Promise Me: A Novella (Rivers Edge Book 3.5)

by Lacey Black

  “Uh, we’ll see,” I tell her as Jase smiles down at me with that wolfish grin.

  “I was, in fact, hoping for a sleepover,” Jase whisper under his breath. “But I see that you already have company tonight,” he adds and glances back at the blond on my couch.

  “Brooklyn and I were just watching some Grey’s. Why don’t you join us?”

  “I don’t want to impose. I can grab a hotel room,” Jase says.

  “I can guarantee that if you do that, word will spread faster than the California wildfires that you are in town. You can’t go to the hotel, Jase,” I tell him. “You can camp out on my couch.”

  “Your couch? Alone? I haven’t had to sleep on a couch in years, Holly,” Jase says with a cocky smile and a raised eyebrow.

  “And if you had any luck at all, I wouldn’t already have a bedmate tonight. Unfortunately for you, you’re a little too late, Jase,” I reply just as sassy.

  “Your sass is turning me on,” he replies deadpanned which causes me to laugh.

  “Come on, let’s watch Grey’s.” I throw an elbow into his hard six-pack abs, causing a dramatic exhale of air on his part. Jase throws his duffle bag on the floor next to the couch and plops down next to me.

  Brooklyn is snuggled up to my right side as Jase extends his arm over the top of the couch and his legs straight out in front of him on my left. I can’t help the schoolgirl glances I give out of the corner of my eye. He’s so damn hot. And he’s here.

  After my third or fourth glance, Jase catches me. Or I catch him looking at me - either way. The corner of his lip curls up as his thumb begins to rub gentle circles along the back of my neck. Jase moves his hand completely underneath my hair and caresses the skin on the back of my neck with his palm. His hand is hot. Jase. Is. Hot. This is when I audibly sigh.

  “How long do you have your houseguest?” Jase asks, nodding towards Brooklyn. I glance down and notice Brooklyn’s eyes closed as she drifts to sleep on my lap.

  “I’m meeting Avery for lunch tomorrow,” I tell him as I absently smooth her hair away from her face.

  “And then what?” he asks.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you have to work?”

  “Not until Friday morning at six,” I confirm, sucked into the depth of his striking green eyes.

  “So, you have no plans after lunch tomorrow until six a.m. on Friday?” he asks, still stroking my neck.

  “None,” I reply.

  “Well, I just happen to be here - in Rivers Edge - until Friday morning at five a.m.” Jase leans in until we’re practically nose to nose. I try not to move so that I don’t wake Brooklyn, but the urge to eliminate that air between us is great. I lean in until our lips are a breath apart. “So, the way I see it, we have about seventeen hours to get to know each other in person instead of on the phone. Seventeen hours to figure out where this is going.”

  “Where do you think it is going?” I ask, breathlessly.

  “All the way, baby. I can’t explain it, but I feel drawn to you like I’ve never felt before. Like a moth to a flame. Like a singer to a microphone. I feel alive and free when I’m talking to you; like I can be myself for the first time in forever. And I’m trying my damnedest to not scare you off right now, but I feel all kinds of crazy ass things when I think of you. Things that I’ve never felt or never wanted to feel, and as much as I’m trying to not scare you, I’m terrified on the inside because what I want from you is forever,” he whispers against my lips without actually touching them. His words are his caress.

  “You know that after a few weeks of talking on the phone?” I ask, eyes wide with shock.

  “I knew it from the moment I saw you standing at that Meet and Greet, Holly,” he says. I watch as he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, and pulls back. “But, I’m not going to rush you. First, I need to take you on a date,” he adds with a smile.

  “A date?”

  “Yep. Tomorrow night. You’ll have to pick the place since I’m not familiar with your town…yet,” he adds confidently.

  “Awfully confident there, aren’t we?” I ask, trying to fight off the smile that is threatening to take over my face.

  “Definitely, confident. I’m just getting started with you, Holly Jenkins. That’s a promise,” he says with those emerald green eyes boring into my soul. At this exact moment, I know he’s being one hundred percent honest with me.

  And I know that I want him to be one hundred percent right.

  Chapter Ten

  Jase

  Holly’s couch fucking sucks. Period.

  I’ve been tossing and turning on this little thing for the better part of two hours. It wasn’t made to sleep a six foot man comfortably. Around two a.m. I turned on the TV and muted it just so I could try to distract myself. The problem is the brunette sleeping on the other side of the closed door is more of the distraction. I wonder which side of the bed Holly prefers. I itch to run my hand along the side of her face while she dreams. I long to feel her smaller body pressed firmly against mine.

  I finally sit up and turn the volume on low. This is the time I’m usually winding down each night, so when Holly decided to take Brooklyn to bed around nine-thirty and stay in there with her, I know I was in for a long night. That didn’t stop us from texting each other from a room apart. I smile as I watch late night reruns and think about our bantering back and forth. Her head on her pillow in the next room; my head on the throw pillow on the couch – just me and my hard on.

  And to top it off, I have yet to steal my first real kiss.

  I scrub my hands over my tired face. Damn I have it bad.

  I grab my phone and type out the quick text before I can even think. I can’t stop thinking about you.

  There. Sent.

  Pussy.

  I set the phone down quickly and grab the remote, searching for anything other than Seinfeld. My phone buzzes a second later so I grab it, smiling at the name on the screen.

  I’m having the same problem

  My fingers type. What are you thinking about? Send.

  Our date, she sends back a few seconds later.

  What about it?

  I think we should go to the Mexican Restaurant in town. Less people.

  I will take you wherever you want to go as long as you’re there with me.

  It takes her a few minutes to reply, but when she does, I’m not prepared for her honesty. I’m scared at how fast I’m developing feelings for you, Jase.

  I suck in a jaded breath of air. I’m fucking terrified, too. But the thought of not having you in my life is more terrifying. I don’t know what all this means yet, but I want to find out.

  I do too, she texts. It’s music to my damn ears. It’s a beautiful melody that I can’t get out of my head. Holly wants to give this a go as much as I do.

  Sleep, beautiful

  Yes, sir ;)

  I set my phone down and lay back on the couch, trying to get comfortable, but knowing that Holly is literally on the other side of a wooden door and not halfway around the country is doing crazy things to my heart. It’s beating wild in my chest. I long to touch her, smell her hair, and taste her lips.

  I toss and turn for the next thirty minutes, lost in the images of Holly sleeping feet away from me.

  Welcome to the longest night of my life. Sleep isn’t an option anymore.

  *****

  I decide to go to lunch with Holly, Avery, and Brooklyn. Donning my red baseball cap, we walk into the café and find a corner booth open. Holly and Brooklyn slide in, me on the outside with my back to the rest of the café, as we wait for Avery.

  “She’s always late,” Holly says with a smile as she passes around menus.

  “Yeah, Mommy is always late,” Brooklyn chimes in. “Daddy says it makes her daring,” she adds.

  Holly and I both laugh. “Do you mean endearing?” Holly asks with a smile.

  “Yeah, that,” Brooklyn says and looks over her menu. Can she even read it?


  “I want pancakes,” Brooklyn says with a big smile. “And chocolate milk!”

  “You had pancakes and chocolate milk for breakfast,” Holly says, shaking her head.

  “Yeah but I want them again,” Brooklyn says, turning her big blue doe-eyes towards me and Holly. Holy hell, I wasn’t prepared for that look. Yeah, that kid could have whatever the hell she wants.

  “Fine,” Holly says with a grin.

  The waitress arrives at that moment, staring down at me. I drop my head down a little as if browsing the menu further while Holly orders drinks for her and Brooklyn.

  “And you, sir?” the waitress asks.

  I don’t even glance up as I reply, “Coke, please.”

  The waitress lingers a few extra seconds before turning and heading behind the counter to get our drinks.

  “I think she has your number,” Holly whispers as she peruses the menu.

  “Yeah,” I mumble as I keep my head down.

  “I don’t know how, though. With that stellar disguise, I don’t know how your own mother could pick you out of a crowd,” she adds lightheartedly.

  I can’t help the laugh that erupts from my gut. Half the diner turns and looks our way. I don’t look over my shoulder at them to confirm their suspicions, but I know that my time to be incognito has probably expired. I reach up and remove the hat, tossing it down on the seat between me and Holly.

  “Better?” I ask her with a smile.

  “Much,” she says with her own smile.

  Just then, Avery comes barreling into the café and slides into the seat opposite me. “Sorry I’m late. I was heading -” but Avery stops dead in her tracks, staring across the booth at me and Holly.

  “Mommy, this is Jase. He sings songs,” Brooklyn says so matter-of-factly that you can’t help but laugh.

  “Yes, Brooklyn,” Avery says as she leans down and kisses the top of Brooklyn’s head. “Jase does sing songs,” she adds without removing her shocked eyes from me.

  “Are you just going to stare the entire lunch hour, Ave? If so, it’s probably going to get a little awkward in here,” Holly says with a sassy smile.

  “Oh. My. Gosh. What are you doing here?” she asks, shock still evident on her pretty face.

  “I stopped by for a visit,” I tell her, dropping my head back down as the waitress returns with our drinks.

  “Are you guys ready to order?” she asks. I can feel her eyes burning into me.

  “Yes, Bean wants the pancakes with whip cream and I’ll take the BLT sandwich with sweet potato fries,” Holly says.

  I look up and indicate for Avery to go next who orders a quarter pound cheeseburger with everything and cole slaw. Finally, the waitress returns her eyes to me. “I’ll have the roast beef with cheddar cheese and sweet potato fries,” I tell her as I close my menu.

  As soon as she finishes writing my order, she reaches for the menus around the table and says, “Do I know you?”

  “I don’t think so,” I say, returning my eyes to Holly.

  “You just look so familiar, though,” the waitress says. She’s in her late twenties with brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail and hazel eyes. She’s definitely cute, but not Holly.

  “This is actually my first trip to town,” I tell her.

  It’s always comical when you see that moment when they realize who I am. Her entire face lights up with a combination of shock and excitement. “Oh my God, you’re Jase Bentley!” she exclaims loud enough to draw attention from everyone in a two block radius.

  “No, that’s not me,” I tell her. “I get that all the time, though,” I add, shaking my head.

  “Really? You look just like him,” she says, but the look on her face says that she doesn’t believe me. Her eyes squint closed a little as she takes me in, up and down.

  “Yeah, if I was the Jase Bentley, do you think I would be in Rivers Edge, Missouri right now?” I ask.

  “Well, that’s probably true,” she says, still eyeing me up and down. “I’ll go get your order in.” As soon as the waitress is out of earshot, Avery and Holly both turn their full attention to me with smiles.

  “How often does that happen?” Avery asks.

  “Honestly? Everywhere I go. There’s no escaping it. And it won’t be long before she realizes I was lying to her. They always find out,” I tell them.

  “Don’t look now, but I think she’s already figured it out, Jase,” Holly says.

  I look over my shoulder just as the waitress is taking pictures from behind the counter with her cell phone. “And those will be online in about four point two seconds,” I reply with a shake of my head.

  I turn my attention back to Holly and link my fingers with hers on the bench.

  “So what are you guys doing tonight?” Avery asks with a sly grin.

  Oh, do I have ideas of what we’ll be doing tonight.

  “We’re going to dinner at El Toro,” Holly says as she looks down at our linked fingers.

  “Thursday nights aren’t as busy so you shouldn’t have too many people staring at you the entire time,” Avery says while Brooklyn colors a picture on the back of her white paper placemat.

  The waitress returns with our lunches, and we all dive in. I almost have my meal consumed when the first fan approaches our table. She’s a young girl, probably about sixteen, and she has the biggest smile on her face. She tells me she’s eating lunch with her mom before heading back to school, so I sign her notebook. Soon, the next fan comes up and asks for a quick autograph. And so it continues for the next twenty minutes.

  Avery and Brooklyn get ready to take off, putting jackets on as they slide out of the booth. I stand up and extend my hand to help Holly from the booth. Her skin feels warm and soft against mine. Tingles of awareness course through my blood as she stands before me. I grab her hoodie jacket and help her slide it on.

  Avery approaches Holly. “Thanks for spending time with Bean last night and today,” she says as she pulls Holly into a tight hug. “And don’t forget to wear pretty panties,” she adds in a whisper which is still loud enough that I can hear.

  Holly whispers something back to her that I don’t hear and turns back to me.

  “Ready?” I ask as I link our fingers back together.

  “Yep,” she says.

  We follow them out the door and approach my rental car. Holly quickly removes the booster seat and hands it to Avery.

  “I know you’re here for only a short visit, but next time you can stay longer, we’ll have you guys over for supper. Maddox is dying to meet Coy’s little brother,” Avery says with a polite smile.

  “Deal. I believe I’ll definitely be back soon,” I say to Avery, but keep my eyes locked on Holly’s hazel ones.

  Holly rewards me with her beautiful smile. The one that causes her eyes and nose to crinkle up just a little. I don’t even hear what Avery and Brooklyn say as they walk away. I’m lost in that smile. Those eyes.

  “Let’s head back to your place,” I tell her as I open the passenger door for her.

  But before I can let her slip down into the soft leather seat, I pull her flush against me and kiss her. I didn’t want our first official kiss to be on the side of a street in broad daylight where anyone and their cousin could see, but I needed this kiss. I’ve wanted, dreamed about, and fantasized about this kiss for so long, it felt like the only thing I could do in the moment was take it.

  Her lips are warm as my slightly rougher ones caress against her. My entire body goes fucking haywire as I become alive – really alive - for the first time in forever. My hands pull her tightly against me as I devour her sweet mouth. She tastes like coke and French fries and I’ll be damned if it isn’t the biggest fucking turn on ever. This is so much more than the body’s natural need for release.

  I feel her mouth open slightly and I take the opportunity to slide my tongue inside. Her tongue lashes against mine hard and swift causing every drop of blood I possess to rush south of my waist. Holy hell, this woman kisses like a fuck
ing dream. A wet dream.

  My hands glide up her body and into her curls. Her hair smells like something sweet and clean. I tighten my hands, fingers locked within those sexy curls, as I continue to kiss her intoxicating mouth. How long do we kiss? I have no clue. But when reality finally starts to snake its way into my lust filled mind, I realize I need to pull back. Pull back or take this somewhere more private.

  “Let’s get out of here,” I say as Holly’s labored breathing fans out across my chin.

  “Okay,” she whispers, barely audible.

  I slowly pull back, but Holly’s grip on the back of my shirt keeps me from going anywhere. I give her a sly grin until she realizes she’s death gripping my shirt. Her cheeks turn the cutest shade of pink as she drops her hands and clears her throat.

  I say nothing as I turn her towards the open door and help her inside. I walk around the hood of the car and give myself that old forgotten pep talk. The one where I tell myself to slow down or I’ll scare the girl off. I haven’t had to use that talk since high school which causes me to smile like a goofball as I reach my car door.

  I’m so damn excited for our date tonight that I don’t even notice the cameras. I don’t even notice the crowd that had gathered, lurking in the distance, snapping pictures as if their life depended on it.

  I don’t notice until it’s too late.

  Chapter Eleven

  Holly

  I’m almost ready in the bedroom when there’s a knock on my door. “You about ready?” Jase says through the door.

  “Yep,” I reply as I squirt my neck with my favorite perfume. I give myself a quick once over before heading towards the closed door.

  I throw it open and am totally amazed at the man before me. Jase is every bit of the Rock God: he is in dark jeans and a crisp black button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his astonishing tattoo covered forearms. He scream pure sexy appeal. His hair is dried from his shower, but has that wild, unkempt look to it. It reminds me of sex.

  “You look amazing,” Jase says as his eyes roam from my soft curls to my black v-neck sweater and down to my skinny jeans and black kitten heeled boots.