Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“We were only dating for a few months, but I thought things were heading somewhere,” I scoff. “I questioned not being enough in the beginning. Then I got over it. It’s his loss, just like it was hers.”
“Any man who let you go is a fool. It was his job to protect you and take care of you,” he says with so much passion in his words. “He fucked up. Now someone worthy can take his place.”
I inhale a shuddered breath. Suddenly, the air in the room feels so thick. He holds my gaze as he reaches up and removes the chain from around his neck.
“I think it’s time I let this go. It was a gift from her. A lucky charm, if you will.
“I don’t think it’s brought me any luck. It never did, if I’m being honest. The pick… she gave it to me for my first tour. So much went wrong, but we were able to laugh most of it off.
“I placed it on this chain as a reminder of those laughs. For so long, I’ve wanted to find my way back to those laughs. Now it just feels like a weight around my neck, tying me to the worst times in my life.”
“Why take it off now?” I ask as he gets quiet, with a thoughtful look on his face.
“The past is the past. If you don’t heal from it, you don’t move forward. At least not functionally.
“Four years, I haven’t written anything in four years. Not a single desire to. When I wrote that song I sang tonight, I felt the need to let go.
“Then I took a look at what was stopping me. I started to peel back the layers and I found out a few things about myself. I can’t find or have what I want if I allow the past to cling to me.
“Wearing this around my neck is holding on to all that anger, pain, and confusion. I don’t want that,” he says, his eyes locking with mine with a pleading look.
This might be getting too heavy. I pull my legs from his lap. His eyes follow their retreat.
“It’s late. I’m going to get some rest. Big day tomorrow, I’ll be getting a few interviews in with the band. You guys were great tonight, by the way,” I say as I stand.
“Did you like the song?”
“Yeah, it’s going to be a great album,” I say.
He stares at me for a moment as silence fills the room. I shift on my feet, searching for something to say. His eyes roll over me from head to toe. The heat that ignites in his gaze has warning bells going off in my head.
“Good night, babe,” he says, his voice coming out in a raw rasp. “See you in the morning.”
“Good night,” I say and rush off to my room.
CHAPTER 12
Run
Saga
I groan at the sound of my name being called. I’m not ready to get up. What time is it?
I roll onto my back and pry one eye open. Bishop is standing over me with a smile on his lips. I look him over and groan.
How does he look so sexy this early in the morning?
“What time is it?” I cover my mouth and say.
“Eight. Come for a run with me,” he replies.
Groaning again, I roll back over and snuggle into the bed. “What?” I say into the pillow.
“Come run with me,” he repeats. “You said you had to give up your gym membership. We can run together.”
“Get out.”
“Come on, baby. I need to blow off some steam,” he says.
I hear the hint of frustration in his voice, which makes me turn back over. I note the tension lines on his face. His eyes are pleading with me.
“What’s wrong?”
He blows out a breath and sits on the edge of the bed, then leans back until he’s lying across my legs. He turns his head to look at me.
“The label’s giving me shit. They love the new songs, but they want fewer ballads and more of the raw shit I’m known for,” he huffs.
“You mean more of the sexy stuff?”
“Yeah,” he says.
I swallow. “So… you’re not feeling the sexy stuff?”
His eyes drop to my breasts, then bounce back up to my eyes. That heat from last night returns. Damn, this man is fine as fuck. I’m wet from just a freaking look.
He licks his lips. “I’m feeling it. I just wanted to do something different this time around.”
“Um… I’ll be ready in twenty,” I say.
“You know what? I’m sorry. Go back to sleep. I want to get some music down,” he says with that look in his eyes.
I don’t argue. For one, I want to go back to sleep. Secondly, I know that look. He’ll be at it until he has another song complete. I can’t wait to hear what he comes up with.