by Kaci Rose
Her set ends, and she hugs us both again, before walking off stage. I watch her go, and when she hits the edge of the stage out of sight of the crowd, she turns and winks at me, and I feel like I've won the lottery.
As we finish the show, all I can think about is getting to Austin, as I make my way backstage. She has changed into more casual clothes, shorts and a shirt, but she still looks as beautiful as, when she walked out on stage.
I walk over to her and grab her hands, swinging her around.
"Let's go celebrate," I say.
She giggles, as I spin her, and I swear it's my favorite sound in the world.
"Sure, where did you have in mind?"
"Your pick. Tacos or BBQ, I know a good spot for both."
"We’re in Memphis we have to do BBQ!" She says.
"Give me ten minutes for a quick shower and to change."
Dom walks up beside Ivy, and after their kiss, he turns to me, "We’ll wait with her." He gives me a nod. We haven't talked about it, but with the time we have spent with them lately, I'm sure he knows my feelings for her.
I give him a nod of thanks and rush off to my dressing room for the quickest shower of my life.
I walk back out and take her hand.
"It's a few blocks, you don't mind walking, do you?" I ask her.
"No, I like to see the city."
We walk hand in hand, talking about the show, and before we know it, we’re at the BBQ place I was told about.
"This place has won several awards, and the guy at sound check swears it's the best in town," I tell her, as I open the door for her. The hostess recognizes me, but she keeps her cool and seats us in the back, where we will be least bothered.
One of our security guys, who tagged along with us, sits down at the bar with a clear view of us. He's in plain clothes, and unless you know him, you'd never know he was security. Our team does well at blending in. For the first time in a long time, I'm thankful to have him around, knowing he will keep Austin safe as well.
The conversation flows easily, as we eat and taste each other’s meals. There are several long stares, but as much as I want to reach across the table and take her hand, I don't. I know people have seen us, and the last thing we need are photos circulating, making this look like a date. Us out to dinner is easily explained to Landon. Hell, he knows we go out to eat at these stops, so he won't give it a second glance.
I hate having to hide things, but for now, I think it's for the best. I just need to prove myself to her, to him, and to myself.
After dinner, we head outside again, but I'm not ready for the night to be over.
"Want to walk the shops?" I tilt my head towards the sidewalk.
"Yeah, I love window shopping, because each city is so different." She says, and I push my luck just a bit and take her hand. I can wave this off, as making a protective thing, if needed, right? Keeping her close, as we walk a busy downtown, that justifies holding her hand.
We barely get two stores down from the restaurant, before we’re stopped by fans.
"Oh, my God! It’s Dallas McIntire. We are such huge fans!" The blonde waves over her shoulder at her two friends, who are with her.
Austin has let go of my hand and stepped off to the side out of the way, but when I look over at her, she’s all smiles and winks at me. So, I paste on my rock star smile and sign autographs.
"Please, take a photo with us. My sister will never believe me otherwise!" The blonde says, and I agree. They arrange themselves around me, and the blonde is on one side, pushing her tits against my arm, as she gets ready to take a picture. Austin's lips purse, and my smile almost slips.
The second she takes the photo, her hand that was on my back slips to my ass, and I jump from the group, like I'd just been burned.
"Okay, ladies, enjoy your night." I keep the fake smile in place and put an end to it. This is also my bodyguard's sign that I'm done and to move them along. He steps in, as the blonde starts to pout and says something I block out, as I walk over to Austin, who is fighting a laugh.
"What happened?" She asked.
"The blonde grabbed my ass," I say irritated, and that’s when Austin busts out laughing, and I stand there in shock. "What the hell is so funny about another woman grabbing my ass, and then rubbing her tits all over me so much that I need a shower to get rid of her perfume?"
She laughs even harder, holding her stomach, as I just stand there in awe. I love her laugh, but I still don't get what’s so funny.
"No one would believe me." She wheezes out.
I take her hand again, as we start walking.
"Believe what?"
"The rock star playboy running away from a woman grabbing his ass." She says and bursts into a giggle again.
I shake my head and give a dry laugh. "Yeah, some playboy."
"Oh, Dallas, I'm sorry. I know you've changed really, I do, but it also takes some getting used, too. A year ago, you would have soaked it up. Hell, maybe even gotten her phone number. That’s the Dallas I'm used, too. But this Dallas, I like him much better, and it will just take some time to get accustomed, too."
"I wish the fans and the media would believe I've changed."
"I don't think your managers will let it happen." She says sadly.
"Why not?"
"Because you as a playboy makes money. They can sell out an arena with girls who think they have a shot at one night with you. They can use it to sell stories and hype the band. You fed into it good, and I'm pretty sure you didn't care, but they used it to their advantage, and they still will. But they won't like the thought of you settling down." She shrugs.
What the fuck? I think over the last few years, and damn, she’s right. They did play up the playboy status, didn't they? It was splashed on front covers, when I'd do photo shoots and on websites.
"And you’re okay with this?" I ask her.
She shrugs, "I don't have a choice. If you change your image, there’s a really good chance the band's popularity will go down. How could I be that selfish and do that to you and my brother? Do I like it? No way."
"We’ll figure it out. Landon and I have been tossing around the idea of starting our own label. It would give us so much more freedom, and we’d be able to help new talent."
We walk for a bit in comfortable silence just checking out the store windows, when she sighs.
"What's wrong?" I ask her.
She holds up our hands. "This feels like a date."
I smile at that. I’d like it to be a date, and I've never been more comfortable on one.
"It does feel like a date, huh? What if it was?" I ask. I want to know where her head is.
She gets quiet and turns her head to look at the store window we are slowly passing.
"I'd like that." She says barely above a whisper.
There’s a little side alley in front of us, so I pull her with me down the alley just enough, so we’re out of lights from the street. I push her up against the wall, my body against her. She’s so warm and soft.
"Then to make it a date, there needs to be a kiss," I say, as I slowly lower my head to hers.
If she doesn't want this, she can turn her head, or even push me away, but her eyes fall to my lips, and in that moment, I know she wants this kiss as much as I do. My lips crash into hers, and every teenage fantasy I had of kissing Austin is shattered. The reality is so much better.
She melts into me and wraps her arms around my neck, pulling me in closer. I kiss her like this might be our last kiss, with all the passion and need built up over the last ten years of wanting her, but not being able to have her.
I want to own her and possess her with this kiss, stake my claim. This amazing, sexy, and beautiful girl is mine. When I lightly nip her bottom lip, she lets out a groan that goes straight to my cock. I know she can feel how hard I am, and I don't try to hide it.
I never want to stop kissing her, but a car horn reminds me we’re still very much in public, even if we can't be seen very well. I slowly p
ull away, leaving a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth, before I rest my forehead on hers. We both catch our breath, still wrapped in each other's arms.
"Wow, baby girl. I've never had a kiss like that." I say, as I run my hand over her arm and put her hand over my heart. I want her to feel what she’s doing to me. I want her to know only she has ever made me feel this way.
"That was a pretty damn good kiss." She says breathlessly.
"It's getting late. Let’s get to the bus, so we can go home," I say, even though, the bus with her brother is the last place I want to be.
We take our time walking back hand in hand, smiling and soaking up each other's company.
The second we walk into the bus together, Landon is glaring at me, but I just shrug at him and smile. I doubt he will go off on me again, where Austin can hear.
The next morning, we’re finally home, and all head into the house. I'm unpacking, when Landon steps into my room. He leaves tomorrow, and yeah, I will miss him, but I can't wait to have two weeks alone with Austin.
"You know I'm gone for two weeks. That leaves you with a few meetings on your own. Will you call me after and let me know how they go?" Landon asks, talking about the meetings at the label.
"Of course."
"Also, watch over Austin. Make sure she adjusts after the tour okay. We’re used to it, but she isn't."
"You don't have to ask me, you know I wouldn't let anything happen to her."
"Do it while keeping your hands off of her." He growls, and then turns and heads out of the door.
Austin is standing in her door across the hall, and she narrows her eyes at Landon. He grunts and goes downstairs.
Austin and I don't move. We just stare at each other. Then, she steps into my room and gets close enough to whisper, but not close enough for me to reach out and touch her.
"You better not keep your hands off." She says.
"Didn't plan on it, baby girl," I smirk.
Chapter 13
Austin
Landon left this morning, and I feel no guilt that I'm relieved he's gone. I felt like I would look at Dallas the wrong way, and he'd just know. Or that we'd avoid each other a little too much, and he'd know something was up.
Thankfully, we passed with flying colors, and Landon is now on a plane to the other side of the country for two weeks.
Now, I’m trying to work with the sexiest man in rock and roll, sitting at the other end of the dining room table, shirtless and answering emails on his computer. He seems to be looking at me a whole lot less than I’m looking at him.
Thankfully, after the tour, I don't have to worry too much about work. I made some good money and was able to stick to a few of my favorite clients, and right now, I'm working on the graphics for the lingerie store’s website.
"You seem awfully distracted over there." He grins at me.
"That's what happens, when you have a sexy man sitting across from you shirtless, and you’re working on a lingerie website," I smirk back at him.
"Christ." He says under his breath and closes his laptop. Then, he's up and stalking towards me, before I can think twice. He turns my chair with me in it to the side and leans down, until we’re face to face.
"Show me." His voice is hoarse, so I do as he asks and show him the website I've been working on.
A minute later he leans in and rubs his nose up my neck, before kissing across my jawline and giving me a chaste kiss on my lips. I don't even realize I whimper, until he smiles.
"Later, right now, I need to feed you dinner." He says.
"Nope, I'm cooking for you, already have it planned," I tell him and steer him to one of the bar stools at the island.
We talk, as I make lasagna roll ups. I thought this would make a good dinner, because I’ll make double, and then we can have them for lunch a day or two later.
After dinner, Dallas pulls me into the living room.
"I loved watching TV with you that first night you were here, and when we watched movies on the road. So, that's what I want, to snuggle and watch some shows with you." He says a little unsure. It's such a simple thing, but then my brother normally wedges himself between us, so it's a big deal to watch TV without him.
"Sounds perfect," I say, as I sit down and cuddle up to his side. He pulls a blanket over us and wraps his arms around me. Every so often, I look up at him and manage to get a quick kiss in, but he pulls back, before it goes any further.
After the fourth time, he must read the frustration on my face, because he chuckles.
"We’re going to take this nice and slow, baby girl. That doesn't mean I don't want you, because I do, but I want to make sure we do this right.”
With a sigh, I agree and snuggle into him.
✽✽✽
It's been almost a week of the most perfect routine I could have asked for. Every morning, Dallas wakes me up with breakfast and coffee. Then, I work, while he works on new lyrics for the next album. A few times we both exercised out by the pool, instead of inside. Then after lunch, we took some downtime to clean the house or read in the library. Then, we'd work some more.
I'd make dinner every night, and after dinner, we end up on the couch watching TV. I've fallen asleep twice and woken up to Dallas carrying me to bed. He always lays me down with a kiss on the forehead, before heading off to his room.
Dallas wasn't kidding about taking things slow. We haven't taken things past kissing. Mind blowing sexy kissing. The best kisses of my life kissing. I can only imagine how things will be, when we take it to the next step. That's what I'm thinking about, as I come downstairs for breakfast.
Dallas is just setting food on the table, when I make it to the kitchen.
"Morning." He says, kissing my cheek and directing me to the table, where he already has a cup of coffee waiting for me.
Once we sit down, he looks up at me.
"Would you like to go out on a date with me today?" He asks, and he seems a little nervous.
I perk right up.
"Of course, I would. Where are we going?"
"It's a surprise. But we have to stop at the label first, because our manager is insisting on talking to me. Then, I'm all yours for the rest of the day."
I quickly finish breakfast, and then head upstairs to get ready. I dress casually, because if I needed to dress up, I know Dallas would have told me. I'm in black skinny jeans and a dark burgundy dressy loose top. I leave my hair down but put some waves in it and a touch of makeup.
I go downstairs and find Dallas waiting for me, leaning against the kitchen counter in dark jeans and a button down shirt, making my mouth go dry. He can be in the most casual clothes and still look so damn sexy.
He catches me checking him out, and I don't even try to hide it. Grinning at me, his eyes run over my body, and I can feel them, as if it were his hands on me. He pushes off the counter and stalks towards me.
"God, you're beautiful. I almost don't want to take you out and share you." He wraps his hands around my waist and kisses the top of my head.
"Let's get this meeting over with, so I can have you all to myself." He takes my hand and leads me to his truck.
"No convertible today?" I joke.
"No, this will be more practical for what I had in mind."
"Am I dressed okay?" I ask, suddenly nervous.
His eyes run over me again with such heat in them on my skin.
"You're perfect." He whispers, before starting up the truck.
He takes my hand and holds it the entire way to the label. I always love driving down music row here in Nashville. All the labels are set up in old historic homes, and they put banners out in the front yard, bragging about their new number one hits.
"Oh, look Brantley Gilbert has another number one." I sigh. "Why couldn't you get signed with him?" I joke.
This earns me a glare from Dallas.
"What? Can’t I have guys that I wouldn't mind being a notch on their bedpost?" I roll my eyes and try to hide my smile. He pulls into the parking
area, and before I even realize what’s going on, he has my seatbelt undone, and he's pulling me into his lap.
He doesn't say anything, as he just stares into my eyes, like he's trying to tell me something he can't find the words to say.
"You’re too good to be a notch on anyone’s bedpost. It's why I kept you at arm’s length for so long. How you can forgive my past and be here with me today, I will never know, but I’m so grateful you are."
Then, his lips are on mine, and it's a gentle kiss full of promises. When I try deepening the kiss, he pulls away. That small, short kiss has me already on edge. All these sexy kisses leading to nothing are driving me crazy.
"Let's get this meeting over with." He opens his door, carries me out his side, and then sets me on my feet. Then, he gives me a pained look.
"I will proudly hold your hand in there, but I think it's best they don't know about it, before Landon does." He says.
"I agree. And just so you know, I'd proudly hold your hand in there and anywhere." I don't just say the words; I mean them with everything in me.
We walk in checking in with the receptionist, and then sit in the waiting room.
"What’s this meeting about?" I ask.
"The new album they want us to start working on. I'm sure this will be their 'suggestions' of the direction we should go." He says.
"Don't let them bully you. You guys are good, and your fans love you. They'd be good to remember that." I tell him honestly.
He grins, but Mitch comes out, before he can reply.
"Dallas, we're ready." He stands and looks at me.
"Go do your thing." I hold up my phone. "I have a book to read."
"I won't be long." He says and heads back.
The receptionist looks at me and smiles. "What are you reading?" She asks.
I pull the romance book I'm reading, as she comes to sit beside me, and we talk books and swap titles. Turns out, we love to read the same dirty romance novels, and she gave me some good suggestions.
"I've never met anyone who reads the same things I do." She says almost shyly.