CHAPTER FORTY-NINE
Hendrix
A smirk plays on Josie’s lips as she leans on the bakery counter. “Okay, spill it. How is it living with a sex god?”
I snort. “Josie—”
“Don’t ‘Josie’ me.” She waves a hand. “You’re married to freaking Gizmo. And from what I’ve seen, from the rumors floating around, the man worships the ground you walk on. So?”
I roll my eyes. “It’s . . . fine.”
She scoffs. “Fine? I’m going to need more here than just fine. You’re newlyweds. There should be lots of sex. Lots of passion. Lots of late night... I don’t know.” She laughs.
I pick up a cookie and study the design on it to stall. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”
Josie grins wickedly. “Oh, I know exactly what I want you to say, but fine, keep your secrets.”
Secrets.
There are too many. However, she’s not wrong. I should be acting like a true newlywed. He’s actually fun to be around, which has surprised me if I’m being honest. He’s insanely nice to look at, so there are no complaints there either. But Jase has thoroughly opened my mind to what mind-blowing sex is like. He’s shown me that Fuck You, Paul was the one who sucked in bed. Not literally. Or anywhere else for that matter. But I now know it was him and not me.
And that does bring a true smile to my face.
“I’ll tell you this, the women he hired to help me with his ridiculous promotion—”
“Ridiculously sweet promotion,” she corrects.
“True. It was. It is. They have helped me tremendously to get all caught up and stay on top of things. I was so nervous about handing over some control to them, but they haven’t disappointed me.”
They’ve also allowed me to have a little more breathing room to sink into whatever this is with Jase and enjoy it more. To be able to lie in his arms the next morning, with his heartbeat steady and his breathing even beneath my ear, and think about how he keeps showing up, keeps taking care of me. All this from a man who swears he’s selfish, and yet I haven’t seen a glimpse of it once.
But he was there when I woke up. The bed wasn’t empty like it is at his house. I wasn’t sure how he’d be when he woke up, when he realized that we actually slept the whole night together. Would he be quiet? Stoic? Weirded out?
He was none of those. He woke up with a smile on his face and then ran down to get us some coffee while I checked out how everything was in the bakery.
“You drifted off there on me and by the flush to your cheeks it was for good reason.”
“He washed my hair the other night, Josie. He sat on his knees and washed my fucking hair.”
By the look on her face, it’s as big of a deal as I think it is. “You have brought the hot, tattooed rock star to his knees, sweetheart. That’s sexier than anything I’ve ever experienced.”
I nod. “How is this my life?” I say it more to myself than to her, but she grins.
“I keep thinking the same thing.” She glances over her shoulder to make sure she’s out of hearing range of others. “Listen, if he ever wants to promote the coffee shop the way he did the bakery, I wouldn’t say no. It’s not hair washing but it’s just as sexy.” She barks out a laugh. “No one has ever complained about skyrocketing sales.”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Truth. No complaints here.” I glance over to my new employees busy decorating another set of orders. “Business is booming. And yes, you’re right, Jase is amazing too.” And I love him.
Josie watches me for a beat, her expression softening. “But?”
I glance at the calendar pinned to the wall. The date glares back at me, a stark reminder that regardless of how incredible this all feels, Jase is in fact rehearsing for a world tour.
And if he’s able to go on that world tour, it means the end of us.
It’s like a punch to the gut every time I think about it.
“But nothing.” I conjure up a brave smile. “It’s just... been so overwhelming. How did this even happen?”
“I think it daily, sister, and I’m only getting to live through the great sex vicariously.”
“You need help.” I laugh.
“I do. I definitely do.”
And yet the calendar still sits there. Still taunting that this is only temporary. No wonder it feels too good to be true.