Chapter 21
Chapter
Twenty-One
As soon asCassie parked behind all the cars lining Gray and Maddie Hartson’s driveway, she found herself accosted by Marley.
“Hey.” He was smirking at her.
“Pres told you?” she said, because his smile was only getting bigger. He had to know about her and Pres. Officially. Because unofficially, she had the sneaking suspicion he’d known about them all along.
“Nope.” Marley shook his head. “Delilah did. And I just came out to warn you that she’s been telling everybody that you’re her daddy’s special friend.” He started to laugh. “I’m sorry, it sounds weird coming out of a six-year-old’s mouth. So yeah, you’re kind of the talk of the party.”
“Is it too late to get back in my car and drive away?” she asked him, only half joking. She had a pile of gifts in her arms, but she was willing to drop them and make a run for it.
“Yep, way too late.” He glanced at the wrapped presents. “Pres is a lucky guy. Want me to carry these for you?”
She shook her head. “Actually, the top two are for you. Take those and I’ve got the rest.”
“You bought me a gift?” he asked, looking touched.
“Of course. You’re a bandmate.”
“And your boyfriend’s brother.” He lifted a brow. “Right?”
“I guess so.” She blew out a mouthful of air. “Okay, let’s do this.”
He winked at her. “It won’t be that bad. The Hartson family loves gossip, but they also have short memories. After today you’ll be forgotten.”
Her brows knitted. “Thank you. I think?”
“Come on, let’s go face the music.”
She had such a soft spot for Marley. Not just because he was Pres’ brother, or because he’d always been so nice to her. But he had this glow to him. He was easy going, didn’t let anything get him down. She had the feeling that if it came down to him and a hurricane, the hurricane would apologize and find another place to blow.
Sure enough, as soon as the two of them stepped into the backyard, it felt like every face turned their way. But she kept a smile on her lips, and it turned into a real one when she saw Pres turn and see her, his eyes crinkling in pleasure at her arrival.
“Cassie!” Delilah ran for her. “Are those gifts for me… I mean my daddy?”
Cassie laughed. “Yes they are. Want to help me with them?”
“Daddy, come open your presents,” Delilah shouted. “Look at the pretty colors.”
Cassie had wrapped them in sparkly silver paper, with iridescent ribbons that criss crossed the boxes then tied in bows.
“Hey.” Presley walked toward them. He lifted a brow at Marley who gave a little snigger.
“Hi. Happy Birthday,” she breathed.
“I’m just gonna do this,” he told her, “And then it’ll be over, okay?”
“Do what?”
Before the words had left her mouth, he was taking the gifts out of her arms and passing them to Marley, who was completely unfazed by the move. And then Pres was pulling her into his arms, his hands spanning her waist as he dipped his head to hers. His mouth was warm and welcoming as he claimed hers.
Blood rushed through her ears. She felt him dip her back, as though they were posing for a 1940s black and white poster, and she wrapped her arms around his neck to bring him closer as he kissed her again.
And suddenly the whole backyard erupted into applause.
She was dizzy when Presley lifted her up to standing. “Sorry.” He didn’t look it. He looked kind of pleased with himself. “I decided to get it over with.”
“Like a wedding,” Marley said. “Just kiss the bride so everybody can get their kicks.”
“It’s not like a wedding.” Presley frowned. Then his eyes caught Cassie’s. “You okay?”
“Yeah,” she said breathlessly. “I was just… yeah.” She was trying to straighten her mind. Find her thoughts.
She was pretty sure they were there somewhere. Hidden behind this constant need to be touching Presley Hartson.
And he was right, everybody was looking at them. The whole Hartson clan were there – Pres’s uncles and aunts, his cousins. And of course, Aunt Gina, smiling widely at both of them like they’d just made her day.
That was a hell of a way to be introduced to the family. But they all looked happy for them. Especially for Pres.
She knew from his cousins that they’d been worried about him for the longest time.
“You sure you’re okay?” Pres looked worried he’d done the wrong thing. But actually, he’d been right.
“I’m certain.” She smiled at him. “Now open your gifts.”
Marley had set them on a table. As they walked, Delilah grabbed her hand. “My daddy kissed you,” she whispered.
“I know. Is that okay?”
Delilah nodded. “Yes. Because you’re special friends.”
Oh boy, Presley really started something with that phrase. “Yes we are.”
“Are we special friends, too?” Delilah asked her, her eyes shining as she looked up at Cassie’s face.
“Well, we’re friends, and I think you’re very special so…” She leaned down and tickled the little girl, who laughed with delight.
“Daddy, can I help you open your presents?” she asked him.
“Sure.” Presley’s eyes met Cassie’s. She nodded. There was nothing a little girl shouldn’t see in them. She wasn’t that stupid.
Delilah skipped around to where Marley and Presley were standing. Marley had already opened his two gifts. A vintage Nirvana album for the turntable Pres had gotten him, and a black t-shirt with white writing on the front. Marley read it and was laughing.
“What does it say?” Delilah asked him.
“It says, Drummer: A skilled musician who is often forced to the back to preserve the fragile egos of the other band members.”
Presley laughed with him.
“What’s an ego?” Delilah asked.
Marley’s eyes met Cassie’s. “Ask your dad,” he said. “He knows.”
“Daddy, what’s an ego?” Delilah asked.
Presley rolled his eyes. “I thought you were helping me open these,” he said, gesturing at the pile of gifts.
“Oh yes.” She grabbed at the paper of the gift at the top, all thoughts of egos forgotten. “What’s this one?” she asked, as Presley helped her unstick the tape and open it. “Oh, it’s a book.”
Presley read the front and looked up at her, smiling. She’d noticed he had a lot of Stephen King books in his house the first time she visited. It was his latest. “Thank you,” he said.
“Look inside,” she told him.
He opened it up and a little piece of paper fell out.
“What does it say?” Delilah asked, impatiently.
“It says, this voucher entitles the holder to one child free day.” He smiled. “Not sure how that works.”
“Delilah and I can have a girl’s day,” Cassie told him. “And you can read the book.”
The smile wavered on his lips. “That’s incredibly thoughtful.”
Her chest tightened. “I just thought you’d probably enjoy some peace.”
“We get to have a girl day?” Delilah asked, fist bumping the air. “Yes!”
“You’re the gift that keeps on giving,” Pres murmured. “Thank you for my presents.” He kissed her cheek.
“You’re welcome.”
“Daddy, can we open the rest now?” Delilah asked, not waiting for his reply as she grabbed the next one. Within a minute all five of them were opened. Like Marley, Presley got a t-shirt, but his had a print of the Rolling Stones on it, another band she knew he loved. Then there was a box of his favorite chocolates, tickets to a concert that was happening in the summer, and a leather wallet, because she’d noticed his was pretty battered.
Delilah wandered off when she realized there were no more to open. And Presley walked toward her, pulling her against him as he brushed her cheek with his mouth. “Thank you,” he told her, sounding strangely emotional. “They’re all perfect.”
“I have one more for you at home,” she reminded him.
He smiled against her skin. “That’s already my favorite.”
“Oh boy, so what’s going on here?”
They turned to see Alex walking toward them. He was wearing a pair of cut off jeans, and a sleeveless tee, a pair of aviators covering his eyes. But you didn’t have to see his eyes to know he was hungover.
“What’s what?” Presley frowned.
“You and Cassie? You a thing now?”
Cassie smiled at him. “Looks like it.”
Alex shrugged. “Cool. And since you’re all here, I have some news.”
“Another viral TikTok?” Marley asked, looking amused. Because Alex was completely addicted to that app.
“Kind of.” Alex frowned at him. “But not really. It’s what’s happened on the back of the TikTok.”
“What?”
Alex looked around the party, as though he was waiting for everybody to listen to him. But unlike when Presley kissed Cassie, nobody looked all that interested.
“So I got an email on Friday.”
“Scintillating…” Marley murmured. “I got a text message. Isn’t modern technology a wonderful thing?”
Cassie bit down a smile. Presley shook his head.
“But was yours from a motherfucking record company?” Alex asked, looking annoyed.
“There are kids here,” Presley murmured. “Keep the language clean, please.”
“Like you do,” Alex said.
“I am today.” Pres lifted a brow.
Alex sighed. “Did you not hear me? I got an email from a record company. A big one. They found us on TikTok. They’re interested in our songs.”
“Sure they are.” Presley nodded. “Did they ask for your credit card so they could start promoting us?”
Cassie elbowed him in the stomach. Sure he was funny, but Alex looked so excited, she hated to dash his good humor.
“I’m being serious, man. Look at this.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and slid his finger along the screen until an email appeared on it. Holding it out to Presley, he had a triumphant expression on his face. “Read it and weep.”
Presley looked over it, his own expression neutral. “Did you click on the sender and see if it came from some weird email address?”
“Of course I did. I’m not an idiot.”
“What does it say?” Cassie asked, leaning over Presley’s shoulder. Her eyes skimmed the words, taking in the invitation to come to New York for an audition.
“Nah,” she said smiling. “That has to be a hoax.”
“Dad?” Marley called over to Gray. He turned, his bottle of beer halfway to his mouth.
“Yeah?”
“Can you take a look at this?” he asked. “Dad will know if this person really works for Story Records.”
“What is it?” Their dad walked over. Alex quickly got him up to date and Presley’s dad took the phone, reading the email.
“I don’t know all the AR guys at Story Records,” Gray told them. “But it looks genuine. I can look into it for you if you’d like.” Presley’s father still produced for some bands and singers, occasionally.
“That’d be awesome.” Alex grinned. “Thank you.” He turned to look at Marley, a satisfied look on his face. “See?”
“He didn’t exactly say it was genuine,” Marley pointed out.
“He said it could be, though.” Alex shrugged. “Can you believe this? We’re hitting the big time. Seriously.” His face lit up like Times Square. “Can you imagine if this works out?”
“Let’s worry about that another day,” Presley said. “If it’s genuine, it can wait.” He didn’t sound very enthusiastic. “Now let’s get on with enjoying the party, shall we?”
“Wait,” Cassie said, a smile on her face as she broke their kiss in his entry way later that night. “I promised you a birthday gift. How do you want me?”
“Just like this.” Pres pulled her against him, leaving her in no doubt how much he needed her right away. He’d been watching her all night. Well okay, during the day too. Seeing her laugh with his family, spend time with his kid, talk to his parents like she was born to…
It made him want her like he’d never wanted anything else.
The only reason he hadn’t pulled her into the bushes on the way home was because the whole town would find out and they’d never hear the last of it.
But whatever wafer thin restraint he’d had for during the journey home finally snapped.
“You look so beautiful tonight.” He kissed her neck, his fingers tugging at her t-shirt, pulling it over her head until just her pretty lace bra and a thick necklace remained. “This needs to go,” he murmured, kissing the swell of her breast through the lace of her bra as he reached his hand around and deftly unfastened it, pulling the straps down her arms and throwing her bra to the side.
Christ, this woman was perfect. He wanted to taste every inch of her. To touch her until she was vibrating with pleasure beneath his touch.
“But it’s your birthday,” she gasped as he pinched her nipple, her head tipping back until it hit the wall behind her. They’d hardly made it inside with the door closed before he’d pounced on her.
He couldn’t stop himself. He needed her. Needed this.
“Damn right it is.” He dropped to his knees, unfastening those cute little shorts that had been teasing him all day. He pulled them down then leaned forward, kissing the soft skin on her thighs. “Do you know how much I’ve been thinking about this?”
She gasped again as he nipped at her skin. “As much as I have?”
“More.” He tugged at her panties, helping her step out of them. She’d already slid her shoes off, thank god. And then she was naked, which right now felt like the best fucking present he’d ever had, thank you very much.
Naked apart from that necklace. And it could stay. He liked it.
He slid his hand up the inside of her thigh, the movement making her breath catch in her throat. Her skin was so soft. So warm. Her legs parted as soon as he nudged them, revealing the innermost part of her.
She looked like heaven.
He leaned forward, inhaling her, and her fingers threaded through his hair. “Presley, it’s supposed to be your birthday, not mine,” she whispered.
“Shut up. I’m hungry.” He buried his face between her thighs, surrounded by the sweet slickness of her pleasure. He kissed her pretty clit, then licked it, his fingers sliding inside of her in the way he knew she loved. And then he started to fuck her with them, determined to win her pleasure.
It was his birthday and he could do what he liked.
“Pres…” She was breathless. Giddy.
“Call me Presley when I’m on my knees for you,” he grunted.
“Presley.” She was breathless. “I need you inside of me.”
He looked up, and he could see the intensity in her gaze. She was on the edge. Tight and needy. And fuck, he loved it when she came on his mouth.
But that’s not what she needed. She needed him.
And he was a fucking fool for her. If she wanted him, she’d have him.
He stood, pulling his t-shirt off, as she reached for his jeans, her fingers trembling as she unbuckled him. He was so hard it almost hurt as he tugged his jeans down, followed by his boxers. He grabbed a condom packet from his wallet and looked at her carefully.
“Here?”
She nodded, her eyes glazed. He leaned forward and kissed her softly, and she purred like a kitten against his lips. Ripping the foil, he rolled the condom on. Even that short contact of his fingers on his dick was enough to make his body flex.
His tongue slid against hers as he lifted her legs around his waist, angling them both until the tip of his aching cock pushed against her.
And slid inside the place it loved the most.
So tight, so warm. He took a deep breath to center himself. “You ready?” he whispered.
She smiled, knowing what he meant. He wanted to make her come first because he wasn’t sure how long he would last. How gentle he could be when all he’d thought about all day were her long legs wrapped around him like this. His biceps flexed as he held her against the wall, his hips pulling back until she almost released him.
And then he thrust forward again. Hard enough to take her breath away. She fluttered around him, a reminder she was on edge, too, as he took her hard and fast against the wall. The same place they’d first kissed.
He’d never be able to walk down the stairs without blushing again.
“Harder.” Her mouth was against his ear. He felt the warmth of her breath tickle his skin.
But he was a fool for this woman. If she told him to jump he’d buy a damn rocket to see how high he could go. So he thrust harder, rougher.
Until she was crying out his name and pulsing around him.
“Don’t stop.”
“Wasn’t gonna.” It was a lie. He was so, so close. But he wanted to feel her come on him again. Wanted to feel it forever.
Never wanted this moment to end.
“Do you think that email Alex got was a hoax?” Cassie asked him the next morning. They’d taken a shower together and now he was cooking her breakfast. Blueberry pancakes and bacon. It had been his favorite combination as a kid.
And technically, it was still his birthday weekend. Which hadn’t gone unnoticed by Cassie, who’d woken him up with that belated birthday blow job she’d wanted to give him. And then she’d offered to make breakfast, but he’d batted her suggestion off, because he liked cooking. The same way he liked giving her pleasure.
He’d forgotten how much he liked making people happy. Maybe that was because he’d been so unhappy himself for the longest time.
“Nah, it wasn’t.” He flipped the pancake over. “Dad checked it out last night. It’s legit.”
“It is?” Her eyes widened as she leaned forward. She was wearing one of his old t-shirts, her damp hair twisted into some kind of bun. Even freshly fucked and showered she had the kind of grace that made his body feel weak.
She was his Helen of Troy. Or his Achilles’ Heel. He frowned. Damn, he should have paid more attention in school.
“Why didn’t you tell Alex last night?” she asked him.
He put the pancake on the stack, then poured in some more batter. “Well firstly because he would have lorded it over Marley and it’s his birthday too.”
“Good point.” She nodded. “Alex isn’t exactly diplomatic in victory.”
He smiled. “You know him well already.”
“And secondly?” she prompted.
“Secondly?” he repeated, frowning.
“You said firstly. Which led me to believe there’d be a second reason.” She blinked. “Now you’ve got me questioning myself.”
He laughed, pushing the plate toward where she was sitting at the breakfast bar. “Eat,” he said, pointing at the plate of bacon he’d already cooked. “And yeah, there was a second. I just don’t want to think about it.”
She looked up from where she was lifting pancakes onto her plate. “Why not?”
“Because it almost certainly won’t go anywhere. And if it does, it’ll have to go somewhere without me.”
Cassie frowned. “The band couldn’t exist without you. You’re the lead singer.”
“I’m also Delilah’s father. And she lives here.” He put the empty pan to the side and grabbed his own plate, loading it with pancakes and bacon before taking the stool next to hers. “It’s one thing doing an occasional gig at a local bar while my mom takes care of her, another to have to move somewhere to record music and then tour without her.”
“Oh. I didn’t think of that.” She swallowed a mouthful of pancake. “Damn, this is good. Where’d you learn to make pancakes like this?”
“You’ve met Delilah. You see how much she talks. The only way I can keep her quiet is by feeding her lots of sugar.”
Cassie started laughing. “Surely that makes her worse.”
His brows knitted. “Now that you say that, it probably does. Why didn’t I think of that?”
He took a sip of coffee. Damn, he loved this. The two of them sitting here, just talking. Nobody wanting something, nobody interrupting.
“We could record music here,” Cassie pointed out. “Your dad has the whole studio set up for it.”
“Doesn’t solve the touring part though,” he said, popping a piece of bacon into his mouth. When he swallowed it down, he looked carefully at her. “And that’s where the money is in music.”
“I guess.”
He tipped his head to the side. “Are you actually interested in getting signed?” he asked her. “I thought you liked working with Gemma.”
“I do.” She shrugged. “It just sounded like fun, that’s all. But you’re right, it’ll probably go nowhere. And I’d never leave Gemma hanging.”
And now he felt like an asshole for taking away the shine of it. Sure, he had responsibilities, but Cassie didn’t. And she’d already had to step out of the limelight once, thanks to her accident. He ate another mouthful of pancake.
“I guess we could go to the audition and see where it goes,” he said carefully. “We’re probably not what they’re looking for anyway. Some old has been single dad trying to sing with a gorgeous younger woman.”
She rolled her eyes. “Has been? Old?” she repeated. “Seriously?”
His lips twitched.
“Anyway, even if what you’re saying is right, it’s a tried and tested trope. In most bands the guys get older and the women get younger. A sad reflection of life.” She lifted a brow.
His phone started to buzz. His mom’s name appeared across it. “Hey,” he said, accepting the call. “Everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine,” his mom said warmly. “I just wanted to check that we’re meeting you at church this morning rather than here.”
“Yeah, that’s right. Unless you need me to pick Delilah up now?”
“No. We got it covered. Although I think I might wear my fingers out trying to put her hair into a fishtail braid.”
He laughed. “Just tell her a ponytail will do.”
“I’m her grandma. What Delilah wants, Delilah gets. I’m the one who spoils her, and you’re the one who picks up the pieces.”
“Great, thanks.” But he was smiling, because he knew his mom didn’t mean it. “I’ll see you at church.”
“Yes you will. Bye, honey. Oh, and say hi to Cassie for me.”
He looked over at her and she was grinning. Okay, so his mom wasn’t an idiot.
“Yeah,” he said gruffly. “I will.”