Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1)(58)

 

"You made that very clear. I understand, but one day, I hope you will."

 

"I want to have fun. I want to get to know you more. I want to spend time with you and Harley, but there are clear issues here." She waved her hand between them.

 

"There are no issues. I'll make the calls, but I want your decision. I would also like you to know that I will fight for us every step of the way. The press will come right at us. They will be knocking on our doors every time. I'll try and stave them off, but you need to be strong. You will hear things. You will see things that no person should witness. This is part of my life as a celebrity. I want you to be aware of that." Jax reached for her and embraced her under the warm water.

 

"You paint such a delightful picture."  

 

"It is what it is, baby." He reached behind her and turned off the water. "We don't have to confirm any reports, but it doesn't mean they'll stop hounding us."

 

"What about Harley?"

 

"Believe it or not, babe, Harley's been through this circus before. Her mother wasn't exactly shy. She could probably give you pointers." Jax chuckled as he accepted the towel Cade handed him.

 

With towels wrapped around their bodies, they stood in front of each other. "I will be leaving tonight for San Diego. If you can, I want you and Harley to stay here."

 

"I have my apartment to clear," Cade protested.

 

"I'll have Tina make the necessary calls. Is there anything else you want there?"

 

Cade shook her head. "No. I don't have a lot of personal stuff there. I have all my clothes here."

 

Jax kissed the top of her head. "Okay. Then you stay here and consider that taken care of. I'll give Bruno a call and I'll see how much he's done so far." With an urge from his hand, Cade tilted her chin and watched him through her lashes. "Now can I tell you how happy I am?"

 

Her lips spread into a smile, as wide as the one he sported.

 

In Jax's arms, everything seemed fine, calm, quiet, even though she had zero doubts that right outside, havoc was waiting for her to surface.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Twenty-Five

 

 

 

 

 

Whoever said dating was easy was a complete fool, Cade mused as their car stopped in an alleyway. Exhausted from the late flight, she carefully pushed open the door and stretched her aching legs. Cade inhaled the scent of the city that never sleeps. She bent over and reached a hand to wrap Harley in her arms. It wasn't good for the child to travel in the shroud of darkness. Cade felt the guilt in her gut. If she didn't agree to continue a relationship with Jax, Harley wouldn't have to leave Vancouver and arrive in New York City this late at night, or early that morning.

 

Did she and Jax make the right decision?

 

They were met at the metallic door by Zee, who seemed just as beat as Cade looked. He'd had to fly back and forth with Jax to Vancouver every second night, only to fly again the next afternoon to the next venue in Jax's itinerary. Jax was a stubborn man, Cade had found out the hard way. Instead of waiting several days until Harley's doctor gave them approval to travel, Jax had insisted on coming back to "his girls" whenever he could.

 

There were times when Jax had come home smelling like he'd doused himself with women's perfume. The first time this happened, Cade had refused to touch him, much less sleep in his bed.

 

"I'm sorry, babe, the VIPs came at me like hungry tigers," he'd reasoned.

 

In reply, Cade had pursed her lips and wrinkled her nose. "You mean your groupies?"

 

Jax had thrown her a pleading look, cocking his head to one side with a pout meant to afford him pity. "C'mon, baby, I missed you." He'd stretched out his arms for an embrace, one that he hadn't received until he'd showered.

 

Would it always be like that dating a rock god? Cade could only wonder. She and Jax had an intense connection which was hard to ignore.

 

She had been stuck inside the penthouse with Harley until they had to drive to the airport. Cade had felt like a prisoner, unable to breathe the fresh air unless she stepped out into the large balcony or risked running into photographers outside the building. Under Bruno's advisement, Cade and Jax had chosen not to comment on the photos or gossips about them.

 

"They will eventually get tired, and move on," Bruno told them.

 

But the paparazzi hadn't left them alone. The small bush fire had spread to the entire forest when Fiona came into the picture, slandering Cade for seducing Jax and influencing Harley's decisions. Fiona claimed that she worried about how the whole thing would affect her daughter. Cade was grateful Fiona hadn't thought of paying her and Harley a visit in Vancouver, although she had a sneaking suspicion that Jax had threatened Fiona if she tried anything of the sort.