Page 96 of Fractured Rhythm

“Looked like you were having fun over there.” She put her hand to her chest. “Oh, Bash, you’re so hot. You’re the greatest,” she said in a singsong voice. “Got in a few kisses, too.”

Shit. She’d seen that?

“The ladies love Bash,” Jax said, coming up behind me.

“Of course they do,” she said, and I let out a sigh. She knew that I’d lied about kissing that groupie years ago, but it didn’t stop me from wondering if she worried that it would really happen.

“You ready to get out of here? Last night in our hotel suite before we’re back on the bus tomorrow,” I said.

“Yes. Let’s get out of here,” she said, and I stood up, grabbing her arm to tug her up next to me.

“See you losers on the bus tomorrow,” I said, walking us out of the room before anyone could say anything else. I had plans for tonight. Most of them included finishing what we’d started in the other dressing room an hour ago.

She laughed as I pulled her from the room with Bud on our heels.

“Car should be here in a few, so hold tight for a minute,” he said, moving to walk ahead of us.

As soon as we were in the car, Cassie was in my lap. I wasn’t sure who moved first, and frankly, I didn’t care. She was in my arms, and that was all that mattered.

“What is that?”she asked, sitting up in bed the following morning.

The sheet pooled at her waist, baring her to me, and I almost tossed aside my guitar and climbed back under the covers with her.

“I don’t think I’ve heard that one before. Is it new?” she asked, sinking back against the pillows and pulling up the sheets to block my glorious view.

I stared down at my guitar, unsure of what to say, and how to tell her. Would she hate me for working on it? Her tears were still fresh in my mind from the other night.

“It’s Jamie’s song. The one you found,” I said, meeting her gaze.

Her eyes widened, and she clutched the sheet tighter to her body.

“I don’t have to play it, Cas. I just feel like I owe it to him. He never confided in me, and it kills, but he wrote this. The lyrics are haunting and raw, and I want to do it—do him—justice.”

She sucked in a breath, and I didn’t miss the slight wobble of her chin.

“Cas. I don’t…” I started, moving to her side of the bed, guitar still in hand, and sitting next to her.

“No. I want to hear it. I didn’t have any idea either, and I want to hear what you’ve done with his words,” she said.

I set my guitar on the bed and pulled her close, my arms wrapping around her body as she did the same to me. I pressed my forehead to hers and breathed her in before lightly kissing her.

“Are you sure?” I asked when I broke the kiss.

“Yes, play it for me.”

She tugged on my shirt, covered herself, and crossed one foot under her knee, hugging a pillow to her chest as I picked my guitar back up.

“It’s still a work in progress. I’ve played around with it a little over the last two days, but it’s not done.”

“Just play for me,” she urged.

I launched into what I had. I’d barely changed his lyrics; they’d flowed surprisingly easily for someone who’d never written a song before this.

I tried not to let that gut me again.

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