“Then we better get some shut-eye,” I said, stretching out along his body. “I’m not the friendliest person in the morning.”

August smiled and scrubbed his hands over his face. “No one’s worse than Camden.”

We’d see.

Chapter 8

Washed by the Water - I

I chugged half a bottle of water as Luiz and Chris guided us into what was the most challenging song for me, personally. I had to bring out the gospel singer in me, and I glanced back to find Maria giving me a reassuring nod.

Chris’s bass danced with Luiz’s crashing cymbals, and Nicky unleashed the feedback effect from his guitar. It was about everything I’d get where backup sound was concerned, at least through the parts where my singing was the focus.

I cleared my throat and gestured to Luiz that I was ready.

Have mercy.

I summoned all the strength I could at the bottom of my stomach and screwed my eyes shut. Only Maria and Matt existed at the forefront of my mind; it was them I sang with, them I led through the first two minutes of the eight-minute-long song.

Have mercy.

Then I got a quick breather but made sure I never looked out over the crowd. This song was too personal; I put every fiber and emotion of myself into it. Luiz took it away, expertly, and marked on the tom right before everyone else joined in. Bass, drums, guitars, keyboard, choir.

I bent the strings and bobbed my head to the beat, delivering a short solo that Sylvia took over soon enough.

Have fucking mercy.

In my defense, the reason I wasn’t feeling moody the following morning was August.

“If you’d canceled your reservation yesterday like I told you to, they wouldn’t be charging you for a second night you’re not even there.” He nuzzled my neck and nipped at my skin, sharply enough for me to wince.

“Lesson learned?” I grinned lazily and set down my phone on the kitchen counter. Then I locked my arms around his neck and sought out his lips. “I didn’t know youse were gonna want me to stay beyond the first night, and the motel had already charged me for that.”

He hummed into a slow, tongue-teasing kiss. “Well, now you know. You’re mine for the rest of your stay in Nashville.”

I could live with that.

I deepened the kiss and thought, I could live with this too. Waking up in August’s bed, to his kisses, to him seducing me, to him fucking me like a god in the shower, then coming down here to make breakfast together while the sun rose outside.

The coffee was ready.

The eggs were scrambled and cooking on low heat.

Bacon strips in the oven.

“Daddy!” Camden whined sleepily from upstairs. “Why’d’ju set my ’laaarm?”