14. Rory #2
I’m not so sure about that. “I can handle it.” I plan to hole up in our bedroom for the next four months. Because that’s reasonable. “Hey, could we talk about the rules? I think that might help me relax.”
“Yeah. Of course.” He turns to face me. I drop my arm to my side but keep my focus on the ceiling because this feels too cozy. “What do you propose?”
“Maybe we should start off talking about what you need. You’re my employer after all.”
Flopping on his back, he groans. “I really hate that title. I know I’m paying you, but could you just think of me as a friend?”
“Um.” Calling him a friend is a stretch. Maybe an acquaintance.
But you’ve seen him without his shirt and you’ve kissed him. I shove those thoughts down deep where I keep musings about how to survive nuclear fallout or a zombie attack.
Jace hums, like he’s deep in thought. “Listen, about that dinner when we met last fall. I’m sorry I was a dick. I really was trying to set up a gig, but it was rude to spend half the night texting. I’m gonna do better. Now that I have Layla, I don’t wanna have my face in my phone all the time.”
I’m not prepared for Jace to be so willing to accept fault. “O-okay.”
“Do you forgive me?”
“Maybe.”
Smiling, he nudges me. “Good. Keep me on my toes.”
It’s tough to concentrate when he’s so close.
I cough and try to focus. “Baylee and I have been talking about how to do your social media. She’s had lots of videos go viral for her salon, and while I’ve done posts for the library story hour, I’m not exactly a pro.
But I know that’s one of the reasons Frank let me tag along, so I want to try my best. If there’s something you need or if you have any ideas, I’m all ears.
Otherwise, I’ll put together reels and pics and show you every day before I post anything.
Baylee said I need to be consistent to get the algorithms working for me. ”
Rolling over again, he laughs and sits up a little to rest his head in his hand. “I’d be really grateful for whatever you do.”
He’s staring at me right now, so I study the way the headlights of opposing traffic cross the ceiling. “I just need the login info for your social media.”
“I’ll get that to you tomorrow.”
“I wish I had thought more about this before today or I would’ve recorded you guys loading up. Baylee said she has some footage, but I’m going to see if the guys took any videos or pics.” I venture a glance at him. His eyes are shadowed, but I feel them.
That’s the thing about men like Jace. When you’re with them, you feel like their sole focus. Like they’re the sun, and you’re lucky to feel their warmth.
The trouble comes when they’re done with you and there’s no more light.
His voice is soft, almost like a caress. “The social media stuff is icing on the cake. Just take good care of Layla. That’s all I care about.”
“I can do that.”
“You’re really good with her. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate that.”
“I like kids. It’s adults I have trouble with. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to be a librarian. Because that would force me to be more personable.” I don’t mean to admit so much, but it’s easy to make confessions in the dark.
“Why don’t you like adults?”
I shrug and run my finger over the comforter. “They judge you, and they can be mean. That sounds stupid.” I laugh, embarrassed.
“Not stupid, no. People can be really judgmental. I feel you on that.”
Surprised by his response, I roll over to face him. “Do you feel judged?”
“All the time.”
“Explain.”
He tucks a strand of my hair behind my ear, sending goosebumps down my arms. “My brothers are all productive members of our ranch. Rhett does everything. He always has. He’s the reason we stayed together when our asshole father was too drunk to function.
Beau’s an amazing firefighter and risks his life to help others.
Mav got drafted into the NFL. And I don’t know much about Isaiah ’cause he’s been gone a long damn time, but last I heard, he’s an elite athlete in his own right. ”
“But aren’t you an elite musician?”
“I don’t know about that. Before we got offered this tour, we were a few months away from breaking up.” He shifts, sliding his arm under the pillow, and lies down, facing me still. “I know the score. Good bands are a dime a dozen. You need a lot of luck to break through.”
Hearing his thoughts about his chances in this industry softens my attitude toward him.
When I first met him, he struck me as the kind of guy who walked between the raindrops, but that’s not Jace at all.
“Sounds like you’re on the right track. And I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but your family really loves you.
I don’t think they view you the way you seem to think they do.
They were proud of you before the tour.”
“Hmm. Maybe.” He closes his eyes.
“Although you do have a party-boy reputation.” Not to mention a fuckboy reputation too, though that seems like too much for me to say.
I wait for him to bring up the woman from earlier. What was her name? Marlowe? His bandmates seemed concerned about her.
He chuckles. “I like talking to you. You don’t blow smoke up my ass.”
Warmth floods my chest, and I roll away from him because this is too much bonding for one night. “That costs extra.”
He laughs harder. “Noted, Sassy McSmartypants.”
Reluctantly, I smile.
I guess our first day on the road wasn’t so bad.
Although we forgot to discuss the rules.