Jaded (Music City Moguls Book 5) Read online

  His senses seemed heightened, and as he made love to her slowly and thoroughly, everything shifted into focus. The sweet smell of her skin, the throaty moans reverberating through her as she reached for another climax, the feel of her body as it molded to his. They fit. After a lifetime of sub-consciously looking for the right fit, he’d finally found it.

  He got lost in her, her body, the feel of her hands on his skin, her lips on his, the sound of her voice whispering in his ear. It was a potent cocktail he knew he could drink every night for the rest of his life. He didn’t need another woman. Josie was everything he’d ever wanted or needed wrapped up in one irresistible package he didn’t ever intend to let go.

  Something about the dawning of that realization brought him to the brink. “Come with me, baby,” he whispered. She did. As though their bodies were linked by an invisible, unbreakable thread, they exploded in unison.

  It took a few moments for D.J. to catch his breath. His thoughts were churning, his heart was pounding, and he couldn’t find words to express what he was feeling. “Let’s go to bed,” he said, kissing her shoulder. “I need to hold you tonight.”

  “I’d like that.” She smiled. “Um, about that. I don’t think you should spend the night when Connor moves in though. It might be kind of awkward.”

  The mention of his name, broke the spell. “He needs to know where he stands with you, Josie. Tell him I’m your boyfriend and that we’re in a committed relationship. He doesn’t have to like it, but he does have to respect it.”

  She looked hesitant as she reached for his hand and allowed him to help her up. Gliding her hands over his chest, she said, “This is a difficult time for him, honey. I just want to be mindful of that. I don’t want to say or do anything that will make it harder.”

  D.J. tried to leash his frustration. If there was one person who needed to know the nature of their relationship, it was Connor. “I know you want to be considerate of his feelings, but you need to consider mine as well.”

  Josie took a step back, her hands falling to her sides. “What does that mean?”

  “He needs to know about us. If you think we’re gonna sneak around, like we’re doin’ something wrong, just to spare his feelings, you’re crazy. That’s not gonna happen.” So much for keeping a handle on his temper.

  “I’m just asking you to give it some time,” she said, frowning. “Maybe a few weeks just to—”

  “No.” He started getting dressed, deciding he wouldn’t be spending the night after all. She obviously needed time to think, to decide whether his feelings were more important than her ex-boyfriend’s.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, reaching for his wrist. “I thought you were spending the night?”

  He continued dressing when her hand fell away. “I’ve made it pretty clear how I feel about you and what I want from this relationship. I think maybe you need to do a little soul searchin’ now, figure out what’s important to you.”

  Chapter Eleven

  D.J. was at Jimmy’s the next night having a few drinks with the boys, trying to ignore the fact that Josie’s ex would be making himself at home in her house right about now.

  “What’s your problem tonight?” Drake asked, bringing a long neck to his lips.

  “Yeah, you haven’t been yourself,” Tucker said, grinning. “You’re usually ditchin’ us for the first pretty girl who asks for an autograph.”

  Drake’s brother, Lee, introduced him to Tucker Brooks when he started renovating his house and they’d been friends ever since. “Shut up and drink,” D.J. said, pointing to Tucker’s full beer. “You’re way behind. Old age must be catchin’ up to you.”

  “Haven’t you heard?” Drake asked, nudging D.J. in the ribs with his elbow. “Our boy here is off the market.”

  “Shut the hell up!” Lee, Tucker, and Clint said, almost in unison.

  Clint Black was one of Titan Records biggest names and D.J. still found it a little surreal that he was able to count one of his idols among his friends.

  “Why is that so surprising?” D.J. asked, scowling. After the way they’d left things last night, he expected Josie to call him today, but her silence made him uneasy. The last thing he needed was his friends giving him a hard time.

  “What’s surprising?” Ryan Spencer asked as he and his brother, Evan, pulled the nearest table closer and grabbed a couple of chairs. “What’d we miss?”

  D.J. rolled his eyes. By this time tomorrow, half of Nashville would know his business. Not that he thought his bosses would be the ones to tell them. Ryan and Evan made it a point to keep their artists out of the tabloids, not fuel rumours.

  “D.J. and Josie are a couple,” Drake said, trying to keep a straight face. “At least he wants them to be. The jury’s still out on how Josie feels.”

  “Josie?” Ryan asked. “You mean Cassidy’s friend?” A slow smile spread across his face. “Don’t tell my wife I said this, but, damn... she is one seriously hot—”

  “Watch it,” D.J. warned, glaring at his friend. He didn’t care if Ryan was his boss. He wasn’t going to let anyone disrespect Josie.

  Ryan raised his hands, chuckling. “Relax, man. Just wanted to see if I could get a rise out of you. Not that it’s not true.”

  “I’d say it worked,” Evan said. “Which means he’s definitely into her. Question is, why’re you lookin’ so miserable? Trouble in paradise already?”

  “Her ex is moving in with her,” Drake supplied, earning him another foul look from D.J.

  It’s not that D.J. wouldn’t have confided in these guys eventually. He counted them among his closest friends, but he was too confused to talk about it right now. Of course, with the exception of Clint, they all seemed to have this relationship thing figured out so maybe they’d have some insight he could use.

  At Drake’s announcement, their mixed reaction of frowns and dropping jaws earned a chuckle from D.J., his first of the evening. “It’s not what you think. She’s way over him, but—”

  “He’s sick,” Drake interrupted. “Cancer.”

  “Man, that sucks,” Clint said, taking a sip of his whisky.

  “Yeah, he’s a young guy too,” D.J. said. “And they say it’s terminal. A brain tumor.”

  “I still don’t get why he’s movin’ in with Josie,” Tucker said.

  “They stayed friends after their break up,” D.J. explained. “His best treatment option is right here in Nashville, at Vanderbilt. It’s experimental, so apparently he can’t get it anywhere else.”

  “Huh,” Ryan said. “So your girlfriend offered up her place while he’s staying here?”

  “I’m not sure she offered so much as he asked,” D.J. said, thinking he should ask Josie to explain exactly how it happened. Not that it mattered now. It was already a done deal. “Anyway, she feels the need to ‘take care’ of him,” he said, making air quotes around the words. “Whatever the hell that means.”

  The single girls, all dressed to kill, started circling their table. D.J. wasn’t surprised. He and Clint were both single and two of the hottest tickets in Nashville, and his friends, even he had to admit from a guy’s perspective, were pretty easy on the eyes. But for the first time in as long as he could remember, he had no interest in flirting or signing autographs. He just wanted someone to tell him how to get the hell out of this mess he’d landed himself in with Josie.

  “And you’re obviously not okay with that?” Lee asked.

  “Gee, I don’t know, Lee,” he said. “How the hell would you feel if Indie was shackin’ up with her ex?”

  “I’d wanna kill him,” Lee said, smirking.

  “Then you know how I feel.” D.J. sighed. “Look, I feel for the guy’s situation. It’s brutal. But why the hell does he have to stay with my girlfriend?”

  “Is that what she is?” Evan asked. “I mean, have you guys talked about where y’all stand?”

  “Yeah, last night,” D.J. said. “We haven’t known each long, but it’s been crazy intense. I tol
d her either we’re seein’ other people or we’re not. If we’re not, then we need to label it.” His need to define their relationship still seemed crazy to him, since girls were usually the ones trying to pin him down, not the other way around.

  “How did she react to that?” Tucker asked. “Was she in favor?”

  “Yeah, I think so,” D.J. said, thinking back to their conversation. Not that he hadn’t already replayed it in his head a hundred times that day. “She seemed to be.”

  “So she’s gonna tell her ex that she’s off limits,” Ryan said, smiling at the waitress who set a beer down in front of him. Apparently, they’d placed their drink order before they came to the table. “Problem solved.”

  “Not really,” D.J. said. “She doesn’t want to do anything to cause him undue stress.” He rolled his eyes. “Whatever the hell that means.”

  “Why would it stress him out knowin’ she’s with you?” Clint asked, frowning.

  “He’s still in love with her,” Drake supplied. “He wants her back.”

  If not for their close friendship and the fact that Drake was his producer, D.J. probably would have told him off, but he held his tongue and settled for a menacing scowl instead.

  “Oh man,” Evan said, wincing. “That does complicate things, doesn’t it?”

  “Like I said,” D.J. repeated slowly between clenched teeth. “She’s over him.”

  “Still, women are usually pretty nurturing,” Clint commented, raising an eyebrow at Drake. “Don’t be too surprised if some of those old feelings start to resurface.”

  “Thanks a hell of a lot for makin’ me feel better, guys.” D.J. stood and reached into the pocket of his faded jeans before throwing a few bills on the table.

  “Where are you going?” Drake asked.

  “To set this guy straight about where he and Josie stand.”

  ***

  Conner was settled comfortably on the couch with a down pillow behind his head and a throw covering the lower half of his body at Josie’s insistence when she asked, “Are you scared?”

  He slipped a hand behind his head and tried for a smile. “Terrified.”

  Duh. Of course he was, who wouldn’t be? “I can go with you to your first treatment tomorrow,” she offered, thinking if she were in his position she would want someone there to hold her hand.

  “Thanks for the offer, but that’s not necessary. I’ve imposed enough already.”

  “Don’t say that,” she said sternly, hugging an oversized velvet cushion against her chest.

  She was seated on the chair across from him, her legs curled under her, trying to figure out what to say to put his mind at ease about the trial he had to face tomorrow. She’d never been much of a cheerleader, but she wanted him to know he could count on her for support, no matter how bad things got.

  “You’re not an imposition, Connor. I’m glad you’re here.”

  He stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before closing his eyes. “I wanted us to live together, but not like this. Never like this.”

  Josie frowned at his choice of words. They weren’t living together exactly. He was staying with her. God help her if D.J. heard Connor characterize their situation that way. He’d hold her captive at his house, refusing to allow her to return home until Connor was well enough to leave. If that day ever came. She prayed every day and night that it would.

  “Are you sure I can’t get you anything? A glass of water, maybe?” She felt so inept, just sitting there staring at him. She felt like she should be doing something to help him.

  He reached out his hand for hers, but his eyes remained closed. “You’ve already done enough. Just letting me move in with you… You have no idea how much this means to me, Josie. I don’t know why I’m surprised though. You always were one of the most loving, compassionate women I’ve ever known.”

  Josie thought that was a stretch. Sure, she loved her friends and family, but she couldn’t imagine herself doing something as selfless as volunteering to put herself in the line of fire to help aid the sick and injured the way she’d seen some heroic citizens do on TV.

  Maybe that was part of the reason she felt so compelled to help Connor—because she was uncomfortable with the fact her whole life revolved around her own needs now. Ever since her divorce, she’d been chanting the mantra, me, me, me, and even she was getting a little tired of hearing it.

  “I think that’s the reason I fell in love with you. I knew you’d make a great mom someday.”

  His eyes were still closed, so he couldn’t see her jaw drop. She’d told Connor shortly after their break-up they had to set some boundaries if they were going to remain friends. One of those included not talking about their past or the fact he still had feelings for her. Night one and he was already breaking their cardinal rule? Maybe D.J. was right about this being a bad idea. But it was too late to back out now.

  The doorbell rang and she breathed a silent sigh of relief. “I’ll be right back.” She knew if she stayed she would have to give him the speech again, reminding him they would never be more than friends, and she didn’t want to go there tonight. Not when he was so vulnerable.

  She was stunned to find D.J. standing on her doorstep. She’d been tempted to contact him all day, but after the way they left things, she wasn’t sure if he was ready to hear from her. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

  “I needed to see you, beautiful.” He reached out, his finger skimming her cheek as his eyes fell to her lips. “I was at Jimmy’s with the boys and found myself missin’ you somethin’ fierce. I don’t like the way we left things last night.”

  “Neither do I,” she said, stepping out on the porch and closing the door behind her.

  “Why’d you do that?” he asked, frowning when she nudged him back.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, admiring how good he looked in his faded jeans, fitted navy button-down shirt and black cowboy boots. She knew half the women in America would sacrifice a limb to trade places with her right about now and she tried to keep that at the forefront of her mind as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Connor’s resting. I didn’t want to disturb him.”

  D.J. grunted as he gripped her shoulders. “Is that how it’s gonna be from now on, stolen moments on the porch so we don’t disturb your house guest?”

  She knew he had every right to be uncomfortable with this situation; she would be too, so she was trying to be patient, but it wasn’t easy with the added pressure of having another person dependent on her. “I don’t want to fight with you, hon. I’m glad you’re here.” She stood on her tippy toes to kiss him, but he wasn’t as responsive as she’d hoped. “I missed you today.”

  “Yeah, I missed you too. That’s why I’m here, but it looks like I’m wastin’ my time.”

  Josie heard the phone ringing inside and the speaker announced her parent’s name and number. “Damn, I forgot my mother was going to call about some tickets I wanted her to get for me. There’s a show in Chicago next month. Maybe if you’re in town, you can go with me?” She grinned, hoping to ease the tension. “It’ll give you a chance to meet the fam.” Even though she’d objected when he suggested she meet his parents last night, she knew she had to give him some reason to stick it out with her through Connor’s stay.

  “I’d like that,” he said, shaking his head slowly. “Go call your mama back. Tell her we’ll definitely be there.”

  “Don’t you have to check your schedule or something?”

  “I’m not touring next month. Concert dates are the only things I can’t change.”

  She could tell he was pleased she was thinking that far ahead, and as crazy as it seemed, given how long she’d known him, she was excited about introducing him to her family. She knew they’d like him as much as she did. Especially her sisters. Good thing they were both happily married with kids.

  “Okay, why don’t you come inside and wait?” she asked, holding the door open for him. She knew if she left him outside for too long the dog walkers wou
ld swarm him. “I won’t be but a minute.”

  “Take your time. I’m in no hurry.”

  ***

  D.J. was leaning on the doorframe watching Connor pretend to sleep. He noticed the window was open and he’d probably heard everything they said. “So, let’s lay our cards on the table.”

  Connor’s eyes flew open and he sat up, propping the pillow up behind him. “Fine. Say what you have to say.”

  Diplomacy had never been D.J.’s strong suit, but he knew this situation called for it. “Look, I know you’re in a bad place right now and I’m really sorry about that, but I just wanna make sure you don’t intend to take advantage of Josie’s generosity.”

  Connor scoffed. “You’ve known her, what, a minute and you’re telling me how to treat her? Where the hell do you get off, man?”

  D.J. didn’t see any sign of the weary patient he’d expected to see. If anything, this guy looked poised for a fight. “Josie and I are together, meanin’ we’re in a relationship… sleeping together.” He emphasized the word, knowing it would land squarely below the belt, but he had a feeling that was the only way Josie’s ex would get the message.

  “So what?” He rolled his eyes. “You think you’re the first rich, good-looking guy to try and impress Josie since we broke up? It happens all the damn time. Look at her. She’s gorgeous. Just because she’s into you today, doesn’t mean she will be tomorrow. She’s not big on commitment, trust me. I know that better than anybody.”

  Trying to pretend he was unaffected by the warning, D.J. said, “Just because she wasn’t willin’ to make a commitment to you, doesn’t mean she’ll feel the same way with me.”

  “You’ll see. She may agree to date you, but when you’re crazy in love with her and want more, she’ll run and hide. It’s what she does.”

  D.J. didn’t want to believe that, but he couldn’t deny the words held a ring of truth. Josie herself had warned him that she wasn’t looking for anything serious. Was he just setting himself up to have his heart broken like Connor had? But if she didn’t see a future with him, why would she offer to introduce him to her parents? It didn’t make sense and he hated feeling like he was in the dark.