I huffed. “I didn’t hear that last part when I signed up for this.”
Gabe chuckled. “It’s not too late to back out. All he’s done is draw the design.”
I looked at my wrist and the music note the artist had sketched with a marker. It was identical to the one Gabe had gotten inked an hour earlier.
“No,” I told him. “I’m all in, remember?”
Gabe brought my knuckles to his mouth and kissed them.
The night before, lying in bed, Gabe had jokingly suggested we get matching tattoos. Even though he’d said it in jest, I jumped at the chance. I couldn’t think of a better way to prove to him that he was it for me.
“You know,” he said. “Instead of traditional wedding bands, we could get our fingers tattooed.”
I stared at him. He’d been dropping marriage hints the whole time I’d been in California. “No. I want a fat diamond engagement ring and a matching diamond wedding band. Don’t go cheap on me now, Gabe Gagliano.”
Now that he was an indie artist, he was considering changing his stage name, similar to how John Cougar Mellencamp did. Gabe Gable Gagliano. He hadn’t decided for sure yet.
“When have I ever been cheap?” He paused. “Well, I was cheap before because I didn’t have any money. But I’m not cheap now. Have you seen the wish list Lacey sent me for the house?”
My jaw dropped. “She didn’t.” Damn. My sister worked fast. I’d only been in California for a week. “You don’t have to do everything she wants.”
Gabe shrugged. “What’s the point of all this money sitting in a bank account? I want to spend it on the people who matter. At least one of them lets me spoil her.”
“Hey,” I protested. “I let you pay my tuition bill, remember?”
He kissed my knuckles. “And for that, I’m grateful.”
To an outsider, it probably seemed totally backward that he was thanking me for paying my bill. But to us, it signaled progress. Gabe had played tour guide and shown me the area. There was a local school where I could finish my nursing degree. I wanted to travel with Gabe when he went on tour, but I’d need something to do while we were home. I figured I could sign up to be a substitute nurse, taking last-minute shifts when nurses had to call in sick. Also, since I’d been taking classes for years, it would give me a sense of normalcy when so much else in my life was in flux.
“You ready?” The tattoo artist held up the machine. I started panting, and he laughed. “Relax, lady. You sound like you’re doing Lamaze.”
Gabe laughed, and I looked over at him with a harsh glare. “Don’t laugh at me, or I’ll kick you in the balls.”
He stopped laughing, and his expression sobered. “Jeez… that’s violent.”
“Sorry,” I muttered. “I picked it up from Lacey. Apparently, she has a thing… you know what? Never mind.” The artist turned on the machine, and an ominous buzz began. “Talk to me, Gabe. Distract me.” I squeezed his hand.
“Do you think Lacey would like to spend spring break in Montana?” he asked.
“What’s in Montana?”
“David Franz’s ranch. He invited us out there. Lacey is included, of course.”
“She’d probably want to go,” I said. I sucked in a breath as the needle pierced my skin. Holy mother of all things, that hurts! Gabe was such a liar.
“It’s nice there,” Gabe said. “Wide-open space. I think he even has cattle.”
“That sounds great, really, but it’s not really distracting me.”
A wicked gleam took hold in Gabe’s eyes, and he leaned close to my ear. “You know what I’m going to do to you when we get home? I’m going to strip you naked, one layer at a time. Then I’m going to…”
Suddenly, I no longer felt any pain.
Thank you for reading Back to You! I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please help other readers find this book by telling your friends and leaving a review on your favorite book retailer. Word of mouth and reviews help authors more than you know!
Want more swoonworthy rock stars? Continue with Liam's story in Worth the Risk.
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About the Author
Jessica lives in Virginia with her college-sweetheart husband, two rambunctious sons, and two rowdy but lovable rescue dogs. Since her house is overflowing with testosterone, it’s a good thing she has a healthy appreciation for Marvel movies, Nerf guns, and football.
To learn more about Jessica, visit her website jessicaruddick.com.
Also by Jessica Ruddick
Virginia Valley University
In the Pocket
Fair Catch
False Start
Down By Contact
The Elemental Saga
Undefined (Book One)
Untamed (Book Two)
Unleashed (Book Three)
Unveiled (Book Four)
The Legacy Series
Birthright (Book One)
Retribution (Book Two)
Sacrifice (Book Three)
Redemption (Book Four)
The Love on Campus Series
Letting Go
Wanting More
Back To You (In Tune Book 1) Page 24