She was completely still and then a slow nod of her head.
“Good.” I lifted her chin toward me, so tempted to kiss those plump lips. I dropped my hand before temptation gave in to surrender and slowly closed her car door, counting my steps to the driver’s side, waiting for my lust to cool and my anger to abate, because what the hell?
She was quiet when we got on the road toward the main route out of town. That brought us right by the boardwalk, and it was already getting dark, which meant lots of kids were out getting ready for bonfires.
She let out a sigh and then pointed. “I’d always wondered what all the fuss was about. I mean, it’s a campfire, but it looks fun. I just never got the chance to do it.”
I nearly slammed on my brakes.
Instead, I pulled over and put the car in park. “You’ve never done a campout?”
“No?” She scrunched up her nose. “I mean, my friends in school did, but I was pregnant by then and responsibilities and…” Her voice trailed off.
“If you had the chance to stay at a ritzy hotel and go to the spa versus a chance to do a fun campout with junk food, a sexy rockstar, and nothing but the stars, ocean, and said rockstar’s guitar, what would you pick?” I gave a nonchalant shrug. “Asking for a friend…”
Her lips pressed together in a smile, and then she laughed to herself. “Ah, do I know this friend?”
“He’s devastatingly handsome.”
“And talented?”
“Oh, yeah.”
“Huh, doesn’t ring a bell.”
I smirked. “Pity.”
“Isn’t it, though?”
“Answer the question, Bronte,” I urged softly.
She squirmed a bit in her seat then stared at the beach. “I’d probably want the campout, especially since this rockstar’s so talented and hot. Maybe he’ll show up.”
“He just might.” I wasn’t even mad that I was about to cancel my plans, but that did mean I needed to improvise. Thankfully, I always kept a blanket in the back, and all the stores on the boardwalk carried everything I needed for the perfect bonfire. “All right, change of plans. We need to go shopping first, and then we get to take turns digging a small hole for the fire.”
“Wait, why do we have to take turns?” She laughed.
“Do you see these hands?” I held out my hands to her. “Insured for ten million.”
She gasped. “What!? That’s insane!”
“I know. I lied. I just wanted to see your face.” Laughter erupted from deep in my chest, and it felt so insanely good to just let go. “And the real reason we both take turns— you know, other than teaching you teamwork—”
She snorted.
“—is because a little workout before a campout helps get your blood flowing.”
Her green eyes narrowed. “And I need that, why?”
I let my eyes rake her over before answering. “You’ll see. Hurry up! We’ve got places to be!”
Her giggle made my night as we walked toward the closest store, and when I grabbed her hand…
She squeezed mine right back.
And didn’t let go.
CHAPTER 6
Bronte
His personality was so dang addicting that it was hard to even have a normal conversation without my heart beating out of my chest or laughter bubbling out of my mouth.
“All right, let’s split up!” He turned me toward the food aisles and handed me a basket. “Go grab the chocolate, grahams, marshmallows, and any other food you want, and Bronte?”
I looked into his blue eyes.
“I like to eat.”
A shiver ran down my spine. Why did that feel like a double entendre?
“Tell me your favorites, and I’ll grab them.” My voice cracked. Great, he can read me like a book, can’t he?
The corners of his luscious mouth lifted into a smile. Damn, this man was breathtakingly beautiful, like a fallen angel with too much charisma and the inability to stop talking for more than three seconds. “You on the menu?”
“Cute, but no.” I waited for any more instructions.
“Well, we’re doing a campfire…” He rebounded fast. “…so why don’t you grab some hotdogs and buns, and we’ll roast those. I’ll go grab some sticks, matches, wood…” He gave my hair a playful tug. “…you know, man things.”
I rolled my eyes. “All right, tough guy, meet back here in ten?”
“Done.” He was already turning around, ready to go do some “man” hunting.
I would never admit it out loud, but I needed that little respite to just breathe and try to focus on something other than all the things that encompassed Drew.
He was magnetic in a way that was hard to even explain, and yet, certain times, he seemed to almost go to another place, only to come back with something quick-witted — a joke, or a flirtatious smile. I’d noticed it the few times I’d interacted with him, but now that I’d had more time with him, I really saw it.
He did a good job hiding it from the world.
And part of me wished he wouldn’t hide it from me.
I didn’t need his words, his flirtations. I would take his silence any day, I would take him just existing, not performing or trying to impress, not that he was trying to do that with me, but just at times when he felt terrified that if he stopped…
Everything would crash.
I shook my head and went over to the bread, grabbed a package of hotdog buns, then went down the next aisle to grab supplies for s’mores.
I figured we only needed one package of hot dogs and decided just to get ketchup, mustard, and relish.
By the time I was finished tossing in a few random items, Drew was already back at our spot on his phone.
I was about to tap him on the shoulder when I saw his shoulders tense. “I don’t care what you need,” he hissed. “I’m busy writing the album. I don’t have time to come back to LA, and even if I did, why the hell would
