by Elle Viviani
He holds my eyes for a long, agonizing moment, and then releases them.
“This isn’t the place,” he says under his breath. He gives himself a shake and steps back. “I’ll be near, even if you don’t see me.”
Then he’s gone.
“You have the coolest job in the world, Miranda.”
My friend looks up from her laptop, one eyebrow arched. “Are we talking about the same job?”
I’m on my fourth gown change in what’s turning out to be one of my most memorable photo shoots. I’ve never dabbled in the bride thing before, but I will admit, it has a certain magic to it. And while I tried on gowns that women’s dreams are made of, I got to hang out with my best friend all day. A total win-win.
I toss the tasseled marigold princess cut gown over the divider and reach for the cobalt blue beauty. This was the one I had my eye on—and I may just walk out of here with if Zoe doesn’t stop me. Something tells me she won’t.
I run my fingers over the bright blue fabric, enjoying the feel of cool silk beneath my skin. “I love the idea of helping brides-to-be plan their magical day.”
Miranda snorts. “This coming from a music star.”
The door opens and in waltzes Kendra. Kendra flashes a big smile at Miranda before heading straight for me. “Need help getting into this one, darling?”
I give her a grateful look. “Love some. And you picked a winner here, Kendra.”
She winks. “I just know my girl, that’s all.”
Kendra pools the gown into a ring on the floor and waits for me to step into it. I glance back at Miranda as Kendra buttons me up. “I still think you’re like Jennifer Lopez in The Wedding Planner.”
Miranda laughs. “Uh, you know my job doesn’t entail galloping around wine country and accidentally falling in love with grooms, right?”
I poke my head out from behind the screen. “It doesn’t?”
Kendra laughs softly as she crouches down to fluff the layers.
Miranda eyes my innocent look wearily. “Oh boy. So your job is all Revlon commercials and helicopter rides and Dom Perignon in the back of a stretch limo on your way to some billionaire’s house party?”
I open and then promptly shut my mouth. “Touché.”
“We’re all done here, sweetie!” Kendra declares, standing up with a pleased wave of her hand. “You’re going to grace the cover with this one.”
Miranda walks over, beaming. “Absolutely. You shine in this one.”
Kendra is gathering up my train when her phone buzzes. She glances at the screen and frowns.
“Hmm, can you help her to set, honey?” she asks Miranda. “Apparently, one of the groom’s men has a tux emergency.”
Miranda nods. “It’s all I do all day, so don’t worry.”
“Thank you! And if you can’t handle it, just call…” But she’s already booking it to the door.
“Wow, this is a lot of silk…” Miranda mumbles, crouching down to fiddle with my train. But the moment the door shuts behind Kendra, she drops it in a heap on the floor. “Alright, spill.”
My face grows hot under her accusing look. “About what?”
“About what’s on your mind. You’ve been tugging on that lip since you walked in here, and then all this talk about my job being the best. What’s wrong?”
I think about lying, but then remember who I’m talking to. Ashers are highly adept at seeing through bullshit.
I stalk over to the chair and ease down into to. Miranda barely flinches as I crease thousands of dollars of silk. “You’ve no doubt seen the headlines.”
Miranda looks away. “Yeah…they’re kinda hard to miss. But I don’t believe any of them. Your ex-manager sounds like a piece of work.”
I give a weary laugh. “Oh, he was.”
Miranda begins to pace. “And I saw your live interview on the Ellen Show and The View yesterday. Brilliant.”
“Yeah, Zoe pulled a miracle getting me those—and six others.”
“And now you’re here, making a pretty epic homecoming by the looks of it.”
“Yeah, but it’s all based on a lie.”
Miranda pauses next to the desk. “How so?”
“Because Bryce and I are together. I lied to, well, the world.”
Her’s perfectly plucked eyebrows shoot up. “How together?”
For God’s sake—
“Bryce and I are sleeping together,” I burst out.
I jump as her hand comes down hard on the desk. “Hot damn! I never thought I’d see the day!”
My jaw drops. “You’re not surprised?”
“Oh please,” she chides, “remember who you’re talking to. You talked my damn ear off about Bryce Hill every day in high school.”
She says his name like he’s some sort of mythical creature.
“I did?” I ask with a healthy dose of skepticism.
“Believe it.” Her long eyelashes lower as she studies me. “I’m confused. Why would you lie about dating Bryce? I’d be telling everyone if I got to bed that hunky man.”
“Miranda!” I shake my head when she flashes me a cheeky grin. “That’s just it: I don’t know why I lied. I read the statement given to me by my PR agent and didn’t even think to question it. And now…” I rub my eyes, already visualizing the talking to I’m going to get from Billie when he see’s what I’ve done to his work. “Well, he’s upset. Wants to talk.”
“I bet.”
I scowl at her. “Not helping.”
Miranda shrugs. “What do you want me to say? I assume you’ve talked to him.”
“Who, Bryce?”
“No, Santa Claus.” She gives me a look. “Yes, Bryce!”
“Sorry!” My fingers leave my eyes for my temples. “I haven’t had time with all that’s happened. And honestly, he’s avoided talking about life after the tour. I’ve tried to bring it up, and he deflects. What if there is no ‘us’ after Nashville?”
Miranda laughs like I just told her I’m canceling my Netflix subscription. “Um, no. That’s ridiculous.”
“Why?”
Her blue eyes lock onto mine. “Because Bryce has been in love with you since he was five.”
I stare at her, effectively silenced.
Miranda comes to a stop in front of me. “Talk to Bryce, get answers, and stop bitching about it to me. You’re Autumn Hart, a bad-ass country music star. Do us all a favor and start acting like it.”
I slap her arm, and she answers by sticking out her tongue.
“Now get off your cute ass and stop ruining this silk,” she commands, already reaching for my train. “You’re going to go in there and knock this last shoot out of the park—just like you do everything.”
See? I told you what Miranda and I have is special.
Chapter 26
Bryce
Damn, do I need a shower.
I’m peeling off my sweat-soaked shirt even as I let myself into my hotel room, and I drop it on the carpet as the door swings shut behind me. My shorts are about to follow when a knock sounds at my door.
I turn, yank it open, and find my client on the other side.
“Are you okay?” I ask, suddenly on edge. “I thought you were doing a phone interview in your room with some radio station.”
Her fingers fiddle with the hem of her cream-colored shirt. “I did. I was.”
“That was fast.” The door pressed into the wall as I lean against it. “I’ve only just finished my run.”
Fiddling turned into tugging as Autumn runs her eyes down my naked torso. They’re cloudy by the time they find my face again. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“About—”
“Us,” she says quickly. She throws back her shoulders and steps into my room, forcing me back against the door.
Her roses scent wafts by me as she brushes past me. Maybe it’s tension in her shoulders or the determined set of her mouth or the shadow of unsaid words drifting across her eyes that sets off my alarm bells, but I know something’s
big is about to go down.
My guess is confirmed the moment she opens her beautiful mouth. “I want you to stay in Nashville after the tour. I want you to stay on as my head of security.”
The only sound that follows this statement is the door shutting behind me. For the first time in maybe forever, I don’t know how to react.
When a few seconds turns into ten, Autumn shakes her head. “I knew it would go like this,” she says, her shoulders slumping.
“Go like what?” I ask, finding my voice. I can see the pain working through her body, and I know I'm causing it by staying silent.
“The ‘what are we?’ talk that all new couples dread. If we’re even are a couple,” she adds quietly.
“Whoa, what? I thought you said all that stuff about just being friends was a lie.”
“It is.”
“Then what are you saying?”
“That…that you’re not sticking around after this tour! It kills me to think that you want to leave.”
I scowl. “I never said that.”
“But you haven’t exactly wanted to talk about it either,” she fires back. “Admit it: you’ve been avoiding this conversation since Nashville.”
I run a hand through my hair. “Yeah, okay. But only because of Jensen. It was hell watching you be with him. I wasn’t about to sign up for more of that shit.”
“But I’m not with him anymore. I’m asking you to stay on permanently.” She locks eyes with me. “Unless I’m just a job to you.”
My fists clench at my sides. “Fuck no! How can you even say that? Of course I want to stay with you, Autumn, but, hell, you just told the world that we were just friends.”
“It was all for PR. I want to be with you, but—” her voice falters “—I’m sure you want to be with me.”
“You want a show of commitment? I turned down a job because I knew I couldn’t leave you. Not again.”
Autumn sways slightly before catching herself on the bed. “You had a job offer?”
“A plush one, too. But I wanted you, so I passed it up.” I run a shaky hand over my chin, rubbing the rough stubble. “Though now I feel your dirty secret.”
Her chest heaves under my words. I meet her eyes, expecting to see tears. But instead, I only see a challenge. “Is that what you’re afraid of?”
I shrug and glance away with a shrug. “I never said I was afraid.”
Her face is calm and composed as she studies me. “Are you worried I’m ashamed of us?”
“I don’t know,” I say with growing heat.
Autumn doesn’t back down though. She takes a deep breath and asks one more question. “Do you think I’m going to walk away like before?”
My flinch betrays me.
Autumn reaches out a hand as I try to turn away. “I’m not going anywhere, Bry. Everything I’ve done, every wrong turn and dead end, somehow led me back to you. I’ve made mistakes, but that’s me. One hundred percent. And I’m gonna make more, but never about us.”
“What are you doing?” I ask as she reaches into her jeans to draws out her phone.
“Righting a wrong,” she answers, her fingers flying over the screen. She taps the screen once and looks up. A broad, open smile begins to tug back her beautiful lips.
“What did you do?” I ask, stepping toward her.
The grin widens. “All will be clear in about—” she glances at her phone “—ten seconds. Ten, nine, eight…”
My confusion mounts the closer she gets to one. I’m about to ask again when her phone starts ringing.
“Hey, Zoe,” Autumn answers calmly. “Yup, I saw it because I posted it.”
I can hear Zoe screaming on the other end. Autumn grimaces as she yanks the phone away from her ear. She taps the screen once, and suddenly Zoe’s shrill tones burst out of the speakerphone.
“Oh my God, I can’t believe it! I mean, I knew you and Bryce were a thing, like duh, but I’m so glad you’ve made it public…”
Autumn shakes her head when I try to speak.
Not happening, pal, she mouths at me.
“…and the timing?” Zoe gushes on. “Solid PR gold. Holy shit, I have so much to do. I have to draft a press release and—Autumn? Tell Bryce he’s in for a PR day tomorrow.”
Her eyes flick to mine. “Sure.”
“Thanks. And another thing—”
Autumn hangs up before Zoe gains any more momentum. We stare at each other for a long moment in the silence that follows.
“I’m confused,” I begin slowly. “It sounds like you—
“Announced that we’re officially dating on Twitter.” Autumn sets her phone on the desk before turning back to me. “And Instagram and Facebook.”
I stare at her like she’s lost her mind. “But…why? Won’t this look bad? What about Sunny Records?”
She steps toward me and lays her palm over my heart. “I don’t care anymore. I know what I want, and it’s not money or fame or a record deal. It’s you.”
She stops to draw a shaky breath. When she speaks again, her words are raw and uncertain. “Do you want me?”
One heartbeat bleeds into two, then more as her words sink in.
“Do I want you?” A growl builds in my chest as I rake my eyes over the woman shaking in front of me. “I’ve never wanted anything more in my entire life.”
I pull her face to mine and plant a shower of kisses on her upturned face. She throws her arms around my waist and leans into me. My calves hit the edge of the bed when I step back and I fall, taking her with me.
Both of us laugh our heads off as we tumble onto the bed, the heat of the moment making us giddy and carefree. But when I roll her on top of me, her full breasts bouncing on my bare chest, my chuckles fade away. Her dark eyes find mine and widen with need, and that beautiful smile fades as we crash together.
“Goddamn do I want you,” I say, threading my hand through her thick hair and bringing her face down to mine. I kiss her pouty lips, branding her with my taste and my feel. My tongue runs over her bottom lip first, then top, before I thrust it into her sweet mouth. She meets my assault with an eager one of her own, sweeping her tongue out to tangle with mine.
I grasp her hair, clenching as I tug it downward to expose her neck. I leave her lips to nip and suck at her waiting skin, my bites getting more forceful as she moans under my touch. She meets my bruising kisses with nails digging into my muscled back, and then a nip of her teeth on my bottom lip.
I draw back with a gasp. Her eyes dance with lust and fire as she locks them on me. “I can’t wait, Bry.”
I wrap my arms around her and roll her under me. “Neither can I.”
Her body writhes against me as I take her mouth again. A muffled whimper leaves her lips as my hands sweep down her chest to the hem of her shirt. In between kisses, I manage to get her top over her head and onto the floor—where it will stay.
My thick ridge surges against my briefs as I cup her breasts with my palms. She moans against my mouth as my thumbs begin to rub circles over her lace-covered nipples. Between gasps, her hands dart to my briefs and tug, sending them over my hips and down my thighs. I kick them down to my ankles before reaching for her jeans. My fingers fumble with the button while her hands run over my rippling pectorals. We’re frenzied to get to each other, leaving behind the slow undressing of yesterday for a frantic race to strip each other bare.
When her jeans follow my briefs onto the floor, the only things between me and having all of her is a pair of matching lingerie.
“You’re beautiful,” I say with a hushed reverence.
Autumn’s gaze grows heavy under my roaming eyes. “So are you.”
Her bra springs away from her breasts as I unfasten the clasp behind her back. I tear off the lace panties blocking my urgent fingers, and then grab her hips and flip her over. I love the view of her under me, spread for me to take.
“Hands and knees,” I order, running a few fingers over her folds, now swollen with arousal. I reach for my nightst
and while she plants her hands on the sheets and draws herself up on all fours. As I slide on the condom, she twists her head and locks eyes with me.
“I’m ready.”
I moan at the raw passion building in her eyes. The light in the room brightens as the moon drifts out from behind the clouds. Her strong, angular face is softened by her bow-shaped lips as they quiver with anticipation. With her dark hair spilling over her shoulders and her hips thrust against me, I’ve never seen anyone so tempting.
I enter into her with one powerful thrust, filling her with my full length. She cries out but doesn’t tear her eyes away from mine. “I love everything about you, Autumn.” I pull out and ram her again. “Everything.”
Autumn groans and wiggles her hips against me. Another deep thrust sends a flutter of ecstasy across her beautiful face. I pull back and flex my hips, giving her only the tip in quick strokes.
“You’re everything.” I savor the view of myself disappearing into her wet folds. “Everything I’ve ever wanted and more.”
Her head snaps back as she twists the sheets around her fingers. After a few more teasing strokes of my length, she shoves her hips back to me. “Harder,” she begs, taking me deeper. The low moan that leaves her lips sends the urgency of before crashing over me.
With a low, guttural growl, I roll my hips against her. Tremors rock her thighs as I ride her high, letting my tip graze the sensitive spot deep inside her. I’m worried I’m hurting her, but her sounds are pure pleasure, and when her whimpers rise to gasps, I quicken my rhythm to a frenzied pace. The intensity of the moment almost sends me hurtling over the edge, but I won’t let go until she does.
A sharp cry leaves her lips as I give her all of me in long, hard strokes. She turns her head, and I relish the raw emotions passing across her face, savoring the fact that I’m giving her what she desperately needs.
My fingers dig into her fleshy hips as I lift her higher, shifting my angle inside her. I feel the change in her body as the pitch of her cries rises. Her fingers stretch out and her eyes close. Her neck snaps back and her muscles tense. She’s there, at the peak, so I keep my rhythm and bury myself in her until she unravels under me. A few more strokes and I let go, too. I throb with that last surge before the end, and we come almost together, mine right after hers.