by Taylor Hart
A sad look washed over her face. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“Not stupid to me,” he confessed. Gently, he touched her hair. “I know you say you don’t care about the fact I’m an auto mechanic and a wannabe musician but … I just…”
“What?”
His heart ached. “I have to be something for you, Jaycee, can’t you see that? Before I marry you. Before it’s three years later and you’re married to a loser who’s living in Rutherford, working for his father and still trying to get gigs at bars.”
Tears filled her eyes and she batted at him. “Don’t do that.”
He released her hand. “What? Tell the truth? I’m twenty-three and still living with my parents. I’m kind of a loser. It’s a fact.”
For a long time they just stood there and he felt like he was in some face off, then, she grabbed his face, pulling him in and kissing him roughly.
She pulled back and her face was fierce. “No, don’t say the man I love is a loser.” She wagged a finger in his face. “Next time, I’ll slap you for that.”
His heart raced again, and then he laughed, loving her even more. “Fine.”
Again, she reached out, touching his face.
This time, their touch caused a spark between them.
He frowned. “Careful.”
She put her hand back on his face A coy smile lit her face. “You afraid at what I’m seeing just by touching you?”
He put his arms around her, pulling her into him. “I’ll never be afraid of you. Tell me more about this dream or vision, whatever you see when you kiss me.”
“It’s not all the time,” she said.
“Okay, tell me what you see sometimes.”
She hesitated. “Smoke. I’m trying to see past the smoke. I can feel heat on my feet. Then I hear someone call my name.”
The truth was, he was starting to believe more and more that she really did see something, and it worried him.
“I know, it’s so stupid.”
Worry filled him. “It’s not stupid to me.”
She hesitated. “Let’s talk about something else, I’ve figured out the answer to our future already.”
He waited, not sure he wanted to deal with another fight about him calling himself a loser. “Okay.”
She swiped another kiss, this time on his neck. “So we’ll have a year-long distance, I’ll finish Harvard, and then I’m yours.”
He stared into her eyes, liking that idea. Yes, then he had a year to really work the music and she had a year to finish. “I’m going to hold you to that promise because, just so you know, you’re not getting rid of this rock star very easily.” He cleared his throat. “Maybe country rock star would be a better description.”
She kissed his lips softly. “Really? I can’t scare the rock star away with baked goods?”
He grunted. “Nope, that scare tactic has already been used.”
She laughed and they kissed again.
CHAPTER 16
T he next day, Shay was writing lyrics and dinking around on his guitar in the sound studio. He tapped his pencil against table and gazed out of the window at the ranch. Kira was out riding horses. He stood and sauntered to the window, watching her.
Had Jaycee ever ridden horses? Her family had tons of money, so she must have, right?
He remembered how gorgeous she’d looked that first day. Gorgeous, desperate, scared, then totally pissed, all in a matter of five minutes.
A shiver went through him as he thought of her vision, or whatever that was. He sat back at the table and picked up his pencil.
Visions, filled with visions of you.
And those visions are just so terrifying … that I don’t know how.
So terrifying … and it’s all real somehow.
I’ve walked alone in the dark, thinking that I’m lost.
So terrified … and now I’m not.
I saw you in the dark, reaching out your hand. I saw you, and then I knew I’d never understand.
Why it’s so terrifying standing there, next to you. It’s so terrifying seeing what could be a vision to me.
I wasn’t that same before, but now I want to be
Less terrifying … not to you, but to me.
I walked the path for so long, and I wasn’t strong, even though I tired.
Like a blind man lost in the sea, I was tossed and turned, and it wasn’t me.
I was so terrified that I couldn’t be found. So terrified that I would be swallowed in the crowd.
Terrified, not knowing how to calm the sea.
Terrified, and that’s when you met me.
There was a knock at the door, and his lip quirked up. He’d told Jaycee to come over in the afternoon.
He flung open the door and she jumped into his arms, her lips moving against his in all sorts of ways that had thoroughly excited him by the time she jumped back down. He laughed. “Hey.”
“I missed you.” She held him tightly, and the jam smell surrounded him.
He staggered but managed to keep his balance. “I guess you did.”
She kissed him again and then took a step back. “Did you miss me?”
Shay wrapped his arms around her, again. He held her body against his, loving her sweet, fruity fragrance, loving the way her green eyes were light and happy, so different from that first day at her father’s house. “Every second you’re not with me I miss you.”
CHAPTER 17
L ater that night, Jaycee and Shay ended up back at her place, eating dinner with Millie. Jaycee honestly hadn’t wanted to come to dinner, but part of her felt bad for never being at the manor, and she knew Millie would report to her father. She didn’t necessarily want to tick her father off at this point because she did want to introduce Shay, as her boyfriend, soon.
The McCades had always held an annual charity event, and this year was no exception. She hated that her father still wanted to have it, even though her mother was gone.
As she sat on the porch swing, watching the sun set with Shay at her side, she wondered why she felt so calm and relaxed.
“What’s up?” he asked, playing with her hand.
She thought of the question that had been simmering in her mind for the past couple of days. “My father is coming this weekend, and we are hosting a summer charity event on Saturday. It’s one of his senator things he does every year.”
Shay leaned back into the swing. “Right, I actually worked the catering for that party for a couple of years in high school. A friend of my mother’s owned the catering company in town, and it was good money. She paid, like, a hundred bucks a night.”
It mystified her how different their lives were. She wasn’t sure whether to feel bad about the gap between them, or to feel glad that the job had paid so much.
“I think Kira might be working it this year.” Shay looked down to the ground. “But probably not Mason.”
She knew his brother’s drug problem was hard on him. “I’m sorry.”
“I just wish he would wake up.” He cupped her hand between both of his. “But enough about my brother. Tell me what you’re thinking about.”
Tentatively, she kissed his cheek. “I want you to come to the party and be my date.”
He froze, his hands tensing against hers. “What about Kurt?”
She sighed. “I told you, I don’t care about him. I care about you. My father doesn’t get to pick who my date is.”
Shay let go of her hands and stood, staring at the lake. “I don’t want to cause problems with your father, Jaycee. He made it clear from the first time I met him that he didn’t care for Summervilles.” He snapped his fingers. “And he’s bringing Kurt for you.”
Jaycee stood too, moving to his side. “I don’t want Kurt. Listen, I need to bring you to show my father that I don’t care what he thinks.” She stuck her chin into the air. “I don’t even care if he takes Harvard away from me.”
Shay frowned. “You only have one year left.”
“I always think everyone should be in charge of their own lives, that everyone gets a choice to live how they want to live. I don’t like being the reason for you to stand up to him. You should have done that a long time ago. Way before me.”
Her heart raced, and she felt confused. Why was she getting so emotional? “I don’t need your lecture right now, Shay.”
“I’m sorry, I just …”
“What?” she asked, stepping into his personal space and glaring at him. “You don’t have the guts to face my father, is that it?”
He angrily grabbed her by the shoulders. “I love you, Jaycee McCade. Do you hear that?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“I’ll face your father with you—of course I will—but I just don’t want it to be a thing that you use at the party, something that you’re throwing in his face like some chess piece.”
Adrenaline spiked inside of her, and she remembered how she had flaunted him in her father’s face that day when she’d told her father they were taking a walk to the lake.
He dropped her shoulders and pointed at her. “I want to do things right with you.”
For a long time, they just stood there, staring into each other’s eyes. This tow truck driver rock star had turned into way more than she’d ever bargained for. “That’s good,” she said, “because I love you, too, and introducing you, officially, as my boyfriend at the party is the right thing to do.”
Another beat of silence passed, and then he pushed his hand around her hip, his lips brushing hers softly. The kiss reminded her of all things peaceful: butterfly wings, the sun coming up first thing in the morning, long walks she used to relish with her mother …
He ran his hand down her hair. “I’ll face your father with you, Jaycee girl. Of course I will.”
She wrapped both arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I love you, I love you, I love you.” The words felt so good in her mouth. Delicious. Like the best piece of taffy candy after a parade in the summer.
He began swaying her back and forth and humming. “Furious, tragic, from the moment I first met you.”
She joined in. “Furious, tragic, the night we said I do.”
He jerked to a stop, frozen again as he searched her eyes. “Do you really mean that?”
She didn’t bring up the fact that he hadn’t asked yet. “Not a chess piece.” She couldn’t help but laugh softly. “It was funny, he said he wasn’t a chess piece.”
He smiled and sang. “Furious, tragic, the love that I have for her.”
She added, “Furious, tragic, the first of its kind.”
“When she said she loved me I knew, I’d never let her go.”
“Never let him go.”
When he kissed her now, she knew that she would love Shay Summerville for the rest of her life.
CHAPTER 18
Shay walked to the front door of the manor, dressed in a monkey suit and feeling like a fraud. His sister Shar had been delighted to be his personal makeover artist, giving him a haircut, tweezing his eyebrows, and gelling his hair until he looked like what Leah would call a hipster.
His palms were sweaty and he shook out his hands, focusing on all the lights that lit up the whole house and the side yard. He spotted a huge tent in the backyard, and he heard soft, classical music playing. There were two security guys dressed in suits at the front door, inspecting people’s invitations. He texted Jaycee. Here.
It wasn’t long before Jaycee appeared, striding past the security guys like they meant nothing. Shay was starstruck by the gorgeous way she looked. Her hair was half up and half down, in softer curls than normal. It looked like it would take hours to do her hair that way and he only knew that because of his sister Shar, and how long she spent doing her own hair.
Jaycee smiled widely at him, giving him a little wave. She wore a tiny royal-blue strappy dress that accented her figure in all the right places, hugging her body to almost her knees. She wore red stiletto heels that made her seem tall. With her hair piled on her head, she was nearly as tall as he was. She threw her arms around his neck, leaning in and brushing her lips against his. “I’m so glad you’re here.”
The smell of strawberry jam flooded his senses, making him feel better. Carefully, he put his hands on her hips and let himself relax.
She pulled back, letting out a low whistle. “Shay Summerville, ladies and gentlemen.” She winked at him. “You clean up well, Tow Truck Boy.”
He grunted out a light laugh and took her hand, letting himself fully take in her appearance. Unable to stop himself, he caressed her shoulder with his other hand. “I know you’re going to hate this, but you really do look like a princess.”
The side of her lip tugged up. “Yeah, I do hate that.” She leaned into him, kissing his cheek. “Are you ready?”
He sucked in a long breath. “As I’ll ever be.”
They moved past security. The guys glanced at Shay, but Jaycee didn’t stop.
The house was a buzz of activity, swarming with more beautiful people all dressed in tuxedos and fine dresses. Of course, Shay didn’t recognize most of them. He knew that a lot of them were flown in and then helicoptered over. A guy in a tux was playing the piano. A part of Shay longed to be that guy. He loved the piano and the way he could get lost in the melody. Of course, this pianist wasn’t as good as Noah, but Shay still liked his music.
Jaycee went through the house and out the back door, pulling him past flower arrangements and weaving through a staff of people carrying trays of appetizers and wineglasses. The whole backyard was lit up with lights. More staff members attended the food tables, and at other tables, people sat and chatted. A faux floor had been laid down on the grass for dancing, and there was a base up for a band by the stage. A professional photographer wandered around, snapping pictures.
Jaycee leaned into Shay. “Avoid the camera guy if you can. I just hate the press so much.”
Shay remembered that when he’d googled her, a slew of family pictures that had come up in association with the McCade name and the Senator. It was surreal how he had suddenly found himself in the middle of this very public, political life. During the past three weeks, they’d been very sheltered, he mused, almost like she was a normal person, but all of this was a clear reminder to him of how different he and Jaycee were.
Jaycee kept them moving, dodging in and out of tables and people. Someone would call out her name and she would wave politely, but when people tried to talk with her, she would point and say, “Gotta talk to Daddy.”
Shay’s heart pounded, and he felt more nervous than he’d ever been before. When he’d been little and his father would take his whole family to different state fairs and have them play their music, he’d been crazy nervous, but he always knew it would be fine. Right now, he had no such guarantee.
Shay spotted her father. Of course, he was standing with a small group of people around him. All of them looked like complete brownnosers, trying to get a piece of him. It was crazy.
As one, the crowd regarded Jaycee, then shifted its attention onto Shay.
Her father’s face was frozen; then he opened his arms. “Sweetie.”
She politely leaned in, kissing his cheek. “Daddy, I wanted to give you a chance to officially meet Shay Summerville, my boyfriend.”
Her father was a true politician, because he kept a straight face, even let out a light laugh as he put his hand out to shake Shay’s. “Well, nice to meet you.” He turned back and nodded to another guy. “Jaycee, I thought you’d like to have another friend here tonight, too.”
Kurt. Shay recognized him from another picture that had popped up in his Google search.
Shay could feel all eyes on him, and unlike when he was in front of a crowd, these eyes didn’t feel right. “Nice to meet you again, Mr. McCade.”
Her father pinned Shay with his unreadable g
aze, then turned back and drew a woman out of the crowd. “And Marsha, have you had a chance to meet Shay yet?”
Jaycee blanched, dropping her polished façade. She clearly hadn’t been prepared for this.
“Uh,” Shay said. “Nice to meet you.” This must be the mistress?
The woman was the epitome of what one might think a senator’s wife would look like: very Jackie O, but blond. She put out her hand and gave him a slight smile. “So nice to meet you.”
Shay shook her hand, unsure if he was doing the right thing or not.
Tears were in Jaycee’s eyes, and she blinked them back furiously. Without saying goodbye, she took Shay’s hand and rushed away from the group.
“Again, nice to meet you!” her father called out.
Shay didn’t respond, only tried to keep up with Jaycee.
“I can’t believe she’s here,” she hissed.
“Hold up,” he whispered to her.
she didn’t slow their pace. “I can’t believe he actually brought her.”
“I’m sorry.”
More people tried to approach them. One particular older woman strode up, looking very much the entitled type. “Jaycee, wait, sweetheart. I haven’t seen you since your mother’s funeral. I wanted to talk.”
Jaycee stopped walking, nearly making Shay crash into her. She turned back, her face softening. “Ms. Fairbanks.”
The woman had put her hair in a soft bun. She wore too many necklaces to count, and her fingers were weighed down with gaudy jewels but her face was kind. She reached for Jaycee. “Sweetheart.”
Jaycee held her, and Shay inherently felt better, seeing that this woman was a comfort to her.
The woman pulled back, evaluating Jaycee’s face. “Girl, you’re gorgeous, prettier and prettier every time I see you.”
“Thanks, Ms. Fairbanks.”
“ Your boy here is quite the looker.” She leaned in and whispered, “Your mama always said she saw a dark-haired man in your future.”
Shay froze. Was it a weird coincidence?
Jaycee only looked stunned for a second. She managed an awkward laugh. “Did she now?”