Chapter Three
“Are you insane?” Gabe sputtered into my ear. His voice had risen an octave since I had taken the phone from Brayden and informed him about the bet. I edged away from the guys to where I was practically back in the bedroom I had fled from not twenty minutes before.
Once I felt I was sufficiently out of earshot, I replied, “No, I’m perfectly sane, thank you very much.”
I was on speaker phone with all the boys again because Eli came at me next. “Look, Abster, we all know when your temper gets the better of you and when you’re doing the spoiled baby girl ‘I’m used to getting my way’ act. But this isn’t one of us you’re fighting with—this is a mega rockstar douchebag! Trust me, you don’t owe Jake Slater a damn thing. You won’t ever see him again after today, so I would advise you to get over this dumbass bet notion and get the hell off the bus! Now!”
“Why Matthew Elijah Renard, don’t tell me you’re cussing at me now? And with some of your infamous exploits with girls on and off tour how is that any different than with Jake? I mean, whatever would Mom and Dad say?” I chided into the phone.
“Don’t get sassy with me, Abigail Elizabeth!” he countered.
I exhaled noisily and leaned back against the wall. “Come on guys. A tour is a tour. This is all a learning experience, so in the end, I think this would be a good opportunity for me.”
Eli groaned. “An opportunity for what? To be degraded, ogled, and potentially seduced into one or more of their STD infested beds?”
Rolling my eyes, I replied, “No, I think it would be good to see the inner-workings of another band. And I think you’re being very unfair and judgmental about the guys.” Okay, so maybe he was right on the mark about all of them but Brayden thinking that way, but I wouldn’t give in and let Eli know that—I would never hear the end of it.
“Abby, you’re a twenty-one-year-old virgin who has no experience with men outside the two relationships you’ve had with youth group leaders who probably never got past first base with you.”
“Ha, I’ll have you know it was second with Paul!” The moment the words left my lips, I cringed. The last thing I needed was my brothers knowing my sexual past…or lack thereof.
“I think my eyes need bleaching with the mental image I just got,” Gabe moaned.
“Whatever,” I grumbled.
Eli snorted into the phone. “Regardless of what you’ve done or not done, since we are guys and have dicks, I think we know a little more about what Runaway Train is thinking about you right now, and all of them, but maybe the married one, wants to screw you!” he snapped.
I gasped at the same time I heard a smack on the other line. “Don’t talk like that in front of her,” Micah admonished. I was glad to finally hear his voice. He was the shyest of boys, the deep thinker, and the one with a tender heart and soul as deep as the ocean. “What about you, Mike?” I asked.
He sighed deeply. “While I share some of the boys’ apprehension, I also try to look at this through a greater scheme of events. You’re a bright light, Abby, and who knows the good you might do with those guys in the short time you have with Runaway Train.”
“Exactly. I mean, Mom and Dad brought us up to give people from all walks of life and circumstances a chance, right?”
Before Micah could reply, Eli laughed manically. “If you think for one minute that Dad is going to be okay with you on a bus with four hard-core rockers, you have lost your freakin’ mind.”
The mention of our father doused my confidence. Oh jeez, what had I done? He was going to kill me. Twenty-one or not, overprotective fathers never seem to fully realize that their daughters were grown adults.
At my silence, Micah said, “Don’t worry, Abby. I’ll talk to him and try to smooth things over. At the end of the day, we all know your true character. We know that you’re capable of doing this and not succumbing to temptation. Right?”
“Well, duh, of course.”
“Then I look forward to seeing you in a week.”
“Me too, Mike.”
He exhaled noisily into the phone. “But don’t think for a minute I won’t be calling in to check on you every day—maybe twice.”
I laughed. “I wouldn’t expect any less of you.”
“Love ya, Baby Girl.”
“Love you, too.” When the other guys were silent, I added, “And I love you too, Gabe and Eli even though you’re being jerkfaces!”
A deep chuckle came from Eli. “You know we love you, Abster. You’ve been a sweet pain in the ass since the moment Mom brought you home from the hospital.”
“Thanks a lot,” I grumbled.
“If one of those douchebags dares to lay even a finger on you, I’m totally forgetting the turn the other cheek message, and I’ll pound his ass, got it?” Gabe growled.
I grinned as I shook my head. “Yeah, I’ll be sure to pass on your message.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
“Okay then. I guess this is goodbye for now.”
A deep chorus of “Byes” echoed around me before I hung up the phone. Cradling it to my chest, a tremble went through me when the enormity of what I had done finally crashed over me. I had made a bet with the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train to stay on their bus for an entire week. What the hell had I been thinking? I blew out a frustrated breath. Well, no time for worrying about it now. As my mom would say, I’d made my bed, and I had to lie in it.
I moaned at the thought of bed and sleeping arrangements. I mean, where was I going to sleep? I hoped to goodness it wasn’t going to have to be with one of the guys. I gazed around the roosts, counting them in my head. There were two extra ones if one of the guys slept in the bedroom. Phew, okay, at least I wouldn’t be sharing a bed with Mr. Octopus Arms Slater.
Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself off the wall and headed back down the hallway. The guys were lounging around the table when I came back up the aisle. “Is everything okay?” Brayden asked, his expression one of deep concern.
“Um, well, as good as it can be considering my brothers think I’ve lost my mind for consenting to a bet to stay on a bus with a group of absolute strangers, not to mention they’re pretty hard-core rockers.” I forced a smile to my lips. “But besides that, I’m peachy.”
Brayden nodded. “I can understand how they feel. I have two younger sisters as well as an eight-month-old daughter.”
“Aw, can I see a picture of her?”
Happily, he dug his phone out of his pocket and handed it over to me. His screen saver was of a beautiful dark haired, dark eyed grinning baby girl as well as sandy haired little boy with blue eyes. “That’s Melody Lane. And that’s Jude Paul—he’s four.”
“Let me guess. Any chance you’re an intense Beatles fan?” I questioned with a grin.
Jake groaned beside us. “More like Bray is Beatles obsessed. He likes to think he’s Paul McCartney.”
Brayden only shook his head good-naturedly at Jake’s dig. “I do a lot of song writing just like Paul, and I’m a helluva guitar player.”
I smiled at him. “Well, I adore the Beatles too. They’re my parents’ favorite, so I was raised on them.”
“Favorite song?” Brayden asked.
“Without a doubt, Let it Be.”
He clapped his hands together gleefully. “Mine too! And so written by the fabulous Paul McCartney.”
I laughed. “Exactly.” I stared down at the picture again. “Your children are absolutely adorable, Brayden. Jude’s got future heartbreaker written all over him.”
“Yeah, he takes after my wife, and Melody, well, she’s the spitting image of me.”
“She’s already gorgeous at eight months. You’re going to be in a lot of trouble in about twelve or thirteen years.”
He grimaced. “Tell me about it. I’ll be even more over-protective with her than my sisters.”
I nodded. “I can only imagine because my dad is even crazier than my brothers. Being the baby girl isn’t easy, especially with the age difference. The twins, Gabe and Eli, are twenty-six, and Micah’s twenty-eight.”
“You must be really spoiled,” Jake noted with a self-satisfied smirk.
I shook my head at him. “Yes, but not like you’re thinking.”
“We’ll see,” he murmured before winking at me.
I eased down across from the guys in one of the Captain’s chairs. “So what’s your deal, Angel?” AJ asked.
My brows creased in confusion. “My deal?”
“Why were you at Rock Nation? Were you just checking out the scene to hang out with your brothers or what?”
I opened my mouth to answer when Jake sarcastically replied, “She’s obviously in the biz. She came with a guitar, dumbass.”
“Well, yes and no on being in the business and hanging out with my brothers. I’m supposed to be headlining with them in the fall. Well, at least with Gabe and Eli. Micah’s planning on quitting after he gets married in August.”
“Wow, headlining is a pretty big deal,” Brayden declared.
I nodded. “Tell me about it. Touring with them the last half of the summer is kinda like a pretest to see if I really want to do it. If not, the boys will just recruit someone else or go on as a duo.”
Jake snorted contemptuously at me. “You’re getting the opportunity of a lifetime tossed in your lap, and you’re not sure you want to do it?”
“It’s not that I don’t appreciate it. It’s just I’ve spent the past three years studying to be a nurse. I was just about to go through clinicals.” At his continued exasperated expression, I added, “In the long run, I think saving lives and helping people might be a little more important than entertaining.”
He quirked his pierced brow at me. “Don’t you think music saves people?”
“Well, I—”
“A certain song can mean the difference between life and death for someone who is depressed and suicidal. Music can inspire and give hope. It can show adulation and worship and praise love and people.” He gave me a pointed look. “Including God.”
I blinked several times in surprise at the passion which he delivered his words. “You’re right. Music is life-altering and changing.”
Jake motioned toward my guitar case. “So play us something.”
“Seriously?” I asked, glancing from Jake to other guys.
AJ grinned. “Si, mi amor.”
I rolled my eyes. “Enough with the Spanish.”
“But I told you how much it turns me on to hear it coming from your lips.”
With a wry smile, I replied, “But I’m not interested in turning you on.”
A chorus of “Ooohs” rang through the cabin from Jake and Rhys to which AJ only shook his head. “Burn man,” Rhys teased with a grin.
“Okay, I think now is as good a time as ever to set up a few ground rules for our bet,” I said.
“You’re not p-ssying out, are you?” Jake asked.
I wrinkled my nose. “Ew, I hate that word.” When he started to repeat it, I jabbed a finger in his direction. “I will stay on this bus a week and win the bet, but there are going to be a few rules, or I guess I should say some courtesies that I expect you guys to follow.”
“I agree with Abby,” Brayden said.
“You would,” Jake grumbled.
“First, you need to respect me and my boundaries. At the moment, I’m not on here to be any of your playthings or hook-ups, so I would appreciate it if you stopped hitting on me.”
AJ’s jovial expression faded. “You mean you don’t think I’m hot?”
Since he appeared almost wounded, I had to rethink my strategy. “AJ, you’re a very good-looking guy. I can already tell you have a big heart and a wonderful sense of humor. Any girl would be blind not to want you.” When he beamed and puffed out his chest at the other guys, I held up my hand. “But I think we both know at the end of the day, you’re not looking for a relationship with me, right? You’re just looking to get into my panties.”
A strangled noise came from the back of his throat at the mention of my underwear. “Yeah, I am,” he finally admitted with a sheepish grin.
I returned his smile as my gaze swept over Jake and Rhys. “So as I was saying, I would appreciate if you would show me some respect by not hitting on me as well as at least trying to tone down some of the language and sexual innuendos. Somewhere deep inside you have the potential to be gentlemen, and you’re just waiting to treat women as more than just desirable play things, right?”
With a smirk, Jake countered, “I don’t know about that.”
“Oh, if your mother was on this bus, you would act the same way you are now?”
He scowled. “No, I wouldn’t.”
“Good. Then we all agree that you’ll try to treat me like a gentleman. Anything you’d like to request from me?”
Jake stepped forward to where he was looming over me, and I had to fight the urge not to cower away from him. “If we’re going to act like gentlemen, then you also need to make sure your wardrobe isn’t…tempting.”
I peered down at my sundress. Since it came below my knees and I often wore it to church, I found his request shocking. “There’s something wrong with this?”
When I glanced up at him, Jake’s hungry gaze had honed in on my cleavage. I cleared my throat to which he replied, “You’re showing way too much skin with the thin straps and the legs, so I’d suggest jeans and t-shirts from now on—the baggier the better.”
“Fine. I’ll be happy to oblige,” I replied.
“And that goes for the sleepwear too. No camis with those booty short things.”
I chewed my lip when I thought of what pajamas I had in my suitcase. “Um, okay. I can try. But I might have to make a stop at Wal-Mart or Target before tonight to get some pajamas and shirts.
Jake’s face spread into a grin. “I’m glad to hear you’re willing to work with us. After all, what good can come out of getting a bunch of horny males all riled up?”
He licked his lips lasciviously, and I gritted my teeth before replying, “Absolutely nothing.”
“Good.” Jake then turned and brought my guitar case to me. “Now please regale us all with your vocal stylings.”
“I’d be happy to.” I leaned over and popped open the locks on my case. When I pulled out my guitar, Jake stared at it in surprise. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing. It’s just I expected—”
“I’ll have you know this is a Gibson Hummingbird that cost three grand! I worked my ass off to pay for it!”
He grinned. “Angel, it’s a helluva guitar. And what I was about to say before you interrupted me was I just expected it to be all glittery like Taylor Swift’s.”
Plucking out my pick, I waved it at him and winked. He eyed the shimmering purple before throwing his head back and laughing heartily. “Oh Angel, I’m so glad to see that. You don’t disappoint.”
Once I adjusted the guitar on my lap, I cocked my head at the guys. “Hmm, so what do you want me to play?”
“Give us what you did for the record execs. You obviously wowed them if they were going to let an unknown headline a tour,” Rhys suggested.
I nodded. “Okay, I played a guitar, rather than piano, version of Adele’s Someone Like You.
Jake’s brows shot up in surprise. “Adele?”
From his tone, I could tell he thought there was no way in hell I had a voice that would come anywhere near hers. I pursed my lips. “Yeah, Adele,” I countered.
He crossed his arms over his chest and continued giving me a skeptical look. “All right then. Wow us, Angel.”
I rolled my eyes before clearing my throat and strumming a few warm-up chords. Then I started the opening melody of the song. “I heard that you're settled down…” I wanted to impress the guys, but I really wanted to knock it out of the park to put Jake’s smirking ass in his place. So I did the only thing I knew how to do when it came to performing—I tuned them out. It was about me, the guitar, the music, and the melody. As my voice echoed through the close quarters of the cabin, I closed my eyes, living and breathing the lyrics. I poured my soul into reaching the high and low notes while my fingers picked the familiar chords.
When I finished the chorus, my eyes popped open, and I stopped singing. I continue strumming the chords as I gazed around at the guys. I couldn’t help but laugh at their expressions. “So?” I prompted.
AJ grinned. “Tu cantas como un angel.”
I snorted. “I sing like an angel, huh? I guess that’s a good description since you guys keep calling me that.”
When I glanced at Rhys, he was shaking his head. “Damn, girl, no wonder you blew the execs away. You’re like a mini-Adele.”
Warmth flooded my cheeks. “Really?”
“Hell yeah! Tinier and prettier though.” Rhys thumped my back heartily like he would one of the guys. A little too hard because it caused me to yelp. His eyes widened. “Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot you’re so dainty.”
I laughed. “I’m not that fragile, but I’m not one of you guys either.”
Next I looked to Brayden who wore an expression of genuine admiration. “That was absolutely amazing. Not only do you have a powerhouse voice, but the emotion you put into it…” He closed his eyes for a moment. “Just inspiring.”
Unable to keep a beaming smile off my face, I gushed, “Aw, thank you.”
Finally, I dared myself to look at Jake. He was leaned back against the kitchen counter, arms crossed over his chest. “So?” I finally asked.
His signature smirk curved on his lips. “After those glowing reviews, you really give a shit about what I have to say?”
“Of course I do. After all, you’re the lead singer of Runaway Train.”
“Uh, Bray and I sing too,” AJ countered.
I laughed. “Whatever.”
Jake rubbed his hand along his chin. “Ever had voice lessons?”
My brows furrowed. “When my brothers made it on to the scene, my parents let me have some training. Before then, we really couldn’t afford it. Occasionally, some people from the ministry would work with us.”
He bobbed his head. “Just as I expected.”
“What?”
“True God-given talent,” he replied, with a wink.
His response stunned me, and I just sat there, guitar still on my lap, staring at him. He pushed himself away from the counter and came over to me. “There are people who can spend thousands of dollars on voice lessons and never, ever exude one tiny ounce of the talent you just did on a stinky bus rolling down the interstate.”
“Thank you,” I squeaked.
“I think you could give Adele a run for her money any day.”
A nervous laugh escaped my lips. “Uh, well, I don’t know about that.”
Jake squatted down in front of me, and I tried ignoring how my body hummed in response to his closeness. I had never, ever experienced anything like it before in my life. It was like every molecule in my body came alive, and the closer he was to me the more I tingled. Whoa. How could I possibly be having a reaction to him? He was an egomaniac jerk!
His gaze went to my guitar. “So you play some ballads. Can you do anything else?”
Pursing my lips at his challenge, I started strumming the opening to AC/DC’s Highway to Hell. Jake instantly busted out laughing. “Damn, Angel, just when I start to underestimate you, you go and prove me wrong.”
Still playing, I teased, “And here I underestimated that you could ever admit when you were wrong about something.”
“I normally don’t. But I have a feeling I’m going to make an exception for you in a lot of areas.” At his wicked grin, I knew exactly what he was meant.
“Dream on,” I muttered.
“Fantasizing is healthy, you know. Maybe you should try it more.”
Closing my eyes, I kept playing Highway to Hell. I licked my lips. “Hmm, yeah, you’re right. Fantasizing is nice.”
“Whatcha thinkin’ about, Angel?” Jake asked, his breath hovering close to my cheek. “Or should I say who ya thinkin’ about?”
“You,” I whispered. My eyes popped open to take in his surprised expression.
“Seriously?”
“Mmm-hmm,” I replied a little breathlessly for emphasis. He cocked his eyebrows expectantly. “I’m fantasizing about what it would be like to nail you in the balls again for being such an egotistical jerkwad!”
Laughter echoed around me from the other guys while Jake only shook his head. With a smirk, he replied, “Admit it though. You were still thinking about my balls.”
“You’re impossible.”
Before Jake could give me another witty comeback, my stomach rumbled so loud that it practically echoed throughout the room. Jake’s expression became concerned as his gaze honed in on my abdomen. “Why didn’t you tell us you were so hungry?”
An embarrassed giggle escaped my lips. “There’s kinda been too much going on to pay much attention to my stomach.”
“You like omelets?” he asked as he rose to his feet.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Then one omelet coming up.”
“Um, thank you.” My jaw gaped open as I watched Jake head to the kitchen and take out the necessary supplies to make me a late breakfast. I gently put my guitar back in its case.
“You guys want one?” he asked over his shoulder as he began whisking the eggs.
“Nah, I think I’ll eat that leftover pizza,” AJ replied, sidestepping him to the fridge.
Rhys wrinkled his nose. “You’re disgusting.” He nodded at Jake. “I’ll take one.”
“Bray?” Jake asked.
“Nah, I’ll fix a sandwich when I come back out. It’s almost time for my Skype chat with Lily.”
When he started for the bedroom, Jake snorted. “Don’t be doing anything raunchy with Lily now that Angel is on the bus.”
Brayden whirled around to shoot Jake a death glare. “You know good and well that Jude and Melody are always there for my calls, you jackass!”
With a chuckle, Jake went back to working on his culinary masterpieces while Brayden slammed the bedroom door shut. AJ came over to the table with a Dominos box and began shoveling in several cold slices of pepperoni pizza.
“Are you even chewing that?” I asked.
He winked at me and replied, “I got a big appetite, Angel.”
I wagged my finger at him. “Manners, remember?”
Not taking his eyes from mine, he picked a napkin from the table and daintily wiped the corners of his mouth.
I grinned. “It’s not the dirty outside I’m concerned about, perv.”
AJ threw his head back and roared. “Damn, Abby, I sure am stoked about having you on the bus with us. You’re going to be fun as hell.”
“I hope so. I wouldn’t want to be a nag.” At the mischievous tinkle in his dark eyes, I shook my head. “Don’t even go there.”
“What do you mean?”
“Don’t say some cheesy thing like ‘Ooh baby, you can nag me all night long—two or three times!’”
AJ’s dark eyes widened as his slice of pizza dropped onto the table. “Okay, it’s really creepy how you can read my mind, but then again…f*ck! It’s so hot that you can think like a dude!”
I laughed. “Older brothers, remember?”
A wide grin spread on his face. “Remind me to thank them someday for raising you right, Angel.”
Rhys raked his hand through his unkempt hair. “Speaking of your brothers, I caught part of their show. They’re not bad.”
“Not bad?” I huffed indignantly.
Pink tinged his cheeks. “Well, you know what I meant…for light rockers.”
AJ bobbed his head. “Yeah, when they were introduced, I kinda expected some Jonas Brothers shit. But they’re actually hardcore for Christian rockers.”
Leaning my elbows on the table, I eyed AJ and Rhys. “My brothers are fantastic musicians! I mean, can you two play multiple instruments?”
“Well, no—” Rhys began.
I smirked at them before crossing my arms over my chest. “Although he’s probably the least musically inclined, Gabe is one hell of a drummer, and he can write a song like nobody’s business. Micah can play the guitar, bass, banjo, dulcimer, and piano, not to mention he has an amazing voice for harmonizing. And Eli—he plays the bass and the fiddle and sings too. Along with Gabe, they’ve been writing their own songs and composing their own music since they were ten.”
Rhys held his hands up in defeat. “I stand corrected, Angel. Your brothers are complete and total badasses!”
Jake flipped an omelet onto a plate and added, “And their sister is pretty hardcore too.”
I laughed. “Thank you—for all your compliments about the general badassery of my family’s DNA.”
After winking at me, Jake then shuffled over to the fridge and pulled out a carton of orange juice. “I’d really rather have a Coke Zero if you have it.”
He ignored me as he poured two large glasses before handing me one. “OJ is better for you.”
Rhys shook his head. “Says the dude who has beer with his breakfast most days.”
“Shut up, douchebag.” Eyeing me, he then said, “You did pass out about thirty minutes ago from low blood sugar, remember?”
“You’re right.” I took a long swig of my orange juice, and I had to admit it was good. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Angel.”
I huffed out a frustrated breath. “Why do you all insist on calling me that?”
Jake motioned to my dress. “For one, you’re all decked out in white.”
“But it’s just a sundress.”
Balancing three plates, Jake then came over to the table and set down our omelets. “Second, you appeared out of nowhere like a fallen angel from the sky.”
“How poetic,” I snipped.
AJ grinned. “Not to mention, you’re a 180 from the girls who are usually on this bus.”
“Definitely,” Jake replied. Tilting his head, he pinned me with his stare. “And then you’ve got the most beautiful aura of light about you—pure and exquisite.”
I almost choked on my orange juice at the sincerity of his words. “Really?”
“Yeah, you do.” After plopping down across from me, Jake added, “And finally, you felt like absolute heaven pressed up against me in bed.”
And just like that, the perfect moment was shattered. “Please,” I muttered, grabbing my fork. When I bit into the omelet, I closed my eyes from the ecstasy my stomach experienced. “Wow, this is really good.”
“I’m good at a lot of things besides singing and playing the guitar,” Jake replied.
I popped one eye open to peer at him. “There’s some more lovely innuendo in there for me, isn’t there?”
Jake grinned as he took my glass to get me more orange juice. “Nope, I’m being a good boy.”
“I doubt that seriously.”
The table fell into silence as we all gobbled up our food. Brayden came out of the bedroom with a smile from ear to ear. “I guess by your expression your call went well?” I asked.
He beamed. “Melody said ‘dada’ today and blew kisses at me. She’s never done that before.”
“Aw, that’s sweet,” I replied.
Brayden’s expression darkened. “I just hate that it’s going to be two more weeks until I get to see them. Jude gets bigger and bigger every time I see him.”
“Maybe you should think about bringing them along on the tour again,” Jake suggested.
I stared at him in amazement. “You like kids?”
He gave me his signature smirk. “Of course I do. I especially like Jude and Melody. I also like having Lily around because she cooks for us and cleans.”
Brayden threw a napkin at Jake, hitting him in the face. “My wife is not your glorified cook and maid, douchebag.”
“I know that, twatwaffle. But more than anything, I like how having her around puts you in a good mood. When you got your kids around you and you’re getting laid often, shit just runs smoother for all of us.”
Clenching his jaw, Brayden slammed the refrigerator door. “Somewhere in that statement was something decent and redeeming, but like always you had to trample all over it,” he grumbled, bringing his food over to the table.
Raising my arms over my head, I yawned. “Tired of us already, Angel?” Jake asked with an amused grin.
“No, it’s just I didn’t sleep much last night. Nerves and all. Then I had to get up at the asscrack of dawn to get to the airport for my early flight.”
With his expression waxing concern, Brayden leaned forward in his chair. “Why don’t you go lie down for a while?”
I glanced around at the guys. “You wouldn’t mind?”
AJ shook his head. “Nah, we’re probably going to crash again ourselves. We had a week straight of gigs before Rock Nation, so our asses are dragging.”
“Oh, okay.”
Sweeping his hand to his chest, Jake said gallantly, “And I’ll even let you have the bedroom.”
“That’s awfully sweet of you, but I can always take one of the roosts.”
With a twinkle in his eye, Jake replied, “I insist.”
“Thank you then.”
When I rose out of my seat, he followed suit. Taking my suitcase, Jake rolled it down the aisle to the bedroom. I glanced back at the guys to see their open-mouthed, wide-eyed expressions of disbelief. Putting one foot in front of the other, I trailed behind him. Once Jake wheeled my suitcase inside, he turned around. “All yours, Angel. We’ll make sure to wake you for dinner. We’ll probably stop a little earlier than normal because those omelets won’t sustain us for long, and we’re almost out of groceries.”
“Oh, okay, thanks.”
Jake didn’t move out of the doorway, so I had to squeeze past him. Our bodies meshed together, and I fought the familiar tingle that prickled over my skin at being so close to him. It was a feeling I wasn’t used to experiencing with anyone. Once I was inside, I turned back to him. “It’s very sweet of you to give me the bedroom. The privacy is nice.”
He inched closer to me. “Well, just to forewarn you the lock is busted. So if you need me to watch the door while you change into something a little more comfortable, I’d be happy to. You know, so the guys don’t get a peek at your goods.”
“How sweet of you,” I noted as I moved in front of him. Bringing my hand to his chest, I gave him a hard shove, sending him flying out into the hallway. “I’ll make sure to put my luggage in front of the door just in case.” With a sickeningly, sweet smile, I added, “And thanks again for being so thoughtful when it comes to my goods.”
Behind Jake, the guys hooted with laughter. Instead of anger, amusement twinkled in his sky blue eyes. He wagged his finger at me. “I’ll get to you sometime, Angel. I’ll break down all those goody girl walls you have built around you.”
“We’ll just have to wait and see then.” With that, I slammed the door in his face.
The RV shuddering to a halt jolted me awake. My eye-lids fluttered open. As I took in my darkened surroundings, panic crept over me. Wait, where the hell was I? Gazing around the blackened room, I tried getting my bearings. “Ugh,” I muttered when all the events of the day raced through my mind.
When the lamp on the bedside table came on, I jumped out of my skin. Jake perched on the side of the bed, practically on top of me. “W-What the hell are you doing?” I cried, jerking the sheet against me.
He rolled his eyes. “Don’t get your panties in a twist, Angel. I’m not here for a repeat performance of this morning.” With a wave of a shoe, he added, “I’m sorry to have disrupted your beauty sleep, but all my shit’s in here.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I murmured.
“Besides that, we’re stopping for dinner, so I figured I’d better wake you up.”
“Thanks.”
He cocked his pierced brow at me. “Did you know that you snore?”
My eyes widened in horror. “I do not!”
“Yeah, you do.”
Covering my mouth, I muttered, “Oh God, I do?”
Jake grinned as he bobbed his head. “It’s kinda cute though. Nothing like the loud-as-f*ck snores me and the guys do.”
“How mortifying.”
“You embarrass too easily, Angel. How are you going to make it a week with us if a little snoring gets you so riled up?”
“I’ll be just fine thank you.”
AJ peeked his head in. “Hey, I need to get my stuff.”
“Go right ahead.” I threw the sheet back. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get my things and go to the bathroom so I can get dressed for dinner.”
Jake opened his arms wide before collapsing onto his back on the bed. “Be my guest.”
When he didn’t move, I grunted in frustration. Just as I started to climb over Jake, AJ flung the closet door open to get out his clothes. Since we were in such close quarters with the bus’s bedroom, I couldn’t move. To my utter horror, I’d gotten stuck straddling Jake.
When I caught his eye, he grinned and winked at me. My face flushed. “AJ, would you hurry up with the freakin’ door!” I snapped.
He peeked around the side and snorted back his laughter. “Whoops, my bad.”
I sighed with exasperation. “Any day now, AJ!” The moment I said it, I knew he’d take his own sweet ass time—anything to keep me in the precarious situation of riding Jake.
“You don’t have to go, Angel. I’m sure this could be a win-win situation for both of us,” Jake teased.
I stared at him for a moment before flopping back on the other side of the bed. I shook my head at him. “Why do you have to do that?”
“Do what?”
“Act like a constant manwhore who only sees women as sex objects.”
Jake arched an eyebrow at me. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I just objectify you?”
“Yes,” I hissed before narrowing my eyes at him. “Is it too much to ask that we carry on a civil conversation without you always having to make everything between us about getting off?”
Jake’s brows creased. “And there’s something wrong with that?”
“For me there is.” I gave him a pointed stare. “And for our bet.”
He turned over on his side to where we were face to face. “I’m not losing this bet, Angel.”
“Then start playing by the rules.” With the sweetest smile I could muster, I then batted my eyelashes at him. “Or I’m going to start walking around here in my underwear.”
His mouth gaped open. “You wouldn’t dare!”
“Try me, big boy. Sporting my bra and panties is basically a bikini, so why not?”
Staring at me dumbfounded, Jake drew in a ragged breath. “I’m never going to intimidate you, am I?”
I shrugged. “Nope.”
“Damn. I don’t know how the hell to take you, Angel.”
“Why do you have to ‘take me’ period? Can’t you just talk to me like you would any girl?”
With a sneer, he replied, “If I do that, it won’t help us.”
I propped my head on my elbow. “When was the last time you actually had a conversation with a female, besides your mother, that didn’t involve dirty talk?”
“Hell if I know,” he replied.
“I thought as much.”
“Wait a sec…” He snapped his fingers. “Actually, it was Tuesday. I talked to my baby sister on the phone.”
My eyebrows shot up in surprise. “You have a sister?”
“Well, she’s my half-sister. My dad and step-mom each had a kid when they got married. Then they had Allison. She’s fifteen and spoiled rotten.”
I smiled at the sincerity in his voice when he talked about his sister. “I bet she idolizes her big brother.”
Flipping on his back, Jake slid his hands under his head and grinned. “Yeah, she does. I mean, she’s always thought I was pretty cool, but even more since I hit it big.” His expression slowly darkened. “Some shitheads give her grief about it—like trying to be her friend just to see what they can get from her. I hate that.”
“Poor thing. It must be hard sometimes having a famous brother.”
Jake frowned at me. “I try making it up to her all the time by giving her shit.”
I laughed. “Thus why she’s the spoiled baby sister?”
“I guess. Hell, the guys and I are even playing her Sweet Sixteen in a few weeks.”
“Aw, that’s so sweet of you.” I nudged him playfully. “Who knew there was a good guy buried deep, deep down inside.”
AJ closed the closet door. “Okay, done.”
“Finally,” Jake muttered as he got off the bed.
Gesturing to his jeans and polo shirt, AJ said, “Hey, give me some credit. It’s not easy changing behind a closet door to protect Miss Innocent Eyes over there.”
I laughed as I rose up to a sitting position. “One minute you’re trying to get me to see you naked and the next you’re protecting me.”
AJ winked at me. “Just know I would do anything, and I do mean anything for you, mi amor.”
I grabbed my dress and cowboy boots off the dresser. “Thanks so much.”
***