Dump and Chase (Nashville Assassins Next Generation 1)

“One what?”

“A pug.”

She snorts. “Where would we keep it?”

“Here.”

“We’re busy!”

I shrug. “Wes has a dog and no girlfriend to love it. I have the girlfriend part.”

“I don’t know,” she says softly. “Things can change.”

“I don’t know what these things are, but we can share custody of him.”

“Or her.”

“It,” I say dryly, but she doesn’t smile. Something is bothering her. “What?”

“I need to tell you something.”

I hate the alarms that go off inside me. Is she not happy anymore? “Okay?”

With her eyes searching mine, she says, “I got a casting call up in New York for Chicago.”

My face lights up. “You love that show. It’s in your top three, right? This is awesome!”

“Yeah, it is.”

I bring my brows in. “You don’t look happy.”

“Yet, you’re really happy.”

My brows are basically touching. “Because you want this. This is one of your dreams. I know you think you’re done, but you can’t turn this down.”

She blinks. “I would need to live in New York again.”

It’s like it all comes together in my head. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” she says on an exhale, looking down at my throat. “What would that mean for us?”

Oh. Oh fuck. “Well, I mean, we’re already playing the long-distance game as it is. We can try it.”

“You’d be okay with that?”

I nod. “Yeah, because I’m not okay with this ending.”

“Neither am I.”

“Then we’re good.” I gather her up in my arms. “I’m so excited for you. When is the audition?”

“Three weeks, between two road trips.”

I purse my lips. “Maybe I can come.”

“I think you could, if you could get out of practice.”

I shrug. “Let me see what I can do. I want to be there with you.”

Her lips curve as her eyes sparkle. “That would be awesome.” She cups my face as she moves her fingers along my jaw. “Have you talked to Asher yet?”

I wrinkle my face. “How did we get on this subject? Dogs, auditioning…no room for Asher.”

She gives me a dry look. “You miss him.”

“Nope.”

“You do.”

“Don’t.”

“You should. He’s your brother.” She sighs loudly as she lays her head against mine.

“He’s a crybaby asshole. It’s my ring. It’s always been my ring.”

She nods against my jaw. “I know, but he’s in love and wants to give her the best.”

“Yeah, well, go buy something. He’s a jerk. He threw me completely under the bus.”

I feel her lashes against my cheek. “I still can’t believe they all know.”

I turn my head, moving my nose through her hair. “They promised not to tell.”

She doesn’t say anything for a moment and then whispers, “When should we tell my parents?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. I think I want to wait till we bring the Cup home.”

I feel her stiffen beside me. “That’s a long time.”

“I know, but I don’t want to piss off your mom and have her trade me or something crazy.” I kiss her temple. “And I really need my legs to play, so I can’t tell your dad yet.”

She snorts against my cheek. “He won’t hurt you.”

“Yeah, okay,” I laugh, and she smiles. I turn my head to look at her, and her eyes meet mine. “Is that okay?”

She shrugs. “Yeah, I guess. I don’t want you feeling what I am. I have no clue how to act around your mom now.”

I hold her gaze. “Like the perfect, beautiful, smart, kick-ass woman you are.”

Her lips curve. “Wow. You don’t have to suck up to get me naked.”

“I really do, because then, maybe you’ll let me mess all this up.”

I press my lips into hers, stopping her laughter. And as with every single time our lips meet, things start to burn. She feels too damn good in my arms, and when I cup her breast, I know I’m going to be unable to stop. Just as I roll on top of her, though, her phone rings. I groan loudly as she digs between us for her phone.

“It’s my mom.”

“Now your mom is a cockblock.”

She giggles as she answers, and I watch as her face changes. “No, I didn’t know that. I thought they said seven. It’s only five forty-five. Ugh. No, they said seven, not six! I’m out. Yes, out at this time of the morning. Um. Ugh. I don’t know. Why? No. Okay, Mom. I’m on the way.”

She hangs up quickly and looks up at me as I hover over her.

“Don’t tell me you have to leave.”

“I have to leave.”

“Shell, I’ve missed you.”

“I know,” she says, trying to roll out from underneath me, but I won’t let her go. “Aiden.” I look around frantically, playfully, and her brows pull together. “What are you doing?”

“I can’t remember where my wand is!”

“Your wand?” she laughs as I reach over into my nightstand and pull one out. “You keep a wand in your nightstand?”

“Among other things,” I tease, waggling my brows at her. She laughs hard as I lean back on my haunches, pointing my wand at her. “Imperio.”