So with all the restraint I could muster, I brushed my lips chastely against hers. When she sighed in frustration, I pulled away. At her disappointed expression, I couldn’t help laughing. Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I asked, “What was your first part of the duet we sang, Angel?”
“Um, it was about not moving too fast and making it last?”
“Nice rhyming, but yeah, that line.” When her brows furrowed, I grinned. “I haven’t had a relationship with a girl since the band hit big. I’m used to loving in the fast lane, and well, you’re the emergency lane at best.”
“Hey now,” she giggled, smacking my arm playfully.
“So we gotta take this slow. I want to savor what I’m feeling and not ruin it with getting too physical too fast.”
Abby pursed her lips at me. “And what if I want some parts of a physical relationship with you? I’m not talking the full deal…well, not yet anyway.”
I threw my head back and groaned. “Thanks for trying to kill me, Angel. You’ve known me a week, and your rules are to be in love with the person, remember?”
She nibbled my bottom lip. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m on my way to falling in love with you.”
At the honk of the cab’s horn, I let out an exasperated breath. “We both have the worst fucking timing.”
“But we’ll at least continue this conversation later, right?”
“Yes, we will.” I grabbed up her suitcase and guitar case.
“Wait, you don’t—”
“Yes, I do. It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”
She shook her head and then fell in step behind me. I eased her stuff into the trunk and then closed the lid. “Be careful.”
“Thanks. You too.”
“And knock em’ dead tonight.”
“I’ll try.”
I grinned as I opened the backseat door for her. “You will, and you know I’m always right.”
She rolled her eyes but then smiled. “Bye, Jake.”
“Bye, Angel.”
As she started past me to get into the cab, I stopped her. Sometimes there were just moments you knew you would regret if you didn’t follow your heart. Grabbing the back of her neck, I tipped her head up to mine. Then I brought my mouth to hers. This time I let the warmth of my tongue slide her lips open. When she made a little moan in the back of her throat, I tightened my arms around her waist. God, she tasted good. I could’ve kept on kissing her the whole afternoon, but a symphony of whistles and catcalls interrupted my moment of pure bliss.
I jerked away to see AJ, Brayden, and Rhys standing beside the bus. Warmth flooded Abby’s face as I growled, “Thanks a lot, guys.”
“¡Agarrale el culo, chica!".
Abby’s eyes narrowed before she shouted, “Callete, cabron!”
“What did he just say?” I questioned with a grin.
“Grab his ass, girl,” she replied.
“And what did you say to him?”
She grinned. “I told him to shut up and called him an asshole.”
I laughed. “I’ll make sure to knock the shit out of him for you.”
“Gracias,” she replied. Glancing at the guys, she shook her head. “I’m tempted to give you all the finger, but I’ll just wave instead.”
“Bye, Abby,” they called in unison.
She turned back to me. “Talk to you later.”
“It’s a promise.”
Without another show of affection, she dropped down onto the seat. “The Hilton, please,”
Abby commanded politely.
“Fine, but just so you know, the meter’s been running, sweetie,” the cabbie replied.
“It’s okay.” She glanced up at me and smiled. “It was worth it.”
“Damn straight,” I replied before closing the door.
Like a love-sick teenage girl, I stood waving at her until the cab disappeared over the hill.
When I arrived at the hotel, all three of the boys were waiting on me in the lobby. I rolled my eyes but grinned in spite of myself. “Don’t tell me you were afraid I might get lost and take up with another group of unruly rockers?”
Gabe chuckled as he pulled me into a bear hug. “Nah, we just wanted to do right by you this time and welcome you in person.”
“Aw, that’s sweet.”
Eli’s blue eyes twinkled. “There’s also the fact we have to be over to the arena in an hour for sound checks and all.”
I shook my head. “Just when I thought you guys were playing overprotective big brothers, you crush my dreams.”
Micah threw his arm around my shoulder. “I’ve missed you, Baby Girl.” He planted a kiss on my cheek. “Are you excited about tonight?”