Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(38)

“Mine,” Cole says beside me.

“You mind if I use your room to make the reservation? I don’t want to sound like I’m with a bunch of rock stars.”

Cole rises, allowing me to stand up. He starts to follow me, but I stop him. “I got this. Eat something.”

“You want anything?”

“No, thank you, though.” With that, I close the bedroom door. Well, it’s more of a really small closet with a bed that takes up the entire floor space. A hotel room sounds like pure Heaven right now.

I pull up the spreadsheet Cassidy created with hotels in every city. They’re all prepared to go to great lengths to have our identity remain secret just to announce that we stayed there after we’ve already gone.

Picking one, I dial the number. “Hi, I would like to make a reservation.” It only takes a few minutes once I announce who I am, and I reserve everything under Stacy Hampton.

Cole will love that.

“All set,” I state, joining them in the kitchen.

“Great, pack what you need, ladies,” Tristan says.

“Yeah, get what you need, babe. You guys can go with us to the stadium.”

“Don’t you have people for that?” I ask.

This causes all of them to break out in a fit of laughter.

“We do, but we like to do it. We like to make sure nothing is left behind.”

“I’m getting cheated,” I mumble.

“What’s that, sweets?” Cole asks.

Of course he would hear me. “Nothing,”

“How are you getting cheated?” Gavin questions.

I can feel my face heat with embarrassment. “You all are not rock stars.”

“We’re not?” Tristan asks.

“No! Where are the parties and the groupies and the people waiting on you hand and foot?” I’m genuinely asking. This is not what the media portrays them to be, or all of the others for that matter.

“Sorry to disappoint,” Kacen says, laughing.

“No, it’s not necessarily that I’m disappointed, just confused. The media acts like you all are man-whores and divas all rolled into one.”

“Well, we are man-whores. Don’t let the last month fool you. The three of us have had our fair share,” Gavin explains. “This one”—he points to Cole—“is stuck on you.” Again, I feel the blush. “I can’t speak for Tristan, but I’ve been busy with the label and learning what I can. I’m excited on where the future might lead us.” That’s what he says, but I can tell he’s leaving something out. Something important.

“I’m just not into it.” Tristan shrugs. “I guess we all grow up eventually.”

I want to call bullshit, but instead, let it drop. Besides, my face already looks like a damn tomato.

“Get packed. You can go with us and we’ll head straight to the hotel.”

I don’t argue; instead, I pack a bag, throwing in toiletries and clothes for a couple of days.

“Don’t worry about forgetting anything. We’re going to get the crew rooms too. The bus will be close by.”

“Do you want me to call and arrange it?” I ask.

“No, Kacen is having Cassidy take care of it. The label will cover it.”

I throw a few more things in my bag and zip it up.

“You forgot something, babe,” he says with a smile.

“What’s that?”

Leaning down, he reaches into my cubby and pulls out my Kindle charger. “Thought you might want to take this too.”

Really? As if he doesn’t make my heart race on a normal day, sweet Cole has to go and remember my Kindle charger. Most men would bitch about their girl “reading all the damn time.”

“Thank you.”

He nods, and I stand and wait for him while he throws a few things into a bag. Once he’s finished, he reaches out and takes mine from me. “I’ll have the crew load this up.”

So I guess I’m getting to see a little of the “spoiled rock star,” but this is still not at all what I expected.





I managed to fold my six-foot-four self into the back of our Suburban. Gavin likes to drive, Tristan called shotgun, and Kacen, of course, wanted to sit with his wife. Not that I’m complaining; I’m not going to make the pregnant girl climb into the back, of course. So here I sit, with Stacy squished beside me. I couldn’t have planned it better if I’d tried. The radio is up, so each of us are having our own conversations.

“You’re all scrunched.” She giggles

I rub my thumb across her knuckles; I can’t be this close to her and not be touching her. She never resists anymore.

“I’m not complaining. I’m scrunched with you.”

“I guess you think that’s a good thing?”

“I do. So tell me, what do you want to do the next couple of days?”

“Cole, it’s your time off. You’ve been working nonstop. Go out, have some fun.”

Here we go. Not exactly how I wanted to have this conversation, but it needs to finally happen. I slouch in the seat and pull her close to me. She’s facing away from me, but my arms are wrapped around her. My lips next to her ear, I start to talk.

“Stacy, I want to be your more. I want to try this with you. I haven’t touched—hell, looked at another woman in months. You consume me. I want you to be my girl. I want to give this a go, see if we can make this work.” I kiss the top of her head.