The knocking came again, louder this time, along with James’s voice. “We really need to get to the meet and greet, Drew.”
She made herself smile at him. “I can’t wait to meet your family tomorrow, and to celebrate your birthday with you.” He’d given her the best week of her life. No matter what, she would make sure that he had the best birthday ever. Which meant freaking out like this was not an option. She pressed her lips to his, then said, “Go make your fans’ dreams come true. I’ll be just a step behind you, okay?”
She opened the door before he could answer and gave James her biggest smile. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to steal Drew away from his fans. If they’re mad, it’s my fault, not his.”
“No one’s mad,” James said.
But she didn’t chance a look at Drew’s face, in case it turned out that he was indeed mad at her for not happily claiming the place he wanted her take at his side—as his girlfriend.
Chapter Twenty-Five
New Orleans, Louisiana
The next morning, Ashley tried to slide carefully from beneath Drew’s arm without waking him, but she’d barely moved when his arm tightened around her.
“Don’t go.” His voice was heavy with sleep, but intense nonetheless. As if he truly never wanted to let her go.
“I just want to get your birthday present.”
With his eyes still closed, he smiled, but didn’t loosen his hold on her. “I already have the best birthday present in the world. You, here with me in bed.”
It would have been so easy just to snuggle back into him, but she knew how quickly Drew’s world moved, especially while on tour. If she didn’t give him his present now, who knew when she would get another private moment? Especially because she wasn’t sure he would want to share it with anyone else. Actually, both of his birthday gifts—the one she wanted to give him now and the one she would give him tonight when they came back to the bus after his show—were private.
She pressed a kiss to his incredibly sexy mouth, loving the way his morning stubble scratched her cheeks before she pulled away. “I’ll be right back. I promise.” She slid off the bed and out of reach before he could stop her.
All week she’d been hoping that the gift she’d had made for Drew would be delivered in time, and thankfully, Max had taken receipt of it yesterday afternoon. He’d texted her right away to let her know that it had arrived at the venue’s business office and he’d put it in her bunk. She didn’t have any wrapping paper with her, but at least it was still in the box, so Drew would have the pleasure of opening that.
Taking the small package out of her suitcase, her heart started thudding hard in her chest. She so hoped Drew would like it and that her gift would make him happy. She’d taken a risk by making it for him, but it was one she’d been compelled to take.
He was sitting up with the sheets loosely pooled around his waist when she returned to the bedroom. Even though she’d seen him naked more than once, the sight of his six-pack abs, muscular chest and arms, and smiling face was enough to make her stumble as she came through the door.
“I feel the same way, Ash. Every time I look at you.” His grin shifted from slightly wicked to very wicked as he added, “Especially when you’re walking around the bus without any clothes on.”
She felt her skin flush all over, but even though she wasn’t used to being naked in front of anyone else, the way Drew looked at her when she wasn’t wearing any clothes made that little bit of lingering shyness more than worth it.
She moved to the side of the bed and held out the gift. “Happy birthday.”
He took the present, but instead of opening the box right away, he put it down beside him and pulled her onto his lap to capture her mouth with his. He was grinning when he let her up for air, resting his hands gently, but possessively, on the curves of her hips. “Have I mentioned yet today how happy you make me?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s what you just did,” she said, her smile so big it almost hurt her cheeks. Not only was she flushed, but he’d just melted her insides, too. “You make me happy too, Drew. And I really hope you like your present.”
“I know I will. Because it came from you.”
She wiggled back enough for him to pick up the gift. She laughed when he shook it, just like a little kid trying to guess what might be inside. In the same way that he liked to build up their anticipation when they were making love, he took his time undoing the tape on the small box. She always shredded packages as she tore them apart to get to what was inside. It was exactly the way she felt with Drew—utterly desperate to have him. And powerless to control her urges.
Finally, he reached into the box and pulled out a tiny handmade wood, steel, and porcelain guitar hanging from a silver chain.