Chapter 5
Chapter Five
Rylee
I was performing for a packed house at Jimmy’s, but it was a certain lawman stealing all my attention. I worked the stage, sang the songs, engaged the crowd, but my eyes kept drifting to him.
The way he watched me. The way his eyes zeroed in on all the guys crowding the stage, trying to get my attention. The way his gaze kept drifting to my ex, who just happened to be playing bass for me tonight, because apparently J.T. had invited him to be part of the show.
I never got distracted when I performed.
I was always in the zone. But tonight, I couldn’t help thinking about the way his lips tasted when he kissed me.
The rough scrape of his hands when he touched my bare skin.
The way he held me close when I slept. And the fact I’d be watching his taillights as he left town the day after tomorrow.
Damn. I didn’t want to see him go.
I told the crowd I was taking a little break before I hopped off the stage. But before I could make my way to Cam, my ex grabbed my arm. “Hey, Dean. Good job tonight,” I said, faking a smile. “You didn’t miss a beat. I was surprised you knew all my new songs though.”
“Why are you surprised?” he asked, giving me a once-over. “You know your music is my vibe.”
“Hmm.”
I was watching Cam make his way through the crowd, presumably to the restroom. I couldn’t help but notice all the women smiling and flirting with him. Girls touching his shoulder. Arms wrapping around his waist. And I was having none of it.
“Excuse me, Dean. There’s someone I need to talk to.”
I stepped in front of Cam before he could make it past me. “Where ya goin’, Sheriff?” I wrapped my arms around his neck and rolled forward on my toes to kiss him, because I was bold like that. Taking what I wanted without asking permission first.
He didn’t hesitate before wrapping his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground and kissing me back. When we finally broke apart, he asked, “Why is your ex here, playing for you?”
I smiled, tipping my head back to look at him. “Jealous much?”
“Yeah. Now answer the question.”
I normally hated possessive, demanding, jealous guys, but the green-eyed monster was alive and well inside me when I saw women pawing at him, so I got it.
Apparently, the fact we only had a few days together meant everything was accelerated and we’d jumped past the ‘getting to know you’ stage and dove headlong into the ‘I don’t want to see you with anyone else’ stage.
“I didn’t invite him, J.T. did. He knows we’re still friends, so he didn’t think it would be a big deal.”
“You’re still friends?” he asked, watching Dean watching us.
“Not really friends,” I said, grabbing his chin and turning his attention back to me. “Just friendly. Like we can have a civil conversation without taking shots at each other. Just the way I like it.”
“You sounded incredible.” He buried his face in my neck, his beard tickling my skin and making all my girly parts beg for more. “And you look even better. So frickin’ hot the way you command that stage, girl.”
I’d dressed with him in mind. Tight black jeans, high heeled black leather boots, and an unbuttoned black Henley, to give him a peek at what he would be missing if he didn’t come home with me tonight.
“Thanks.” I rubbed the red stain off his lips. “I have a feeling we should both hit the restroom to clean up before I have to get back up there. Just a few more songs, then I’m all yours.”
“All mine, huh?” His eyes dipped to my open neckline. “I like the sound of that.”
His words, the way he looked at me, his hard body pressed against mine, caused a delicious swirl inside me that felt a lot like anticipation. The kind I only felt when I was about to take the stage and do what I was born to do.
“Let me touch up my lipstick,” I said, brushing his lips with my fingertip. “Then you can kiss it all off again later.”
He grinned before glancing over my shoulder. “You do realize there are phones on us? People are probably posting this shit all over social media—”
I leaned in, silencing him with a kiss that would give all the online haters something to talk about.
“Good, let them.” I lowered my head when I realized he stood to lose a lot more than I did.
“Damn.” I stepped back. “I’m sorry, Cam.
I shouldn’t have done that.” Touching my kiss swollen lips, I said, “You’re an elected official.
What your community thinks of you matters.
If they don’t approve, you won’t get the votes, and that could cost you your job. ”
He laced his hands through mine, kissing my forehead. “You think I care about that right now?”
“You should.” And I’d have to be a lot more careful about public displays of affection.
“Being linked to you would be good for my career. My fans would love us together. You’re Eden’s brother, a hometown hero…
” It was like PR gold, not that I cared about stuff like that.
“But I’m kind of a wild child in country music, not to mention too damn young for you, as you like to point out… ”
God, it was getting harder for me to justify how this was a good idea for him.
“Hey, would you stop?” He tried to pull me closer, but I resisted.
“I need to use the restroom. Excuse me.” I could feel his eyes on me when I walked away, but putting a little distance between us was exactly what he needed, whether he realized it or not.
“I was really stupid and selfish,” I said, sitting across from Cam as I sipped a beer after my last set. I wouldn’t even hold his hand and I could tell it was pissing him off, so I had to explain.
“When I posted that picture of us online last night, I was just thinking about your ex-girlfriend. I wasn’t thinking about your career.” But when I’d done a little digging on his social media accounts later, most of his posts related to community business, not his personal life.
His voice had a hard edge to it when he said, “I am allowed to have a life, you know. Just because they elected me sheriff doesn’t mean—”
“It means,” I said, gently. “That the people in that county like and respect you.” I waited until his eyes found mine before I said, “And why wouldn’t they?
I read about you online. I know you were the youngest sheriff ever elected in your county.
That you rose through the police force ranks at record speed: sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and I also know about all the medals, awards—”
“Wow, you really did your homework, didn’t you?”
I wasn’t sorry for being nosy. It gave me more insight into the kind of man he was, which only made me want him more.
“What can I say? I was curious. But I also learned you were just elected last year. That means you’re still proving yourself. And the last thing you need is someone like me screwing up your stellar reputation.”
He shook his head, looking confused. “Why would being with you hurt my reputation? You’re not the only one who’s done your homework, Rylee.
I have too. And I happen to know the country music community has embraced you.
They love you, not only for your talent, but your authenticity.
Everyone, from radio stations to bar owners like this have gotten behind you, supporting your music. You’ve been nominated for awards—”
“But I’m not like you.” I leaned in a little closer, lowering my voice.
“I have some really ugly things in my past. My mama’s in prison.
My daddy tried to kill a man and was on the run from the law…
” Shame washed over me, but I didn’t see any judgment in Cam’s eyes.
Just sadness and understanding. “There was a shootout with the police. He didn’t make it.
I was only two years old at the time, so I have no memory of him. ”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.”
I wasn’t really ashamed of where I came from, it gave me my strength and determination to succeed.
But it was Cam’s job to put people like my parents behind bars.
We came from two very different worlds. Even now, he was polished boots and by-the-book, while I was a little down and dirty, flip-them-the-bird-if-they-didn’t-like-it country girl.
His ex-girlfriend was perfect for his stellar image. I could only mess things up for him and I didn’t want that. He’d worked too hard, sacrificed too much, for a meaningless fling with a girl like me.
“I’m not.” I mindlessly traced hearts on the table with my fingertip, because deep down there was a part of me that still believed in love. “It is what it is. I am who I am, Cam.” I forced myself to look him in the eye. “And I’ve worked hard to not hate myself.”
“Why the hell would you hate yourself?” he demanded, looking angry on my behalf. “You’re amazing. Nothing that your family did has any reflection on you, Rylee.”
“I know that, but you know how judgmental people can be. It’s different when you’re a musician.
People expect you to have been through stuff.
It’s usually the sad stories that make the best songs.
But when you’re in law enforcement, especially a position like yours, people expect you to be beyond reproach and associate with people who are too. ”
I should have thought of that before I posted on social media or kissed him like he was my man, but I didn’t realize how much I’d like him. It was one thing to be attracted to a guy and have a hot one-nighter with him, but I was quickly realizing Cam was so much more than that.
“Nobody’s perfect.” He reached for my hand and sighed, sitting back when I withdrew again. “So, that’s it then? You’re gonna shut me down ‘cause you don’t want to hurt my career? I don’t get a vote?”
When I didn’t say anything, he stood and tossed some bills on the table.
My heart was in my throat as I watched him reach for his cell phone. I wanted to beg him to stay, but I couldn’t do that to him.
“You have a nice life, Rylee.”