Chapter Forty-Two
The Next Morning
Jace
Zoe is in the shower when I call Everleigh. We haven’t discussed what our immediate future looks like, and we need to have that discussion before I head back, but there’s no way I’ll be back in Vegas by tonight to run my shift.
“Hey, what’s up?”
“I hate to ask after you and your husband just gave me the most amazing opportunity I’ve ever had, but I need another night off from work. I’m in Kansas City and can’t break away yet.” I place a coffee mug under the Keurig and pop a medium roast coffee into the chamber.
“Is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is fine. My girlfriend–”
“Whoa, hold up. Girlfriend? Since when do we have a girlfriend? Don’t tell me it’s that girl on social media who was telling everyone you were together because I don’t believe that for one second. You’re too classy for her.”
“No.” I chuckle over her quickly, coming to my defense. And to think three weeks ago, I didn’t realize how many people were in my corner. “It’s definitely not her, and it never was.”
“The girl from the songs?” Her voice is a breathy sigh.
“Yes, it’s the woman I was writing about. We have a complicated relationship.” I lift the mug and blow into the liquid. “Well, it’s not complicated. Not to us, but to some other people….” Zoe’s mother and my brother. Let’s hope they’re as on board as Zayden says they will be. “Might not approve. She’s my step-niece.”
“Kinky.”
I laugh again while sitting the still untasted coffee down on the counter as Zoe breezes into the room wearing a T-shirt and a pair of shorts that display every inch of her luscious legs. She licks her lips and arches her eyebrows.
“Come here.” I mouth the words and wait for her to fall into my embrace. Her damp hair brushes my bare chest. I would’ve gladly showered with her, but she’s still supposed to be taking it easy, and that wouldn’t have happened if we were both naked.
“We didn’t meet until she was 15.”
“You don’t have to explain. I’m just glad you’re happy, and I can’t wait to meet her.”
I stroke Zoe’s back and kiss her temple. “I’m not sure when that will be, but you’ll meet her soon.”
“Perfect. You know you can take all the time you need. Albert needs to step up to the plate anyway because you’ll be taking on a new role soon. And if you’d rather work out of KC, Victor and my father have plenty of business opportunities out there while we wait for the first tour stop.”
A jolt of electricity shoots through me at the mention of the tour. I can’t wait to get on stage again and showcase my new music. For the first time, I feel like I’m myself and not trying to fit into someone else’s mold of what I should be doing.
“I’ll let you know. Everleigh, I can’t thank you enough. I appreciate you and everything you’ve done.”
Zoe rocks her head back and glares.
“And Victor. Your husband. You’re very dominant and demanding husband.”
Everleigh’s laughter fills the line. “I take it your woman is in the room.” Your woman. Damn, that sounds good.
“Yes, she is.” I wink at Zoe. “I’m talking to my boss, and she can’t wait to meet you.”
“Good.” Zoe purses her lips together and smirks. “You’d better stay on the straight and narrow.”
“I’ll tell you when I’m headed back.”
When the line is dead, and I’ve dropped the phone next to my cooling mug of coffee, I kiss Zoe’s lips. “I’ll always be on the straight and narrow for my love.” I wrap my arms around her waist as she laces her arms around my neck.
“Do you need to get back?”
“That’s what I was calling her about. I need a little more time for us to decide what’s next. Do you want to live here? Or move to Vegas until the tour starts?”
“Well, I am unemployed.”
I spin her around and brace my arms on either side of her. “No, you are not. You’re my manager, so you can decide where we live. Until everything is finalized, I need to keep working. I have some money saved up but not enough to be unemployed and paying you a fulltime wage to be my manager.”
“You’re not paying me.” She straddles my thigh and runs her fingers through my hair. The woman is drop-dead gorgeous and smells like heaven. “Well, other than with sex. I’ll work for sex.”
I lean down and nuzzle her neck. No longer able to keep my mouth off her. “I’ll pay you with sex and money.”
She shivers and moans as I near her ear. “Why are you so good at that?”
“What?” I slide my tongue along her flesh and slip my hands under her T-shirt, caressing and stroking her skin.
“Knowing what turns me on?” Her nails dig into my skull, causing my dick to jump in anticipation.
“It’s instinctive,” I growl into her ear and suck the tiny piece of flesh between my lips.
“Damn it.” She grinds harder on my thigh, giving me a front row to her damp arousal. “I’m going to need another shower.”
“So what’s it going to be? I can work here for my boss’s husband, or we can live in Vegas for a while. I don’t care where we live as long as we’re together.”
“Vegas.” She pulls back and cups my face. “I want to live in Vegas for a bit. I want to forget everything my dad did to keep us apart and just enjoy each other.”
“If that’s what you want.”
“It is.” Her eyes bore into mine. “Daisy said she was okay if I dropped out of class. I hate to leave her behind, but I think it’s important to spend a few months with just us.”
Ding. Dong. The doorbell interrupts our conversation.
“Are you expecting anyone?”
“No.” She takes a step toward the door and stops, turning back to me. “It’s probably my mom and Landon. Are you ready to talk to them?”
“Darlin’.” I haul her back to me and slowly kiss her lips. “Try and get me not to tell everyone I meet that I have this gorgeous young woman who can’t keep her hands off me.”
She bats at my chest. “Fine. I’ll get the door.” She glances down at my crotch. “And you might want to readjust a bit. It looks like you’re going to club someone.” She frowns. “What weapon do you have to control disgruntled customers?”
“My fists and my charm.”
“Then you’re well-armed.” She bites her bottom lip as the doorbell rings again. This time without a break. It just peels on as she continues to pursue my inked flesh.
“Do you want me to get it?”
“Nope.” She laughs and spins around. “I’ll get it and get rid of them so you can detain me.”
“Zoe,” I growl, not wanting to upset my brother and sister-in-law.
“I’m teasing.” She yanks the door open and embraces the two of them.
“Dear, we were so worried about you.” Carly steps back with her hands on Zoe’s shoulders while searching for signs of illness.
“I’m fine. It was a long day, and I hadn’t eaten. The hospital gave me an IV for dehydration, and I’m fine now.”
She ushers them inside and shuts the door behind them. I shove my hands into my pockets and will the remaining stiffness in my dick to dissipate. Here’s to hoping I don’t have a precum on my crotch or a wet spot on the thigh of my shorts.
“Jace.” My brother nods with a smirk on his lips. “Looks like you’ve made yourself at home.”
“Landon.” I nod at him without moving from the threshold of the kitchen.
Carly swings her head around and smiles. “Hello, Jace. It’s good to see you.”
“Thank you.”
“So….” Carly’s hair sweeps from side to side as she glances from me to Zoe. “I’m hoping this is a serious thing and not a fling. Are you two exclusive?”
“What?” I raise my hands in defense. “Aren’t you going to ask first if we’re even seeing each other?”
Landon glares and wraps his arm around Carly’s shoulders. “Please, you two about ate each other up on the island. I had to have a cold shower every time I was around the two of you. You have our complete support.”
“Yes.” Carly nods as they both walk to the sofa and sit. “We got tired of the two of you circling each other and then retreating to your corners, refusing to talk about each other. So, we made up this scheme to break the ice.”
“Yes, we’re exclusive.” I grab Zoe’s hand and haul her down onto my lap as I drop onto a black recliner. She squeals and then relaxes against me. I wrap my arms around her waist as she sinks into me while still keeping them in her line of sight.
They’re speechless as we relay everything that’s happened over the last few days and where our future is leading.
“Jace.” Tears fill Landon’s eyes as he laces his fingers through Carly’s. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” Shit. I inhale and swallow over the lump in my throat. Having my brother’s approval is one of the few things that matters at this point. This is going to turn into a crying fest.
“I’m so sorry you didn’t feel like you could tell us back on the island.” Carly’s eyes fill with her own tears. But for an entirely different reason. “I can’t believe Fletcher did that. I mean, I can but it’s disgusting. I wish we’d have realized sooner and put a stop to it.”
“It’s not your fault.” I inhale Zoe’s scent and relax. She’s my home wherever I go. “No one else but Fletcher’s to blame.”
Carly arches an eyebrow. “Zayden is going to want to know if you want to press charges.”
“I’m going to let Zoe make that call.”
She gnaws on her bottom lip and searches her mother’s eyes. “I don’t want Zorya caught in an ugly battle.”
“No.” Carly’s face is stern. “Do it. He deserves to have consequences, and if he’s left to his own devices, who knows what he’ll do.”
Zoe swallows audibly as I stroke her back. There’s no doubt this decision weighs heavily on her, but I won’t make a move if it’s not what she wants done. She turns and meets my eyes with only a trace of sadness in them. “Call Zayden and tell him you want to press charges for blackmail. It’s going to take a lot of legwork to bring charges up in Saint Lucia, but Zayden knows people.”
With that, I’m at peace as we chat about the future and celebrate my upcoming contract and tour.