Flawless (Nashville Nights: Take Two #4)

Chapter 1

Chapter One

Rylee

When my good friend, Eden, was abducted by a madman, all my deepest, darkest childhood nightmares came rushing back. Scary men uttering death threats. A mama who would go missing for days. And no one to care for me. No one to assure me everything would be okay.

I was shaking, pacing like a caged animal, as traumatic memories I’d buried deep resurfaced. A knock on my door made me squeal, and I wasn’t a squealer, but it was after midnight, and I was on high alert.

Living in a luxury highrise meant not just anyone could walk in. They needed either a code or a key fob, but when I peered through the peephole, I realized my late-night visitor had neither.

Shame and embarrassment washed over me when I remembered how I’d flirted with Eden’s brother just hours before.

I’d basically propositioned him in front of Eden and her boyfriend, our producer, Austin.

It wasn’t unlike me to be bold, but in light of tonight’s events, it made me feel stupid and exposed.

“Hey,” I said, opening the door slowly. “What are you doing here, Sheriff?” When Austin introduced us, he told me his name was Cameron Reynolds, but calling him by his official title made it feel a little less personal. I needed that layer of protection now.

He braced his hands on either side of the doorframe, giving me a quick once-over. “Austin told me where to find you. Gave me the code to the front door.”

I was wearing black boy shorts and a black tank top with fluffy white slippers. But I hadn’t been expecting company, so he couldn’t claim my state of undress was another shot at seducing him.

“Why?”

“I wanted to make sure you were alright. After the show was cancelled, all hell broke loose and no one saw you leave.”

I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had cared about my personal safety, and after the night I’d had, that simple act made me feel even more vulnerable. He’s a cop, I reminded myself. That’s what cops do, make sure people are safe.

“How’s Eden?” I’d already talked to both her and Austin, after the man who’d abducted her had been apprehended, but I wanted to hear from her brother’s lips that she really was okay.

“She’ll be alright,” he said, shoving his hands into the pockets of a worn denim jacket. “She’s got Austin to take care of her.”

I wondered what it would be like to have someone take care of me. My entire life, even as a child, I’d had to take care of myself.

“I’m glad.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks for coming to check on me. That was really sweet. But you must be exhausted, after the night you’ve had.”

He dipped his head, before flashing a set of dimples that rocked my world.

I’d hit on him earlier because he was hot: cropped dark hair and beard, bright blue eyes, colorful ink, and he wore my weakness, a badge.

But this was the first time I’d seen him smile, and I was pretty sure I was in serious lust.

“To be honest, I couldn’t sleep. I’ve already been back to Austin’s place to fill him and Eden in on what happened at the police station. But I was too wired to sleep, so I texted Austin and asked him for your address.”

I couldn’t help but wonder if he was here to take me up on my offer and how I’d react if he was.

I’d basically told him I’d be down for a one-night stand, but that was when I was in showgirl mode.

Right now, I was in scared little girl mode, and would give anything for someone, even a safe stranger, to just hold me.

“Come in,” I said, frowning at a nosy neighbour who stepped off the elevator and slow-walked down the hall. “Can I get you a beer? I wouldn’t mind a drink myself.” I wasn’t a big drinker, because my mama had been a drug addict and substances of any kind scared me.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t mind a beer. Thanks.”

My three-bedroom condo felt spacious when I was here alone, but Cam stood well over six feet, with shoulders as wide as any linebacker I’d seen, so his mere stature seemed to dwarf the space.

I opened two beers before passing one to him. “I’m sorry if I came on strong and embarrassed you earlier.”

He smirked, shaking his head. “I was flattered, not embarrassed.”

I didn’t know what it was about this guy, but he made me feel safe. It could be because he was my good friend’s brother, or because his heroic actions saved her tonight, or maybe because I had a soft spot for cops thanks to my crappy childhood.

“If you came here hoping to cash in on my offer, I’ll have to rescind. I’m not in the mood anymore.”

He laughed. “Good to know, but that’s not why I came. I seriously was just checking in on you, to make sure you were okay. What happened tonight rattled everyone. And I don’t know how well you know that Kael asshole, but if he got close to you too, I thought you might want to vent a little.”

Kael, the guy who’d abducted Eden, had been an opening act on the tour, just like I was.

And while we’d only done a few shows together, he’d been fun and flirty, and didn’t give off any weird vibes.

Which terrified me. I thought I was good at picking up on shit like that.

And if he’d slipped under my radar, how many other guys could too?

My hand was still shaking when I brought the bottle to my lips and took a sip, prompting Cam to say, “Rylee, talk to me.”

I sank down on a stool at the movable island in my small kitchen. “I’m just a little shaken, that’s all.” I ran a hand through my short blonde waves. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have to be sorry. I’m a little shaken too.”

I was surprised to hear him admit that. I didn’t think guys like him got worked up, like the rest of us. “You are?”

“Of course, she’s my sister.” He brought the bottle to his lips and took a long swig before he said, “It’s my job to protect her and I couldn’t. I hate that.”

“But if it weren’t for you and Austin—”

“Austin was the one who insisted they share locations on their phones. If not for that, we wouldn’t have found her as quickly as we did.” He set the bottle down and braced his hands on the island, hanging his head. “I hate to think what could have happened if we—”

“Hey,” I said, covering his hand with mine. “It’s okay, Cam. You got there in time. She’s fine and that bastard is behind bars where he belongs.”

He studied me a long time before he said, “Nights like this, I hate being alone.”

I sucked in a sharp breath, knowing exactly what he meant. Nights that were emotionally charged, causing me to re-live all my worst nightmares, made me want to go anywhere there were people, just so I wouldn’t have to be alone.

“Me too.” We shared a smile before I said, “But we’re not alone now.”

He closed his eyes and tipped his head back. “I’m trying to be a good guy here, Rylee. But you’re not making it easy. Do you realize how hot you look right now?”

I wasn’t wearing any makeup and my hair was a tousled mess, but I’d been told I looked my best when I’d come undone.

Normally I wore winged liner, bright red lips, corsets to enhance my curves, and stilettos that made men salivate.

It was kind of my signature stage look. A little bad-girl-country to set me apart, according to my stylist, Marissa, whose husband Luc just happened to own my record label.

“You’re not making it easy either,” I admitted, deciding to match his honesty with a little of my own. “You have ‘Rylee’s Type’ stamped all over you.” I made a rectangle with my hands and held it up to frame him, making him smile.

That smile would be the end of me.

He propped his elbows on the counter and reached for my hand, looking into my eyes.

“It wouldn’t be hard to get lost in each other tonight.

I have to head back home in a few days, once I make sure that my sister’s alright.

And you probably have to hit the road again too.

But we could…” He eyed my cleavage. “Have some fun in the meantime.”

My body screamed yes, but my heart warned no.

I wasn’t kidding when I told him he ticked all my boxes, and that would make it hard to let him go.

I didn’t get attached. Ever. I’d had boyfriends, but when they got too serious, I cut them loose.

I wanted to believe it could be the same with Cam, but something told me he could be hell on my heart.

“No to sex.” I hoped he couldn’t tell how much it cost me to turn him down.

I hadn’t been with anyone in almost a year, and the loneliness was starting to wear on me.

“Yes to whatever else you might have in mind. Like talking, watching TV, cuddling…” My voice broke on the last word and he was around the island and wrapping his arms around me before I could pretend to be fine.

It felt like forever since I’d had strong arms wrapped around me and I wanted to close my eyes and pretend he was mine. Just for tonight.

He cradled my face in his hands and tipped my head back. “God, you’re gorgeous. You know that, right? You can’t flirt with guys, like you did with me tonight. It’s not safe. Because trust me, any other man would take you up on it before you had a chance to think twice.”

Part of me wished I hadn’t had the chance to think twice, because I had a feeling a night with him would be an experience I wouldn’t forget. One of those rare good memories I could store in the bank whenever the bad came back to haunt me.

“I don’t do that,” I assured him. “Proposition guys. Sure, I flirt, I have fun. But I don’t invite someone I just met to come home with me. I’m not stupid.”

His hands slipped to my bare thighs. They were large and rough. And it made me ache to feel them all over my body.

“Then why me? Why tonight?”

I covered his hands with mine and settled on the truth.

“Tonight was supposed to be the last night of this tour. It was bittersweet. I love being on the road, and wasn’t looking forward to being home alone again.

But I thought it wouldn’t be so bad if I had someone like you to spend the night with. ”

“Why?” he asked, studying me.

“Why do I love being on the road?”

He nodded, inching his way a little deeper under my skin.

Guys usually didn’t care enough to ask how I felt about touring, or whether I was running away from demons on the road.

“It’s fun and exciting. I feed off the energy of the crowd.

There’s always somewhere to go, something to do, someone to talk to.

” I shrugged. “That’s kind of my jam. I hate being alone. ”

“Why?”

Wow, this guy wasn’t going to give up until he uncovered all my secrets.

I didn’t know if it was his job that made him so curious about people, or just his nature, but either way, it was unnerving.

But instead of telling him to mind his own business, I wanted to share my story, or at least parts of it, so he could get to know me better.

“Because I was left alone a lot as a kid. And it’s scary.” His blue eyes softened with sympathy, and that pissed me off. “I don’t need your pity.” I pushed him away and climbed off the stool. “Lots of people have a sad story. It’s no big deal.”

He grabbed my hand in one of his, and our two bottles with the other, before leading me to the sofa.

“Well, I’ve got all night. And I want to hear your sad story.

” He slipped his jacket off and sank into the cushions before patting the seat next to him.

“And you did say talking was allowed, so let’s talk. ”

Uh oh. This felt like trouble.