Hide and Seek: A Rock Games Novel: Vol. 2 by Nicole S. Goodin (6)

Thank god for Parker Sloan.

If it weren’t for the fact that my best friend was so busy falling in love, Charlotte would have one hundred percent noticed how off my game I was.

I’d mucked up two colours this morning alone – one had turned out looking like a genius executive decision, the other just a flat-out royal fuck-up.

Could have been worse I guess.

My mind wasn’t with me today.

It was with him.

In his bed, underneath his body, tangled up with him.

I couldn’t think of anything but the way he felt… the way he smelt… how good he looked…

All I wanted to hear was his voice, up against my ear… through the phone… however I could get it.

I was so screwed.

This was not what I wanted to happen.

The intention was to get him out of my system and move on with my life.

That was not my reality right now. It was more like the one night of him all up in my business had hit some kind of reset button, or maybe the needy bitch button… because, shit, I couldn’t remember ever feeling this needy where a man was concerned.

I wasn’t stupid. I might have pretended I didn’t catch his expression when I’d told him our night wouldn’t be having a repeat session, but I saw it alright.

He looked how I felt.

He was good, I had to give him that, the disappointment was only on his face for a fraction of a second before he became the composed Jasper he seemed to be most of the time.

I knew I was being a flaky cow.

I wanted him. He wanted me.

It should have been simple.

There shouldn’t have been a problem, but where I was concerned, there was always a problem. I was a problem magnet. Sure, I created ninety-nine percent of them all by myself, but still.

Nothing ever seemed to go smoothly or without incident when I was part of it.

This would be no different.

I knew I could have gone back for seconds, thirds or fourths maybe even… but I knew that one day, Jasper would wake up and want something I didn’t have to give, and then it’d be all over and the only person hurt would be me.

As Julia Michaels would say, ‘I got issues’.

I pulled up the messages he’d sent me earlier today.

Next message…

I couldn’t help the silly grin that spread across my face.

I laughed and slipped my phone back into my pocket.

I felt calmer instantly. Knowing that I was going to be seeing him in only a few hours was like a soothing balm for my nerves.

* * *

“So, let me get this straight…” I giggled again. “You got locked outside, stark naked… in front of about fifty or so paparazzi?”

“Essentially… yes.”

“Oh my god, that’s so good.” I cackled. “How does that even happen?”

“Yeah, J, how does that even happen?” Parker chuckled as he took a sip of his beer.

“Just bad luck was all.” Jasper smirked.

I had a feeling that there was more to this story, and I’d never been one to let things go, but my pending interrogation was halted by the sight of Charlotte hurriedly rushing across the restaurant, a panicked look on her face.

Parker was out of his seat before I could even speak.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded, reaching for her.

“I’m fine,” she babbled. “Seriously, I’m fine.”

He ushered her into her seat and she turned her gaze on me.

“So… you remember Bryce, right?”

Oh no… not again…

“My ex-boyfriend, Bryce?” I squeaked.

She nodded furiously. “Yeah… he’s here.”

This was not good news. Bryce and I hadn’t been together long, but he’d made a fool out of me when we’d gone our separate ways. The guy was a womaniser, and I had an unfortunate habit of bumping into him and looking desperate and alone. He always had a new model on his arm, and he always made me feel like shit.

I relayed this information to Parker and Jasper in hushed tones, my eyes darting around, keeping an eye out for him.

He was a cocky bastard, and if he’d seen Charlotte, he would probably come looking to see if I was with her.

“Show me what he looks like,” Jasper demanded.

Lotte pulled up his Facebook profile on her cell.

“That’s him.”

He snorted. “I think we can handle him, right, baby?” He looked down at me adoringly and wrapped his arm around me, tugging me in close.

“What are you doing?” I murmured.

He tipped my chin up using his thumb. “I’m finishing this losing streak you’ve been on.”

He was staring at me with an intensity that made me shudder.

This wasn’t for show in the slightest.

“Jasper,” I whispered.

“I’ve got you, Hannah.”

“I know you do.”

I had a feeling Jasper would always have my back.

He lowered his lips to mine and I forgot all about Bryce. I forgot all about Parker and Charlotte watching us… I forgot that we were even out in public.

One of my hands found his bicep and gripped it tightly, the feel of his tense muscle only spurring me on.

His tongue slipped into my mouth and I could think of nothing but him.

“Hannah!” I heard Charlotte hiss.

I pulled back, only slightly, so our lips were an inch apart, our foreheads resting against each other.

Holy hell, what a kiss…

Someone kicked me under the table.

“What?” I breathed.

“Hey, Hannah.”

I cringed.

Bryce.

I took a deep breath and pulled away from Jasper, looking to where I’d heard his voice.

“Bryce… hey.”

He was dressed in his usual formal attire, I could have sworn the man wore a suit to the gym, and he also had his usual accessory – a wafer-thin model draped around his body.

“You look well.”

Jasper took my hand and intertwined his fingers in mine. I could feel his gaze on my face; he hadn’t even looked at Bryce once.

“Bryce, this is Jasper,” I introduced them. “And you remember Charlotte… and you might recognise Parker Sloan?”

Bryce’s jaw dropped for a fraction of a second at the mention of Parker’s name.

I could feel Jasper burning holes into me with his eyes.

I met his gaze and goosebumps broke out on my skin.

Power, strength and intensity radiated from him and I would have been willing to bet that everyone else in the room could feel it too.

Jasper raised our joined hands to his lips and kissed my skin.

“This is Mindy,” Bryce replied.

I didn’t even glance her way; I couldn’t pull myself away from the all-consuming look in Jasper’s eyes.

“Hate to be rude,” Jasper finally spoke, “but we’re sort of in the middle of something here.” He didn’t take his eyes off me, but there was no mistaking that he was speaking to my ex-boyfriend.

Bryce mumbled something about having to get going too, and when I finally managed to pull my eyes from the hazel pools in front of me, he was already gone.

“Well that was intense.” Lotte laughed. “You sure you weren’t born to be an actor, J?”

Jasper chuckled, his hold still on my hand.

I tugged on it but he only gripped it tighter.

“In case he comes back.” He smirked.

“Seriously, that was so deep it was hard to watch, that poor bastard didn’t know what to do with himself.” Parker chuckled.

I giggled nervously.

“I think you won that round, Han.” Lotte held her hand out for a high five and I awkwardly gave her one with my left hand since Jasper still had my right held hostage.

What had just happened finally sunk in. I’d just had an encounter with the dreaded ex-boyfriend and felt absolutely zilch towards him.

“Oh god, that was like the perfect cliché moment.” I laughed. “You’re a talented fake boyfriend, J.”

He leaned in and whispered in my ear. “I’ll take the compliment, but there was nothing fake about that kiss.”

I knew that too. That kiss was real.

* * *

I so badly wanted to text back and tell him that what I really wanted was a real boyfriend.

Him.

But as per usual, when it came to things that actually mattered to my heart, I was too chicken-shit.