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“Maybe I wanted to give you both kinds of rewards.” She slides her hand onto my thigh. “The meaningful and the memorable.”
I catch my breath. “You’re playing with fire, Lace.”
“Maybe I like playing with fire.” Her voice is innocent, but her touch is anything but.
“Two more minutes,” I warn her, taking the airport exit. “Then you’re on that plane, and I have to wait five whole days to see you again.”
She sighs, withdrawing her hand. “The launch party feels so far away.”
“It’ll be worth the wait.” I pull into short-term parking, probably too fast. “Everything’s ready—the album, the party, even your outfit.”
I help her with her bag, then pull her close. “You can wear whatever the company wants. I’ll still know what’s underneath.”
“Nate!” But she’s pressing closer, tilting her face up to mine.
“We really are going to be late,” I murmur against her lips.
“Worth it.”
The kiss starts soft but quickly deepens. I back her against the car, one hand tangling in her hair while the other grips her hip. She makes that little sound in the back of her throat that drives me crazy, and I forget we’re in public until a camera flash goes off nearby.
Lacey jumps, but I hold her close for one more moment, finishing the kiss properly. When I pull back, her lips are swollen, and her eyes are dazed.
“That wasn’t very company-like,” she manages.
“Good.” I grab her bag with one hand and her hand with the other. “Let them see what they want to see.”
We make it to security with minutes to spare. Another kiss, shorter but no less intense, and she’s heading through the checkpoint.
“Five days,” I call after her.
She turns, walking backward. “I’ll be counting.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I watch until she disappears around the corner, aware of the photographer still lurking nearby. Let him take his shots. Let the whole world see.
Because what Lacey and I have—it’s not just for show anymore. It hasn’t been for a while.
Walking back to my car, there’s a lightness in my step I can’t contain. Five days. Just five days until I see her again, until I can hold her, kiss her, and show her exactly what she means to me.
My phone buzzes with a text. It’s from Lacey:‘Missing you already. Even if you did make me late.’
I type back:‘Pretty sure you made yourself late when you decided to model that costume one more time this morning.’
Three dots appear, then:‘TOTALLY worth it.’
I grin, starting the car. Five days suddenly feels a long way away.
But she’s right. It was definitely worth it.
I check my watch for the third time in the last five minutes.
Lacey is late. But this time, it’s not her fault. Her flight was delayed again, and by the time she landed, I barely had time to get her home in time to get dressed. Thank God Rachel had people ready to assist her.
The party starts in less than an hour, and I check the time once more, adjusting the cuffs of my black dress shirt. The rest of the band is already at the venue, doing sound checks and press, but I insisted on picking Lacey up myself. She had back-to-back flights.
She’s probably exhausted.