STONED (Wrecked Book 1) (14 page)

“Joaquin, have you found the last song for your album yet?” One of the guys asks. I think he was introduced as Kevin, one of the producers.

“No, I’m still looking. I’ve found a few I like but nothing that’s screaming at me,” he answers. I stiffen when I think about why he doesn’t have that song. Joaquin places his arm along the back of my chair, his thumb stroking softly over the bare skin of my shoulder giving me goose bumps.

“Are you cold,
chèrie
?” he leans in and whispers. Shaking my head no, I give him a small smile and will myself to calm down.

“What happened with that one song? I thought you found it months ago?” someone else pipes in.

Without missing a beat and without any resentment in his tone he answers, “I had but she wouldn’t budge on it.” Gently he nudges my leg with his. When I feel his eyes on me, I glance over to find him smiling. “She’s a ball buster and wasn’t impressed with my status.” Phillipe chuckles softly into his napkin.

“A first time for everything, no?” he says to Joaquin.

Before either of us can reply, Kevin sympathizes. “That sucks. I know how much you loved that one. Talked about it nonstop for weeks. Is it someone the label can contact and try to convince?”

“Nope. The label has even less of a chance than he does,” I answer a now startled looking Kevin.

“It’s your song?”

“It is. Well, it was,” I murmur. My mind made up. Again I can feel Joaquin’s gaze on me. The others at the table watching us curiously.

“Was? Did you decide to give it to someone?” Joaquin asks a bit crestfallen.

“I did,” I say, taking a sip of my water. Letting him hang for a moment. Torture, I know, but he looks so adorably hot with that sad look on his face.

“I’m sure they’ll take good care of it and make it a chart topper,” he says, placing a kiss to my temple. He’s very affectionate. I can’t help but love the attention he gives me without even thinking about it.

“Oh, I have no doubt that he will. I would never have decided to let him have it if I didn’t think he would.” I’ve drawn this out long enough. I turn to Phillipe and say nonchalantly, “You can send all the paperwork over to Bear whenever you get the chance, Mr. Theroux. I’ll have him look over them and get it all back to you as soon as possible so that you guys can get into the studio and get the album all wrapped up.” His wide smile lets me know he understands what I’ve just said and who the song is for.

“
Chèrie
?” Joaquin questions, hopeful and a smidge confused.

Meeting his gaze, molten chocolate with swirls of caramel, I smile, “It’s yours.” I feel it’s the least I can do for this man who is awakening so many feelings I’d forgotten about.

Joaquin catches me off guard when he takes my face in his hands and kisses me softly. Just the corner of my mouth, a whisper, as his beard tickles over my lips. “
Merci
. I promise you won’t be sorry,” he murmurs. All I can do is nod. Part of me wanting to chase after his kiss, the other needing to run from the onslaught of emotions that simple non-kiss, this smooth, considerate Frenchman, evokes in me.

He’s quiet on the ride home but it’s not uncomfortable. Sometime soon after we got in the car, he took my hand in his and laid it on my thigh. His thumb brushing over my knuckles rhythmically. By this point my nerve endings are dancing, need zinging through me with every pass across my overly sensitized skin. When we pull up to the house, dark but for the porch light blazing, I’m not sure whether I’m disappointed or relieved. I know I’m tired of these yoyo-ing emotions though.

Soundlessly he releases my hand and slides from the car. Just as I’m reaching for the door handle, he opens it from the outside, offering me his hand to help me from the low slung seat. Without releasing me, he closes the door and we start up the pathway to my front porch.

“Thank you for tonight. For coming with me and for the song. I honestly wasn’t expecting it. Had given up on it, truth be told.” He chuckles but then pulls me to a halt. Serious now, he turns me to face him. “You know that none of this, the time we’ve been spending together, had anything to do with your song,
chèrie
. That was all because of you. Because you make me feel things I’ve not allowed myself to take the time to feel in a long, long time.” Joaquin brushes the hair from my shoulder, giving us both a moment to absorb his words. I silently thank him for that because I’m incapable of speaking right now. “I care for you, Willow. A lot. I look at you and your daughter, and I feel . . . warmth. I know that sounds so strange, but it’s the only way to describe it.” Shaking his head a little as if he doesn’t understand it any more than I do. “I find myself just wanting to be with you. It’s not something I’m used to. Maybe it’s because you couldn’t care less who I am or that you don’t want anything to do with the business, you’re not trying to move up the ladder. Whatever it is, I like it. Like the way it makes me feel to know there’s no hidden agenda.” Joaquin cups my face, tilting it up to see him better. “Let me take your time and give you mine,
chèrie
. You and Lyric.” His accent is melodic, his words even more so. I’m enthralled and entranced.

Giddy and nervous and deathly afraid of all of it, I just nod my head yes. Without thought, without regret. “Okay.”

His crooked smile is a beautiful sight. White teeth flashing through his satiny beard. When he lowers his head, gaze steady on mine, watching for any sign of hesitation, I show none. Just stand, waiting for his kiss. The kiss I’ve been thinking about all night. “I’m going to kiss you, Willow,” Joaquin whispers, his breath warming my lips.

And again, all I can say is, “Okay.” My eyes flutter closed just as his mouth covers mine. Soft, firm, patient, and needy. His beard tickling. My heart races as fast as my mind when he slides his hands in my hair, tilting my head and slowly brushing his tongue along my bottom lip, asking for entrance. A shiver races up my spine when I open to him and let him in. He moans softly, or maybe it’s me. Pulling me tighter against him, I can feel him hardening where our bodies are flush. It excites me and scares me all at once. My feelings are contradicting each other with every new sensation that washes over me. I want nothing more than to just be in this moment, but as much as I love his lips on me, his gentle domination, I can’t quiet the riotous thoughts knocking around in my head. Making their presence known.

Joaquin breaks the kiss even though I can see it’s a struggle for him. Gliding his hands out of my hair, he gently brushes his thumb along my lips, taking away the, moisture of our kiss along with the taste of him. “Goodnight,
chèrie
.”

“Night, Joaquin,” I say in a soft voice and then turn on trembling legs to let myself in the house. As I shut the door, I give him a small wave that he returns. The moment it’s closed, I pop up on tiptoes to look out the peephole. He’s still standing there, rubbing two fingers over his bottom lip, a small, satisfied smile gracing that wicked talented mouth that just worked its magic on me. When he turns and heads back to his car in the drive, I slip out of my shoes and quietly head up the stairs to Lyric’s nursery. I need the serenity I always find there to calm the chaos Joaquin and his kiss caused. The first kiss from a man other than Stone in years and I liked it. A lot. I liked it so much I want to do it again. Just as soon as I stop feeling so damn guilty.

Willow

I’VE NEVER SEEN A TRACK
get added to an album so fast in my life. But it did. It was the last song to be added before the album was released and they wasted no time. The day after I relinquished rights to him, it was done. JD, as I had taken to calling him, much to his dismay, had called and asked if I wanted to sing backup on it, and I said no. There was something too intimate about singing with him. Especially this song. A song I had written when I was at my lowest. That was two months ago, and now it’s number one on every damn billboard chart. They wanted to get the album released in time to still have a chance to be nominated. And with the awards being held over the next few months, it looked like Joaquin had a solid shot.

Walking into my class, I stop short at the huge bouquet of flowers on the desk. I don’t have to read the card to know who they’re from. Joaquin and I have been inseparable since that night two months ago when he kissed me. If he’s not in the studio, we’re together, and even sometimes when he is in the studio. Plucking the card from the arrangement, I place Lyric, asleep in her car seat, on the chair and open it.

Chèrie,

I just wanted to let you know that I’m thinking about you always.

I’ll be back in a few days. I can’t wait to kiss you.

Tu me manques,

Joaquin

The man can’t help being so damn French. I give him hell about it, but I love every moment of it. Grabbing my phone, I do a search to see what “
Tu me manques
” means. “You are missing from me,” I say out loud to a sleeping Lyric and an otherwise empty room. “Swoony bastard.” My smile is reflected in my voice. Switching to my messages, I shoot one off before the class fills with kids.

Me: My flowers are beautiful. Thank you.

Joaquin: I’m glad you like them. I have a gift for you and the bébé. I’ll come as soon as I land.

Me: Stop buying us things!!!!

Me: What is it?

Joaquin: Ha! Not telling.

Me: Fine. Gotta go, class is starting.

Joaquin: See you soon

Me: Soon! And you’re missing from me too.

Joaquin: For once your French is perfect.

Me: xoxoxoxo

Joaquin: Bisous

Tucking the phone away I check on Lyric one last time, placing her little headphones on her head and then prepare the room for the class. I want her to sleep as long as she will. Cora is taking the baby to see her mother again—they just love her at the nursing home—and I’m playing at The Dirty Bird tonight, so Bear is going to come and pick Lyric up here, making my life a little easier. They’re such a huge help, I’m not sure how I would do it without them and Perry. I’m brought from my musings when the door opens and Grady comes running in all smiles and ready to get his music on. I shouldn’t have favorites, but I do and it’s him. It can’t be helped. The kid is too damn cute.

We’re nearly through the class when Bear ambles in. He’s a big man. Huge. Over six and a half feet, dwarfing my own five foot four frame and making the kids look like ants. They’re not afraid of him though. He’s like the gentle giant and when he walks in they get excited, begging him to sing along with them. It warms my heart how far some of these children have come. How trusting and eager. Vocal, when few wouldn’t or couldn’t speak at all just a few weeks ago. I look over at Bear and shrug.

“What’ll it be, Bear?” I ask him, grinning.

Tapping a finger to his bearded chin, “Hmmmmm. I don’t think I know any songs. Maybe you guys should sing one to me,” he tells them in his booming voice. This delights them to no end and they decide to serenade him with the song we’ve been working on for the last couple weeks. Grady brings me my guitar and we sing loud and proud until the very last note.

Beaming, I stand at the rug that they’re all sitting around or near. “Take a bow everyone. That was the best one yet!” I praise.

Bear congratulates them on a job well done and stands at the door giving high fives and knuckles as they file out of the room. Just the sight of their little happy faces humbles me. I’m really not sure how my life could get any better right now. I’m on cloud nine. New man, job I love, friends who go above and beyond, and the most precious baby a mom could ask for. Nothing can bring me down right now. I hold on to that thought tight because it’s been a long time since I’ve been this happy, and after the year and a half I’ve had, I’m holding on with both hands.

“You ready, Willow?” Bear asks, lifting Lyric’s car seat from its perch, careful not to jostle her.

“Yep, sure am.” Gathering my things I flip the lights as he takes my guitar case from me and leads me from the room. The smell of the wildflowers on my desk following after me, making me think again of Joaquin.

Stone