“It’s the only good thing his father ever did for him,” Rebecca says, making me smile. I can understand an asshole father. I have one of my own. Jameson’s lips twitch into a smile. Again, he pulls me a little more into him. I take another step toward him.
“You should come to dinner with us.” I have to tilt my head back to look up at him.
“We have plans.” PJ cuts in like she always does when someone asks me to do something. Especially a man. “It’s been a long night and she’ll probably crash soon. She was on stage longer than normal.”
“You could come back to our hotel. We can order room service. That way I can crash after.” I can’t believe I said that. This man is making me blurt random things out. What the hell happened to all the shyness that everyone says I have? He makes me feel things that I can’t explain and I want to keep on feeling them.
“Can you give us a moment?” PJ cuts in again. It’s not a question but more of an order. Jameson’s hand tightens around mine. I find I don’t want him to let it go. What is it about this man that is pulling me toward him? I felt him when I was on stage. I felt him again outside my door.
“Sure.” Rebecca puts her hand on Jameson’s shoulder. She’s silently telling him to let me go. “We’ll wait outside.”
“We’ll wait,” he agrees. He lifts my hand, kissing it. All the air leaves my lungs when I feel his mouth on my skin. “I’ll be right outside.” He lets go of my hand before he reaches for my arm. He lifts my sweater that’s fallen off my shoulder, putting it back into place. His fingertips skim my skin, causing goosebumps to erupt all over me.
He steps back, guiding his mom out of the room. PJ shuts the door behind them flipping the lock.
“What was that?” She raises her eyebrows at me.
“He’s handsome.” I shrug and turn, grabbing my bag.
“He is but do you really want him to come back to your hotel room?”
I bite my lip. I do. I don’t want everyone else coming too, but I can’t bring myself to say that.
“I should make friends. We’re staying here for a while,” I remind her. There is a reason I’d put this place last on the trail of my shows. I have plans to stay for a bit. It was time for me to put down some roots. I’ve been on the road for so long that I don’t really have anywhere to call home. This place is as good as any. Jameson being here is extra incentive for me to stay. It’s also a plus that it is far away from my father. The farther the better when it comes to him.
“All right.” She pulls out her cell phone, clicking away.
“What’s your little report say?” I already know what she’s up to.
“He’s loaded.” That much I already figured out between him and his mother. They weren't only in the front row of the show but his mother’s jewelry was nothing to shake a stick at. I grew up around money. It’s easy for me to spot who has it, often with only a glance. “Oil.”
“More than loaded.” It doesn’t matter. I have my own money. In fact, money often made me shy away from men. I know that’s all kinds of wrapped up in my daddy issues. It was the way that Jameson was with his mother that has me thinking that he’s different. No way in hell would my father ever take his mother—rest her soul—to a show of any kind.
“There isn't much on him.” PJ puts her phone away with a long sigh. I have no doubt she’ll keep on digging until she finds out everything she wants to know. I can’t even be mad at her because she’s only trying to protect me. I have a better idea of how to get to know him. One she’s going to give me a hard time about.
“So can I have a boy over tonight, Mom?” I tease her, making her snort a laugh.
“If you really want to do this, I’m not going to stop you. I’m just a little surprised is all.” That makes two of us. Dating has never been on my mind. Not with how I grew up. Boys weren’t really around. I went to an all girls school. Then my career blew up and there still weren't many boys. PJ points to the door. “That is not a boy. Just so we’re clear.” I lick my lips. She doesn’t have to remind me, I am very clear on that front. Jameson is all man. “You’re turning red.”
“I can’t help it.” I put my hands on my cheeks. PJ pulls them down.
“Don’t be shy. The man is clearly smitten with you.” She goes to open the door.
“Wait!” I half shout. “Maybe we should have a code word or something. In case I want you to you know…” I trail off.
“Get lost? Distract the mom?” She laughs.
“Shh.” What if he can hear us?
“Trust me. I know how to read you,” she says before pulling the door open. Jameson is leaning up against the wall outside and his eyes come right to me.
“Where did your mom go?” I step out, looking up and down the hallway.
“She ditched us.” He smirks as he pushes off the wall and reaches for my arm.
“Did you make her leave?” PJ asks with a snap to her tone. Somehow I know he wouldn't do that.
“I can’t make that woman do a damn thing.”
I lean into him. PJ’s eyes flick between us.
“You can follow her car or ride with her. She’s not riding with you,” PJ challenges him. He reaches into his back pocket, pulling out his wallet. He hands her a card.
“You can call Jacob here.” He points to the card that she took from him. “He’ll tell you anything you want. The chief of police too.” PJ opens and closes her mouth. “But I’ll ride with Bunny tonight while you finish up your research on me.”
“Thanks.” She pockets the card. “I think.” PJ looks at me. “Brandon is waiting out back.”
“You’re not coming?” Now I’m the one who is a little shocked. I’m nervous too but it’s an exciting kind.
“I won’t be far behind.” She winks at me before heading the other way.
“I’ve got you, Bunny.”
I look back up to Jameson. I wrap my hand around his arm, feeling how hard he is. For a man in a suit he has a lot of muscles. “I don’t do this,” I tell him. “I’m a little nervous. I just want to put that out there.”
He brushes a lock of my hair that’s fallen out of my bun behind my ear. His touch is gentle but his fingers are rough. He doesn't feel at all like he spends his days in some fancy office. Not with hands like that. He uses them. For what, I don’t know yet, but hopefully I’ll find out soon. Thoughts of how those hands would feel all over my skin run through my mind. I, myself, get little calluses on the tips of my fingers when I play too long. My feet too. I’m sure I'll have some after tonight. I pushed myself without knowing it, having gotten lost in the moment.
“That makes two of us.” He guides me toward the back of the theater. I’m not sure what he means by that but I don’t ask him to clarify. There is no way that this man is nervous. He exudes confidence. So I push that comment to the back of my mind for now and continue to walk with him toward the exit. Then it hits me that he means go home with random women.
When we get to the back I’m surprised to not see Brandon waiting for us. I’m guessing PJ messaged him that I had someone with me. Jameson pushes open the door and I start to step out, but he pulls me back.