Page 35 of Veiled

“I was owned for a really long time,” he says honestly, his eyes glassy.

She frowns at that but nods her head knowingly. “I know. My grandpa was an artist.” She looks over at the wall lovingly toward a picture I recognize—the dude is super damn famous. Especially in Nashville. My eyes meet hers as she smiles sweetly. I had no idea that was her grandfather when I set up this meeting. “And he hated studios. He just wanted to sing what he wanted to sing. It’s why he started this studio back in the day before he passed.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” I say earnestly.

“Thank you.” She sighs softly and looks at Justin. “I want to keep his legacy going. I want you to sing what you want. When you want. And I couldn’t have been more thrilled when I got the call from Waylon. You’re perfect for this. Those concerts in the bars? They’re inspirational.”

Again, she’s not saying it for false flattery. “Really?” he asks.

She nods. “I think it’s great. Getting back to basics.”

Justin looks a little sheepish. “I never really got to do that. They recruited me for Immoral, and we were touring huge stadiums from the start.”

She smiles. “So you needed that even more then, huh?”

He nods. “I think so.”

“Is that what you still want to do?” Daisy asks but doesn’t seem to be wanting one answer more than another.

“I’m not sure. I want this record out there, but I don’t want to go on huge tours again. I don’t want my life to not be my own.”

She nods her head knowingly. “Okay. Sounds good. Let’s get this recorded then. And out there.”

We sign the papers then and there, which is pretty much unheard of, but Daisy, I quickly realized, is a rare light in this world. And this is where Justin wants to be. We set up a recording schedule and head back to the cabin where we strip down and celebrate, with his cock being buried deep inside me until we’re both so sated we can’t and don’t want to move.

He lays his head on my chest, and I hold him to me. “You made it happen.”

“It’s not done yet.” I have to say it because I’m not ready to let him go, and the thought was strangling me.

“No,” he says, nuzzling even closer into me and breathing me in. “It’s not.”

I need to be strong. Justin is an amazing man, but I don’t do relationships. I don’t have time for them. I like the quick, easy hookups because they’re convenient for my schedule.

It does have to end. We both know this. We’re both adults, and despite being fond of him, it won’t end well when it does inevitably end.

It doesn’t have to get messy.

We can do this.

I can set him up and make sure he’s happy, just like I set out to do.

I can and will let him go.

Chapter Eighteen

WAYLON

“If you don’t get your ass back here, I’m going to send this doggie to you. I’m sure FedEx will do it for me,” Jenny says, and I laugh.

“No, they won’t. And just admit you love him already.”

“No,” she says stubbornly. “Are you coming home?”

“Justin starts recording tomorrow. We need to figure out promo and maybe a couple of low-key appearances. Then I’ll come home.”

“You’re fucking him, aren’t you?” She says it less like a question, even though she tries to phrase it that way.

“It doesn’t matter.”

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