Don’t Fall For A Dreamer (Wayward Lane Backstage #3)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

EVERT

I should’ve been spending a lazy Saturday morning at home, in bed. After all, I’d barely slept last night, with the last of my guests finally leaving at three in the morning. But I was worried about Jesse, and I needed to make sure he was alright. And once I set my mind to something, there was no stopping me.

But, of course, getting Brodie to reveal Jesse’s address wasn’t that simple. I called the lead singer directly, and he had tons of nosy questions about why I needed to see Jesse so urgently. My answer?

“When I know, you’ll know. Give me the damn information already.”

Hey, Jesse wasn’t the only one who was a grump in the morning.

And when the sexy manager opened his door, disheveled, wearing the same clothes from last night, there was no stopping my racing heart or my weak knees. Fuck, I had it bad. It was those damn eyes of his. The power of his dark gaze drew me in like a magnet.

It was one thing to interact with someone in a professional capacity but it was another to step inside their home and catch glimpses of their everyday life. Jesse’s apartment was spacious but simple, not cluttered up with a ton of stuff. There were a few pictures on the walls, scenes from some of Nashville’s most popular music spots, and various international cities like Paris and London. But no personal photos. Given what he told me about leaving home, that wasn’t a surprise. But what about friends? Lovers? Then again, maybe he saved those personal kinds of photos for his bedroom.

Thinking about his bedroom, and Jesse lying in bed, had my mind and body veering way off track. Jesse was bossy at work, a total control freak. Of course he was, he had to be. My guess was that personally, he needed to let go. To let someone else take charge. I ached to show him how beautiful it could be if he did just that. Would he want that? Me? Did he feel this incredible connection building between us?

The more I got to know Jesse, the more I wanted to know…everything.

While we sat and ate in his living room, I noticed the guitar sitting by the door. He couldn’t stop staring at it.

“Is that the guitar you were playing last night?” I asked, even though I already knew the answer to my question.

“Holloway forgot to take it when he left. I’m surprised, though. It’s a custom piece that’s worth a lot of money, and not to mention, it’s one of his babies.”

I had a sneaking suspicion that Holloway didn’t forget at all. Not after learning that Brodie asked Jesse to play with them on tour. The boys of the band were plotting Jesse’s comeback.

“I don’t play, but I appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into creating it,” I replied. “And speaking of creating, do you think you’ll want to play again?”

Jesse blew out a long breath. “I’m not sure. It’s almost like no time has passed but, it doesn’t feel the same as before. It’s hard to explain.”

I was about to ask him another question when his phone buzzed. Giving him privacy, I got up and headed for the kitchen.

“It’s only a reminder. I have to head into the studio,” Jesse announced. “Can I drop you off anywhere?”

Damn, I was hoping to spend more time with him.

“I took a rideshare,” I explained. “I can find my way back home.”

“What are you up to today?” Jesse asked, surprising me.

“Laundry, sorting through photos, cleaning. The usual exciting shit that happens on the weekend,” I quipped.

“Why don’t you come with? The boys are doing a rehearsal. I’m sure they’d appreciate audience feedback.”

Fuck me, was he serious? If so, I wasn’t going to waste this opportunity.

“Yeah, that’d be great. Can I use your washroom before we head out?”

“Of course. Down the hallway, last door on the right.”

I wandered off, and passed a closed door, then a bedroom. I kept going until I found the washroom. Bold red walls and bright lighting greeted me. The space was as neat as the rest of the place. The lingering scent of lime and sandalwood caught my attention. Jesse’s bodywash? Delicious images of Jesse standing naked in that shower had me splashing cold water on my face to cool down.

After I washed up, I headed out to find Jesse waiting by the door, the guitar in his left hand, and his phone in his right.

“You set?” he asked.

“No suspenders today?”

He smiled, a genuine one, and when that dimple in his right cheek popped, it knocked the breath right out of me. Oh man, I was so fucked.

“Since I don’t have any meetings, it’s a jeans and scruff day.”

“It suits.” I smiled at him. “The jeans and the scruff. I wish I had my camera with me to capture you like this.”

Jesse groaned and shook his head. “None of that now. I told you, I’m not one of your models.”

“No, you’re not.” I stepped up close to him and he retreated, his back hitting the door.

I leaned forward, hands on either side of his head, so close that I could smell his bodywash and the mint on his breath.

“You’re much more intriguing,” I admitted. “But stubborn, too. Can’t you see how fucking sexy you are?”

“Stop.”

“Jesse,” I insisted.

“Ev.”

A shiver ran through me when he said my name. I took a chance and reached up, cupping his stubbled jaw. “Don’t argue with me, cari?o.”

“What are you doing?” he whispered.

“I’m showing you exactly what I mean when I say you’re sexy,” I replied, leaning in so close that the heated puffs of his breath tickled my lips. “I want to kiss you. Tell me you want that too.”

Jesse groaned and stared at my mouth.

“This is a bad idea,” he confessed.

“Given that we work together, yes. But I’m an artist. I lead with my heart,” I replied. “Just like you.”

“Ev.”

“Say yes.”

Jesse licked his lips and nodded, and a rush of exhilaration swept over me. I didn’t dare give him a chance to change his mind.

I swooped in and took his mouth and there was nothing tentative in our first kiss. Like a match to a white-hot flame, fireworks launched. This kiss was everything I’d been missing in my life since Zachary died. And if this didn’t convince Jesse that I found him sexy as hell, I didn’t know what would.

I slid my tongue in Jesse’s mouth and tasted all of him, relishing his moan, reveling in my own. Delving my tongue deeper, feasting on him, until his decadent groans turned to whimpers. My dick throbbed, my balls ached, and I leaned in, rubbing my hips against Jesse’s, letting him know how much I wanted this. Us. Him.

Then I heard a familiar buzz. His phone. Fuck, talk about the worst timing ever.

I gave Jesse one last kiss and slowly pulled away. His face was flushed, his pupils blown, and I ached just staring at him. He was beautiful, and how he could think he was anything but was a complete mystery to me.

“We better get going.”

He frowned. “What?”

“Your phone? The studio?” I chuckled.

I still hadn’t let go of him, rubbing my thumb along his soft, swollen lips.

“Oh, yeah. That.”

He licked his lips, swiping my thumb in the process. It took all the control I had to stay still, to not lean in and kiss him again like I wanted to, until neither of us could breathe.

“I’d prefer to stay here and kiss you all damn day, but I know that duty calls.”

Jesse nodded, not saying a word. He was trembling and so was I. Both of us were dealing with the aftershock of that kiss.

“Give me a minute,” he whispered.

“I’ll need more than that.”

Jesse

Thank God I was leaning against the door because once Evert kissed me, I could barely stand, never mind speak. That kiss was so damn good that a part of me wondered if I’d imagined the whole thing. Did that really happen? My aching dick and swollen mouth said ‘yes’. But I couldn’t recall the last time a kiss rendered me speechless.

How about never?

Not even with Landry. But then again, I knew the second I kissed my bandmate that it was a mistake. It was all me, and not him. He started out hugging me for comfort, and I totally misread the situation. He didn’t want me that way, and it was the beginning of the end. Of our friendship, and then, the band. I learned a painful lesson. And I never did that again. I always waited for the other man to make the first move. And man, did Evert have moves.

Most of my hookups didn’t even bother with kissing anyway, and it was fine by me. Kissing was intimate. Fucking hell, that kiss with Evert was all that and more.

He stepped back, growling in frustration, and reached down to adjust himself. I wanted to drop to my knees for him, right fucking now, but my phone kept vibrating and there was no time.

“Let’s go.” Evert gently pulled me away from the door and reached for the handle.

Surprisingly, I still had the guitar case in my hand. Thank fuck I hadn’t dropped it because Holloway would never forgive me. Even though the guitar was the last thing on my mind at this point. My legs wobbled, my heart was a runaway train, and I wondered how I was ever going to concentrate. For the first time in years, I didn’t want to go to work. I wanted to stay here, with Ev. Lie on the couch together or stretch out on my bed. Play my guitar and sing to him.

God, listen to yourself. It was one freaking kiss.

Best kiss ever.

“Um, I need my car keys,” I muttered, my voice hoarse.

“We’re taking a rideshare,” Ev announced.

“I can drive?—”

“No way. You probably only slept a few hours on that couch, not to mention the remnants of last night’s alcohol in your system,” Evert insisted.

“But—”

He leaned over and kissed me again, silencing any further comment. An effective tactic that was both bossy and sexy. One I wasn’t prepared for.

“Fine,” I grumbled. “But don’t think every time we have an argument you can do that.”

“Do what?” he stared at me innocently.

“Kiss me like that.”

Evert’s response was a dirty chuckle that made all the hair on my body stand on end.

“Move it, cari?o,” he demanded and swatted my ass. “Before I change my mind.”