I smiled and closed my eyes, ready to drift off to sleep.
That's when he rolled on top of me again.
"Good. Because I plan to make up for lost time."
My eyes opened in shock. Jake was above me, smirking like the devil himself. The bastard was already hard again.
I was half asleep hours later when the door burst open. Jackson and Daniel stood there. Daniel turned immediately to face the wall when he saw me. Jackson did not. His contemptuous gaze raked over the two of us lying together in bed.
"What the hell Jackson!"
"Typical."
"It's 4 am, get the hell out of my room!"
"Dad's on his death bed and you're-"
"What? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Jackson laughed bitterly.
"Check your damn phone once in a while."
Daniel put his hand on Jackson's shoulder.
"Come on Jackson. He didn't know."
"Just like he didn't know about mom right?"
Jake was on his feet in an instant, completely unconcerned about his nudity. I didn't know where to look, but it was hard not to stare at his ass. Even under the circumstances.
I closed my eyes and sat up, wrapping the blanket around myself.
"You know I couldn't get back here in time."
"Of course. It wasn't your fault. It's never your fault!"
Jake laughed.
"That's a good one. We both know that it's always my fault. Even when it's not."
He slipped a robe on and pressed a kiss to my forehead. I wanted nothing more than to sink into the bed and hide. My whole body was red with embarrassment.
"I'll be back soon. Rest."
Jake stormed out without another word with Jackson close on his heels.
Daniel stopped at the doorway and turned back to me.
"Sorry about this Elle."
I nodded.
"I'm sorry-about your father."
He smiled sadly and left. I was on my feet in an instant. I couldn't stay here. Clearly I'd made a huge mistake. But I'd been so shaken up last night. Everything that happened with Tom after the gig had clearly compromised my judgement.
Oh hell, don't lie to yourself girl.
I sat down abruptly as I finally admitted that I had wanted him from the get go. But that was then. Now I'd had him. He'd been worth the wait and all the bother. But I couldn't stay, no matter how badly I wanted to.
Not after this.
Maybe if they hadn't found out this way-but no. Jake wasn't a one woman man anyway. Was I supposed to stay on as maid and just watch him parade an endless stream of girls through the house? It was inevitable that he would move on, and quickly.
No, thank you.
It was over and that was that.
Just like my friends back home had warned me, Nashville had eaten me up and spit me out. I was just a simple country girl after all. Stupid and naive. I'd proven that by falling into bed with the first rich handsome man I met.
What a stereotype.
It wasn't just that either. I just didn't fit in here. I felt a little hitch in my throat as I started putting my clothes on mechanically.
In a moment of weakness I couldn't resist pulling Jake's shirt on over my skimpy top. It would be something to remember him by. For a moment I had an image of Jake finding his bed empty. Worrying about me. Missing me.
I snorted in disbelief.
Don't fool yourself girl. Any more than you already have.
Jake might be a tad upset in the morning but he'd be fine in two shakes. He was the sort who always landed on his feet. He wasn't going to let a waitress change his bad boy ways.
And even if he was genuinely upset that I'd left without saying goodbye, that wouldn't last long either. He could have any woman he wanted to comfort him. Now that he'd had me I was sure he would have cast me off without a backward glance. That's how men like him operated. Especially the rich ones.
I ignored the little voice that was in my head, telling me I was wrong, that Jake cared. I pushed it down until I couldn't hear it anymore. I was starting over, from scratch.
Or rather, running home with my tail between my legs.
Leaving Nashville for good.
Now that the band was on the outs with Tom... there really wasn't anything left for me here. It felt like it was all my fault somehow. Every last stupid thing that had gone wrong was on me.
I wiped away my tears and snuck down to the front hall to call a cab.
It was time to go home.
Chapter Ten
Jake
I paced back and forth as I raked my brothers over the coals.
"You're sure she didn't say anything else?"
Daniel shook his head sadly.
"No Jake. I swear. She did look mortified though."
"You shouldn't be sleeping with the help anyway."
"She wasn't the Goddamn help Jackson!"
"Jacks-shut up. Can't you see he's in love with her?"
Jackson grunted and ran his hand through his hair.
"I'm sorry."
I didn't want to accept my brother's apology. I didn't even want to think about what Elle must have been thinking when she ran off. But what Daniel had said was true.
I was in love with her.
I was 100% grade A certified in love with one little Irish gal named Eleanor Gavin.