Page 78 of Next Time I Fall (Excess All Areas 2)

Jimmy laughed. And then people were talking.

What would it take?

How would they get the songs ready? Did they need to re-record everything, or just certain instrument tracks?

Matt had slipped an arm around his shoulder and shook him. “We should play it for Nan before we play it for anyone else.”

Jase turned his head to face him. “You honestly think it’s a good idea? That my songs are any good?”

Matt grinned. “I owe you a decade of telling you they’re shit before I admit that.”

Yeah, he deserved that, even if it was a joke.

“Yeah, Jase. They’re as good as mine,” he said with a wink before he went to talk to Luke.

He caught sight of Cerys’s curls as she disappeared through the doors towards her office, and Jase quietly followed her until an arm gripped his.

Firmly.

“Not yet, Palmer.”

Fuck. “Jimmy.”

“I think you know as well as I do that I don’t have much currency to act like a dad right now. But it’s hard to separate this. You’re a fucking talented guy who seems to have somehow found his calling.”

“You can thank Cerys for that.”

“And that’s what I’m worried about. This sudden outpouring of emotions into song. Is it possible you’re confusing relief and expression with something for Cerys? That once you’re back home and out on the road, you’ll realise it was the heat of the moment?”

Jase sighed. “You’re wrong, Jimmy. I can’t tell you how wrong you are. She makes me into a better man. Are you sure this isn’t because I saw just how great she was before you did? Or because she’d rather walk out on you than see me screwed over? Because I’m not the only one with vested interests in all this.”

Jimmy shoved his hand into his jeans pocket. “I don’t want to give you the don’t-mess-with-my-daughter speech. Just. Ah, fuck it. I am. Don’t hurt her.”

Jase grinned. “Nobody’s given me that speech before. Feels like progress, Jimmy. I’d rather rip my eyes out than hurt her.” Jase passed him and stepped out of the recording studio door.

“Looking for me?” she asked. One foot was propped up against the wall next to her office, her arms folded across her chest, the pretty gauzy blouse with little black birds on it was cute as fuck with her tight black jeans. But it was the smile on her face that made him approach her.

“You left me in your bed.”

“I know. I’m sorry. But I needed to solve this. Are you mad?”

“Not if I can get a hall pass for the next fifteen minutes. I mean, it’s not like anybody in there doesn’t know about us now.”

Cerys stepped towards him. “Five. We’ve got work to do.”

He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist as he backed her into her office. One hand tangled in her hair as he brought her lips gently to his. It was a kiss of reassurance, of something ... secure and solid.

“Do you know how fucking special you are, Cerys?” he whispered against her cheek as he hugged her.

“Yes, but you can tell me again.”

Jase smiled, his nose pressed against her neck. “Your dad just told me to not mess with you, but I want you to know I intend to mess with you mightily when we are done here.”

“I look forward to it.”

“Come to the hotel tonight. We can get room service for dinner, and I can show you how special you are.”

She grinned against his lips. “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll come over tonight if you get at least one whole song down today.”

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