Today is the day Gavin and Kacen are meeting with Wilson. He thinks they’re going to talk to him about taking a deal, and they are, kind of. The plan is to get him to release us from our contract with the thought that Stacy will drop the charges. What he won’t know is that, unless we have an attorney there—which we won’t—it means nothing.
Our attorney already drew up the paperwork for terminating our contract early. Gavin has spoken to the board members and they’re all appalled at what Wilson did to Stacy. He claims they’re behind us.
I begged them to let me go, since I still have some payback to give him for hurting her, but Stacy shot it down before my boys could even open their mouths. Turns out, my girl is fiercely protective like me. I have to admit that, as I lie here holding her in my arms watching the sunrise, I think I got the better deal. Gavin and Kacen have to be at the label in thirty minutes.
I look down at my sleeping beauty and the last twenty-four hours replay in my mind. Once I had her in my bed, I wanted her everywhere. I want to be able to walk into my condo and see her. I want to be flooded with memories of our time together. Surely that will hold me over during the times she’s not with me, right?
Then again, once this place sells, the effort will have been lost, but not forgotten. I could never forget a single second of my time with her. We’ll just have to christen the new house, the one I hope to buy soon. The realtor sent me an e-mail; there is a house just down the street from Kace and Logan that just came up for sale. There isn’t even a sign in the yard yet. I know the place, and I’m crossing my fingers that she falls in love with it. I know she’ll love the idea of living so close to her best friend. Yes, I want her to move in. I want it all with her. Every fucking cliché you can think of, I want it.
We’re supposed to see the house at ten this morning; I didn’t want to take the chance of someone buying it out from under me. Not to mention that I don’t want to wait to put my plans in motion. I want to build a life with her. It will also help both of us keep our minds off what’s going on with the label and Wilson. I trust Gavin, so I have to have faith that it’s all going to work out.
Regardless, I have her. She’s all that matters.
“Hey,” she says in her sleepy, sexy-as-hell voice.
“Morning, sweets.” I kiss her temple.
“How long have you been up?” She stretches and I’m transfixed by her naked body on display before me.
“Cole.” She giggles.
I fucking love that sound.
“A while. We have somewhere to be at ten.”
She sits up. “What time is it? Where are we going?
“It’s just after seven. My realtor sent me an e-mail, and there is a house I want to go look at.”
“Really? What’s wrong with this place?” she asks, confused.
It hits me that I’ve yet to fill her in on any of my plans. “I think it’s time for a house.” I shrug as if it’s not a big fucking deal, but it is a big fucking deal. I just can’t let her know that yet. I have a few other surprises up my sleeve. “Things are changing. We’re going to be in town for longer periods of time. This was never a permanent solution.”
She studies me like she knows I’m not telling her the whole story. “I guess I better get dressed.”
She’s out of bed and across the room before I can stop her. I don’t protest, just watch her firm ass until it disappears behind the bathroom door. I want to join her, but then I’ll want to ravish her and we don’t have time for that. Besides, she needs a break after yesterday.
I grab some clothes and go to the guest bathroom to shower, alone. Time to put plans for the future in motion.
“This is it? This is the house?” Stacy asks with excitement in her voice.
“Yeah.” I smile at her.
“Logan and Kacen are right down the street. How awesome is that?” she squeals. “I mean, that would be convenient, right? For the band and the label and all that?”
She tries to downplay her excitement, but her little outburst tells me that my next phase is going to be easy. I thought I would have to pull out some persuasion tactics, but after her reaction, I don’t think it will be necessary. It’s as though she added herself into the equation of living next door to her best friend and then thought better of it.
“Let’s take a look,” I say, pulling the keys from the ignition.
Stacy is out of the car and bouncing on her heels waiting for me. Lacing my fingers through hers, we make our way to the front door. It pulls open just as I’m about to knock and the realtor, Tom something or other, is there to greet us.
“Mr. Hampton, good morning. It’s nice to officially meet you,” he says, all business.
I shake his hand. “You too. This is my girlfriend, Stacy.” She also reaches out and shakes his hand.
“Well, let’s get started. I like to give my clients a run-down of the property and leave you free to roam without me hovering over your shoulder. It’s six bedrooms, eight baths, four-car attached garage, state-of-the-art kitchen,” he rambles on the specs of the house. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me, take your time,” he finally says.
I motion for Stacy to go ahead of me. I want to see this place through her eyes, want to make sure she’ll be happy here. I know I will be if she’s here with me.
I follow behind her as she goes from room to room, pointing out all the features she loves. Nothing so far that she hates. The master bedroom has a huge walk-in shower with a million showerheads, which was on my list of must-haves. I could very easily remodel, but it will be nice to not have to. I’m pretty sure my girl loves this place.
“Cole, this kitchen is gorgeous,” Stacy says in awe.
She’s right. It’s state of the art, dark cabinets with granite countertops and all stainless steel appliances. Her eyes sparkle as she takes it in. I can see her making dinner, or maybe baking with our kids. Yeah, I went there, and I’m fucking stoked at the thought.
“Let’s take a look outside,” I suggest.
She leads the way out to the back deck. The view is amazing—in-ground pool, hot tube fire pit, you name it. “Wow,” she breathes.
I wrap my arms around her and pull her against my chest as we take in the backyard. “So, what do you think?”
“I think it’s amazing. You?”
Yes, you are. “You think you could see yourself living here?”
She’s quiet.
No response.
“Stacy?”
She turns in my arms and her eyes shimmer with tears she’s holding back. “You asking me to move in with you?”
“I thought it was a given. Where I go, you go,” I respond.
A lone tears falls from her eye. “Really?” She smiles.
I want to put that smile on her face every fucking day.
“I want you with me. Always,” I say, leaning down to rest my forehead against hers. “What do you say, sweets? Will you move in with me?”
I hear the door open as Tom steps out onto the deck. ‘What do you think?” he calls out to us.
“Stace?” I leave the ball in her court.
Pulling back, she looks up at me from under her lashes. “Yes.”
Relief washes through me. Step one complete. Looking over my shoulder, I address Tom, “We’ll take it.”
“Perfect.” He claps his hands together. “It’s immediate occupancy, so all we have to do is sign the paperwork and it’s all yours.”
“You just bought a house,” she beams.
“No, baby, we bought a house. This is your home now. Your home with me.” I kiss her slowly, tasting her, relishing the moment. Our first official step toward the future.
The ringing of my cell phone pulls me away from her. It’s the call I’ve been trying not to think about.
Gavin.
“Hey, man,” I greet him.
“C, you around?” he asks.
“Yeah, what’s up?” I’m playing it cool, but I’m nervous as fuck.
“We’re at Kacen’s. Tristan is on his way, thought we could have a little get-together and go over the meeting.” He says it as if we’ll be discussing the weather.
“Be right there.” I end the call. “Gavin wants us all to meet at Kacen’s. They’re back,” I tell Stacy.
She nods, the smile on her face vanishing as worry sets him. I tell Tom to get everything in order and to call me when it’s ready, then head down the road, not even a mile to Kacen’s. I want to be excited that we’ll be living so close, but first I need to know what the outcome of today was.
Tristan pulls in behind us. The three of us are quiet as we enter the house, following voices to the living room. Kace and Logan are on the small loveseat, their hands clasped around her growing belly. Gavin sits in the chair, Tristan taking the other while I lead Stacy to the couch. I pull her onto my lap, needing her close for this conversation. She grounds me.
“Well,” Tristan asks.
Gavin smirks. “He signed them. We’re free from our contract with Stone Records. He agreed to all our terms.”
I take what feels like my first breath in weeks.
“He was wasted, higher than a kite. We also got his recorded confession from that night. You won’t have to testify,” Kacen tells Stacy.
“Wh-what? How?” she stammers.
I rub circles on her back, though I’m not sure if it’s to soothe her or me.
Logan smiles, tears in her eyes at the news.
“I called Detective Morris, wanted to keep her in the loop with what was going on. They wired us.” Gavin points to his chest. “It’s official, so it will hold up in court. He even went a little further and divulged what his plans were had he not been interrupted.”
I clench my fists.
“That’s why I didn’t want you there, man. Even without that, you wouldn’t have been able to hold your temper. Having Tristan stay back was a decoy of sorts. Couldn’t have you thinking you were the only one.” Kacen smirks.
Stacy hops off my lap and rushes to Kacen. Leaning down, she hugs him then she and Logan share a crying hug as well. She stands and heads toward Gavin, who rises to greet her as she hugs him tight. For good measure, my girl also leans down and gives my man Tristan some love as well. Then she comes right back to me, where she belongs.
“I don’t know how to thank you,” she cries into her hands.
“You’re family, Stacy. Remember that,” Gavin explains.
“Good news all around today,” I remark.
“What did I miss?” Tristan asks.
The others are looking at me with the same question in their eyes. “We”—I give her leg a gentle squeeze—“bought a house.”
“No shit. Congratulations!” Tristan says.
“That’s big-time, C,” Gavin adds. “Where is this casa al la Hampton?”
I look at Kacen. “Right down the street the house with the brick entrance gates.”
“I love that house,” Logan chimes in.
Kacen nods; this isn’t news to him. “Congrats, man.”
The guys and I start talking about the next phase. The board is holding a meeting Monday morning and the decision will be made to sell the label. Gavin has already turned in our offer in writing. We discuss options and how we want to process, even the name—we refuse to leave it as Stone Records. Stacy and Logan are laughing and smiling in their own conversation.
Can it ever get any better than this?