Page 72 of Heartbreaker

“I have to go,” I whisper, breaking the kiss.

“I know.” He presses his lips to my forehead, the tip of my nose, the underside of my jaw.

“Royal, if you don’t want to see me again, please just be honest. I don’t like being ghosted. It hurts too much and it’s disrespectful. We’re adults. If our weekend was just another one-off?—”

“No. Stop.” He puts a gentle finger on my lips. “That’s not what it was. We both know that. I just don’t want to hurt you again. I don’t know that I’m…boyfriend material. Not anymore.”

“Shouldn’t that be for me to decide?”

“I’m not always nice.”

“We’ll work on it.”

His lips twitch, as if he’s fighting a smile.

“You’re amazing, you know that?”

“Ms. Cantrell?” John cracks open the door. “Are you ready?”

“I have to go,” I whisper to Royal.

He presses his lips to mine. Hard.

There’s a promise in that kiss.

I feel it.

I’m not sure what the promise is, but it’s there.

“Call me when you get home and we’ll figure something out,” he says in a gruff voice. “That okay?”

“Yes.” Relief and happiness wash over me. “It’s more than okay.”

It’s not over.

The trip is over, butwearen’t over.

There’s no time to celebrate, though. John is waiting patiently, so I start to get out of the car. Only to find myself halting when Royal gently tugs the back of my jacket.

“Jade?”

“Yes?” I look over my shoulder at him.

His blue eyes burn into mine. “‘Midnight Snow’ is going to be your next big hit.”

“Our next big hit,” I correct firmly.

One side of his mouth quirks up. “Ournext big hit.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Royal

The music blasts,and the bar is full.

And every time I walk through the doors to The Sapphire Room, I can’t help but think that Colt would love it here.

That’s the point, though, isn’t it?

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