Jace (Kings of Country 1)

He didn’t deny himself the look. She had terrific legs. Most of the time she wore boots, so her painted pink toes in high-heeled strappy sandals had him checking out her legs more than once over the course of the day.

“Are you kidding?” There was excitement in her voice. “Of course, I’d love to.” She paused. “Yes.” She sighed, shaking her head. “CiCi King is not my manager. From now on, I don’t care what she says; I’m making my own decisions. I know that puts you in an awkward position—” There was a break in conversation—and she was laughing. “Good. I’m glad. Now?” Another pause. “Okay. Thanks, Misumi.” She hung up the phone, all smiles. “The Sexual Violence Advocacy Group is interested in my charity cookbook idea.” Her hand rested on his arm. “But they want to meet with me…now, basically.”

“Let’s go. Sawyer and I will find something to do.” Seeing her light up and excited made him so damn happy.

“You’re sure?” she asked.

He nodded.

She gave Sawyer the address.

Damn, her smile. “You better put that pie recipe in there.” He paused. “Best damn pie I’ve ever had.”

“You haven’t had my strawberry cream.” Her brows rose. “Or my berry cobbler. Oh, my key lime cake is to die for on a hot day.”

“Sounds like I’ve got a lot to look forward to.” His hand covered hers, loving the spark in her eyes.

Her gaze crashed into his, the instant spark.

“I like seeing you this way. With things to look forward to. Caught up in the moment.” His fingers ran along the curve of her jaw. “You deserve more of that, you know? Doing what you want? What makes you happy. You have a right to that.” She loved music. Watching her onstage, she was pure magic. She’d come through this stronger, with songs to sing and stories to tell, he knew it. As long as her mother didn’t get in her way. “You ever think about breaking off on your own?”

Her eyes closed. “All the time.” It was a whisper. “But now…” She looked at him, hesitant. “They’re all standing by me, Jace. I worry about letting them down, you know? Momma’s obsession with keeping us together is relentless, but it’s kept us together. Is that a bad thing? I don’t know.” She shrugged. “We’ve been a team for so long…

” She was leaning into his touch.

“It would be hard.” Her skin was so soft. Now that the bruise was fading, it was easier to touch her. And, damn, he loved to touch her. “To live for yourself after worrying about everyone else for so long.”

She studied him, a crease forming between her brows. “I guess we’re the same in that way. Heather is—”

“My only family.” He nodded. “But she has her own life. I want her to have that. I want her to be happy.”

“Are you?” Her voice was husky and low. “Happy?”

He’d be happier if she’d stop fighting him and give them a real chance. Even now, as she was leaning into his touch, arching toward him, hungry for him, she was holding a part of herself away from him. The part he wanted—her heart. “Right now?” he asked.

She nodded, eyes flashing. She was on fire for him.

He gave in, clasping the back of her neck and meeting her halfway. His lips fastened on the column of her neck. His nose ran up, around her ear, so he could suck her earlobe into his mouth. The choked groan in the back of her throat had him holding a second longer.

“Feeling pretty good now,” he said against her temple before letting her go.

Her gaze stayed fixed on his, breathing heavy, flushed, wanting more. If she asked, he’d give her whatever she wanted. Hell, he hoped she would. She didn’t. For the remainder of the drive, she stared out the window—but she held on to his hand.

When Sawyer pulled over, Jace opened the door for her, escorting her inside the glass front building before he leaned in the passenger window of the SUV. “I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.”

Sawyer nodded. “I could eat.”

They located a burger joint a few blocks away, left the SUV parked, and walked. Jace and Krystal had taken a chartered plane to New York for the day. After the late show, they’d fly back down to New Orleans for a show tomorrow. It was a whirlwind trip, but the television spots were a big deal and Wheelhouse was a machine—it expected the artists to go above and beyond when it came to promoting their music. Considering he and Krystal were getting some one-on-one time, he had no complaints. They’d be dog-tired tomorrow, but he’d worry about that then.

Luke kept sending him sales numbers. He was excited. Over-the-moon excited. Jace’s relief had nothing to do with the song’s success and everything to do with Krystal. Since the day Luke had handed him the sheet music, he’d known the song was special. But, with all that had happened with Krystal and Tig, there had been some murmurs about it taking a hit on the charts. If the song had tanked, she’d have taken it personally.

No need to worry there.

They were sitting down to their double patty, bacon, and cheese monster burgers when his phone went off. Email.

“Luke’s going to give himself a heart attack if he stares at sales numbers all day.” He opened his email and froze.

One sentence: There’s video footage of her attack with his audio confession.