18. Rory
RORY
The next morning, I’m so cozy and warm. I hug Jace tighter, loving how well we fit together. My leg is tossed over his, and my arm is wrapped around his muscular waist.
And he smells good.
So, so good.
Oh my God, not again. My eyes fly open and I jerk upright. There he is in his shirtless glory, all beautiful and taut, like a Michelangelo in repose.
Jace’s eyes open on a yawn. “Morning.”
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” He tugs me back down.
“I was wrapped around you.”
“I liked it.” He pulls me closer and tucks my arm over him.
Just like that, I’m burrowed against him again. “Is this weird?”
“Not weird,” he mutters against my head. “Do you like snuggling with me?”
Dang it, I hate admitting this, but I don’t want to lie to him. “Yes.”
“So then there’s nothing wrong. Go back to sleep.”
“Jace.” When he doesn’t respond, I try again. “You swear you’re okay with this?”
He kisses the top of my head. “More than okay.”
“What about the baby?” I try to untangle myself. “Did she get up last night?”
Sighing, he rubs his eyes. “She woke around three, so I fed her, changed her, and rocked her until she fell asleep. Hush before you wake her up.” He tugs me down again, and I relent. Because, yes, I like this. More than I should.
“I could’ve gotten up with her.” You know, since it’s my job.
“No one said you had to watch her around the clock. I don’t mind getting up at night. I like making sure she’s comfortable. Plus, I wanna get as much time with her as possible.”
For a new father who had a baby tossed in his lap, he’s handling this remarkably well. I have to admit that seeing how much he wants to be a good dad is disarming.
So is being tangled up with him in bed.
I lie there stock-still as my thoughts race about how good this feels. About how much I’ve missed being affectionate with a man. About how lonely I’ve been.
Maybe Jace is lonely too. He said casual sex felt hollow and he hasn’t been with a woman in months. Maybe he needs affection.
He took a shower after we had that heart-to-heart last night, and he smells yummy. Fresh like his shower gel, a hint of his cologne, and the masculine scent of his skin.
In the back of my mind, I realize I should be hightailing it out of this bed and throwing up barricades left and right. Because men like Jace are not built for long-term relationships. Our four-month marriage has an expiration date.
“You’re thinking too hard.” His voice is raspy from sleep.
“I just…” I don’t want to get hurt, and this is venturing into deep waters. Much deeper than I was expecting when I agreed to do this.
“I know,” he says softly, leaning back to look at me, but I glance away. He takes my chin and turns me gently until I make eye contact. “We’re okay, you and me. Better than okay.” I nod slowly, surprised when he cups my face. “How about we make one of those rules?”
I’m embarrassed to admit I forgot all about those. “Okay.”
“Rule number one.” He clears his throat. “We should snuggle every day.”
Laughing, I shake my head. “You’re terrible at this.”
He shoots me a lopsided grin. “Kinda think I’m just getting the hang of it, wife.”
I shouldn’t like how that sounds. “If you say so, husband.”
“So you’re sure it looks good?” I ask Baylee over our video call as I hop around on one foot, trying to get my shoe on.
“Fantastic. You spliced together a bunch of different angles. Jace looks great, and the crowd is hyped. I say post it. Hold on.” She’s talking to someone in the background. “Paige and Honey both give you a thumbs-up too.”
“Do you like the pics as well? I was thinking I’d post the first three.”
“My client just said Jace looks, and I quote, ‘mouthwatering.’ I won’t say that ’cause I’ve known him my whole life and he’s like my annoying brother, but yeah.”
Laughing, I nod. “Great. Thanks.”
Once I get off the phone, I forward everything to Jace and attempt to wrangle my hair into a ponytail. This humidity isn’t doing me any favors.
A few minutes later, I’m ready to check out that shop Honey suggested because it’s not far. I hate shopping. I usually buy my clothes online because that way, I can avoid dressing rooms, mirrors, and pushy salespeople.
In the lounge, I stumble to a halt when I find two girls in bikinis sitting with the guys. Jace is at the table with Layla, and one of the women sits across from him while the second one lounges between Shane and Cooper on the couch. The girls smell like sunshine and tanning lotion.
“Hi,” I say awkwardly as I twist my wedding band. “Did you get the video and pics I sent?”
Jace nods as he feeds Layla some yogurt. “Looks good. Thanks so much for doing it.”
“No problem.”
“And you don’t need our approval. Just post what you like when it’s convenient. I trust you.”
“But make us look good,” Cooper says as he runs his hand along the thigh of the woman next to him. Doesn’t he have a girlfriend?
The woman across from Jace smiles at me. “Your baby is so cute.”
“Oh, um. She’s…”
Jace grins at me. “Just tell her thank you, wife.”
“Thank you?” Am I supposed to tell people Layla’s mine?
He motions to the pretty blonde across from him. “This is Quinn and that’s Karina.”
“Y’all are married?” Quinn asks. When I nod, she smiles. “Sweet.”
But the brunette on the couch, Karina, must disagree because she rolls her eyes. I catch it in my peripheral vision. I don’t know why I confront her—that’s not like me at all—but for some reason, I snap. “Do you have something to say about this?”
Karina drapes an arm around Cooper and sighs. “Only that you obviously trapped Jace with a baby. Because nobody goes on tour with their wife in tow unless they’re held at gunpoint.”
Cooper and Shane look everywhere but at me. I’m guessing they complained to Karina about me. But how could I trap Jace when Layla isn’t mine?
I don’t know what comes over me, but I laugh.
“This guy here”—I point at Cooper—“has a girlfriend, and I’m guessing it’s not you.
But even if you ignore that, at the end of this tour, these two guys”—I motion to the jerks on either side of her—“aren’t going to remember your name.
” She curses at me under her breath, and I smile like a lunatic.
“Enjoy the merry-go-round. I have to go.”
As I’m walking toward the front of the bus, Jace calls my name.
I stop, close my eyes, and reluctantly turn around.
I squint at him, ready for him to kick me off this tour for insulting his friends.
If they weren’t crazy about me before, they definitely won’t like me now.
Jace has Layla in one arm and wraps the other around me.
He leans down and whispers in my ear. “Sorry about that.”
I murmur back, “No, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a jerk.” But I felt so triggered, like I was talking to my stepsister.
Normally, I’d be afraid everyone could hear us talking, but the AC rattles loud enough to mask our voices.
He cups my face, and I have to tilt my head back to look at him because he’s so close. His sea-green eyes are dark, almost stormy. “You dealt with it perfectly.” He gives me a long look before he ducks close, brushes his nose against mine, and kisses me.
On the lips.
My heart skips a beat, then races in my chest as I grab his arm so I don’t fall over. He chuckles and backs away. “Have fun shopping. Text me when you get there so I don’t worry. I just need you back by five so I can do sound check.”
“O-okay.” I suck in a breath before I realize his band is watching us.
That’s what the PDA is about.
For his friends.
Not because he wanted to kiss me.