Baby Stetson (Love and Music in Texas #1) by Nikki Lynn Barrett Page B
Authors: Nikki Lynn Barrett
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sudden?
“I’d like that. Good night, Avery.” Lucas smiled. With that, he let go of her and walked out of the kitchen, the door swinging closed behind him.
Avery stared at the door, half expecting, half hoping Lucas would come through it again and finish what they’d started. After a few minutes went by and nothing, she sighed. It was for the best. As hot of a kisser as he was, and as good as it felt, it wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d gotten caught up in the heat of the moment. As her pounding heartbeat went back to normal, Avery decided against eating and left the kitchen. Her stomach was now in knots and she couldn’t concentrate. Alice gave her a smug look as she exited the area. Avery said goodnight to her politely and left the inn, never looking back. Who cared that Alice knew Avery left alone, when she’d entered the kitchen with Lucas? Whatever. She didn’t need to get involved in Alice’s childish games.
*****
I shouldn’t have kissed her.
Safely back in his room, Lucas paced the floor, his mind in a rut. Against his better judgment, he’d gone and kissed Avery. Who would have thought she’d respond that way? If there hadn’t been voices to interrupt, how far would they have gone?
When his cell phone chirped the familiar tune, Lucas groaned. He wasn’t ready to face the caller right now, but if he didn’t answer, he would never hear the end of it. “What?” he snapped.
“Why are you speaking to me that way, Lucas?” the voice on the other end asked.
“Because you sent me here to clean up your mess, and it pisses me off.” Lucas raked a hand through his hair, still imagining Avery’s fingers through it, her lips on his, the lusting look in her eyes.
“It can’t be that bad.”
You don’t know the half of it. It’s bad, but not the way you think.
“You keep toying with me like a puppet, and you know what? I’ve had enough. This isn’t right, okay?” Lucas said. Knowing what was at stake, he didn’t have a choice. Damn his past for coming up to haunt him right now.
“Lucas. Please. Just give it a couple of weeks, and if nothing comes out of it, you can come back here. I’ll give you a raise! I just - I just need this to not get out anywhere. It would ruin me.”
No. It won’t ruin you. You’re just embarrassed that your own past could come back and haunt you. You don’t want anything coming in between you and your precious career.
“Whatever. I don’t need a raise. When I’m done here, when I’ve made sure your mess has been cleaned up and won’t affect you, I’m done. That’s it for me. I’m tired of this life, and I’m tried of being on your leash.”
This time, he meant it. Done. He was done. No more collar and leash. No matter the repercussions, he had to draw the line. Whatever happened next, he would deal with it as it came. All he knew was that if this secret got out, there would be a world of hurt for more than one person.
Chapter Six
Silence, then tears flowed from Laura’s cheeks. Avery wrapped her arms around her best friend. Tears? A good sign? Bad?
“Oh, Avery! What a beautiful song! I want that for my wedding! I totally do!” Laura pulled away and laughed. “It’s not even wedding time yet and you’re already ruining my makeup.”
Avery giggled, and handed Laura a tissue.
“I’m so glad you like it,” Avery said, leaning back into the pod chair. For a moment, her gaze met Jameson’s. There was a dark emotion in his eyes. He smiled, then turned away, fiddling with his guitar. He played a few chords. Avery’s heart sank. The tension in the room between them wasn’t good. How would they ever play together if Jameson turned away like this? As much as what he did hurt her all those months ago, the last thing Avery wanted was for him to hurt. Or, hurt more than he already did. The obvious anguish in his eyes tore her up inside. They had to find a way to get past it, or...
Avery couldn’t think of that now. This must be the season
“I’d like that. Good night, Avery.” Lucas smiled. With that, he let go of her and walked out of the kitchen, the door swinging closed behind him.
Avery stared at the door, half expecting, half hoping Lucas would come through it again and finish what they’d started. After a few minutes went by and nothing, she sighed. It was for the best. As hot of a kisser as he was, and as good as it felt, it wasn’t supposed to happen. She’d gotten caught up in the heat of the moment. As her pounding heartbeat went back to normal, Avery decided against eating and left the kitchen. Her stomach was now in knots and she couldn’t concentrate. Alice gave her a smug look as she exited the area. Avery said goodnight to her politely and left the inn, never looking back. Who cared that Alice knew Avery left alone, when she’d entered the kitchen with Lucas? Whatever. She didn’t need to get involved in Alice’s childish games.
*****
I shouldn’t have kissed her.
Safely back in his room, Lucas paced the floor, his mind in a rut. Against his better judgment, he’d gone and kissed Avery. Who would have thought she’d respond that way? If there hadn’t been voices to interrupt, how far would they have gone?
When his cell phone chirped the familiar tune, Lucas groaned. He wasn’t ready to face the caller right now, but if he didn’t answer, he would never hear the end of it. “What?” he snapped.
“Why are you speaking to me that way, Lucas?” the voice on the other end asked.
“Because you sent me here to clean up your mess, and it pisses me off.” Lucas raked a hand through his hair, still imagining Avery’s fingers through it, her lips on his, the lusting look in her eyes.
“It can’t be that bad.”
You don’t know the half of it. It’s bad, but not the way you think.
“You keep toying with me like a puppet, and you know what? I’ve had enough. This isn’t right, okay?” Lucas said. Knowing what was at stake, he didn’t have a choice. Damn his past for coming up to haunt him right now.
“Lucas. Please. Just give it a couple of weeks, and if nothing comes out of it, you can come back here. I’ll give you a raise! I just - I just need this to not get out anywhere. It would ruin me.”
No. It won’t ruin you. You’re just embarrassed that your own past could come back and haunt you. You don’t want anything coming in between you and your precious career.
“Whatever. I don’t need a raise. When I’m done here, when I’ve made sure your mess has been cleaned up and won’t affect you, I’m done. That’s it for me. I’m tired of this life, and I’m tried of being on your leash.”
This time, he meant it. Done. He was done. No more collar and leash. No matter the repercussions, he had to draw the line. Whatever happened next, he would deal with it as it came. All he knew was that if this secret got out, there would be a world of hurt for more than one person.
Chapter Six
Silence, then tears flowed from Laura’s cheeks. Avery wrapped her arms around her best friend. Tears? A good sign? Bad?
“Oh, Avery! What a beautiful song! I want that for my wedding! I totally do!” Laura pulled away and laughed. “It’s not even wedding time yet and you’re already ruining my makeup.”
Avery giggled, and handed Laura a tissue.
“I’m so glad you like it,” Avery said, leaning back into the pod chair. For a moment, her gaze met Jameson’s. There was a dark emotion in his eyes. He smiled, then turned away, fiddling with his guitar. He played a few chords. Avery’s heart sank. The tension in the room between them wasn’t good. How would they ever play together if Jameson turned away like this? As much as what he did hurt her all those months ago, the last thing Avery wanted was for him to hurt. Or, hurt more than he already did. The obvious anguish in his eyes tore her up inside. They had to find a way to get past it, or...
Avery couldn’t think of that now. This must be the season
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