Jace (Kings of Country 1)

He stared at the picture. Krystal’s smile was all attitude. Damn, but he’d hoped it was an act. Part of him—the stupid part of him—still hoped it was. Think I’m out of luck on that one, kiddo.

There was a long break, followed by another picture. This was the pic from the bowling alley. Krystal asleep, draped across him. Him holding on to her like…like he had every right to hold on to her. It wasn’t the same pic they’d showed on Guy’s show; this was from a different angle. It was closer. And what he saw made him ache.

Falling for Krystal King would be the stupidest damn thing he could possibly do. Not that there was any choosing involved in matters of the heart. Anyone who said there was had never been in love, not really. He wouldn’t have chosen Nikki. She was happiest in a group, hanging out, having fun. Responsibilities? The mundane day-in, day-out stuff? She couldn’t be bothered. Maybe that was why her drinking got out of hand. Her frequent disappearing acts become more frequent as well as her defensiveness. She knew what she was doing wrong, especially after Ben was born, but she never tried to stop. His grandmother always said she’d lead him to heartbreak. But no one could have guessed just how cataclysmic that heartbreak would be.

Read this. It was a link. Ten ways to win a woman’s heart. He clicked on it. The first suggestion? Send her flowers and her favorite candy. Really? He didn’t think that would work with Krystal. He shook his head and closed the article.

Hell, did he want to win her heart? He might want to answer that question first—and seriously consider the consequences of his answer.

He shook his head, walking out of the elevators. Thanks. I’ll read it on the road.

He stared at the picture of Krystal. He didn’t believe last night was all there was between them. Maybe he was kidding himself but…he’d seen the look on her face, the spark in her green eyes. It wasn’t just sex. It wasn’t.

“Damn stubborn,” he ground out, heading to the front doors.

“Jace?” It was Emmy, right beside him. “Talking to Heather?”

He nodded. “Sorry.” He hadn’t even noticed her.

“No problem.” She smiled. “Tell her I said hi.”

He nodded, typing in the message and hitting send.

“How’d it go?” Emmy asked, wrinkling her nose. “Krystal stormed out of the hotel room last night, so I’m guessing she wasn’t very nice to you? I thought you were sweet. She just sort of blew her top.”

He wasn’t sure what to say. “I survived.”

She nodded. “Glad to hear it—we’ve got a sold-out show tonight.”

They were driving to San Francisco. After tonight’s show, they’d drive up the coast to Oregon. “Looking forward to it.” He nodded. “Can I ask you a question?”

She nodded. “Sure.”

“Krystal.” He cleared his throat. “She have a favorite flower? Candy?”

“Red Vines and daisies.” She patted his arm. “I’m rooting for you. I’ve told her you’re a good guy, but you can’t really blame her for being suspicious. Krystal…well…” Her expression closed. “If you hurt her, you’ll have to answer to me. And Trav. And my daddy, too.”

It wasn’t the first time he suspected there was more going on than he knew about. “I don’t suppose you want to enlighten me on anything?”

Emmy Lou looked at him long and hard, then shook her head. “Krystal doesn’t share secrets with anyone. Not even me.”

“I respect that.” And he did. “And if she had, I wouldn’t expect you to tell me. A word loses its power when it’s broken.”

“That, right there. You don’t know how many times it’s been broken for her. In big, nasty ways. The kind a person, sometimes, can’t heal from.” Emmy shook her head. “That sounds like one of her songs, doesn’t it? She writes a lot, uses her songs to get stuff out.”

He did the same.

“Be good to her, please. She needs someone like you to…to make it better.” There was such sadness in Emmy’s voice.

“She’s not exactly making this easy.”

“And she never will.” Emmy shrugged. “You should know that from the get-go.”

“Message received.” He smiled.

“Morning.” Travis was walking toward them with a box of pastries in hand, a half-eaten donut sticking out of his mouth. “You two look like you’re up to something.” He trotted the rest of the way. “What’s happening?”

“Swallow.” Emmy Lou made a face. “You were raised with manners. I know, because I was there.”