Girl in Love(25)

Kylie raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Talk.”

“Here? You don’t want to go get some dinner or something?”

She snorted. “No, thanks. Steven took me out for a late breakfast and I’m not hungry.”

Shit. That did not feel good to hear. It felt as if she’d socked him as hard as she could right in the chest. He lowered himself onto the couch and looked up at her. The lights surrounded her, making her look like a vision he was having. His hands twitched, aching to reach out and touch her. It was an urge more intense than the need to drink had ever been. And she was even more off-limits.

“Thanks for performing at the benefit. I appreciated that.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, but she seemed to shake off her reaction before she spoke. “You’re welcome. Is that what you came to the ‘neighborhood’ to tell me?”

“No. I came because…” Because I love you. I miss you. I need you and I can’t stand having to be on the same planet as you if I can’t have you. The words stuck in his throat. What he actually said was, “Because the label has some ideas for us. They’re pushing hard and I wanted you to hear it from me, wanted you to know it wasn’t my idea.”

Her brows dipped downward and she took another drink before responding. “What wasn’t your idea? The tour?”

“So you know then?”

She wiped a drop of water from her perfect mouth and then glared at him. “Yeah, I know. I’m not the same girl I was...before. I’m not all wide-eyed and excited about the opportunity to tour with Trace Corbin.”

The way she said his name, with false enthusiasm, made his stomach churn.

“All right. Well, I didn’t figure you’d be too thrilled. Gotta say, I’m not sure why the hostility is directed at me though. I just told you it wasn’t my idea.”

Her glare intensified before she finally looked away. “I knew this was coming when they asked me to do the benefit. It was pretty obvious that you didn’t want me there.”

Trace opened his mouth to tell her that wasn’t exactly how it was, but she rushed on before he could.

“Chaz and I kind of talked it out. In a way, it makes sense. The media thinks there’s something going on between us—or that there was—and you can’t turn the radio on without hearing that damn song. We’d probably sell out every venue.”

“There’s a but coming.” He could see it on her face, in her stance.

She nodded slowly. “Yeah. There is.” Her eyes met his, only for a moment, but long enough for him to see that she could hardly believe he’d had the nerve to ask. “Just because it might be the right move for our careers doesn’t mean I want to take a tour down memory lane. I’d rather be bound and gagged and dragged naked through town than share a bus with you. Again.”

If it didn’t hurt so much to hear, he might’ve laughed. He barely resisted the urge to tell her that if she said yes, he’d be happy to get her naked and tie her up. But as hard as she was trying to stonewall him, he could see the hint of pain flashing in her beautiful eyes, tugging at the corners of her perfect mouth.

“Say no more. Message received. Well, that’s that then.” He rubbed his sweaty palms on his jeans and stood to leave, but there was one more thing he had to say. “For the record, I didn’t come here to talk you into it. I came here to tell you that if you did decide to go through with it, for professional purposes only of course, then I would do my best to make it as easy for you as possible. I know what you think, but I promise, I’m not the same person either. I wouldn’t stand you up or bail on shows and leave you to deal with the fallout. And I wouldn’t cross all those lines like I did before. You’re with someone else now. I can respect that.”

He could tell her breathing was becoming labored even though he was staring into her eyes. Her entire body seemed to tighten. He figured it was a result of her effort to keep any of her actual emotions from showing. His hand reached out to stroke her smooth cheek, but he pulled back at the last second. He’d just said he wouldn’t cross lines and here he was, wanting to trample all over them.

“Kylie Lou, I—”

“Don’t. I heard what you said. I’ll consider it. I’ll talk to the label and let them know I’m thinking about it.”

“I guess that’s all I can ask for.” He shrugged. “You sounded great in there, by the way.” He nodded toward the sound booth. “And at the CMAs, and at the benefit. I know I haven’t had time to tell you, but I’m really pro—”