And God only knew where the hell she was after all the excitement of the night before.
She'd run. I couldn't help but be a little pissed off at that. Not that I blamed her.
It had been quite the wakeup call.
Dad had pulled through the night. In fact, his recovery had been nothing short of miraculous. I had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with my agreement to stay and help my brothers run the estate and horse breeding farm.
That was all because of Elle. She'd changed me in the short time I'd known her. I could see a life for myself here now. A life with her.
First she'd led me on a merry chase. Then she'd challenged me, made me question my motives and desired. And finally she'd let me in.
I snorted.
Hell, she'd demanded I take her to bed.
She'd given me the most incredible night of my life. We'd made love three times in rapid succession. Each time had been more intense than the last. And just like that, poof, she was gone.
Well I wasn't going to stand for it. Not at all.
Especially not after I'd given in to my father after all these years. I'd been beside myself as the old man gasped for breath. I'd begged my father to reconsider the terms of his will.
Leave the place to them! I don't want it. but I don't want to deprive them of it either!
What do you want son?
I want peace. And I want her.
The girl they found you in bed with?
Yes.
If she's the right girl for you, she'd want you to stay put.
I had hung my head, knowing my father was right. Elle was fiery, beautiful, and incredibly talented. She was also practical and loyal to a fault. She'd tell me to stay if I asked her opinion. Besides, if I stayed put I had a better chance of hooking her for good.
Keeping her.
Alright father. You win. I'll stay.
My father had breathed easier after that. I had finally left him to rest and gone back to find an empty bed. Now I was frantic. Elle wasn't answering her phone and didn't seem to be at home.
I sighed. I had no choice now and I knew it. It was time for the last resort. I left my brothers and went to the one place I thought I'd never set foot in again.
The God Damn Country Club.
It wasn't long before I tracked down the waitress that Elle roomed with. The one whose brother was in the band with her. I just hoped that she'd tell me where Elle was without having to beg. But I was mentally preparing to get on my knees, just in case.
"Hey Shirl."
The girl gave me one look and sighed.
"She's gone."
"Where?"
"You aren't going to like it Jake."
"Doesn't matter. I have nothing left to lose."
Elle
I scooted toward the window, trying to get comfortable. The plane was being held and had been for the past two hours. Why, nobody knew. The passengers were starting to get mighty cranky about it too.
The plane from Nashville to New York City was packed and stuffy. And this was just the first leg of my epic journey. Never mind the discomfort and expense. Never mind the shame of running home with my tail tucked neatly between my legs.
All I could think about was the ache in my heart.
I'd run out on Jake. There was no nice way to put it. I'd shafted him. Even if he was the sort to toss women aside after a tumble, I should have given him a chance. He did seem awfully taken with me after all. And I knew now without a doubt that I'd lost my heart to him.
The band would go on without me-maybe even be glad to see me go now that I'd botched things with the biggest club owner in Nashville. Not that I blamed myself for his disgusting behavior. But it didn't matter who was to blame. That chapter was closed. It was too bad, but the heartbreak of it was nothing compared to what I was feeling over Mr. Blue Eyes.
I looked up to see a stewardess standing over my seat.
"Miss Gavin? Your seat has been changed."
"What? Why?"
"Please come with me now."
I stood up, grumbling to myself. I was already starting to doubt my decision to run off. And now this trip was turning into a nightmare and it had barely just begun.
Maybe my credit card had been declined and they were kicking me off the plane. That wouldn't be a shocker after everything else that had happened now would it? But maybe it would be a blessing in disguise. I could go back-try to explain...
The stewardess led me to the front of the plane. They were already preparing to taxi to the runway so they couldn't be kicking me off now could they? The door was sealed. Unless they planned to eject me mid flight.
Now that would be a proper ending to my failed trip to America.
I almost laughed at the thought of skydiving but I was too depressed. I followed the stewardess to a seat in first-class.
What the hell was I doing in first-class?
There was someone in the seat next to mine. A man wearing ripped jeans and a leather jacket. A man who was staring at me with a wry grin.
Jake Bloody Delancey.
"Please take your seat now Miss Gavin."
I stared in shock at the gorgeous man staring back at me.
"Sit down Elle."
I sat.