Page 108 of Next Time I Fall (Excess All Areas 2)

“Sit down, Cerys. That’s not what I’m saying at all. And to prove it’s not, you can have the studio wherever you want, as long as it is within reasonable distance of a major airport and train station.”

Cerys lowered herself to her chair, hurt churned her stomach.

“I think it’s natural to feel protective of your kid, Cerys. To not want to see them get hurt. So, don’t rush into your relationship with him when you get back. Take it slowly. Being here, in this bubble of time, put you all under pressure. And to answer what you are thinking about the studio. It’s not a bribe. It’s also not a gift. This is a business unit of my group of companies, and you’ll have financial objectives and goals you’ll need to achieve, just like everyone else. The job is a gift because I have faith in you. Because you are talented and have potential. Okay?”

Cerys let out a sigh. “Okay.”

“Consider it. Let me know what you think in the morning.”

She wasn’t sure what to think. It was so close to her dream, and while she assumed it was natural for fathers to meddle if they thought their kids were going down the wrong track, as an adult, she didn’t appreciate the way it made her second guess herself.

And there was one person she wanted to discuss it with.

Three hours later, the perfume of the flowers Jase had arranged to be delivered scented the air of her bedroom as she climbed beneath the sheets. The mix of black orchids, roses, black and orange calla lilies and copper-coloured leaves was as stunning as it was fragrant.

It was unfair to him to let her father unsettle her.

By the time she’d finished her other work at the studio, grabbed dinner, and taken a shower, it was midnight. The hours didn’t bother her. Her life had run on a late-night schedule while performing as a pianist and in the recording studio since.

The shower had revived her spirits a little, but as her head buzzed with ideas, her heart ached. It was clear her father lacked confidence in Jase, and in truth, his words, sincerely spoken, had rattled her own.

Again.

She needed to talk to him, to feel the connection between the two of them, even though it would be six in the morning where he was.

Tentatively, she picked up the phone.

* * *

Jase rolled over in bed. Something was bothering him, something impatient he had to deal with. He reached for the tattered edges of the thought, or maybe it was a dream.

Where was he?

He reached for Cerys, before snapping his eyes awake.

Fuck, his phone.

“Then Kiss Me”, the song he’d written for her, played as he snatched the phone off his desk.

“Sunshine,” he said gruffly.

It took several attempts to focus properly, his eyes still bleary with sleep. But when he did, he could see her in his black T-shirt she’d taken from his suitcase as he’d packed, telling him she’d needed something of his to sleep.

And if his girl needed something, anything of his, she could have it.

“Sorry to wake you. I know I should probably be embarrassed by this, but ... well, I knew I was going to miss you. Emotionally, I mean. But I’m missing you more physically than I thought was possible. It’s like an ache I can’t soothe.”

Jase smiled softly and closed his eyes for another moment before opening them again. “Little Jase is very moved that you are missing him.”

Cerys rolled her eyes. “Not just like that. Although, fine, it is like that. I do miss him. But I miss the way you play with the ends of my hair, or how you squeeze the back of my neck, or the way your fingers always reach for mine when you walk past me. I just ...”

“You need a hug,” Jase said, pushing the duvet from his shoulders to free his arms.

“Seeing all that skin isn’t helping,” she said, grumpily.

“I don’t know, show me a bit of your skin and I’ll get inspired to help.”

“I’m not sure I’m cool about getting naked over a video chat.”

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