Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
I wake to birds chirping and sunlight streaming through the curtains. Blue, blue sky belies the cold temperatures. It’s going to be a beautiful day. An old Bruno Mars song plays in my mind, but I’m not looking for something dumb to do. No way will I ask her to marry me, either.
Right ?
Shoving the blankets down my bare torso, I lean against the padded headboard. Images of last night replay. No matter how things ended, she enjoyed herself with me—and I’m the first man who’s gotten her off in two years. A satisfied smile fills my cheeks.
Which quickly disappears. What if she decided I was a mistake? One she doesn’t want to repeat? My fist contacts the bedding. No. Way. I can read a woman, and she was satisfied. Wasn’t she?
The ringing of my phone startles me, and I glance down to see Luke’s name. Great. Bet he’s checking up on my progress. On the third ring, I pick it up.
“Hey, Luke.”
“B! How’s it going?”
I’ve known my manager long enough to know this isn’t a social call—especially since we just spoke the other day. He needs to hear his asset is recovering. Plus get the scoop on whether he has to break the bad news to the rest of the band that I’m with Jenna. I tackle the first issue. “I’m doing okay. Not back to normal yet, but I’m able to walk and even take the stairs.”
“That’s great. Does the pull still give you problems?”
“I have a hard time imagining when it won’t flare up,” I confess. “But I’m able to handle things better. Physical therapy is giving me more strength and different ways to cope than I had before.”
“So, the tour starts in three days.” His statement hangs out there for a few beats. “Sounds like you’ll be ready for opening night?”
“Yeah, even Jenna hinted I’ll be ready. I’m not going to lie; I won’t be able to perform the same way. No running around the stage. Absolutely no quick turns. I’m sure if I take it slow at first, it’ll be fine. Thanks for working with PR to keep this a secret. I don’t need my rehab publicized by the media.” Even if Jenna thinks I should come clean to the public, it’s one headache I don’t want.
“You’ve made it easy, B. Have to admit, playing like you’re interested in Aroostook real estate was genius.”
I glance around the enormous primary suite, then steal a look at the ocean view. This place calls to me, and not simply as a refuge from the paparazzi. “It might not be a lie.”
“What? Has the rolling stone decided to gather moss somewhere?” He chuckles. “Say it isn’t so.”
“I didn’t start out looking for a place, for sure. But this property is really nice. And it’s secluded. None of the vultures can get to me here.”
“Welcome to the next level, B.”
“Guess it happens to the best of us, Luke.”
“I can’t wait to see this magical place.” I hear rustling of papers. “I do want to remind you, though, about your follow-up doctor’s appointment tomorrow. Should I schedule another helicopter?”
I consider the trip for a second. I’d like company on the ride. “I’m sure the doc will agree with Jenna’s assessment and clear me to perform. I’d like for her to be there.”
He clears his throat. “So, how are things going between you two? Should I prepare the band to see her again?”
Damn if I don’t want to wrap her up and keep her in my pocket all the time. I smirk, thinking of all the rehab she could do from my pocket. My morning wood agrees.
“Jenna and I have a professional relationship.” No way am I throwing her under the bus. Besides, after last night, I’m not positive where we stand. “She’s damn good at what she does.” In and out of PT.
Luke exhales. “Good. I couldn’t imagine how that conversation would go down. Especially with 007.”
Darren’s best friend. Another reason not to have friends. They die. Abandon you like everyone else.
As my silence lingers, Luke repeats, “Are you sure there’s nothing going on between you two?”
I don’t want to lie, but the truth is I don’t know what’s going on with Jenna. “She’s my physical therapist, nothing more.”
A noise from the doorway makes me turn my head, and she stands at the threshold, holding a tray laden with breakfast. Shit. Did she hear me?
“Text me the details for tomorrow, all right?” I rush UC’s manager off the phone. “That was Luke,” I explain to the woman approaching the bed with goodies, grey eyes staring down at the tray. I’d offer to help her, but I’m naked under the covers. Instead, I rearrange the blanket over my lower half.
“I bet he’s worried about you.” With jerky movements, she lowers the tray onto the bed. Several feet away, she remains standing.
“He wants to be sure I’ll be ready to perform. I told him you think I’ll be ready to take the stage.” I drizzle syrup on the waffles I swear Jenna made with her own two hands. “I’d like for you to come with me to the doctor’s tomorrow.” My breath fills my lungs and stops. Everything stops .
“Oh, I think I’d be in the way.” She takes a step back. “I’m only your physical therapist, after all.”
I lean forward and grab her wrist. “Jenna.”
Her eyes remain trained on the hardwood floor.
Dropping her wrist, I tip her chin upward. “I hope you know you mean much more to me than only physical therapy. I was only trying to throw UC’s manager off our scent.”
Her eyes close. “Off my scent?”
I drop my arm. “He was sniffing around, trying to find out what’s going on between us.” I whinge. “Hell if I know.”
Through pink-stained cheeks, she replies, “Last night was a mistake. There, there can be nothing—you’re my patient.” Her shoulders square. “I’m the administrator of two physical therapy clinics. As a matter of fact, I asked Austin to come in and help with your PT today.”
Ouch. I try not to flinch. “Austin,” drops out of my mouth.
“Yes. He’s a good therapist.”
“Why?”
She takes a step back. “I have a meeting this morning and can’t oversee your exercises. He’ll do a great job for you.”
“What meeting? Where?”
“It’s with the bank about a loan for our third location.” Her chin wobbles for a moment, then solidifies. “We were supposed to meet yesterday afternoon, but I left him a message when it became clear I wouldn’t make it. We rescheduled the meeting to today.”
A distant memory about a meeting yesterday flits through my mind. Whatever. She’s not making any sense about the need for a meeting. “I thought you were using the money from working with me to get your third location?”
“Yeah, well I already had this meeting scheduled with the bank when you sort of fell into my lap. If I get this loan, I’ll apply the money I’m earning from working with you for our fourth location.”
Her logic makes sense, even if it does leave me to work with Austin. “Don’t you have another therapist I could work with? One who doesn’t have the hots for you?”
“No. All my other therapists are busy with clients. Because the location where Austin works has been hounded by the paparazzi, he’s available.” Her lips purse. “And he does not have the hots for me.”
I wince at her description. “I hate my presence has disrupted your business.” A second later, I add, “And yes, he does.”
“Well, you’re leaving in three days and then things will return to normal.”
Except for the fact Jenna’s changed me, I admit to myself. She doesn’t treat me like a rock star or some god who can get away with everything and anything. She’s seen through all the bullshit, and still likes me. I grin. She also likes how I made her come on my fingers.
I lean forward. “I wanted to throw Luke off your scent because I don’t know what’s between us, Jenna. I like you. A lot. The more time I spend with you, the more I want to, and that’s simply not how I usually operate.” I wrap a lock of blonde hair around my index finger. “What are you doing to me?”
“Back at you. You weren’t in my plan. No man was.” She swallows. “I don’t understand what’s going on between us. Darren?—”
“Was an amazing man.” No denying this truth.
“He was.” She licks her lips. “He exposed me to a whole new world, one without rules or order.”
“Let me guess. You loved him despite all that.”
“I did.” Her head drops. On a whisper, she replies, “I need order and control, two words definitely not in his vocabulary.” She lifts her head. “Or yours.”
She has me there. I don’t need either because everything is taken care of by others, and I don’t give a shit. So long as I’m where I need to be when the gig starts, that’s all that matters to me. Not to Jenna, though. Can I see her living in my world, the way she blended into Darren’s?
I do . If she’ll have me—which she probably won’t. No one does.
“Maybe we can meet in the middle? ”
She shakes her head. “I’m leaving for the meeting now. Due to the time and, well, everything, I’ll stop at a boutique and buy a new suit. I don’t want to have to deal with reporters at my house on top of everything. Applying for this loan is nerve-wracking enough.” She takes a couple of steps away from me.
“It’s your third time. Has to get easier?”
“You would think so. It was even more challenging the second time.” She backs farther away. “I don’t expect it to go any easier now.”
I start to get off the bed but remember I’m naked underneath. Despite everything that went on between us last night, and this morning, I don’t think she’d appreciate seeing me in all my glory right now. Instead, I hold my arms wide. “Let me give you a good luck hug.”
“I think it’s best if we don’t cross that line again. You’re my patient.”
“Technically, I’m Austin’s patient this morning.”
Her cheeks lift. “You’re still under my supervision. We shouldn’t have done those...things. We can’t fool around any longer.”
“Fuck that.”
I don’t give a crap about the fact I don’t have a stitch of clothes on either. I shove the blankets off my body, stand, and cross to where she’s standing—transfixed. I wrap her in a hug and kiss the top of her head.
After a long moment, her arms go around my naked hips. We stand, locked together, for an exquisite beat.
Then she steps away. Without saying another word, she escapes from the room, leaving an unfinished melody of desire and confusion in her wake.