20. Chelsi
CHAPTER TWENTY
chelsi
Whatever spell Alex has me under is broken when the server shows up, ready to take our entrée orders. I’m equal parts grateful for the reprieve of the intensity coming from Alex and saddened by the loss of connection. None of it makes any goddamn sense.
I’m supposed to be single and free. Not wanting anyone to tie me down.
Definitely not being interested in whatever Jake’s meddling ways are trying to cook up.
The last thing I want is for him to accurately play matchmaker on the first try, especially after I’ve spent my entire teen and adult years chasing the wrong guys.
After placing our orders and watching the waiter leave, I drum my fingers on the table, contemplating what to say next. How to play this. Debating whether to push to get to know Alex better or let it go. Ignore the connection I feel between us.
Fuck it. Let’s see how much I can rattle him. Find out if he can really handle someone like me in a public setting. Highly doubt he’ll be able to keep up with me in the bedroom. He’s way too strait-laced to mesh with my inner freak.
“What should we do on this so-called date?” I ask, raising my eyebrows, extremely curious as to how he might respond.
His muscles tense, and he balls his fists, so tight it wouldn’t surprise me if his short nails are digging into the palms of his hands. Definitely doesn’t love my suggestion that we’re on a date. Don’t need a clearer signal than that. It was stupid to think—
“This isn’t a date. If we were on a date, you’d know it.
I’d pick you up. Tell you how gorgeous you look.
Mention how your tattoos peeking out from your top is driving me insane.
Keep my eyes locked on you all evening. Never letting you out of my sight and sending daggers to any man who dares look at what’s mine.
” He pauses, licking his bottom lip. “Trust me…you’d know if this was an official date.
It’d be the last first date you’d ever have. ”
Holy fucking God.
Is it possible to orgasm from a man’s voice? The way he stares at you like you’re the only person in the room.
Because my panties are soaked, thanks to this man.
My breath hitches as I open my mouth slightly, struggling to figure out what to say next to this extremely surprising, attractive man sitting across from me. Who knew he could ignite a raging inferno between my thighs with only his words?
For one of the few times in my life, I’m utterly speechless. Devoid of anything to say that doesn’t start and end with “What do I need to do to get a real date with you?”
He drags his tongue against his top teeth, staring at me intently like I’m a prized possession. One he desperately wants to win but isn’t sure how to accomplish it.
Keep talking like that, buddy, and you’ll quickly earn a spot in my heart and bed.
My pussy clenches, thinking about how it would feel to have his callused hands on my bare skin. The sensation his stubble would create as he kissed my neck, moving lower and lower until he’s licking my core.
Fuck. Need to get those thoughts out of my head.
It’s going to be bad enough sitting across the table from him, trying to keep my composure while my underwear is drenched. Fantasizing about him will only make it worse.
“Will you tell me about the job Anna offered you? I may not look like it, but I’m a really good listener.”
“I’d… I’d like that,” I reply, tucking a piece of my hair behind my ear. “It’d be nice to have an unbiased opinion about the opportunity. Pretty sure Kate would support me becoming a garbage truck driver if it meant staying in Nashville.”
Alex chuckles, and his eyes crinkle, sending a zing straight to my heart.
There’s something so comforting about his laughter.
His smile. His presence. It disarms me in a way I haven’t experienced before, making me feel completely protected.
Almost like my body knows that I’ll be eternally safe whenever I’m with him.
As I quickly bring Alex up-to-speed on my coffee chat with Anna and the countless questions I’ve barraged her with over the past few days, I’m pleasantly surprised by how engaged he appears to be in what I’m saying.
The reassuring nods. The constant eye contact.
He wasn’t kidding when he claimed to be a good listener.
After I finish my soliloquy, Alex takes a long sip of his bourbon, keeping eye contact with me.
I swear I can see the wheels turning in his head as he processes everything.
All of the conflicting emotions I dumped on him.
The self-doubt I shared. My fear of making another mistake.
I flinch slightly, worried that maybe I went overboard and he’s going to think I’m slightly insane.
Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been deemed “too much.”
Over the years, I’ve been made well aware that my personality isn’t for everyone.
I’m too loud. Too outspoken. Too brash. Too sexually forward.
Too sarcastic. Too bitchy. You name it, I’ve been called it.
For some unknown reason, the possibility of Alex also deeming me to be too much causes me to start quickly spiraling.
“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have dropped all of that on you. You probably didn’t want—”
Alex reaches across the table and places his hand on top of mine. “I want to know everything you’ll share with me, Chelsi. Every single word. There isn’t anything you could ever say that I wouldn’t want to hear.”
I gulp as my heart pounds faster. “You can’t mean that… You barely know me. I can be a lot.”
His thumb caresses the top of my hand, calming my nerves and soothing my soul.
Each small stroke sends a wave of warmth rippling through my body, bringing back the feeling of safety and protection that I felt with him earlier.
“I do mean it, Chelsi. If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been enraptured by hearing about the potential of you working with Anna.
You come alive when you talk about working with celebrities to manage their image. ”
“Really?” I ask, holding my breath as I wait for his response. I don’t fully understand it, but what he thinks matters to me.
“Yeah,” he replies with a soft smile before removing his hand.
Instantly, I miss his touch, the heat from his skin.
“Your eyes sparkled when you started talking about how much you love helping people and brands put their best foot forward. The sparkle disappeared when you mentioned press releases, so I’m assuming those don’t happen to be your favorite thing to do. ”
I chuckle and smile, surprised by how easy it is for him to read me. “I might dislike press releases as much as I hate financial reports. I’d love nothing more than to never see another one for the rest of my life.”
“Fair enough.” He takes another drink. “Would you like to work alongside Anna? She’s been an incredible partner on the tour for numerous years, but I know my experience would be tremendously different from yours.”
I nod, breaking my eye contact with him and staring at the table for a few moments.
Swirling emotions cascade through me as I try to find the right words to articulate my thoughts.
How this opportunity is both a godsend and my worst nightmare combined.
After blowing out a breath, I lift my head to meet his gaze again.
“Working with Anna would be fantastic. I know she could teach me a ton, and I’m confident we’d get along great. ”
“I sense a but…” His eyebrows arch.
“I don’t want to let her down. Or to create any type of blemish that would impact Kate or Jake.
I’ve already interrogated them about their involvement with this situation.
They’ve both sworn this was solely Anna’s doing.
Jake claims he didn’t know anything about it until I told him. I want to believe them…”
“You should,” Alex adds with a serious look on his face.
“Anna would do anything for Kate and Jake, for anyone in her orbit.” He pauses, pressing his lips together firmly.
“As long as it doesn’t impact her professional reputation.
She draws a pretty firm line in the sand when it comes to mixing work and her personal life. ”
“Then, how do you explain what is going on between her and Max?” I ask with a smirk.
Alex grins widely at me. “Absolutely no idea. If you ever figure it out, you have to tell me. I’m not one for gossip, but I’d make an exception to find out the truth about her, Max, and Jason. My bullshit detector knows we’re not getting the entire story.”
I nod in agreement, pressing my glass to my lips and taking another sip of my gin and tonic. This night isn’t turning out anything like I imagined when Jake asked me to come to dinner with him and Kate.
“I might be out of line, but…” Alex pauses for a few seconds as my muscles tense, worried about what might come out of his mouth next.
“You’re being too hard on yourself when it comes to your career.
I’m not a PR expert, but I trust Anna’s judgment.
If she says you’d be a natural for this job, I believe her.
Plus, I saw how much you helped Kate last year when the shit hit the fan.
Your life was in complete turmoil alongside hers, and you barely batted an eye at all that drama.
Sounds like an ideal skillset for someone who would need to deal with the constant shitstorm Anna’s clients often find themselves in. ”
Huh. He makes a really good point. While I didn’t love the invasion of privacy or fans going through our trash last year, it didn’t rattle me the same way it did Kate. I was able to take it in stride and compartmentalize the swirling drama from my reality, knowing it would eventually pass.
“I also know there are numerous people who’d love to see you stay in Nashville permanently,” he adds, locking eyes with me.
Is it possible he might be one of them?
“Any chance you want to share—”