I laugh and offer them to his bandmates.
When I get to Cooper, who’s leaning against the wall, he rubs his hands together. “My favorite. Thanks.”
“I’m sorry about this morning,” I say quietly. “I didn’t mean to be rude to your friend.”
“It’s all good,” he says as he chomps his snack.
I hope that’s true. I don’t want there to be bad blood between us. And his situation with his girlfriend is none of my beeswax.
When the guys gear up to go on stage, I get Layla out of her stroller and hand her to her dad. After he kisses her chubby cheek, Jace holds her with one arm and tosses his other around my shoulders as we head to the stairs. “I might be late tonight. We’re supposed to cross-promote with the other bands afterward.”
“Do you want me to grab you some dinner? I was going to get something after the show.”
“If it’s not too much trouble.”
I open my mouth to respond, but I’m shoved back by a whirlwind of red as a woman scoots between us and throws herself at him.
“Jace! Oh my God, it’s been a million years! How are you?”
Behind her, Frank sports a fierce frown. When he makes eye contact with me, he mouths, “Marlowe.”
Dang it, I wondered if this was Jace’s ex, the one he swore he didn’t date but obviously loved.
She’s beautiful and tall with a mass of sleek red hair and all kinds of curves that put my bikini-clad boobs to shame. I tuck my shirt closed and back away, but once the clinger lets go of him, Jace grabs my hand and tugs me closer.
“Hey, Marlowe. What’s up?” he says casually as he hands me Layla.
She does that thing where she sizes me up in two seconds and turns so I’m not part of this conversation. “I’ve missed you! I’mso glad we’re on tour together again. This summer is going to be fun.”
So much fun.
“Walker.” Frank motions to the stage, and Jace nods.
I expect him to wrap things up with Marlowe. Instead, he turns to me and cups my face. “Meet up later?”
“Yeah. I’ll grab you dinner.”
When he leans down to kiss me, I shove my hand in his thick hair. I’m committed to selling this kiss.
Except I don’t have to.
Because the moment our lips part and his tongue strokes mine for the first time, I let out an embarrassingly loud moan.
Like an involuntary response, my fingers tighten in his hair as my nipples go rock hard.
Layla pats my face. “Mama!”
Wow. I forgot I was holding Layla. I back away with a laugh and hug Layla to my chest. “Good luck tonight. Not that you need it.”
Did Layla call me Mama?No, silly. She’s at that age where she confuses a female with her mommy.
Jace winks and heads for the stairs.
All the while, his ex watches us with wide eyes.
I’m tempted to tell her I’m just as stunned by this turn of events as she is. Instead, I smile at her naively, like I don’t know what she was trying to do a minute ago.
But I have one advantage—I know this is all pretend.