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Alice

Trouble was haunting me in the shape of a woman I hadn’t seen in years.

Stars shimmered in the dark sky, untouched by city pollution.

Constellations winking back at me, undoubtedly amused by my predicament.

Bitterness twisted around me like thorny brambles, cutting me and anyone who dared to get close.

How many times had I wished on one of those stars for Jenna to come back?

How many nights had I dreamed that we were actually meant to be together, that our breakup was just a bad dream?

You’d think after all this time, I’d be over her.

But now, Jenna Hart was in my town.

At my friend’s house.

And the pain in my chest, the yearning that rotted me to my core, the way my blood filled with lust—everything in me screamed that I wasn’t over her and never would be.

I should have known that Haley was up to something.

She’d been so insistent that I come to the party.

She’s been giddy over the fact she had someone she thought I’d want to meet.

Really, the only reason I’d shown up was because I wanted to know more about the Emma-Hunter fiasco.

Something was off with that, but Emma was keeping things to herself.

Of course the person that they’d invite here would be her.

Jenna Hart crossed the gravel driveway to where I stood.

It’d been a long time since I’d seen her in person, but she never failed to steal my breath.

Of course, I’d seen or heard her everywhere else.

On TV, social media, the radio.

My damn Spotify constantly recommended her to me, a knife twisting into my heart every single time her hit song played.

“Alice …” Jenna’s eyes were mossy in the dark.

The porch lights splashed just enough light over the gravel driveway for us to see each other.

“We need to talk.”

Part of me wished that I could close my eyes, open them, and she’d be gone again.

It was easier to not think about what could have been when she was gone.

Jenna glanced back at the house where everyone was drinking and having fun, music and chatter floating on the spring breeze.

Deep breath.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I asked.

“Since when do you know Sammy Harlow?”

She held up her hands.

“I didn’t know you’d be here. And you’re the one that just pretended like you didn’t know me in front of your so-called friends .”

I shook my head and leaned against my Jeep, glaring at her.

So many words bubbled up, but I didn’t say any of them.

Instead, I settled on asking what I really wanted to know.

“What do you want, Jenna?”

She tucked her hands into her skirt pockets.

That’s nice, I need that skirt.

Once upon a time, I would have just plucked it from her closet?—

“I don’t know what I want,” she sighed, shrugging her shoulders.

Her gorgeous smile that had been plastered on all night melted into a frown, her cheeks softening, brows pulling together.

“You have everything you could possibly want.” My tone sharpened as I continued.

“Money, fame, all the men throwing themselves at you. Women, too, I’m sure.”

“I haven’t been with anyone since you,” she said.

“Don’t fucking lie to me,” I snapped.

“Jenna, what are you doing here? Why are you back in Texas? And what the hell are you doing in Citrus Cove, of all places?”

“First of all, I’m not lying,” she said.

I gave her the look.

“I’m not, Alice. Being famous is lonely.”

“ Hah .” I shook my head at her.

I couldn’t believe she’d say that.

Especially now.

“I’m not doing this with you.”

I started to turn, but she reached out and grabbed my forearm, stepping closer.

Her perfume made my mouth water, the all too familiar scent of almond, orange blossom, and musk.

I closed my eyes for just a second to savor her and then opened them to glower.

“Alice,” she whispered.

“I’m only here until tomorrow, and then I hop on a flight to Nashville before my next tour starts. I know I have no right to even say this, but I’m still going to. I want to be with you tonight.”

My mouth dropped.

The audacity.

Hadn’t seen her in what felt like forever, and this was what she wanted?

“You’ve lost your damn mind.”

She took a step closer, until her forehead pressed against mine.

I didn’t pull back from her the way I’d imagined myself doing over and over.

I’d never be able to resist her, would I?

Fuck.

Fuck.

Was I actually considering this?

Her touch sent waves of need through me, but it was followed by a deep ache.

“This is messy,” I whispered.

“There’s too much here. Too much hurt. Why are you back? Why are you here?”

“Why are you here?” She turned the question back on me.

“You told me you’d never move to this place. Your dad lived here, your mom was in Chicago. Last I heard, you were in Chicago?—”

“I left,” I said blankly.

“I came down here and took over my dad’s cafe.”

“What? Is he okay?—”

I yanked my arm from her grip.

“You don’t get to ask those questions. Especially not here, not now. What? Do you want to fuck? Is that it, Jenna? Do you miss the way I’d put you on your knees?”

“I miss calling you Daddy,” she admitted.

Her confession shocked me.

“I miss worshiping your body. I miss submitting to you. No one else does it like you do.”

I took a step back from her and drew in a sharp breath.

This was messy.

This was the exact kind of situation that would fuck me up all over again.

And yet.

I met her gaze and pressed my lips together.

Was I really going to do this?

It was such a bad idea.

Fuck it.

“Go say your goodbyes for the night, let them know I’m driving you home, and come back out to my car. Yes?”

Jenna’s face lit up.

“Are you sure?”

“Did I sound unsure?”

“No … I’ll be right back.”

My gaze fell to her ass as she spun around and headed back for the house.

I shook my head.

The short leather skirt was my kryptonite.

“I should get in the car and leave,” I said to myself.

This was stupid.

God, this was so stupid.

But I wanted her.

All the hurt and anger and waves of sadness were eclipsed by a few rays of hope.

I imagined getting into my Jeep and driving off—but then the front door swung open and Jenna flew out with her bag in hand and her expression one of determination.

Hopeless romantic.

My favorite sweatshirt had that plastered on the front, and it was a little too on the nose.

I unlocked my Jeep and slid into the front seat.

I had a spare moment to steady myself before the passenger door opened and Jenna got in.

“Hey,” she said softly.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”

The silence was deafening.

I released a soft breath and then cranked the engine on.

“One night with you, no strings attached?”

“Yes.” Her voice wavered.

“One night, no strings attached.”

“And we don’t bring up the past.”

“We don’t bring up the past.”

“Then yes,” I said.

“I’m sure I want to do this.”

“My place or yours?”

“Yours, seeing as you don’t have a car. Speaking of, how did you get here?”

Jenna smiled.

“Sarah, Sammy, and Colt picked me up. The three of them are so cute.”

“They are.”

“Reminds me of how we used?—”

“Jenna,” I growled.

“No speaking of the past. That’s the agreement.”

“Right,” she whispered.

“Okay. I’ll direct us to my hotel.”