I looked at my boots, remembering how seductively Luke had removed them. No matter what was on the other side of this door, I’d never forget last night.
Jake was waiting inside the suite with a look that could kill.
“Where the hell have you been, Lex?” Even this early in the morning I could smell his expensive cologne. He looked clean-shaven and there was a touch of hair gel on the side of his short cut. Without a doubt, he was always the best-dressed man in the room.
“None of your business,” I snapped. That probably wasn’t the way to get on his good side.
I didn’t want him to ruin the feel-good adrenaline still coursing through my veins. My night with Luke was the greatest high I’d felt in at least a year. I wasn’t sure my body was back on this planet yet. Luke had taken me somewhere last night I hadn’t known existed. There was no way in hell I was going to let Jake spoil it.
He shoved his phone inside his jacket and stood to face me. “Babe, you scared me. You didn’t answer your phone. You didn’t tell your security. I’ve been here the whole time waiting for you to get back. This could have been something serious. I was this close to getting the authorities involved.” He pinched his fingers together.
I recognized there was a real look of worry on his face, but I also knew that it would quickly turn.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized. “I was out with a friend. I needed some time to think.”
“Think?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I crossed the room, going straight to the fridge for a glass of orange juice. “I’ve tried to talk to you lately, but you don’t want to seem to listen. I needed a little space.”
“I’m listening now. What made you stay out all night?”
I stood behind the counter. “I’m tired, Jake. This schedule you have me on is insane. And the fans want every bit of my energy. It’s taking a toll on me. I can’t keep going like this. Don’t you see it?”
He nodded as if he were considering my statements. “You and I both know this could be gone in a flash. You have to ride it while you’ve got it, Lex. It can be pulled away with one misstep. One scandal.”
I rolled my eyes. “Seriously. That is dramatic.”
“You side-stepped one last night.” He eyed me. “Thank God there are no pictures of you and Luke Canton together. I don’t know what he was doing at a charity event. That’s definitely not his scene. Maybe if it was a charity for hookers.” Jake laughed at his own joke. “Point is honey, a picture with him, the wrong headline and your good girl image is ruined.”
“And so what if it is? Why can’t I be sexy? Why can’t I wear what I want? Sing what I want?” I don’t know where I found the energy to argue with Jake. Every muscle in my body was sore and I wasn’t sure my clit wasn’t still vibrating. “Hang out with bad boys if I want?” I was definitely pushing it now.
Luke was everything I thought he would be and more. Last night was still seeping through my body, lingering on my clothes, painted on my swollen lips.
“You, sexy? Come on. That was never the plan. You are the sweetheart. The good girl. The role model every parent wants for their child.”
“I wasn’t when you met me.” I eyed him. “I never asked to be a role model.”
He raised his hand. “Shut up, Lex.”
“Yesterday you threw it in my face, but now we can’t talk about it?”
He closed his eyes. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I took my glass of juice with me and walked into the bathroom. “I’m going to shower. I’ll be ready to go to the hospital soon.”
“We’re not done with this conversation,” he warned.
“We are.” I closed the door in his face and turned for the shower.
At some point Jake would corner me again. There would be a time when we’d have to come to an understanding about the future of Lexi Wilde.
But that time wasn’t today. I had drinks planned with Luke later, and that was about all I could think about right now. I needed one more look in those green eyes before I left Texas. It was stupid and irresponsible. It was exactly the kind of thing Jake said was forbidden for my brand. But after last night, I didn’t care about my brand. Maybe Lexi Wilde needed a new brand.
I closed the door to room 214 behind me. I had played the little girl’s favorite song, “Hearts and Tears.” Some of the children were here for short-term treatment, but others, like the one I had just visited would be spending months under this roof.
I clung to my guitar and moved to the next room. I knocked lightly and pushed the door open.