CHAPTER THREE
“Why in the world would you want to stay at Nirvana Ranch?”
Jessa didn’t even look at Wade as she packed her suitcase and zipped the lid closed. “I told you already. I’m due for a vacation to recharge. Let’s not rehash the argument. Nirvana is the perfect place to have some peace. You should be more supportive.”
“I am being supportive. You’re going, aren’t you?”
“After playing tug of war over the last month.” She grimaced and took her case off the bed and slid out the handle. “I wanted to leave weeks ago, remember?”
“You had commitments that you couldn’t cancel just to go off gallivanting to some redneck ranch.”
She laughed. She’d expected her manager’s resistance at the eleventh hour. “Face it, Wade. I’m the one going so it doesn’t matter what you think. I suggest you take some time too. You’re a lot more uptight lately.”
He followed her across the space of the luxurious Las Vegas motel room. “There’s more to this, isn’t there?”
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve been…well…different since the rodeo. You seem preoccupied.”
Shrugging, she sighed. “Wade, have you ever looked back at a time in your life and felt guilty and humiliated over something you’ve done that was wrong?” She looked at him through the mirror as she put in her diamond stud earrings.
“No.”
“Really? You haven’t done anything that you’ve regretted? Maybe hurting someone’s feelings, even if unintentionally?”
He shrugged his stocky shoulders. “Sweetheart, you’re rich enough now that you’ll never have to apologize.”
She turned on him, narrowing her gaze. “You can’t be serious? Money doesn’t excuse us from morals and ethics.”
“So, are you saying this visit is somehow related to something you’ve done in the past?” He lifted a thick brow.
“Sort of. I mean, I do need the vacation to revitalize. I haven’t written a song in months. I wasn’t always my best person, especially in high school. I was quite the snob, or at least that’s what I was told recently.” She bit back a smile.
“High school? You still remember those days when we were all pimply-faced fools that fantasized about sleeping with every available skirt? Staying at home and playing video games, wishing you had a friend.” She wrinkled her nose and he sighed. “You didn’t play video games wishing you had a friend?”
She gave her head a shake. “No.”
“Must have just been me then. Remember, don’t lose yourself out there in this thing called civilization. I hear it’s dangerous. Stay gone one minute too long and you can kiss your career goodbye. I’ve been known to work magic, but there’s no magic that I can perform to revive a dead career. Little Miss Trina Sway would love to fill those boots of yours. Don’t forget her album sold millions.”
“Yeah, I can’t forget because you won’t let me.”
“Jessa, this is what you signed up for. Either you’re in it for the long haul, or you’ll go down in flames. I’ve witnessed star after star burn out.”
“I understand, but I didn’t think I’d have to give up my entire twenties for my career. I’m grateful for my fans and all the opportunities, but I’m thirty-one. Thirty-one, Wade. I don’t have the no-bottom-of-the-barrel energy like I once did. I miss my family. My ovaries throb when I’m near a baby. I don’t want to spend another Christmas eating a cold turkey sandwich in a motel room. I found three gray hairs yesterday. And I refuse to compete against Miss Trina-no-cellulite-Sway. I need to find myself again.”
His face softened some which was unusual for the brute of a man. “All musicians go through the same fluxes. You’re feeling the same thing that others have felt. It is possible to have a family and a career. Look at Trent Trevor and Shaina Gage. They’ve made it work.”
“Wade, don’t pretend you haven’t caught wind of Trent’s extracurricular activities. I’m not as forgiving as Shaina.”
“Marriage takes work.”
“Exactly. Do you realize how hard it is to juggle a full-time music career and a relationship? Tour after tour. Living out of a bag has caused bags under my eyes. No, you wouldn’t understand these issues, because you’ve never had a relationship.” Realizing how harsh her words sounded, she wanted to drag them back. “I’m sorry. That was unnecessary.”
“We’re all tired, Jessa.”
“Then be happy that I’m getting away. I’ll be back, recharged and ready to take on my commitments.” She kissed him on the cheek and he smiled. Maybe he was getting softer in his older age.
*****
“Come again?” Jace gritted his teeth.
Chase shrugged. “I offered her a complimentary stay here at Nirvana.”
Leaning against the fence, Jace smoothed his palm down his face. It had been a month since his dirt bath at the rodeo. He was still sore, but he was almost completely healed and was back working the land. However, hearing this news only hurt him worse, but not physically. “Now why in the hell would you go and do a thing like invite Jessa Garvey here?”
“Well, I don’t know, maybe because I walked into the medic room to find you laying on top of a strange woman man-handling her and she happened to be a popular country music singer. I thought you wouldn’t object to me cleaning up your mess.”
“Pfft. I wasn’t man-handling her. I didn’t even know what the hell I was doing. Whatever that shit pain killer was you gave me made me loopy and stupid. You were the one who talked me into riding at the rodeo. So technically speaking, this is your mess.”
“Wait…hold up there, sunshine. Didn’t you say that you kissed her behind the stables at the rodeo?”
“How did you find out?”
“I saw how close you two were behind the stables and you informed me of a lot of things on the ride back home after the rodeo. And by the way, it’s not a bald spot.” Chase rubbed the back of his head. “It’s a cowlick that won’t behave.”
“Whatever you say, buddy. Bald is beautiful.” Jace thumped him on the back.
He shrugged. “Doesn’t matter. Facts are the same. I felt it was my obligation to make things right with Jessa, so to speak.”
“By asking Miss Priss of West Hamilton High to Nirvana? Damn. That just ain’t right.”
“No, by asking Jessa Garvey, country music star, to take a vacation here in paradise. I didn’t have a clue she rejected you back in school. I don’t know why you’ve got your panties all in a bunch, bro. Ask any man and he’ll tell you he was dissed once or twice, some even more, by a girl. She seemed nice enough, and she is a damn good singer. Kaycee is excited to have her here.”
Jace rolled his eyes. He remembered Jessa Garvey. Cheerleader. Prom Queen. Leader of the snob squad. Yeah, he didn’t like her much. Back in high school he’d been quite the shy boy and self-conscious about his weight. He wasn’t sure what he had been thinking when he asked her, the Jessa Garvey, to prom, but he’d gone against logic and did the crazy thing by inviting her. In front of her friends. Sheesh. His body tightened. She’d turned him down with the speed of a racehorse. No surprise. It didn’t even shock him that she and her friends had gotten a giggle out of his blunder. Yet, what he hadn’t expected was that the gaffe would be spread around the school by the end of the day. He’d become the laughingstock of West Hamilton until a month later when all the attention was on Bobbi Jo who’d gotten pregnant by the football captain.
When he’d kissed Jessa, he had no clue who she was, not the snob from school or the country music singer. She was just a beautiful woman with lovely lips made for kissing. In all truth, he hadn’t planned to kiss her when he found her in the partially hidden spot, but something drew him to her and he’d only used the squealing fans chasing him down as a ruse.
He’d only put the pieces together later when his pants were down and his dick was hard.
No one here at Nirvana knew that Jace had been a geek, probably still was, but Jessa’s rude rejection had spiraled him into change. He’d lost weight—a lot of weight. Visited a dermatologist who helped clear up his skin. He’d even started working out. By twelfth grade, he’d gone from dud to stud, but unfortunately, Jessa wasn’t around to see the transformation. Apparently, from what he’d heard, she was taken out of public school and homeschooled because she got a huge part in a musical in some big city. As far as he’d been concerned, “good riddance.”
And now he’d have to tolerate her here, at his place of employment, and more importantly, his haven. A place of peace. Not to mention, he’d groped her—accidently—but still, he’d crossed a line. In his right mind, he never would have done something so idiotic. So brazen. When Chase had told him, his balls had sunk to the size of walnuts, pretty much like they had back in school when she’d laughed at him.
Anger sliced through him, not as much because of the past, but the fact that she still made him feel things he didn’t wish to feel, not for her.
“You don’t know her like I do,” Jace muttered.
“Oh…I get it.” Chase pounded him on the back. “Loud and clear.”
“I don’t know what you think you get, man, but you’re wrong.”
“The only time a man wouldn’t want to spend some time with a beautiful talent like Jessa Garvey is because he wants to ask her out and he’s afraid of being rejected again. Admit it, buddy. It’s okay. All men are afraid.”
Jace removed his hat and hooked it on the fence post. The temperature was rising. “You’ve got this all wrong. The last thing I want is to take a stroll down memory lane with her, or anyone, but especially not Miss Priss. I hope you’re not going to ask me to entertain her while she’s here.” When Chase didn’t answer, Jace looked at his boss and groaned. “Are you fucking kidding me?”
“I wouldn’t joke about this. Anyway, you’re the only one available to take care of her.”
“Yeah, I bet I am.” He shook his head.
“Hey, this is your problem. Shoulda kept your hands to yourself.”
“What part of ‘loopy’ don’t you get? If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s yours. What the hell did you give me? Make-a-fool-of-yourself-serum?”
Chase held up his hands defensively. “I only handed you what the medic gave me. That’s all. It did help with the pain though.”
“A written apology should suffice. I’ll send her one today.”
“Too late. I gave her an open invitation. She called and will be coming this evening. Sorry, buddy, but you’re stuck with the beautiful Jessa. Tough job, but someone has to do it.”
“So you say.”
“Eight days, my friend. Only eight days. Just don’t go falling in love. I’ve lost enough of my hands to the love bite. It’s got to stop. Thank goodness I hired on another few hands.”
Jace laughed. “Now you’ve lost your mind, boss. First, she’d be the last woman I’d ever fall for. Second, she and I have nothing in common. I bet she likes her men rich and famous, you know, birds of a feather and all. And not to mention, I don’t think I’m quite ready for love.”
“Broken record. All the cowboys have tried that excuse a time or two.”
“But I mean it.”
“Of course, you do.”
“Hey, just because you’re all cuddled up and cozy as a married man doesn’t mean it fits everyone.”
“You’re right. Just keep telling yourself that, bro.”
“I’m getting back to work.” Jace grabbed his hat and left Chase standing by the pen. He headed for the staff quarters while his thoughts stayed on Jessa. Maybe he should just admit to himself that he’d felt something outside of a stirring in his jeans. He’d heard his friends say that a man knows when he’s with a woman that could be dangerous…and she was beyond dangerous. He seemed to always make a fool of himself when she was near.
He’d put up a fence. He wasn’t normally a standoffish guy, but he’d have to draw a line that he couldn’t cross.
The staff building was empty, which he was glad. He was up for cleaning duty and he wanted to do it in peace. He finished sweeping just as he heard the door open and soft footsteps. He knew it was Moon before he even looked up. She was the female hand of Nirvana and Jace liked her, almost felt like a big brother to her and why he’d turned down her ‘come on’ in the barn a few days ago. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail and she had dark circles under her eyes.
“Oh, I didn’t know you were in here.” She tucked a tendril of her dark hair behind her ear.
“Are you finished with the horses?” He scooped the dust into the pan and emptied it into the trash, then placed the broom back in the closet.
Moon made her way across the clean floor and leaned against the counter, running her tongue across her bottom lip. Her cheeks were flushed. “Just finished. I’m hot.” She ran her fingers down her neck, pausing at the dip in her throat, then she quickly dropped her hand.
“Can I get you a water?”
She blinked. “No, I’m fine.” She cleared her throat and threaded her fingers through her hair.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess I was asking if we are okay.”
“We’re fine.” Her smile was sincere. “How are your ribs? Have you asked Doc Parker to take a look?” Her cheeks turned red.
“Nothing to see. They’re a little sore, but nothing that a shower won’t handle.”
She stared and opened her mouth to say something, but thought better and shook her head. “Okay. Well, I’m off. See you later.”
Once she was gone, he finished the last bit of cleaning and headed toward staff row to his cabin. He didn’t look forward to welcoming Miss Priss to the ranch. He also didn’t welcome the image of them kissing.
Later, after finishing a quick, cold shower, Jace threw on fresh Wranglers, towel-dried his hair until his ribs ached, and scowled at himself in the mirror. “Couldn’t keep your fucking hands to yourself, could you? Had to get doped up on pain meds and make a fool of yourself. Now you’re roped into being a tour guide for a woman who thinks she’s better than you. Good one, cowboy.” He dropped his towel onto the hook and left the bathroom. Spread out on the bed was the new button down with the tags still on it. He wasn’t sure why he bothered dressing his best. Miss Priss had turned him down years ago, but he refused to let her believe for a second that he still cared.
He didn’t.
Not one iota.
No way.
And he wasn’t going to kiss her again. Or fondle her on purpose. And not accidently.
The crush he’d had on her at fifteen had fizzled long ago. All boys crushed on the pretty cheerleader with the wide blue eyes and big, flirty smile. Although he’d been naïve and slow to mature, his body finally caught up to his head by seventeen and he’d turned out pretty good. He hadn’t dated a girl until he was a senior, but it didn’t turn into a second. He’d had his first real relationship at twenty, and after a year, he’d decided he didn’t want to be saddled down at a young age and Cindy didn’t seem to mind the break up. She married a doctor two months later, so Jace signed up for the rodeo and dedicated himself to riding, something he was good at.
He’d loved it. Hell, he ate, drank, and slept riding bulls until he’d been injured and couldn’t ride for a year. He’d quickly lost his place in the limelight and his career fizzled. After six years in the circuit, he’d taken an early retirement. That’s when he landed at Nirvana. He found the expectations were easy here. A man could work hard and enjoy nature.
His mind naturally flitted back to Jessa. She was the girl every guy dreamed about, had wet dreams about. Beautiful, smart, and talented. Her bubbly personality made her plenty of friends, but Jace knew better. He saw beneath her manipulation. He didn’t like snobs. Her parents had been loaded and owned a ranch. She’d acted like she was privileged.
Pfft.
Picking up the nice shirt, he gave it one last glance before tossing it over the back of the chair. He then grabbed a black T-shirt from the clothes he’d just washed and shook out the folds. It wasn’t dressing up like he normally did when guests arrived, but at least it smelled good and was clean. That was all he’d give to Miss Priss. If she didn’t like it, she could go back to where she came from because here at Nirvana, things were different. She’d see that no one was special or honored. Jetted back into reality was what she needed and he was just the man to do it.