“Thank you.” My cheeks feel like they’re on fire, and I bury my nose in the fragrant petals to conceal my blush.
“Cayenne.” Jared grins. “It’s so good to see you. You look great.”
“I could say the same to you, rock star,” she replies, treating him cautiously because that’s what besties do. “But we won’t feed your ego. I’m sure it’s already larger than Mars.”
Jared cracks up laughing as he bundles her into a hug. “I hear congratulations are in order,” he says, letting her go and glancing between her and Jerry. “When’s the big day?”
“We’re having a winter wedding in early December,” Cay says. “Play your cards right, and you might score an invite.”
“I would love to be there.” He smirks as he eyeballs Jerry. “I didn’t think there was a man on the planet brave enough to take this one on. You’ve got big balls, mate.”
“Shut it.” Cay slaps his chest. “He’s a lucky bastard, and you both know it.”
I give the guys beer and shove them at the grill so Cay and I can finish the salads and set the table. It’s a little chilly tonight, so we’re eating at the large table in my kitchen. I have a dining room, but it’s for more formal occasions, and I want tonight to be relaxed.
Apart from early morning jogs on the beach, I haven’t seen Jared since we bumped into one another on Monday. He's been flying in and out of L.A. daily to work on the album with his bandmates while I took on two extra shifts to cover when my co-manager came down with a stomach bug.
I decided on an impromptu barbecue because Cayenne and Jerry were planning to visit this weekend, and I knew Cay would go out of her way to orchestrate a meet and greet with Jared unless I set something up.
All week, I’ve been thinking about what he said. About my mom and his dad, the revelations about his relationship with Vittoria, and his declarations of love. My emotions have been veering all over the place, so I’ve made an appointment with a therapist. I need to talk it all through, and therapy has helped me enormously in the past.
“I’ll get the guys,” Cay says, heading outside to the grill while I arrange the bowls with the various salads, bread, and the potatoes in the center of the table. I grab a couple of bottles of sparkling water and some red and white wine and bring it to the table as the others come inside.
Jared sits beside me on one side while Jerry and Cay sit across from us. Conversation is casual and lively as we eat.
“This pasta salad is divine.” Jared compliments me for the umpteenth time on the food. “You’ll have to teach me how to make it.”
“It’s easy. Not much to it at all.”
“For you, maybe,” he teases. “We’ve already determined I’m a bit of a lost cause in the kitchen.”
“That sounds like a challenge if ever I heard one.” Cay waggles her brows.
Jared smirks. “I’ll make you a deal.” He stabs me with his gorgeous blue eyes. “If you’ll give me a few cooking lessons, I’ll teach you how to play the drums.”
“Who says I want to learn?” I quirk a brow.
Jared laughs. “Try pulling the other one, darlin’.” He tweaks my nose. “You may be all grown up”—his gaze roams over me, lingering briefly in certain places—“but you’re still the same girl who used to beg me for a turn on my drum kit.”
“Only so I’d get to spend more time with you,” I truthfully admit. “I had,have, zero interest in learning how to play the drums.”
His face softens as he peers at me with blatant adoration. “You never told me that.”
“I was trying to seduce you.” I giggle.
“You can seduce me anytime, beautiful.” His pupils are dilated as he lifts my hand to his lips and kisses my knuckles.
“Jared.” My tone contains warning. “You promised.”
He clears his throat and slowly lowers my hand to my lap. “I did, and I’m trying, but you make it so hard. Pun intended.” He whispers the last words, but Cay has supersonic hearing.
She bursts out laughing. “That was cheesy as fuck.”
“It hasn’t even been a week, J.” I purse my lips. “Try harder.”
ChapterTwenty-Two
Jared
