Love Hard (Anything But Mine Book 2)

by Barbara Justice

  “I’ll buy you breakfast at Waffle House.”

  She stirred, and pushed the sheets off her face. “Promise?”

  He laughed out loud. “Cross my heart.”

  Five minutes later, Meg fastened her seatbelt in the front seat of Sky’s Tahoe. “Let’s get this show on the road, Johnson. If I don’t get a cup of coffee in me right away, I can’t be responsible for my actions.”

  “Here.” He handed her a go-cup of coffee as he climbed into the driver’s seat. “Anything for my angel.” Leaning over and kissing her on the cheek, he added, “Next stop, Waffle House.”

  They wolfed down their eggs, hash browns, and waffles like they hadn’t eaten in a week. Sky paid the check and looked at his watch. “Good. We’ll be right on time.”

  “What’s going on? Where are we going? And why are we meeting Jack so early in the morning?”

  “First, we’re meeting Jack and Becky. He and I have a surprise for you girls.”

  “What kind of surprise? Come on, tell me.”

  “Nope,” he said, as he steered the Tahoe out of the parking lot.

  Meg peppered him with questions as he drove, but Sky gave nothing away. When he pulled into the bus depot, Meg was dubious. “What are we doing here?”

  They parked next to Jack’s pick-up truck, and walked towards where he and Becky were standing near a row of tour buses.

  “All ready?” Jack grinned as he took Becky by the hand and led her down the row of buses. He stopped in front of a beige and brown bus, and gestured towards the door. “Welcome to our home away from home.”

  Becky clapped her hands. “This is ours? All ours?”

  “Let me carry you over the threshold,” he said, scooping her up and opening the door.

  Sky and Meg watched them disappear inside the tour bus. They heard Becky shrieking with joy, then raise the window shade in the rear of the bus and wave. Jack pulled her away from the window, and it became quiet.

  “I don’t think we should stand here while they, um…voyeurism isn’t my thing,” Meg said.

  “Yeah, you’re right. We shouldn’t just stand here. Come on.” He took her by the hand and led her to another beige and brown bus parked next to Jack and Becky’s bus.

  Meg’s heart skipped a beat. “Is this...is this yours?”

  He pointed to the “WSJ” in small blue lettering on the door.

  “William Skyler Johnson,” she said. “So this is your bus.”

  “No,” he said with a grin. “It’s our bus. Come on, let’s check it out.”

  Meg followed Sky up the stairs of the bus. She looked around the front lounge, which consisted of a large granite and stainless steel kitchen space with a full-sized refrigerator, sink, coffee maker, and cabinets. There was built-in table, a seating area, and big screen television on the wall. “Ooh, there’s so much room without all the bunks.”

  “It’s a little ‘bare bones’ right now. I thought we could add some personal touches together.”

  “That would be great.” She walked past the kitchen area, and gestured to the single stack of three bunks. “Are these guest bunks?”

  Sky laughed. “Yeah, but I wouldn’t count on guests joining us anytime soon. I want our first few runs to be just us.” He pulled her in for a deep kiss. “Want to see the bedroom?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she said. “I love the pocket door. It will give us a lot of privacy.”

  He pulled her hair aside and kissed the back of her neck. “No need for a luau now.”

  Meg pouted. “But I liked our luaus.”

  He continued nibbling at her neck, and half-whispered, “Mmm…okay, we can still have ‘Hawaiian sex’ whenever you want, for old times’ sake.”

  She chuckled, and turned around to give him a kiss. “Good.” She pushed the pocket door to the side, and stepped into the bedroom. “Wow.”

  There was a queen-sized bed against one wall, and a built-in dresser against the opposite wall. A large shower with glass doors was beyond the bed. At the far end of the bus there was another set of doors.

  “What’s back here?”

  “Closets. Take a look,” he said, sliding the doors open. “The bus is our new dressing room. We can keep some things here, and also take more stuff out on the road with us. No more bag limits.” He sat down on the bed, and patted his hand on the mattress.

  Meg sat down next to him. “We should try the bed out, and make sure it’s comfortable.”

  “Ooh, baby, I was hoping you’d say that.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  During the months that followed, Meg continued to travel with Sky on weekend runs with the band, but in July a conflict arose with her hospital schedule. When she dropped him off at the bus depot, she kissed him goodbye with a heavy heart.

  “I’m sorry I can’t go with you. Two of the other nurses on the floor got married within a week of each other, and that leaves the unit short staffed.”

  Sky sighed. “I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand.” He pulled her tight against his body, and kissed her deeply. “But let’s make a promise to each other, right now, that we’ll never go more than a week without being together, okay?”

  “Okay. I love you, Sky.”

  “I love you too, Meg.”

  No matter how many times I’ve heard him say he loves me, it still gives me goose bumps. She waved goodbye as he boarded the bus. “See you in a few days!”

  The following day, after her shift at the hospital ended, Meg invited Fiona over for dinner. “I’m so glad we can have some ‘girl time’, for a change,” she said, as she welcomed her with a hug when she answered the door. “I’m sorry it’s just leftovers. I didn’t have time to cook.”

  Fiona held up a cloth bag. “No need to worry, dear. I whipped up a fresh green salad to go with the baked ziti we’re having.”

  “Thanks.” Meg tossed the salad with Fiona’s homemade vinaigrette, and placed it on the table next to the tray of leftover pasta.

  When they were finished eating, Fiona asked, “Are you going to be okay tonight? This must be your first night alone here.”

  Meg took a sip of water. “It is, but I’m so exhausted that I’m sure I’ll fall asleep right away. And I’ll set the house alarm.”

  “It must be comforting, knowing that Mallory is locked away in a psychiatric hospital.”

  “Yes, thank goodness she wasn’t found competent to stand trial,” Meg agreed, thinking back to the phone calls she and Sky had received earlier in the week from the prosecutors in Las Vegas. “I didn’t want to have to go back to Nevada to testify.”

  Fiona patted her hand. “I’m glad it’s all behind you. Now you and Sky can plan your future without that incident hanging over your head.”

  Her body froze. We’ve never talked about our future. Has Sky discussed it with Fiona? She abruptly stood up and began to clear the dinner dishes. “Can I dish up some ice cream for dessert? I think we have some cookies, too.” She was rooting through the freezer when she felt Fiona’s presence behind her.

  “Is it something I said?”

  Meg turned around. “Oh, umm…it’s just that the subject of our future has never come up.” She scooped vanilla ice cream into bowls, garnished each bowl with two chocolate chip cookies, and carried them back to the table.

  “He loves you.”

  She hung her head. “I know. But that doesn’t automatically mean he wants a future with me.”

  Fiona tilted her head to the side and took a deep breath. “I think he does, but being in a relationship is new to him. Just give him time.”

  “Yeah. You’re right.” She played with the ice cream in her bowl. “Can I ask you something? Have you had anyone in your life since your husband died?”

  Fiona stared off into space. “No, I haven’t.”

  “You’re a beautiful woman, and you have so much love to give. You shouldn’t live the rest of your life alone.”

  She sighed, and a sad smile crossed her face. “It’s true – I do ha
ve love to give, which is why I’ve ‘adopted’ Sky, and now you. But I don’t think anyone would mistake me for beautiful.”

  “You’re wrong. You’re beautiful, inside and out.” And you deserve happiness. I only wish I knew someone who would make you happy again.

  The Johnson Bishop Band’s new album was released at the beginning of September, and with it came a whirlwind of activity. The band resumed a grueling tour schedule that kept them on the road three or four nights each week. They spent a week in New York City promoting the album with appearances on early morning and late night television shows, and they performed at private radio events and small venue exclusive concerts.

  “I’m exhausted,” Sky said, as he collapsed onto the sofa in their Manhattan hotel suite after a long day of interviews. “Thank God we only have one more day of this before we head home. We’ve got the biggest show of our career tomorrow night, and I just hope the adrenaline kicks in. Jack gets more pumped with each event we do, but I’m just drained.” He was reaching for a bottle of whiskey on the coffee table when he felt Meg’s hand on his.

  “Don’t,” she said. “You’ll only wake up hung over and more tired. Come with me into the bedroom.”

  He rose from the sofa with a twinkle in his eyes and a grin on his face. “You don’t have to ask me twice.” He followed her into the bedroom and wrapped his arms around Meg’s waist, pulled her hair aside, and began devouring her neck. His hands slipped underneath her shirt, and his fingers grazed her breasts.

  A soft moan escaped her lips. “That feels good, but it wasn’t what I had in mind. Take your clothes off, and lay down.”

  “Oh, baby, now you’re talking. It’s hot as hell when you take command.”

  She chuckled and tugged at his t-shirt. “Strip. Now.”

  Sky did a mock strip-tease, before flopping backwards onto the bed. “Here I am, baby. Come and get it.”

  “Stay right there.” Meg disappeared into the bathroom, and returned a moment later wearing just her underwear, and holding a tube of baby oil gel. “Flip over.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I said so. I’m going to help you relax.”

  Once Sky was lying on his stomach, Meg climbed onto the bed and straddled his back. She squirted some of the baby oil onto her palm, rubbed her hands together, and began to massage his neck and shoulders with deep, firm strokes.

  “Oh, yeah…that feels great,” Sky purred. “It smells good too.”

  “It’s lavender scented. It will help you relax and sleep.”

  “I’m feeling better already. It’s your magic touch.” His voice was soft, and calm.

  “Good,” she whispered. She worked her way down to the small of his back, kneading his tired muscles with her strong hands. “You’ve worked so hard this week, and you just need to rest and be pampered a little. I want you to know you’re loved, and appreciated.”

  “Mmm…you are too.”

  “You sound sleepy.” When he didn’t answer, Meg whispered, “Sky?” She watched as he breathed in and out, his eyes closed and oblivious to his surroundings. He was so exhausted that he fell asleep right away.

  She carefully climbed off his back so as not to wake him, and placed the covers over his body. A light snore escaped his lips when she peeled back the sheets and lay down next to him. Her heart skipped a beat when, in his sleep, he wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close.

  As she drifted off to sleep, she prayed. Dear God, thank you for this man. Life with him can be crazy, and not always easy, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

  The following morning, Meg woke with a smile on her face when she realized Sky’s arm was still wrapped around her. We were both so tired that we never moved once we fell asleep. She lifted the arm that was wrapped around her waist and tried to slip out of bed, but Sky pulled her back against his body.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” He held her in place, and grazed the length of his rock-hard erection against her buttocks.

  She rubbed herself against him, and felt electrical shock waves shoot through her body and pool between her legs. “I wouldn’t dream of going anywhere, not when you’re as hard and ready as you feel right now,” she said.

  “Ooh, someone’s feeling frisky this morning.” His hand traveled down her torso, and his fingers invaded the space between her thighs, working their way to her pleasure zone. He played her like he played his guitar, strumming away until she moaned and her body writhed in pleasure. “Oh, yeah, Meg, you’re definitely ready for me.”

  “I’m always ready for you.” She turned around, wrapped her legs around his waist, and pulled him close. “I’m all yours.”

  He leaned in to kiss her. “And I thank God for that every day.” He lifted her legs onto his shoulders, and entered her with a force that surprised both of them. “Nothing has ever felt as good as being inside you,” he said, as he gazed into her green eyes while beginning to move within her.

  With each stroke, his thumb applied pressure to her most sensitive spot, causing her to cry out in pure ecstasy. Her body was on fire, and only way to quench it was with the release she craved from him. With each thrust she bucked against him, desperate to consume him. “Oh my God, Sky, please, I need to…”

  Her eyes closed and her body began to spasm as he brought her to one climax, and then another. Her insides contracted in waves around him, causing his body to shudder as he exploded within her.

  Meg savored the feeling of his warm breath on her neck after he collapsed on top of her. She clutched his body tight against hers, and kissed his cheek while running her hands through his hair. When she felt his breathing return to normal, she said, “That’s my favorite way to start the morning.”

  “Mmm…me too. Wish we could start every morning this way.” He looked her in the eyes while he brushed his lips against hers. “I don’t want to pull out of you, baby. I feel so safe inside you.” He kissed her again, and said, “Promise me you’ll never leave me. I can’t imagine life without you.”

  A surge of warmth spread throughout Meg’s body. “I promise, Sky.”

  Meg floated through the rest of the morning, unable to wipe the smile from her face. When Sky, Jack and the rest of the band visited a local radio station, she and Becky waited in the hotel lobby for Jack’s parents and Fiona to arrive.

  While they were sitting together in the lobby, Becky asked, “Are Trey and Sky’s brothers coming up for the show tonight? I know Jack called them.”

  Meg wrinkled her brows. “I called Trey as well. I certainly hope he makes it. It would go a long way towards repairing their relationship.”

  Jack’s parents and Fiona arrived within a few minutes of each other. Becky assisted her in-laws with their hotel registration, and Meg helped Fiona up to her room.

  “It was really nice of Sky to invite me,” Fiona said, as she hung her clothes up in the hotel room closet. “He’s finally fulfilling his dream of selling out Madison Square Garden, and I’m so glad I can be here for him.”

  “Me too.” She smiled at the woman who had become as much like a mother figure to her as she was to Sky. “We’re both so glad you’re here. All ready to hit the town?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Sky had given Meg one of his credit cards, and insisted that she and Fiona indulge in a shopping spree and salon day as his treat, and for once Meg didn’t fight him about his generosity. “Sky wants us to look our best tonight,” she explained to Fiona as they made their way through Saks Fifth Avenue.

  They tried on dozens of outfits, before settling on looks for that evening. Meg picked out a pale sea-foam green lace tank top and a pair of deep champagne-colored leather pants that fit like a second skin, and she talked Fiona into a pair of black suede jeans and a sheer black embroidered peasant top. Next, they stopped into Café SFA on the eighth floor of Saks for a quick bite to eat.

  “Yummy,” Meg said, as she dug into her Chicken Mandarin salad. Between bites, she checked her watch. “We have enough time a
fter we eat to walk over to the hotel and leave our shopping bags before we go to have our hair blown out.”

  “That sounds great,” Fiona said. “It will be nice to have a little pampering, and not have to deal with my hair on my own.”

  Every few minutes while they ate, Meg checked her phone, but there was no word from Sky’s family. Come on, Trey. Get your ass up here. This night is too important to Sky. When Fiona excused herself from the table to use the restroom, Meg sent Trey a text message.

  He replied a few minutes later. “Severe weather is keeping us in Dallas. We can’t take off until it clears. We’ll be there as soon as we can.”

  She was staring at her cell phone screen when Fiona returned to the table. “Is everything all right, dear?”

  Meg was startled. “Umm…yes and no. I invited Sky’s father and brothers to the show tonight without telling him, and they’re trying to come but are stuck in Dallas. Their plane can’t take off until the weather clears.”

  “Do you think it was a good idea to invite them without telling Sky?”

  “Well, it turns out Jack called them too. This is a big night for Sky, and with Jack’s parents here, and my family coming to the show, we didn’t want him to feel bad. I know his sister Olivia is coming, because she lives here in New York, but having Trey here would mean the most to him.”

  Fiona nodded her head. “That was very thoughtful. I think you’re right not to tell him, because if they don’t make it he’ll be disappointed, but if they do get here then he’ll be surprised and happy, I think.”

  “I hope you’re right.” Meg paid the check, and stood up. “Come on, let’s go get beautified.”

  They spent the next couple of hours getting their hair blown out and make-up applied. “You look great,” Meg said, looking at Fiona.

  Fiona ran a hand over the soft, loose curls that framed her face. “Thanks. I feel like a queen. It’s been ages since I’ve had this done. The last time had to be when I went to the CMA awards with Sky a couple of years ago.”

  “You should do it more often. I like the blue eyeliner they used. It really makes your eyes pop.” She turned to the make-up artist, and said, “We’re going to take two of the eyeliners. Just add them to our tab.”