Page 33 of Fractured Dreams

Eden struggled to understand how someone could leave their child like that, even if the marriage hadn’t worked out. Her thoughts must have been clear on her face because Tex said, “It’s not that Mom didn’t love me. Just not enough to stop her from running off to live the life she felt she’d missed out on by marrying my dad and having me at such a young age. She figured out what it was she wanted out of life a little too late, that’s all.”

And what she’d wanted hadn’t been him. The words hung in the air unsaid.

Eden looked at him as he reclined in the chair in all his muscled, tattooed gorgeousness, his sensuous lips curled in the faintest of smiles, seemingly unaffected, but she could see the shadow in his normally clear gaze and her chest grew tight.

It was strange really. She’d known Tex for over half her life, but there was a difference between knowing someone andknowingthem. When you actually looked at them and saw their hidden joys and sorrows, saw what made them real. That distinction seemed even more important with someone like Tex, someone most people saw as nothing more than a sexy guitar-playing rock star—and he wasdefinitelythat—but there was so much more to him, hidden depths that she wanted to explore.

And Eden had a sudden, fierce desire to be the woman that got to share his joys and ease his sorrows. Because that spark he’d been talking about before? She could feel it, kindled and flaring to life inside her, burning stronger every time she saw him, touched him. She had a feeling if she wasn’t careful, that flame might just burn her up.

She uncurled her legs and stood, before walking slowly over to him, seeing his eyes darken as she unbuttoned her shirt and let it slide off her shoulders. She wasn’t going to waste a second of the time she had with him, because sometimes, no matter how much you want them to, some stories just don’t have a happily ever after.

Chapter 19

“What if we put in a fast descending line just before the chorus,” Connor said, picking his acoustic guitar up from the chair next to him and demonstrating what he was thinking. Tex cocked his head to listen, but Connor’s grimace as he finished told him they were on the same page—it didn’t work.

“Dammit.” Connor slapped his hand on the body of the guitar, the hollow thump expressing the frustration they were both feeling. “I don’t know what it is about this song. It’s so close to being perfect.”

Tex nodded, rasping his hand across the scruff on his chin. “Yeah, there’s definitely something missing.” He stood up from the chair he’d been sitting in for the last hour and stretched. “Let’s take a break for a bit. Otherwise, I think my brain might liquify.”

Connor blew out a breath, letting the frustration go. “Okay, let’s take five. Do you want a drink?”

Tex nodded and Connor stood, leading the way out of his private studio and into the kitchen where he grabbed a couple of frosty beers out of the fridge, passing one to Tex.

After popping the top, Tex took a long swallow, his mind drifting to Eden, as it so often did these days. She had another volunteer shift at the hospital, which was a good thing, otherwise he’d probably be distracted, wanting to wrap up his session with Connor as soon as possible so he could get back and unwrap her.

Tex shook his head at himself. Any concern he might have harbored that what he felt for Eden might burn itself out in a couple of days had died. It’d been just over a week now, and if he could, he’d keep her naked in bed with him twenty-four seven, indulging himself with her in every way imaginable. But it wasn’t only the phenomenal sex, it was the rest of it too: her warmth, her humor, her intelligence. Every minute he spent with her sucked him in a little deeper.

He’d quickly become accustomed to going to sleep with her in his arms and waking up next to her every morning. It should have been uncomfortable, living with a woman he’d just started sleeping with, but it wasn’t. Not in the slightest. Maybe it would be if she were simply someone he was casually screwing, but she was so much more than that.

With all the complications that brought with it.

Tex frowned. He’d been doing his best not to think too hard about those complications. What was the point now? He’d thought enough about them beforehand, and all the reasons he shouldn’t sleep with his friend’s little sister hadn’t been enough to stop him when she was right there in front of him, offering herself to him. Now he was going to have to ride out whatever consequences came from his lack of willpower when it came to Eden.

“Sounds like things are going well with Noah and Zac.”

Connor’s voice jolted him out of his reverie and Tex hoped he didn’t look as guilty as he felt. “Yeah, Noah’s been checking in regularly with Eden. It sounds like he’s enjoying being back on the road.”

Connor grimaced. “Better him than me. I’m not looking forward to being stuck on a tour bus with you lot again anytime soon.”

“What, you’re not looking forward to sleeping in a cramped bunk surrounded by three other men while your soon-to-be wife waits for you at home all alone in her big empty bed?”

Connor narrowed his eyes at Tex, then the corners of his lips curled up. “Jokes on you, fucker. Lexie will be coming with us and we’ll be sharing the bedroom at the back of the bus.”

“Yeah? I bet she can’t wait for that.” Tex grinned sarcastically. “And I don’t want to hear any crazy sex noises coming from back there either. I really don’t want to have to try to look you in the eye the next morning after being forced to listen to Lexie asking if it’s in yet.”

Connor ignored the insult, smirking. “You didn’t hear us last time.”

Tex raised an eyebrow. “Don’t tell me you were sneaking into her bedroom every night.”

Connor looked smug. “Not the bedroom.”

“Really? In your bunk?” Tex laughed. “I can’t wait to see Lexie’s face when I—”

“How about you don’t say anything to Lexie.” Connor looked nervous suddenly, and Tex laughed harder.

“What, you don’t think she’d appreciate knowing you’re sharing stories of her sexual escapades with your friends?”

Connor glared at him. “You think you’re funny, but you forget I know you too well. You’re far too softhearted to embarrass Lexie that way.”

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