Wicked Force (Wicked Horse Vegas #4.5)(29)

We’ve kept in touch since then with promises if we were ever in the same corner of the world again, we’d make plans to get our fix together. I wonder if Joslyn would jump out of a plane with me. My guess is probably not, but that makes me adore her all the more. I make a mental note to call Rachel later to make plans, and instead dial Joslyn’s number. I’m anxious to hear how things are going with her mother.

I’m only anxious because Joslyn’s nervous about it. I could give a fuck what Madeline thinks of me personally and I’m pretty sure she’s not going to be happy about this because she doesn’t want Joslyn’s focus anywhere but her career. I can handle any animosity she might throw my way but I’ll be bloody pissed if she takes it out on her daughter.

Joslyn doesn’t answer and I get her voice mail. I don’t bother leaving a message but instead shoot a quick text to her. All went fine with Jerico. He wouldn’t let me resign and I didn’t get fired. Call me after you talk to your mom.

I debate for a moment whether or not to end it on an endearment. This is new territory for me and I don’t want to fail her expectations, but I have no clue what they may be.

To be safe though, I say what’s in my heart. Can’t wait to see you tonight.

We’ve made plans to have an early dinner before she has to leave for her show. We also made tentative plans for her to come to my place after her show. I plan on being there to watch it, and I plan on driving her right back to my place whether Madeline likes it or not. Joslyn and I talked about this and she’s ready to live her life as an adult and out from under her mother’s constant thumb.

She can’t stay all night, though. I told her that we needed to be a little mindful of her mother’s feelings and be a little respectful of that. Still, I’m assuming gradually and over time, Joslyn will just naturally end up at my place permanently, and then it will become “our” place.

Yeah... that has a nice ring to it.





Chapter 14



Joslyn



I hate that I’m nervous as I put the key into the apartment door. Jayce takes up a post in the hallway. He never hangs out in the apartment the way Kynan did, but then again, I never invited him to. There’s something about him that doesn’t inspire the warm and fuzzies.

“Joslyn,” my mother exclaims, and she’s there to greet me as I’m closing the door. She wraps me in a warm hug, which is a rarity these days, and it surprises me so much, it takes me a moment to reciprocate.

My mom, dad, and I were always an openly affectionate family. From as early as I can remember, my mom always had a place for me on her lap. Throughout the years, I never questioned her love or loyalty to me. The affection between us was easy and natural, and yet it started to disappear when I entered show business.

Or rather, when she became my business manager. I came to understand why she changed as I rationalized it was too hard for her to be tough with me on the business side of things and loving to me on the mom side of things.

She had to pick a side, and she chose being a business manager as her primary role. This was okay with me because I couldn’t do any of this without her, and as I got older, I was secure enough to know she loved me without the physical reassurance of hugs.

It feels nice hugging her now, and I squeeze her back extra tight.

“I missed you,” I tell her, because I did. We’ve been together for so long and rarely are apart.

She pulls back from the hug but keeps her hands on my shoulders. She tries to contain it but fails, and the most enthusiastic smile I’ve ever seen graces her face. “You’ll never guess what?”

“What?” I ask with a laugh.

“Ian’s here in Vegas,” she proclaims like a giddy schoolgirl. “He has the contract to represent you, and he says he already has an offer for you that is so big, we’re not going to believe it.”

“Oh,” I say softly, not expecting that at all.

“Oh?” she teases me as her hands drop from my shoulders. She clasps them in front of her chest and practically hops in place with excitement. “Is that all you have to say? Come on, Joslyn... this is it. Your big break. And while I have no idea what kind of offer he’s been given for you, he told me that he was taking us both out to the most expensive restaurant in Vegas for a celebratory meal tonight. We have to meet him at 6PM so you need to make sure you’re ready to go at 5:30. He’s going to send a car for us.”

My head is spinning with all of this, but the only thing that can come out of my mouth is, “But I have plans tonight.”

The expression on my mom’s face changes into one of blank confusion. “Plans? What plans could be more important, and for that matter, why aren’t you excited about this?”

“I’m just shocked,” I tell her sincerely. “As soon as it sinks in, I’m sure I’ll be jumping up and down with you. But I really can’t do dinner tonight.”

Her face morphs again and now she’s pissed. “What could possibly be more important?”

And now it’s time to tell her my big news, except now I’ve been set up to completely fail. I expected her to be mad and upset over my relationship with Kynan but by telling her I have plans tonight, I’ve set him up as being more important to me than my career or her, and that’s not good at all.