Jace nodded, eyeing the collection of print with him and Krystal covering the pages. “Huh.” He picked up one especially good picture of Krystal, hard-pressed not to smile.
“I’ve got a meeting.” He sighed, looking at Jace. “The place is yours, man. Do what you will with it. You’re somebody now. That can be a good thing.” He clapped him on the shoulder. “It also means you have options.” He nodded at the magazines then. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Or you can tell me where to meet you for the lunch?” Jace offered, hoping Luke would take the hint. He needed a break from…everything.
Luke nodded. “Even better. Cool. I’ll text you the address, man.”
Once the front door closed, he did a slow spin, taking in the town house the record label had rented for him. Three bedrooms—why did he need three bedrooms? Two bathrooms. It’d be nice not to have to share when Heather arrived. The hot tub in the small, high-walled garden out back was a nice surprise. A massive grill, too. Even better since the chrome-and-marble kitchen was full of gadgets he had no idea how to use.
He headed to the refrigerator, his stomach grumbling. For real food. A steak sounded just about right. Hopefully this personal shopper had thought to get some. He rummaged through the refrigerator and came up with a package of two petit sirloins.
“Those are some sad-looking steaks.” He sighed.
One magazine caught his eye and he picked it up, skimming the article about their blossoming relationship. Seeing himself side by side with Krystal was a dose of reality.
She was Krystal King. He was some overnight reality show singer. For the last couple of weeks, he’d forgotten that they came from different worlds. To him, Krystal was a damaged, creative soul, and he was the damn fool falling head over heels in love with her.
His phone vibrated. He set the steaks aside and pulled out his phone from his pocket.
Hey big brother. Can’t wait to see you.
He nodded. Me neither.
She peppered him with questions. What should she pack? Where were they going? Who would they see? He answered as best he could.
Wow. You are like no help. And a laughing emoji.
I’ll ask Krystal. Love you.
Love you too.
There was that picture again, the bowling alley one. Seeing her that way, relaxed, in his arms, filled him with a sense of rightness. Right or wrong, he had it bad for this woman. Damn near spilling his heart out in the driveway of the King homestead wasn’t part of the plan. He’d be seeing plenty of her over the next few days. Then they’d be back on the road together for the East Coast leg of the tour. But that hadn’t made leaving her this morning any easier.
He sat on one of the kitchen stools, spreading out the magazine and papers Luke had left. A dozen different pictures of them, but one thing never changed. He wasn’t the only one looking at her like she was the air he needed to breathe. She looked at him like, maybe, he was important. Maybe he was a fool for falling for her, but there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop it.
His phone vibrated.
Krystal.
Somehow, seeing her name made the new surroundings and quiet not seem so alien to him. He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but a close-up picture of Clem, a tiny pink studded bow clipped in the poof on top of her head, was not it. She’s upset you didn’t say goodbye.
Getting out of there had been a top priority. Saying goodbye to Clementine? Not so much. The dog was cute and all, but it was her owner he was interested in. A whole hell of a lot.
Nothing a dog biscuit can’t fix.
He waited for her response.
Another picture. Clem, dog biscuit in her mouth, and Krystal, a Red Vine in hers. He smiled, running a finger over her face. There was nothing prettier. Nothing.
Never cared much for Red Vines before.
That’s plain sad and wrong, Jace Black. I’m not sure I can associate with someone who can’t appreciate the delectable yumminess of a Red Vine. Then another text. Before what?
Caught that one?
He chuckled.
Before you. You free for dinner?