“Maybe it’s all he had with him.”
“If that’s the case, then I’m glad I sat on it. If I am in the presence of a rock legend, holding a can of root beer and a permanent marker, then feel free to tie my testicles to the bumper of a big wheeler and hit the gas.”
I kissed his chest. “You are the rock legend.”
He sighed. “Maybe that’s not a title I want anymore.”
I turned over and rested my arms on his chest, looking up at him. “What do you mean?”
“Lexi’s going to open a pastry shop pretty soon. Austin wanted me to play there once in a while with my acoustic. I dig that scene. Reminds me of some of the places we used to hang out in when coffee was cheap.”
“Yeah,” I said wistfully. “But you’re so good at what you do. Plus, there’s no money in that. Not to mention the customers would line up outside the door and go crazy to see you.”
He laughed quietly. “Maybe that’s what Austin’s thinking. It would draw in a crowd, and after a while, I wouldn’t be such a big deal like I am onstage. I can do low-key.”
“Is that what I am? Low-key?”
His eyes dragged down, and he shifted so that we were facing each other. “My favorite keys on the piano are the lower keys. They have the most depth and soul. Same with the guitar; the high strings are sweet, but the low ones will break your heart. Maybe it’s time I tone things down. But fair warning—I still like to party and have a good time.”
“Me too.”
“I like to hang out at the bar and get rowdy.”
“So do I.”
He licked his lips. “Sometimes I have a little weed. Not often, but I usually have a few hits when I’m partying with a crowd.”
“Does it still feel good?”
“Not so much.”
I circled my finger on his clavicle. “Then maybe it’s not a big deal if you just stop. I don’t want to see you go back to that life again.”
“Done deal.”
“No, I don’t want you to hold that against me.”
“Same old Isabelle,” he said, kissing my forehead. “I can drop the weed without blinking, but I can’t quit smoking.”
“I don’t care, sweetheart. I’m not trying to change you. But when I ask you to put a mint in your mouth, you’re going to obey.”
He rocked with laughter and grabbed my thigh, giving it a firm squeeze. “What if you took a job helping Lexi out in the new shop when they open it? She’s going to need experienced staff because she’ll be too busy working the register and making pastries. Austin talked about hiring a couple of girls.”
“She should have table service. Why be like everyone else? People like to be seated and waited on. Sometimes they don’t feel so important in their daily life, and having someone take care of them is a big deal.”
“You always had a sweet heart,” he murmured, kissing my forehead again.
“I can always spot the lonely ones. I spend more time talking to them so they feel like someone cares. It’s not just about slinging beer.”
“I know that, baby. You think I don’t respect what you do? That’s why I asked about the pastry shop. Nobody keeps a cool head in chaos better than you. It’s not about all that hip-shaking you do in the bar for tips, but damn, Isabelle. You shine, and it’s infectious. That’s the effect you had on me when we first met. You made me feel like somebody.”
“You are somebody. You always were; you just didn’t see it.”
He smoothed his hand down my arm. “That’s what I mean. You have a gift. I’ve seen you work your magic, and it blows me away. You pick out the meanest bastard in the room and make him feel like he just might have a heart.”
My lip quivered, and I turned away. “It’s not true, Jericho,” I sobbed. “You can’t say that to me.”
All the emotion I’d kept bottled about Hawk began to seep out.
“Hey, now. What’s going on? Shhh… Baby, talk to me,” he said, whispering against my shoulder.
With my back to him, I sniffled and tried to keep my voice level. “How could I have been with such a monster? What does that say about me? I can’t bring out the best in anyone, Jericho. Maybe I bring out the worst.”
He propped up on his arm and his voice darkened. “Why the hell would you say that?”
And then it came out. “Because look what I did to you!”
He turned me onto my back. “You think you’re the one responsible for me shooting up? Do you?” He sighed hard and tenderly brushed my hair away from my face. “I never had a purpose in life like my brothers did. Reno was the bounty hunter, the twins were good with numbers, and then I came along. I carried that with me my whole damn life. When the fame hit, I wasn’t ready for it. The drugs were recreational at first, but eventually I needed them.”