Page 128 of Heartbreaker

“I love you,” I whisper.

“I love you too, Shortcake.” He gently runs his hands up and down my back.Bothhands. With equal pressure.

The fingers on his right hand are still a long way from doing what they used to do, but his new physical therapist is teaching him different ways to use his entire hand to compensate for some of the loss of control. He also firmly believes Royal will play guitar again. Not at the same level, but enough to write music, maybe perform a few songs with me when we go on tour.

It’s the first and only time I’ve ever seen tears in Royal’s eyes.

“Let’s go back to bed,” I say after a moment.

“Need a little cock to celebrate being number one?” he teases.

I snort out a laugh. “Yes, you animal.”

“You like my animalistic tendencies.” He waggles his brows then suddenly lifts me off the floor, tossing me over his shoulder.

“Royal!” I let out a pretend shriek of indignance and he slaps my ass.

“Bed or shower?” he asks.

“Bed.”

“You got it.” He dumps me on the mattress, landing on top of me after quickly shedding his boxers. “Now, tell me again why you were crying…”

I smile. “Tears of joy, my love. Tears of joy.”

He kisses them away. “Now how about we make tears of pleasure?”

My smile grows.

Because he proceeds to do just that.

And as usual, the music we make together is perfect.

“I'm sosorry I’m not there.” Royal’s voice is filled with apology.

Considering this is at least the fourth time he’s apologized, I can’t help but smile.

It’s a week later and I’m in Dallas, while he’s still back in L.A.

“Babe, it’s okay. Frankie needs you. I’ll be fine. Dash is here, and I’ll be on the first flight back to L.A. tomorrow morning.”

“I just wanted to be there.”

“There’s always next time. You take care of Frankie and I’ll be back before you know it.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too. Kiss that baby girl for me.”

“I will.”

I disconnect and sigh.

Atlas and Briar are in Shanghai on a business trip. Royal and I were staying at the house with Frankie, and all three of us were going to come to Dallas for the new MCM award show—Modern Country Music. Except Frankie came home from school with RSV and is sick as a dog. Banks is on a road trip, Aspen can’t help out because she can’t risk getting sick, and when it came down to whether Dash or Royal would come with me, we decided Dash was the better option.

I trust Trent, who’s become my new head of security, but his girlfriend just had a baby so he’s on paternity leave. Which left Dash as the person I trust most with my safety.

So Royal stayed home, and Dash and I are here in Dallas.

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