my brother feel you up.”

  “You’re just jealous,” I teased, tugging Keira’s head back so I could kiss her neck again.

  “Damn right I am!”

  Keira laughed before a soft moan broke free. “We have to stop. There are people everywhere, including my parents.”

  Shit, nothing killed a hard-on faster than the mention of her father. “Have they said anything about you spendin’ so many nights away from home?” She was a grown woman, but I knew her traditional parents still frowned upon pre-marital sex, even if I had been her fiancé.

  “Surprisingly no. I think they’ve decided to stay out of it, let us work things out on our own.”

  “Good. I—”

  “There you are! I’ve been lookin’ all over for you,” my mama said, looking harried as she pressed a clipboard against her chest.

  I’d told her to use the tablet I bought her for Christmas, but she was old-school and insisted pen and paper made it faster and easier for her to keep track of everything. “What can we do for you, Mama?” I set my guitar down and wrapped both arms around Keira, hauling her back against my chest.

  Her smile widened as she touched her cheek. “Just look at you two, back together again. You don’t know how happy it makes me.”

  I kissed Keira’s cheek. “You’re not the only one. Makes me pretty happy too.”

  “Does this mean I’ll be seein’ more of you?” she asked me, propping her fist on her hip. “Now that you have a good reason to come back home?”

  “Did I ever tell you my mama’s the master at guilt-trippin’?” I asked Keira.

  She laughed and said to my mama, “I plan to make sure we both see more of him. Don’t you worry about that.”

  My mama stepped forward, resting her hands on Keira’s cheeks. “Thank you for givin’ him another chance, honey. And for makin’ him so happy.”

  Keira gave her a quick hug. “I should be the one thankin’ you,” she whispered loud enough for me to hear. “For raisin’ such an incredible son.”

  “Well, I better get back to—”

  “Didn’t you need me for somethin’?” I asked my mama before she could get away.

  “Oh my goodness, the line-up.” She pulled a printed sheet of paper off the top, making me roll my eyes as I hid a smile. “You’ll be going on last, obviously. As the headliner you—”

  “Why didn’t you just send this to me? I’ve taught you how to text, send email attachments, yet you insist on torturing me with all this paper shit.”

  “Watch your language,” she said, shaking a finger in my face. “You know I hate that. Besides, what if your phone died? Then you wouldn’t have access to it.” She pushed the sheet of paper against my forehead. “With this, you don’t have to worry about that.”

  “I could lose it,” I called after her as she rushed away to tend to something else.

  “Why do you tease her like that?” Keira asked, elbowing me in the stomach.

  “Because she makes it too easy.”

  “We’re probably gonna have a son who teases me mercilessly. And what’ll you do, pile it on?”

  I loved it when she talked about kids being in our future. I couldn’t wait. I grabbed her hips forcing her ass against my erection. “You keep talkin’ like that, and we’re gonna have to get a little practice in before I hit the stage, babe.”

  She turned into my arms, wrapping her arms around my neck as she kissed me. “I’m gonna let you finish gettin’ ready. There’s somethin’ I need to take care of anyhow.”

  “Oh yeah? What is it?”

  “Nothin’ you need to worry about. Just a little overdue business I need to take care of.”

  ***

  Keira

  When I saw the little troublemaker who’d kissed my man milling about the park wearing his face plastered across her chest I knew it was time we had a little chat about boundaries.

  “Tanya,” I said, cornering her at the concession stand. “You and I need to have a little talk. You got a minute?” I didn’t know her well. She was a barista at a coffeehouse not far from the bar, so our paths crossed from time to time, but not since the incident that linked her to my boyfriend.

  “Um…” She turned around as though she was looking for someone to save her. When she found no one she said, “Sure, I guess.”

  We ducked behind a row of grills offering concert goers hotdogs and hamburgers. “We haven’t had a chance to talk,” I said, looking her in the eye. She had a few inches on me, but I sure as hell wasn’t intimidated. I’d grown up roughhousing with older brothers and that’d made me tough as nails, they made sure of it. “Since you tried to publicly claim my boyfriend.”

  She bit her lip as she curled her hand around a beer bottle. “I really didn’t know you and he were a thing.”

  “You do now.” I zeroed in on her T-shirt. “So, I just wanted to make sure we’re clear. The only woman he’ll be kissin’ from here on out is me.”

  She nodded. “I hear ya.”

  “Good. Now you wanna tell me what you were thinkin’, pullin’ a stunt lik
e that?”

  She blushed from the roots of her highlighted hair to the open V of her T-shirt. It was obvious she hadn’t expected me to call her out and didn’t know how to respond. “You can’t blame me. He’s hot as hell and as far as I knew he was available. I saw a chance and took it. You can’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

  Before I could argue, Paul stepped up behind her, slipping his arm around her waist. “Hey, I wondered where you went.”

  Huh, so they were a couple now? She seemed like the type who would chew a nice guy like Paul up and spit him out, but who was I to judge? Maybe he saw something in her I hadn’t—a softer side.

  “I’m just gonna go to the ladies’ room,” she said, looking relieved. “I’ll leave you two alone to catch up.”

  “You two been seein’ each other long?” I asked him, watching Tanya slink away.

  “Just been out on a couple of dates. I hear you and Pierce are back together.” He raised his beer bottle in a mock toast. “Congratulations.”

  “Thanks.” Paul was a really nice guy who deserved a good girl, but I just wasn’t sure someone who pulled the kind of stunt Tanya had would ever qualify. “Can I give you a little piece of advice?”

  He stepped in closer so he could be heard over the sound check happening on the nearby stage. “Sure.”

  “You’re a really nice guy, Paul.” I patted his chest, letting my hand rest there. “And you deserve someone who’s gonna treat you right.”

  He chuckled. “And you don’t think that’s Tanya, huh?”

  “I can’t say for sure, but I’d be careful if I were you.”

  “Hey.” Pierce looked back and forth between Paul and me, frowning. “What’re you doin’ all the way back here? I was lookin’ for you.”

  I let my hand fall from Paul’s chest when Pierce zeroed in on it. “Uh, we were just chattin’ about Tanya. Seems she and Paul are seein’ each other now.”

  At his blank expression, I offered, “You remember… Tanya. The pretty blonde who kissed you on your mama’s porch.”

  “You’re seein’ her?” Pierce asked, stepping up behind me and curling a possessive hand around my hip. “You sure you wanna do that? Seems like a bit of an opportunist to me, buddy.”

  Paul smiled. “You might be right, we’ll see.” He nodded toward me. “But what was I supposed to do, since you took the girl I really wanted?”

  I felt Pierce tense before he started to chuckle. “Now you don’t expect me to apologize for that, do you? I was the only guy she was ever meant to be with, man.” Pierce pressed his lips against my temple. “Ain’t that right, sugar?”

  I nodded, grateful Paul seemed to be taking it all in stride. I reached for his hand. “Seriously Paul, I think you’re a great guy. And there are lots of girls around here who’d love to go out with you. I’d be happy to introduce you to a few, if you like?” He was new in town. I figured it was the least I could do.

  “I just might take you up on that,” Paul said, glancing at Pierce. “As long as you don’t mind your girlfriend playin’ matchmaker for me.”

  “Don’t mind at all.”

  “Cool.” He smiled, gesturing to the stage. “This is a nice thing you’re doin’ for these families, Pierce. Glad I got to be here for it.”

  “I am too. Hope you enjoy the show.”

  “I’m sure I will.” He nodded before raising his bottle once more and slipping into the crowd.

  I sighed before turning into Pierce’s arms. “I hope he was serious about letting me fix him up. He could do so much better than that—”

  He cut me off with a kiss. “I’ve wasted way too much time talkin’ about that girl. And as for him… as long as you remember to keep your hands to yourself from now on, we won’t have a problem.”

  “What?” I wasn’t sure if he was kidding or not so I pushed him back a step, trying to read his expression. “Are you accusin’ me of flirtin’ with him? Or worse, leadin’ him on?”

  He laughed, pulling me close. “Baby, if I worried about every guy who wanted to get with my girl I’d never sleep at night.”

  “You have nothing to worry about, you know.” He should know by now, but I wanted to make my feelings clear. “No other man could turn my head as long as I have you.”

  “Glad to hear that,” he murmured, letting his lips glide along my jaw while I tried not to shiver in response.

  “And you?”

  “Gorgeous, if you don’t know by now that you’re my yesterday, today, and tomorrow I’ll just have to keep on reminding you.”

  I let those words sink in as I wrapped my arms around him. “I love you so much.”

  Epilogue

  Keira

  Three Months Later

  I was so nervous standing on Pierce’s doorstep. It’s not like he’d invited me to Nashville or even knew I was coming. I just woke up that morning and decided I’d had enough.

  It was still early, barely seven o’clock, and I knew he liked to sleep in late when he could. I rang the doorbell a second time, praying he answered, not his housekeeper. I’d feel terrible if I woke her up too.

  Pierce was bleary-eyed but sexy as hell, shirtless with bedhead when he finally opened the door. “Baby, what’re you doin’ here?” he asked, pulling me against his bare chest as he kissed the top of my head. “Why didn’t you tell me you were comin’?” He spotted my car in the driveway. “You drove all the way here? At this hour. What the hell could be so important that you—”

  “Pierce, we need to talk.” I could feel his heart rate accelerate to match mine. He wasn’t the only one who was nervous. I was too. This conversation could end us if it didn’t go as planned.

  He stepped back, looking serious as he searched my face. “About what?”

  “Us.”

  He slammed the door, suddenly looking panicked and wide awake as he ran a hand through his disheveled hair. “If you’re here to break up with me, I’m gonna lose my shit.” He drew a deep breath when I didn’t respond right away. “No! Fuck no, Keira. You can’t do this. I know the long-distance thing hasn’t been easy on either one of us, but—”

  “That’s what I want to talk about.” I stepped away, not trusting myself to get the words out while he was looking at me like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  “Okay, so talk.”

  I could tell he was on edge, but he wasn’t the only one. We’d been trying to do the long-distance thing for three months, and it was so fucking hard I didn’t think I could do it anymore. I missed him too much. And now he was taking my best friend on the road with him, as his opening act. Next week she’d be packing up and moving to Nashville, leaving me in Albany without two of the most important people in my life. That’s not what I wanted.

  I was wringing my hands as I walked around his huge open living room. God, I loved this house. High sealed-wood ceilings, tons of windows and natural light, and a massive wraparound deck that backed on to a pool and hot tub surrounded by forest. What a place to live and work… and raise a family with the love of my life. If he’d have me.

  “Goddammit! Would you just say something? I’m losin’ my mind here!”

  “The long-distance thing isn’t workin’ for me. I tried,” I said, unable to stop the flow of tears. I was so scared this plan could blow up in my face, and I’d lose him for good this time. My insides were quivering as I tried to get the words out. “But I just can’t do it.”

  “You can’t do it?” he demanded, his face a mask of fury. “So that’s it? You’re not even gonna try to work this out? You’re just gonna dump me and get on with your life?”

  He couldn’t have been more wrong about my intentions. Moving on without him was the last thing I wanted to do. “I don’t want to lose you,” I whispered, brushing away the tears as I stepped closer, closing the distance between us. “I just want…” I sniffled, sacrificing my pride for the truth. “I want you to want me here.”

  “What?” he asked, looking stunned.

>   “If you don’t think we’re ready to live together, maybe I could get a job in one of the bars on Lower Broadway. You know, until I finish school and can find work as a bookkeeper. I could get my own apartment and—”

  “Like fuck you will.” He yanked me against his chest, wrapping his arms around me. “If you’re movin’ to Nashville, it’ll be to live with me.” His voice broke when he said, “Jesus, Keira. I thought I was gonna lose you. Don’t ever do that to me again.”

  “I’m sorry.” I was laughing through my tears. “But I didn’t know how you’d feel about my plans. I didn’t want to be too presumptuous, invitin’ myself to move in here with you.”

  “Babe, are you crazy?” He wrapped his hands around my face, brushing the tears away with his thumbs as he kissed my lips. “I bought this house for us. I couldn’t wait for the day when you’d share it with me. I wanted to ask a hundred times, but I was afraid it was too soon. I knew how you felt before, that you wanted to stay in Albany ‘til after we got married and—”

  “Everything’s different now,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his waist. “What we have, it feels so solid, Pierce. So right. I don’t want to wait to start our life together. I’m done waitin’.”

  “Then you’ll marry me?”

  I laughed. “You think my daddy would’ve let me come all the way out here to live with you unless I promised him we’d be gettin’ married soon?”

  He lifted me off the ground. “Define soon. ‘Cause I’m thinkin’ day after tomorrow works for me.”

  I loved that he couldn’t wait to marry me. I felt the same way. “I don’t need the big white wedding, babe. And with my sister gettin’ married this year too, that’d be a lot of stress on my parents. I don’t wanna do that to them.”

  “How ‘bout a destination wedding? It would still be special, but wouldn’t require nearly as much plannin’?”

  “I love it,” I said, kissing him. “It’s perfect.”

  “The ring I gave you—”