“Gina, you okay?” Colton asked at her side.
She nodded, unable to look away from Aston’s gaze. What on earth was he doing?
What was he trying to say?
“You see,” he said slowly, strumming a few chords of the song from that first night. “I originally wrote that back in my high school days, for another woman when I was another man. But the night of the concert, I took one look at Gina, and I felt it.” He wet his lips, his gaze dark and heavy on hers. “I felt a connection that I’ve never felt before.”
He turned to face the audience. “But then of course the internet happened.”
A few scattered laughs broke out at the way he broke the tension that had been building. “Our love story got written before it had even begun,” he said, turning back to look at her as he said it.
Their love story?
His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the only sign he was nervous up there.
“But you see, I did fall for Gina. How could I not?” He shot a mischievous, lopsided grin at the crowd. “If any of you have had the pleasure of meeting my gorgeous girlfriend, I’m sure you’ll agree that she’s irresistible.”
Tears rushed into her eyes as the crowd cheered...for her. She heard Addison and Vanessa over everyone else combined.
She sniffled until Trent shoved a tissue into her hands.
“Anyway, she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.” He said it so simply. So genuinely. Like it was just...truth.
Her heart couldn’t possibly take any more.
“And while that first song wasn’t written for Gina, every song I’m about to play for you tonight was.” He smiled at her and her knees went weak. “I told Gina once that she was my muse. But I was wrong. She’s more than that. She’s so much more.” He met her gaze and held it steadily. “Gina Parker, you are my everything.”
The crowd went crazy, cheering so loudly that they nearly drowned out the first few chords of the first song...the first song that he’d written for her.
She gave up the fight as he sang the sweetest song she’d ever heard. A slow ballad all about being lost. About finding home. About figuring out where you’ve always belonged.
Trent spoke to Colton over her head. “Well, well. Looks like our little Gina finally picked a good one.”
She sniffled, a sob sneaking up on her as she watched the man she loved put his heart on display for all the world to see. “He’s not a good one,” she said. “He’s the best.” A smile tugged at her lips as he sought her out in the crowd. “And he’s mine.”
Eighteen
Toby was pacing the library’s small office. “Well, that was...interesting.”
Aston leaned against the wall, unable to sit but not trusting himself to move. If he did, he’d make a beeline for that door to seek out Gina.
Vanessa and Toby had decided it would be in everyone’s best interests if he let the crowd die out before making a getaway. Trent and his deputies had concurred. The library was sweet and homey, but it was definitely not equipped for a big crowd.
Which left him alone with Toby in here while Gina was out there. Crying.
He pinched the bridge of his nose. No. Hopefully she wasn’t still crying.
Why had she been crying?
Had he upset her? Was she angry that he’d outed their secret without asking her?
She’d have every right to be.
“Good news for you,” Toby said as he paced. “The online buzz is fantastic.”
“About the music?”
“Hmm?” Toby glanced over. “Oh yeah, that too.”
Aston rolled his eyes. Clearly cleaning up Aston’s latest PR mess was his manager’s bigger priority at the moment.
But, then again, he’d sent Toby enough snippets of these new songs over the last few days that what he’d played wasn’t a surprise.
What he’d said, now that had been a surprise.
A knock at the office door had them both glancing over.
“Come in,” Aston called out.
The door opened and Colton poked his head in. “Ah, Mr. Rogue, sir,” he said, adopting a funny sycophantic tone. “I’ve got a pest of an audience member out here who’s insisting she be able to see you—oof!”
He winced and held his arm and Aston heard Gina’s voice loud and clear. “Stop being an idiot and let me in.”
Aston’s heart soared as his gut twisted with nerves. He shot Toby a wide-eyed look that had his old friend grinning. He walked past him. “I’ll give you two some privacy.” He looked back at Aston with a shake of his head. “Never thought I’d see the day.” He jabbed a finger at him, his brows drawing together in a scowl. “Don’t screw it up.”
“I don’t intend to,” he said.
Toby slipped out the door and a second later Gina shoved Colton out of her way and strode inside. Then she stopped short.
For a long second they stood there staring at one another in tense silence as Colton closed the door behind her, making a comment about how he’d be outside standing guard if they needed him.
“So,” he said finally.
“So,” she agreed. Her chest was rising and falling quickly in that dress that looked spectacular on her.
“Gina, I never meant—”
“Aston, I have to know—”
They both started and stopped at the same time.
“Sorry,” she mumbled. She nibbled on her lip as her gaze darted around the office.
She was nervous.
Ah heck, he hadn’t meant to make her uncomfortable.
“Gina, I didn’t intend to—”
“Did you mean it?” This time she spoke over top of him, her voice loud and urgent.
He blinked in surprise. Had he meant it? He ignored a pang of hurt that she didn’t already know. “I meant it.”
She wet her lips and then swallowed. “When I got here tonight, I was trying to find you before the show because I wanted to tell you…”
His heart hammered as she trailed off. He officially could not stand still one second longer. In two strides he was across the small room and standing right in front of her. Right in her space. Close enough he could feel her heat and see the emotions in her eyes.
“What did you want to tell me?” he asked.
“I want you.” She blurted it out like the words had been torn from her.
He moved in close and grabbed her by her waist, tugging her close. “Gina—”
“No, I have to say this. I want to say this.”
He nodded, clamping his lips shut.
“You were right that I’m not always good about asking for what I want.” She drew in a deep breath. “About going after what I want.” She slid her hands up his chest and around his neck. “And if what you said was true—”
“Gina, you know it is,” he said. “You’ve always seen right through me. You know that what I said was the truth, and I’ll say it again if you don’t believe me.”
“I believe you,” she whispered, her eyes wet with tears. “I believe you. I’m just...I’m afraid of letting myself believe this is happening. Because if I’m wrong…”
He crushed her to him, his lips pressing to hers like he could prove it all to her with a kiss. He tried to, kissing her with everything that was in his heart, all the emotions—the fear and the hope that he felt too.
He tasted the salt of her tears on her lips and pulled back. “Gina, I never want to hurt you.”
“I know,” she said.
“And if you think I will—”
“You won’t,” she said. With a smile, she added, “At least not on purpose. Just like I will never intentionally hurt you.”
He nodded, his heart in his throat.
“I think that’s the best any couple can ask for, right?”
He leaned down until his forehead pressed to hers. “You’re asking me? I’m definitely not one to speak knowledgeably about relationships.”
She let out a huff of laughter and he could resist kissing h
er again, their lips clinging and molding in a kiss so sweet and tender it made him ache all over.
“Well,” she said breathlessly when he pulled back. “We both know I’m no expert in healthy relationships either.”
One corner of his mouth hitched up as his gaze met hers. “So, where does that leave us?”
“With a whole lot to learn,” she said.
He nodded. “Fair enough.”
He lifted one hand to cup her jaw as she gazed up at him. “I don’t know how to put someone else first. But I want to try.”
She surprised him with a laugh. His brows shot up. “Are you laughing at me right now, Gina Parker?”
“No, I just think you’re wrong, that’s all. I don’t think you’re nearly as selfish as you think.”
He smiled, his heart warming with her confidence in him. “And you’re not a doormat. I never thought you were.”
“I was,” she started with a sigh.
“No, you just lacked confidence. You didn’t know what you deserve. But now you do.”
She nodded slowly, a smile tugging at her lips. “I think you’re right.” She went up on tiptoe to press her lips to his. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Then I won’t.”
She pulled back abruptly. “What?”
“I won’t go. To LA or on this tour, if that’s what you want.”
She blinked up at him. “That’s crazy.”
“That’s love.”
She blinked a few more times as her lips parted. “Is that what this is?”
“For me?” He wrapped his arms around her tighter until she was nestled perfectly in his arms. “Yes. That’s exactly what this is.”
Her eyes were wide with awe. “I think I love you too.”
“You think?” he teased. But laughter was already threatening because he was so dang happy. It was the early days still. Way too soon to be declaring love. But they were on their way, and that was the best thing to happen to him since...ever.
This was better than anything he’d accomplished professionally.
She leaned back to peer up at him. “Aston, you can’t not go on tour for me.”
“Why not?” He was only partially teasing.
He knew what she was getting at. If they were going to make this work, it would take compromise. Meeting in the middle.
“Aston—”
“Gina, I chose music over love once, and I’m not doing that again.”
Her eyes softened, her lips trembled. “This is different,” she said. “I’m not asking you to choose music or me.”
He nodded slowly. He supposed he knew that. But he needed her to know that if it ever came down to that, he knew his priorities. And she was it.
“You love your music,” she said. “It’s part of you, which means I love it too.”
His heart expanded to the point where it was hard to breathe and for a long moment they leaned into one another, his nose grazing hers as their lips teased and explored.
“I never want to leave you,” he said with a sigh when she nuzzled up against his chest.
“And I don’t want you to go,” she said. She lifted her head. “Aston?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to go on tour? Be honest.”
“Yes.” He didn’t want to be away from her, but there was a part of him that would miss not playing live if he didn’t get his fix. And tonight had been a taste of that, of what it would be like to play this new music that was so perfectly him.
That was so perfectly her.
“Then go,” she said.
“But—”
“You go,” she said again, louder this time, her tone brooking no arguments. “And then you come back.”
His heart was officially hers. He had no control over it anymore. “You’ll be waiting?”
She nodded, her eyes gleaming with happiness.
“I will.” She leaned up to kiss him. “Besides, I’ll have plenty to keep me busy when you’re gone.”
“Oh yeah?”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “I’m buying out the Java Lava.”
His jaw dropped with shock before he let out a whoop of joy, scooping her up into his arms. “That’s my girl.”
She was still laughing as he kissed her.
“You’re amazing, you know that?”
She shrugged teasingly. “I try.”
He set her back on her feet, his mind racing with a new plan. “It’ll take a little while for the deal to go through, right?”
“I’d imagine,” she said slowly. “This is all new territory for me, but there’s going to be a lot of negotiating and paperwork to deal with before it’s official, I’d guess.”
“So come with me,” he said, grabbing her hands in his. “Just to LA for the next few weeks while I do what’s expected of me for the higher ups.”
She bit her lip. “You sure?”
He grinned. He’d never been more sure of anything. “I want you to see my home. To get a taste of my life.” He leaned in close. “Make sure you don’t have any regrets.”
She laughed. “I won’t have regrets. But...yes. Let’s do it.”
He groaned with relief and cupped her face between his palms as he went in to claim her lips for a crushing kiss. “Thank goodness. I don’t think I can go any length of time without you anymore. I’m hooked on you.”
“You just like my coffee,” she teased against his lips.
He chuckled. “That too.”
A knock on the door interrupted their kissing and teasing. Vanessa poked her head in. “It’s down to just a few reporters and a handful of fans.” She eyed Gina with a smile. “You two ready to put on a show?”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and looked down at his gorgeous girlfriend. “Well, Gina? You ready?”
She nodded slowly. “Yes.” She tilted her head to meet his gaze. “Because I don’t have to lie at all anymore. Thank you for that.”
“My pleasure,” he said.
Vanessa led the way and Aston and Gina followed. Just before they reached the crowd, Aston leaned down to whisper in her ear.
“I do love you, you know.”
She squeezed his hand, her heart in her eyes as she grinned up at him. “I love you too, Aston.”
Epilogue
Five months later...
Gina knocked on the hotel room door.
“Come in,” Aston called out.
Her heart flipped in her chest. Just the sound of his voice was enough to make her want to cry. Which was stupid. She couldn’t be homesick for the man when he was right here on the other side of a door.
She knocked again and waited, tugging the cap down low as a couple headed her way.
She didn’t hate the attention that came with being Aston Rogue’s girlfriend, but a little anonymity never went amiss. Especially now. She’d traveled many hours for this. She wasn’t about to share her time with anyone but Aston.
He threw the door open, his hair wet from the shower, his face covered in scruff, and his eyes—
“Gina?” His eyes were so bright with happiness, she forgot the fact that she wasn’t supposed to cry.
She burst out weeping as she leapt into his arms.
“Baby,” he growled into her ear. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
She sniffed as he carried her inside and shut the door behind her. He set her down and then gently removed her baseball cap. He held it up as if in question.
She grinned. “That’s my disguise.”
He chuckled. “A disguise, huh? I recall being mocked mercilessly for claiming a hat as a disguise.”
She arched her brows haughtily as she echoed his words back to him. “Never underestimate the power of a hat.”
He laughed at the reminder of their first day together. But then his hands were busy touching her, holding her and caressing her, and seemingly making sure she was real and not a hallucination. “How did you even get here?”
“By plane,” she said. “And with
some helpful planning from Toby.”
“Remind me to give that man a raise,” he said.
She laughed. “I take it my surprise was a success.”
“I can’t believe it. I was threatening to skip the next town so I could stop home for a quick visit.”
Home. Her heart skipped a beat. He meant Cyrano and her house. That was where he’d be returning to when this tour was over. Though she liked his California home, and he’d have to keep it since his time would always be divided.
But Gina was all right with that just so long as she had moments like this.
He held her tight, his lips hungry as he kissed her. “I’ve missed you.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
“How’s the shop?” he asked when he came up for air.
“Great.” She beamed up at him. “We’re doing better than ever now that I’ve made the changes I’ve always wanted to make.”
He took her by the hand and led her to a sofa. He held her close to his side as he peppered her with questions about her life and the town and her friends and family.
“You’ve been traveling all day,” he said. “You must be starving. Let me order some room service while you freshen up.”
She nodded. A shower and a change of clothes sounded amazing after such a long travel day, and by the time she got out of the bathroom, the cart full of covered dishes was waiting for her.
“Wow, you ordered everything,” she said with a laugh.
He nodded to the covered dish closest to her. “Start with that one. It’s your favorite.”
She arched a brow as she lifted the dish. “They have empanadas here at the—”
She stopped talking abruptly at the sight before her.
Aston came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You aren’t the only one who can plan surprises, my love.”
She blinked back tears. She would not cry again. Not even if that little box did look to be suspiciously ring-sized. “Is that…”
She couldn’t finish. She could barely even breathe.
He released her to reach for it and dropped down on bended knee beside her.
Her heart leapt. She covered her mouth to smother a sob.
Fake Dating My Rockstar Roommate: A Sweet Standalone Romance (Fake Dates Book 3) Page 16