Jace (Kings of Country 1)

She laughed; she couldn’t help it. “Now I feel like a total slacker.”

“You should.” He nodded. “Got everything? Sawyer’s getting the car.”

Once she’d shoved everything back into her backpack, she turned on her phone and followed Jace out the door and down the long set of stairs from the plane to the waiting SUV. Normally, there were no photographers. Even with the uptick in interest from the whole TW Gate—Travis thought he was being funny but the nickname meant she didn’t have to say his name, so she’d taken to using it—most journalists didn’t camp out at airports in the middle of the night.

“Why the turnout?” she asked. “It is like three in the morning, isn’t it?”

Jace nodded.

“People need to get a life.” She yawned, taking his hand to climb into the SUV. “Always the gentleman.”

He climbed up beside her. “No breaks, time off for overtime, either.”

“You’re way too chipper for this time of night—morning.”

“Feeling good.” He shrugged.

“Nothing like finishing a song.” She nodded, resting her head on the headrest, another yawn. She had no idea when she dozed off again, but she woke up to the sound of humming. She blinked, adjusting to the dark. Her head was in his lap, which explained why she was so comfortable. His arm lay across her chest, warm and strong, anchoring her in place. It hurt to feel so much for someone after she’d convinced herself something this sweet couldn’t really exist. There was no way to talk herself out of it; it was too real, too embedded in her heart to ignore.

Eight more performances and he was gone.

She rolled onto her side, burying her face in his stomach.

His fingers slid through her hair in long, slow strokes. His humming, deep and smooth, almost lulled her back to sleep. But the lights got brighter and the car slowed.

“Krystal?” he whispered.

“I’m awake.” She stared up at him.

He stared back.

And, if it wasn’t for the flashes of light and sound of voices outside, she would have stayed like that. But Sawyer’s curse, followed by his calm but effective threat to “Step back” had her sitting up and staring out the window.

“What’s happening?”

His hand was on her back. “Something big.”

She nodded, sitting back. “I can’t anymore, Jace.” She shook her head. “I know I’m supposed to be strong, but you know, I’m not.”

“Hey.” He cradled her face in his hands. “This could be good?”

She shot him a look.

He laughed. “Damn, you’re beautiful. Let’s get inside, away from this. Okay?” He took her hand and, slowly, opened the door.

Sawyer and Jerome did their best to push their way through the crush of reporters and cameras, but it didn’t stop her from hearing their questions.

“Now that the video has been leaked, what are your plans?”

“What do you say to those suggesting this video was held until your single was released?”

“Will you press crimi

nal charges against Mr. Whitman?”

“What is your response to Mr. Whitman’s statement?”

She clung to Jace, sliding her arm around his waist and holding on. What were they saying? What video? What statement? By the time they were safely inside the hotel, she was shaking.