Jace (Kings of Country 1)

Her song.

Her temper flared, quick and hot. She didn’t give a damn what he looked like. Or if he had manners. He hadn’t earned the right to her words, not by a long shot. And since he was a big boy, she’d take it upon herself to show him how tough this industry could be. Starting right here, right now.

His gaze locked with her reflection. “I can’t tell you how…amazing it is to meet you, Miss King.” That velvet voice was far too yummy. “I know every word to every song you’ve written.” He needed to stop looking at her so she could stay pissed off and feisty.

But he didn’t. And the longer he looked, the harder it was to overlook the way he was looking at her. Admiring her as a singer and songwriter was one thing. But right now, something told her he was appreciating more than her music.

Too bad she couldn’t like him. At all.

She ignored her daddy’s warning look and stood, turning to face Jace. Her momma raised her daughters with a deep understanding of female charm and the power it could wield. With a dazzling smile, she shook the hand he offered, fully intending to use her powers for evil. But the brush of his calloused fingers against her palm threw off her concentration. It had been a long time since she’d been even slightly attracted to a man. But this time, there was nothing slight about what she was feeling. No, no, no. Stay mad. “Oh, I doubt that, Chase.”

“Jace,” he said, grinning.

Oh hell, this is bad. That smile. She knew his name, but still… “Right.” She bit into her lower lip, drawing his attention to her mouth.

His nostrils flared just enough to make her insides soften. Not the reaction she was hoping for. He cleared his throat and tore his eyes away, that square jaw of his clenched. Tight. That was a weakness of hers—a man’s jaw muscle. Only two things made a man’s jaw tick like that: anger or desire. And, right now, she was pretty sure Jace Black didn’t have a thing in the world to be angry about. But she did. Big-time. The slow, liquid burn taking up residence deep in her stomach was beyond inconvenient.

Steve said something original like, “What did you think of the show?”

“Incredible. Y’all are even better live, I think, if that’s possible,” Jace said. “I’m a little starstruck—guess you can tell.”

Was he? She couldn’t tell—his hotness was getting in the way. No way she was going to let a pretty face and tingles lead her astray, not this time. “That’s always nice to hear.” If it was true.

“I want to thank you,” Jace said to her father—of course. Only someone like Hank King could get a nobody reality star this sort of break. “I know how lucky I am to get this opportunity.” He had no idea. His luck was her loss. Not that he could know or understand how much his words stung. His gaze returned to her when he said, “Your music has always meant a lot to me—a lot of folk, I’m sure. But your new song—”

“My song?” She couldn’t take it anymore. His reminder lodged a sharp spike in her throat. “From what I hear, it’s yours now.” She ignored her daddy’s disapproving frown and the panic on Steve’s face. Like her temper was totally unexpected? They should have thought about that before bringing him in here seconds after crushing her hopes and dreams. The sting of tears infuriated her further. None of them would ever see her cry, dammit. Ever.

“It’s a good song.” From Jace’s expression, he knew something wasn’t right. But he kept right on talking. “It’s one of the best things you’ve written. When I read it—” He broke off, shaking his head. “I’m still in shock I get to sing it.”

“That makes two of us,” she whispered. But at least he got it, about the song, anyway.

He hesitated, then stepped closer. If she’d had room, she’d have stepped back. Because Jace Black up close was even better—worse—than Jace Black at a distance. Good skin. Even, white teeth. And a holy-hell amazing scent that had her toes curling in her blinged-out ostrich-skin boots.

“I’m guessing I wasn’t your first pick?” His gaze never left her face, waiting for an explanation.

She shrugged, wondering why she’d suddenly lost her ability to fire off something quick and biting.

“And you’re not happy about it.” He swallowed, the muscles in his throat working.

She heard him—she did. But the air between them was crackling something fierce and it was taking total concentration not to get lost in those light brown eyes. After spending the last two years avoiding men, she wasn’t sure what, exactly, was happening. Only that she needed to keep her guard up and as much space as possible between them. Pretty words and even prettier packaging might have made it easier for him to worm his way in with other people, but it wouldn’t work on her.

What did he want? Beyond singing her song, of course. She studied him openly, exploring his face and searching his gaze for some nervous flutter or guilty flush. Mickey’s eyes tightened when he was hiding something. Just a little, mind you, but when she saw it now, she knew it was a red flag. And Uncle Tig… No. She swept thoughts of him aside.

But Jace?

The flash of pure, unfiltered male appreciation in those incredible eyes had her insides fluid and hot. If only they’d met under other circumstances…then it would be okay to get tangled up in bed somewhere—and have one hell of a time wearing each other out.

She swallowed, the images all too tempting. Too bad she had

to hate him. “Don’t you worry over me, Jason. I’m tough.”

She wasn’t feeling very tough at the moment. The sooner today was over, the sooner she was done with Jace Black. Which was better for his career, anyway. Even though she was pissed he’d taken her song, it wasn’t in her to intentionally sink his career just to spite him. No, that was more her momma’s MO—and she was nothing, nothing, like her momma.

Enough. She was tired and irritable and on the verge of coming undone. Her fans were waiting and they deserved the best her she could muster. She turned, glancing at her reflection and smoothing a wayward strand of long blond hair into place. Crystal chandelier earrings and a beyond-blinding crystal necklace—Momma was all about the bling—accented the plunging neckline of the concert’s final costume change. The ultrafine black suede fringed dress felt like silk and was cut to perfection, clinging in all the right places.

From the tightness of Jace Black’s jaw, he noticed.

Maybe she could muster up the energy to mess with him a little, for the hell of it. “Time to go meet the fans.” A dazzling smile just for him. Yep, that floored him. “You are planning on tagging along, aren’t you?”