“I can do this, you know,” she laughed, though we both knew he was thrilled to do it. “I used to have an account back in high school.”
“Why did you cancel it?” He clearly couldn’t fathom anyone choosing to close themselves off from social media.
“Because high school girls can be vicious, and after I was arrested, my friends bailed on me anyway.”
“Well, they can all suck it now. You’re dating a hot rock star, so they’re going to regret ever being mean to you. And if anyone gives you shit on here, I’ll give them a lesson in online etiquette. From?”
“Chicago,” she sighed. “No high school info, please. Just add the college stuff.”
“Relationship status?” Lance asked, his eyebrow raised.
“Taken,” I barked out, my hand automatically squeezing Anna’s thigh.
“Ooh, Facebook official.” Lance winked at Anna and continued typing. “Lives in Lupine, NC,” he mumbled under his breath.
Anna tensed in my arms briefly before craning her neck to look at me. “I can change that,” she offered.
Grasping her chin, I kissed her softly. “Never.” The kiss deepened before Lance cleared his throat loudly.
“Any family to link?”
“No, just Megan.”
No family. What must it feel like to go through life with no family to support you? I couldn’t imagine it and was more determined than ever to make her an official part of mine. Without a doubt, my parents would love her, but it made me more curious about her family.
“Hey, baby,” I hedged, rubbing circles on her back. “What happened to your mom? You don’t stay in touch at all?”
Anna shook her head and buried herself deeper into my embrace. “She left. Right after I turned eighteen, she stole the money I had been saving for college and took off with her new boyfriend. I never heard from her after that.”
“She just left you?” My anger spiked, and I fought to tamp it down.
“Yeah. The landlord let me stay for a while, but I couldn’t afford the rent by myself. I slept on a neighbor’s couch until a woman I worked with mentioned a cousin looking for a roommate. That’s how I met Megan. We instantly clicked and have lived together ever since.”
Thinking back to when I was eighteen, would I have been able to support myself and still chase my dreams? Probably not. It was just another example of how strong Anna was. The fact that she had accomplished so much on her own was admirable and another reminder that I needed to make sure nothing came between her and her dreams.
Within an hour, she was flooded with friend requests from crew members and their spouses. Eli, ever the stealth photographer, shared some photos for her to upload with our selfies from the past few weeks. She rediscovered the messenger feature and started a conversation thread with Megan, remaining engrossed in Facebookland until her stomach growled.
“Sorry. It’s like a time warp,” she said, pressing her lips to mine. “And now I’m hungry. I’m going to get a snack.”
“Trust me. You don’t want to do that,” Eli advised.
“Why not?”
“Because Mama Bee always cooks her famous chicken and dumplings to welcome us home,” he explained as everyone else got excited about the meal.
Though my parents still lived in the house I grew up in, it had become a tradition for them to meet us at our place and welcome us back with our favorite meal.
“Your mom will be there when we arrive?” Anna squealed, jumping off the couch as Woodchuck announced our ETA.
“Ten minutes,” he called from the driver’s seat.
That sent Anna into a panic, fussing over her appearance until I cornered her in the bunk hall to kiss her senseless. The bus slowed to make the turn onto our private drive, and as it stopped, I could feel Anna’s anxiety rising again. “My parents are the most amazing people on the planet. I promise that you have nothing to be nervous about.”
“Okay,” she exhaled, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head on my shoulder.
“I love you. That’s the only thing that will matter to them.”
“I’ve never met a guy’s parents. I don’t know how to do this.”
Her confession sent a pang through my chest as I appreciated her honesty and willingness to trust me. “Just be your beautiful, sweet, lovely self. I’ll take care of the rest.”
Her hand was like a vise clamped on mine as she stepped off of the bus to take in the huge, resort-style home we all shared. At first glance, the large wood and stone building was an impressive sight. It was a little over the top but worked for us and had been home for about two years.
Back from our first world tour, with our bank accounts overflowing, Shawn had presented an opportunity to purchase the lakefront property. With a two-story main lodge and eight cabins, it had been an ideal investment for us. And since the developer had gone bankrupt mid-project, we had gotten a great deal on the unfinished resort.
Perfectly located, it was close enough to town while providing the privacy we required. Plus, we had plenty of room for guests to visit, a professional kitchen for parties, and lots of space for growth. Hell, all of the bedrooms on the lower level were still unfinished, serving as storage for instruments and equipment. Always thinking ahead, Shawn had even toyed with the idea of turning the space into recording studios.
It was too dark to give Anna a tour of the property, but the main building was well lit and inviting. We were fortunate that the original designer had been flexible, helping us make it feel like a home instead of an upscale hotel. But there was no way to downplay the sheer size of the place. Walking through the oversized double doors and into the great room, I took in the vaulted ceiling and large exposed beams. More natural elements were visible with hardwood flooring and a large stone fireplace dominating the room. The remaining space was filled with comfortable, oversized furniture and area rugs in neutral earth tones.
Anna’s tiny apartment could have fit inside that one room, making me aware of how intimidating my home could be. It was a lot to take in, and as Anna stood wide-eyed, I hoped it wasn’t too much for her.
My mom, a bustling blur of short graying hair and soft, huggable curves, came barreling out of the kitchen before the front door even closed. She fiercely hugged every single person to welcome them back, including Woodchuck, who always stayed long enough to enjoy a homecooked meal. His truck was parked in the garage, and he would be headed home to Greensboro with a full belly and a container of whatever cookies my mom had baked.
Following in her wake, my dad shook hands all around and swept Callie up in a big bear hug. We shared similar features, and though he had gone a bit soft around the middle and had plenty of laugh lines, I looked forward to inheriting those qualities. He was one happy silver fox.
Standing back from the crowd, Anna and I were the last to be greeted. With my arm wrapped around her waist, I made the introductions. “Anna, these are my parents, Abby and Vince Hartley, also known as Mama Bee and Papa V.”
I could feel a slight tremble in Anna’s body, but her voice remained strong. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
“Anna, we’re so happy you’re here,” my mom gushed as she pulled her from my arms and hugged her with enough strength to force the air from her lungs. “We’ve heard such wonderful things about you.” Anna’s eyes flew to mine in a silent plea before succumbing to the motherly fussing.
After moving on to me and assuring herself that I was back home in one piece, my mom wiped away a stray tear and continued to work her magic on Anna. As a teacher, she had met a wide range of kids throughout the years and had a knack for making strong connections with them. The minute they entered her classroom, they were accepted and loved regardless of anything that happened outside of those walls. I knew Anna was in good hands.
As usual, the smell of mom’s cooking lured us into the kitchen. Though we had a more formal dining space, we preferred the large dining table that was part of the open kitchen design.
“Where’s Pops?” my dad asked between bites. Being close in age, Pops had become good friends with my parents over the years, especially my dad. And since Pops didn’t have much family, we had encouraged him to move from Nashville and live in one of the cabins on the property. The two men often hung out together, fishing and fixing up my dad’s old Camaro, a project my mother swore would never be finished.
“He rode back on one of the crew buses. They should be dropping him off later tonight,” I explained.
“How is he recovering from the accident?” my mom asked.
“He says he feels great and expects the boot to come off after the follow-up with his doctor this week.”
Conversation continued and by the end of dinner, Anna and my mom were chatting and laughing together like old friends. Overhearing snippets of the most embarrassing stories from my childhood, I resigned myself to being teased later. But if it kept Anna smiling, it was well worth it.
The ladies offered to finish cleaning up so the rest of us could begin the process of unloading the bus. It wasn’t a glamorous job, just a necessary one. We would leave most of it for the daylight hours tomorrow but needed to gather some personal items and empty the refrigerator tonight.
Returning to the kitchen with a crate of cold food, I found my mom alone, wiping down the table. “Where’s Anna?” I asked as I transferred everything to the large, commercial refrigerator.
“She went with Callie to deliver some leftovers to Pops’ cabin.” My mom came to stand in front of me, reaching up to stroke her hand down my cheek. “I’m so happy. She’s everything I ever wished for you to find in a partner.”
“She’s it for me, mom. I can’t imagine my life with anyone else,” I confessed, confident that I would have her support. “We have some details to figure out, but we love each other and will make it work.”
“That’s good to hear. The best things aren’t always the easiest. I love your father more than I ever thought possible, but all relationships take work. The more you put into yours, the more you’ll get out of it.”
“I love you, mom.” Pulling her in for a strong hug, I appreciated just how fortunate I was to have such amazing parents.
“I love you too, Jaxon. But I have one request.”
“What’s that?”
“Whatever you do, please don’t elope or run off to Vegas. I want to be there when you get married.”
Picturing my future wedding, all I could see was Anna walking toward me in a white dress. None of the other details mattered, though I had a feeling Anna would disagree with me. And whether it was a backyard ceremony, standing on a beach in Hawaii, or the complete fairy tale at the Plaza, she deserved her dream wedding. Which meant being surrounded by friends and family. Knowing how important that was to her, I couldn’t imagine a scenario where she would want to run off to Vegas. But I understood my mom’s concern.
“I can promise you’ll be there,” I assured her. We just had a few obstacles to overcome before we were ready for that.
Chapter 24
Anna
Hand in hand, Jaxon and I strolled along the paved path around the lake while he told me all about the property. The late afternoon sun made me appreciate all of the shade trees and the breeze providing relief from the hot summer temperatures.
JELDS lodge, named using their initials, had six guest bedrooms upstairs and six rooms currently being used for storage downstairs. It also housed the laundry room, a home theater, a gym, and an indoor pool among other things. As a house, it was beyond excessive and would have been ridiculous for any one person to own. But as a home for this family of rock stars, it somehow made sense.
The main building was flanked by four identical cabins on each side, serving as individual homes for the band. Though rustic looking on the outside, they were modern and luxurious on the inside. Last night, we had used a golf cart for Jaxon to drive us, along with our belongings and some basic groceries, down the path past Pops’ cabin and an empty guest cabin before reaching his. Eli’s cabin was the last on that side, with the rest of the guys and Callie living in the other four.
The interior of Jaxon’s cabin was decorated in blues and grays, giving it a clean, masculine feel. I had just begun exploring the personal touches when he’d pounced on me, stating that I could investigate each room as we christened it. I quickly learned that the bathroom had a large jetted tub and walk-in shower with a perfectly positioned bench. Following that, we explored the plush, king-sized bed, which had sheets so soft that it was like sleeping on a cloud.
While making breakfast together this morning, I’d gotten up close and personal with the granite countertop on the dining island in the kitchen. Flat on my back, the details of the oak cabinets and stainless appliances quickly faded out. But I had suggested investing in a heated countertop to save my ass from frostbite.
Returning my attention to the view in front of me, I took a moment to appreciate the vast expanse of nature. It reminded me of being in a public park, but it was bigger than any park I’d ever been in. Between the lake and all of the surrounding property, it totaled about a thousand acres. It was so much land that even with a generous amount of space between the main building and all of the cabins, the structures didn’t fill one full side of the lake.
As the sheer scope of the property began to sink in, I had a moment of doubt. Not doubt in Jaxon, but doubt that I belonged. Could a poor girl from the trailer parks ever truly fit into a world filled with mansions, private jets, and limousines? Glancing at the man beside me, I had my answer. The way he loved me, completely and without fail, was worth more than anything money could buy. When I looked at him, everything else became irrelevant. It was just fancy stuff that would come and go. He was my anchor in a world filled with waves. And I was his.
Once we made it to the far side of the lake, Jaxon pulled me to a nearby bench. He simply held me, both of us content to enjoy the silence.
“It’s so peaceful here,” I whispered reverently, melting further into him to savor the moment.
“That was the main reason we bought it. We wanted a place to relax and unwind when we’re not touring.”
In my wildest fantasies, I could not have envisioned a more perfect place; secluded enough to escape the rest of the world yet still surrounded by friends and family. It was completely different from anywhere I had ever lived. Not that I lived there, though I hoped that would change. After basically living together on the bus, I couldn’t imagine Jaxon and I living apart.
Everything else about our relationship had moved at warp speed due to the close proximity we had shared. We had fallen in love in a mere six weeks, but we had also spent more time together than a lot of couples did in the first six months of dating. Though fast and a little overwhelming, nothing had ever felt so right.
Jaxon often told me that he loved me and used words like forever and always. Before him, they were just words with little value. Like a foreign language, I could translate them to decipher meaning in isolation. But without context, they were hollow. Now, because of him, I understood the significance of them. Every time he looked at me, I saw their worth. And with every touch, I felt their power.
Now I knew love.
It was that same love that had supported me in my job search this morning. Following breakfast, I had discovered his home office in the second bedroom and had decided to dive in. With my fingers crossed that something local would pop up, I’d spent a few hours scouring the internet. It turned out to be more of a challenge than I anticipated. Lupine offered little in the way of PR work, especially with a charitable organization since the small town took great pride in looking after their own. Such organizations tended to be located in larger cities, so I expanded my search to include the Charlotte area.
Though notably quiet on the topic of my job hunt, Jaxon suggested looking for a company that would allow me to work remotely so I could have more flexibility and avoid long hours stuck in traffic. Other than that, he paced the cabin. Nothing struck me
as the perfect job, but I’d sent off several resumés anyway. Sometimes opportunities came from the most unexpected places.
Quacking interrupted my thoughts, and I looked up to see two ducks followed by several ducklings. I froze, not wanting to scare them away, but Jaxon eased me off of his lap and began digging something out of the side pocket of his cargo shorts.
“Ducks!” I whisper shouted, clutching his forearm.
“I see them, baby,” he chuckled. “I brought some of their food, hoping we’d run into them during our walk.”
He placed a small baggie of food pellets in my hand as they bravely swam closer to the shore. Jaxon showed me the best way to scatter the food into the water, and they were soon enjoying their treat. With full bellies, the ducks swam away while we completed our lap around the lake. Hot and thirsty, we went straight for the kitchen, where we found Mama Bee cooking dinner.
“Hey, mom. This is a nice surprise. I didn’t expect you back today,” he said, leaning in to kiss her cheek while I grabbed drinks for us.
“Hey, you two,” she replied, kissing him back and then stepped in my direction to give me a brief hug. “Your dad and Pops are already elbow-deep in motor oil, so I figured I’d come by and enjoy my kids while you’re all here.”
“Damn, what smells so good?” Lance asked, rounding the corner into the kitchen. He also gave her a peck on the cheek.
“Spaghetti and meatballs,” she answered, causing the guys to high five.
“We just started cleaning out the bus if you’re free,” Lance told Jaxon.
Making sure I was okay on my own for a bit, he snuck a PG kiss before leaving me with his mom. She was a force of nature in the kitchen, moving around in six directions at once.
“Can I help?” I was still feeling a little unsure of my place but wanted to get to know her better.
“I’d love company, and if you want to help, that would be great too.” She put me to work chopping vegetables for a huge salad while she continued to flit around.
Changing the Key: A Detrimental Rock Star Romance (Book 1) Page 24