Total pages in book: 29
Estimated words: 27528 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 27528 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 138(@200wpm)___ 110(@250wpm)___ 92(@300wpm)
And I was hella interested.
“So,” she looked at me with those long lashes and smiled again. “How’s the songwriting going?”
I searched her gaze for any signs she was looking for more, the way most people did when they asked about my work. She just seemed curious, because unlike most of the people I came in contact with, Kayla had a very busy life that had nothing to do with celebrity gossip. “Okay,” I finally answered. “But a lot slower than usual, unfortunately.”
“The world tour was a lot, wasn’t it?”
Again, I studied her beautiful face and again I found her sincere. “Yeah. It was a fucking dream come true. Seeing all those countries made me realize the reach of my music. It was everything I hoped it would be and more.”
Her lips tugged into an answering smile. “Sounds incredible. But?”
“But it was exhausting. At least one show a day almost every day for a year.” I felt like such a dick whining about a world fucking tour.
“Sounds like you might be burnt out.” It wasn’t a judgment, just a statement of fact. “It happened to me, and I knew I needed a break or I’d have a breakdown at the wrong time.”
I couldn’t imagine it. “So what did you do?”
“I rented a room at one of those mom-and-pop ski resorts in Vermont and stayed there for two days. I slept, I ate, I skied, and did nothing else. It was perfect.” She studied me this time. “Maybe that’s what you need?”
My lips pulled to one side, and I leaned in close. “Are you offering to spend two days with me in a cabin in the woods?”
Her head fell backward, and a throaty, sexy-as-fuck laugh spilled from her lips. “Not exactly, but maybe you need something normal in your life, and if not normal, just not rock star-related.”
Was she angling for a date? “And just what do you have in mind?”
Kayla licked her lips, and I had to bite the inside of my jaw to keep from moaning. My mind instantly conjured up the image of those red lips wrapped around my cock, leaving a trail of red marks across my abs and chest. “Well,” she began, but she was cut off by a new arrival at our table.
“Lancaster,” the woman with huge tits in a too-tight t-shirt purred. “Buy me a drink?”
I put on my best friendly smile. “No can do, enjoying some time with friends.” I stared until she got the hint and left. “Sorry about that.”
“If you want to go,” she began. “Feel free.”
“I’m right where I want to be, Doc.” I winked, and she rewarded me with that irresistible blush. Again.
“If you’re sure.”
“I am. Positive. Now, what did you have in mind to heal my burnout?”
“I don’t have a lot of time, but a few hours in the evenings, and we can make a pretty great float for the parade. If that’s your thing, I mean.” She looked away nervously, and I just wanted to lean in and taste her mouth.
“Holy shit, it really is you. Lancaster.” Another woman stopped at the table in a tight red mini-dress that left nothing to the imagination. “Wanna get out of here?”
My gaze slid from the woman back to Kayla as I shook my head. “No thanks, I’m right where I want to be.” Having women be so bold wasn’t new to me, but with Kayla around, I didn’t like it. I didn’t like that flash of something I saw in her eyes. It was almost as if she was waiting—or expecting—me to lose interest.
She shrugged. “Your loss.”
“Possibly,” I conceded with a smile before I turned back to Kayla. “You really have a parade?”
She nodded. “Oh yeah, we go all out for pretty much every holiday. There’s at least one festival every single month.”
“She’s right,” Torey chimed in with a smile. “There’s a green beer pong competition, bracket-style, but you need a partner for that. An Emerald Isle cook-off, a scavenger hunt, and then the parade followed by a potluck and dance.”
I wasn’t sure if they were messing with me, but it all sounded fun, and like Kayla said, the perfect distraction. Maybe I needed to adjust to civilian life again, and inspiration would hit me. “I’ll make a float with you if you partner with me for pong.”
She frowned. “You want to do green beer pong? Seriously?”
“Hell yeah. Why not? Are you scared?”
“Ha,” she tried for a fake laugh. “No, but I thought that pizza was your carbs for the year.”
“Smart ass,” I laughed and stole a potato skin from her plate instead of the platter in the middle of the table. “I’ll get back in shape when I have to.”
“Now that’s just cruel,” Rob groaned from the other side of the table.
“I’m in,” Kayla answered with a hesitant smile.
“Perfect.” I returned her smile, and our gazes locked again, and it was intense and hot, and electricity arced between us like one of those lightning storms in Colombia.