Page 27 of Heartbreaker

Thankfully, the universe is on my side for once.

Because her cell rings.

“I’ll let you get that,” I say. “Tell Frankie I’ll see her Thursday for our guitar lesson.”

“Royal—”

Ring-ring.

I kiss her cheek, tug a strand of her hair. “Bye, Thorny.” I raise my voice. “Bye, Tater Tot!”

“Bye, Uncle Royal!” I hear, though the words are muffled by that snack she’s devouring.

Briar sighs. “Roy?—”

Ring-ring.

“Later,” I mutter.

And then I get the hell out.

I know I dodged a bullet.

Same as I know I need to get my head together before I see them again.

The last thing I need is for my family to know exactly what I was feeling that night in the hotel room.

And how I’m fucking terrified that it might have changed everything.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Jade

I’ve beenin a funk since the night of the awards ceremony, and no matter how many times I tell myself I’m better off without a broody, grumpy songwriter with the world’s biggest penis, it’s hard to let go. Of the memories. The laughter. The sex. Good gracious, I’ve never experienced anything like what we did. Whathedid.

Including the waking up alone part.

In what universe do you do that to someone you spent the whole night with? I’ve had one-night stands, but those were hookups. Meet, have a drink, have sex, say goodbye. Even with a one-nighter, you say goodbye? Right?

Well, okay. I’ve had one—two, if you count Royal.

But we said goodbye when it was over. It was polite. Civilized. Frankly, I was glad for him to go because the sex had been unremarkable. With the first guy. Sex with Royal, well, I probably won’t get over that for a very long time.

Or him.

I’m not in love or anything stupid, but we connected in a way I’ve never felt with any other guy. By the time we left Rico’s, wewere finishing each other’s sentences. He likes so many of the same things I do. He understands my life, my career, and what it means to be on top.

And he thinks it’s adorable that I don’t use curse words.

Thanks, Grandma Louise.

She pounded it into my brain that a lady doesn’t use those words. Never, ever. Except maybe during childbirth. She told me that was the only time she ever said shit.

I smile at the memory and dab a bit of gloss onto my lips.

It’s time to stop moping about one very annoying Royal-pain-in-the-butt.

That’s how I’ll think of him from now on.

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