Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(57)

“Oh, you mean ‘my man’? Yeah, Tristan needs the extra coverage.” I can see the fire in his eyes.

“Mine,” he declares as he kisses me hard.

His hand snakes under the sweatshirt I’m wearing and that’s when I remember—I can’t get naked with him, not yet. I need to stop this. “Go, I have to make myself rock star-girlfriend material.”

“You’re f*cking beautiful right here, right now. I would walk off this bus with you on my arm and be damn f*cking honored that it’s you.”

“I love you, Cole Hampton. Now, go. I’ll be here when you get back.”

With one last kiss, he’s gone. I exhale in relief. Since I can get ready without anyone here, there is less of a chance of them seeing what I’m hiding.





The crowds on this tour keep getting better and better. The rush of knowing that thousands of people come out each night just to watch us will never get old. I watch from my spot on the stage as Kacen interacts with the crowd.

“It’s f*cking hot in here!” he bellows into the microphone as he rips his T-shirt over his head. I throw my head back and laugh as he tosses it out to the crowd. People are diving just to touch a shirt that he wore.

That shit is crazy! I don’t think it’s something I will ever get used to. Glancing over, I see Logan wearing a grin, her hands protectively on their baby. She knows just like the rest of the world that this is all show. Kacen only has eyes for his wife. He’s adamant about the fact and will tell anyone willing to listen.

Stacy is sitting next to Logan, nodding along to the beat that Tristan is now tapping out on his drums. I force myself to take my eyes off her and get my head back in the show.

“Kace, my man, you shouldn’t have done that,” I say into my mic.

“Here we go,” Gavin chimes in.

“It’s f*cking hot up here, center-stage, C,” Kacen replies, and the crowd goes wild.

Gavin and I join Kace center-stage. “Ladies, we need some help,” I address the crowd.

“You see, Kace here has all this.” Gavin points to Kacen. “But we think you would rather see this.” He points to me.

I slide my guitar to my back and lift my shirt. The deafening screams of the ladies fill the arena.

“Or,” I say, pulling my shirt, back down, “this.” I point to Gavin and he mimics what I just did, pulling up his shirt.

The beat stops. “Hold up, fellas.” Tristan grabs his mic and steps down from the drums. “Looks to me like they need to be able to read the full menu before ordering.” He stops beside me. “Right, ladies?”

It amazes me the men who toss their women on their shoulders just to get closer to us. If that was me, and it was Stacy, I don’t think I could do it. I don’t think I could watch her drool and scream over a guy who wasn’t me. It’s also surprising that a good majority of our fan base is women. Who knew?

Tristan takes his turn and, of course, the crowd goes wild.

“Well, my beautiful wife is the only opinion that matters.” Kacen looks to the side-stage area and holds his hand out.

As if they share a brain, Logan slowly stands and walks toward us. He meets her halfway, kissing her before they go any further.

“You all have met my wife, right? Baby, meet this kick-ass crowd we have tonight.” Again, the roars fill the arena.

Logan gives a shy wave. “You heard it, ladies. Your options just dwindled down to three,” Gavin informs them.

The crowd eats this shit up and gives us time to catch our breath before finishing the show. Suddenly, an idea hits. “Make that two, my man. My girl is backstage,” I confess.

I look over at Stacy and she’s grinning. No matter what gets thrown at her, at us, she’s wearing that smile for me. I decide to push my luck a little and hold my hand out for her, just like Kacen did for Logan.

She shakes her head.

“They want to meet you, sweets,” I say into the mic. The crowd lets her know that what I say is true.

She shakes her head again and I can almost read her mind. “Logan’s a wife, I’m just a girlfriend.” But she’s more than that. Someday, I will convince her of the fact.

“Stacy,” I say. The microphone picks it up and they start chanting her name.

“Stacy, Stacy, Stacy.”

Reluctantly, she stands and takes a hesitant step. That’s all I need. I jog to her and wrap my arm around her shoulders. Leaning over, I kiss the top of her head as we join the group center-stage. “Here she is. Babe, meet tonight’s crowd.”

More cheers and chants of her name flow through the arena.

“Looks like our boy Cole is officially off the market. That leaves these two jokers.” Kacen points to Tristan and Gavin.

“Winner gets bragging rights,” I say, keeping Stacy tucked into my side.

“Now, let’s do this so we can get back to f*cking rocking!” Kacen booms into the microphone. “When I point, you need to make some noise. Loudest is the winner, you know the drill,” he explains to the crowd.

I drown out the rest of what’s going on.

She’s all I see.

With my arm still around her shoulders, I guide her to stand in front of me. When I have her where I want her, I place one hand on the small of her back, holding her to me, and the other lifts her chin. I don’t speak and neither does she. It wouldn’t matter anyway; the noise of the crowd would drown it out. Instead of words, I give her actions. Bending down, I capture her lips with mine. Instantly, her arms wrap around my neck and I allow myself to get lost in her.