Fuck, I’d really hoped she’d say that. “Awesome, because they’re going to be in town next week, and I know my parents are dying to give you a hug and welcome you back in as their favorite daughter-in-law.”
It slipped out before I could stop it, and there was no fucking surprise when Billie went as stiff as a damn board. But fuck, it was the truth. She was the only woman I’d ever marry, and from here on out, the only one in my life. End of fucking story.
“It’s only ever truly been you,” I reminded her softly. “They’ve never met even one other woman. I’ve never mentioned one to them. Not a single name. Just yours Billie. Or ‘our Rose,’ as they always call you.”
“Fuck, Jace,” she sobbed, pressing her face into my chest. “You are going to kill me with kindness.”
She had no clue. I was only getting started.
“Will you come out to dinner with us?” I asked her, more formally than was probably needed for a simple dinner. “See the parents and meet Teresa. She’s desperate to meet the woman who stole my heart when I was a dumbass kid.” I tightened my arms around her and laughed briefly. “I’m still a dumbass kid, according to Teresa. Nothing like a sister to humble you.”
Billie sobbed a few more times, before she calmed, her face still pressed against my chest. “I’d love to go for dinner with you all,” she finally whispered. “I’m actually really looking forward to it.”
“Me too, baby. Me fucking too.”
This moment was the full circle of my old and new life, just like last night had been, and I almost couldn’t believe I’d spent so many years without Rose and Angel in my life.
No wonder my music had been shit after I’d run out of anger and pain to fuel my songs. I’d lost my true muse. My true love. The music in my soul.
Now that I had it back, I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Rose thought me mentioningdaughter-in-lawwas a big deal, but she had no idea.
It was ‘til death do us partfor me. Now and always.
sixteen
BILLIE
The next few days flew by in a happy little bubble of bliss. I had my boys all under one roof—and in my bed—and I was sofuckinghappy it made my teeth hurt with all the sweetness. Logically, I knew it couldn’t last. Not with everything hanging over us like a guillotine, just waiting to drop and sever our heads at the neck. Sooner or later, that blade would fall and send our heads rolling, our decapitated bodies falling to the floor, blood soaking into the dirt as the Bellerose fans looked on and wept.
“I’m officially getting cabin fever,” Rhett commented with a yawn, flicking off the TV. “I can’t believe I just watched a whole season of a historical regency drama. I don’t evenlikehistory.”
I smiled, leaning my head on his shoulder. “You watched it because I let you eat my pussy out every time someone curtsied to the king.” It’d been a very good day. Exhausting, no doubt, but one for the core memory bank.
Rhett laughed. “Good point. Season two?”
“We should get out of the house,” Angelo suggested. He’d also gotten in on that action around episode five when he found Rhett and I all sweaty and naked in the media room. “Bella, you want to get some fresh air? This house is starting to stink of semen.”
Despite the fact that I was largely to blame, when he put it like that, I gagged a little. “Thanks for making that seriously unsexy, Angel. So yes. Gimme a few minutes to shower and change.” Rhett started to follow, and I laughed as I pushed him back into the sofa. “Alone, Zepp, I meant alone. My poor pussy is about to malfunction from all that attention she just got.”
I was bouncing back a whole lot quicker than I used to, though, which verified my wholepractice makes perfectidea and meant I no longer spent days walking like a cowgirl. Now I just rode reverse cowgirl and begged for more. We called thatpersonal growth.
An hour later, Angelo, Rhett, and I were heading out of the house in one of Grayson’s highly secure SUVs with blacked-out, bulletproof windows. A second car filled with security was behind us, but they weren’t going to follow us towherever we were goingsince this was apparently an incognito mission.
“So, where are we going?” I asked, just realizing I had no clue what Angelo’s idea offresh airactually was. Rhett grinned, so clearly he knew, but they both just told me towait and see. Which… okay sure, it was cute. I didn’t love surprises, but I did love both of them, so I was excited.
Twenty minutes later, I got my answer when we pulled into Siena’s most extravagant mini-golf park. Grinning, I climbed out of the car with the guys and looked up at the big, goofy characters looming over the entryway. “Mini-golf, huh?”
Angelo shrugged. “Why not? You used to love coming here.”
I snickered. “When I was eight, sure. I can’t even remember the last time I came here!”
His brows raised. “Really? I do.” He reached into the back of the car and pulled out a costume hat with a sandy-blond mullet attached and tossed it to Rhett. For himself, he put on a fedora and fake beard. It was a truly comical disguise, but it did the trick, considering how famous Bellerose was.
“What happened the last time you were here?” Rhett asked, making sure his hat-mullet combo covered all his distinctive hair, then pulling a pair of sunglasses on. He handed me some sunglasses as well, and a cap, and reminding me that I was kind of famous now too. Not in a positive way, of course, but as the harlot who was fucking all of Bellerose, taking them from the masses who loved them. But it still meant I needed to keep myself somewhat disguised or I’d give the whole charade away.
Angelo cast a wistful look my way. “Billie kissed Jace on the cheek and asked if he’d marry her when they grew up. I was so jealous I never wanted to come back.”
