He nodded. “We will but not tonight.”
“We can’t ignore what happened.”
He blew out a breath and leaned back in his chair. “I messed up. I’m sorry.” He wiped his hand over his face and drew it down over his mouth. “I keep forgetting to go slow.” He blinked, and his tortured eyes flashed. “Please, don’t hold my past against me, but I don’t know how to hold hands and kiss a girl. I’ve neverdated…anyone.” He gave a shrug. “I’m so used to hitting a home run that I forget about walking the bases.”
The curse of a rock star, she assumed.
“As much as this sounds like a cliché,” she began, “I’m going to say it anyway. It’s not you. It’s me.”
The plane rocked as it lined up for its landing. Turbulence, her ass. This was the same pilot who’d had them swooping through the mountains in his helicopter. Bastard was probably having a blast.
Her head banged against the seat back as the wheels touched down, bounced, and hit again. The pilot nosed the front wheel down and engaged the brakes.
His voice popped through the speakers. “It’ll be a few minutes while we taxi. Please remain seated until we come to a full and complete stop.”
After the bumpy landing, she continued, “I’m broken and messed up ten ways till Sunday. You don’t want me.”
His face darkened with a scowl. “That’s fucking bullshit.”
She blinked. “You don’t get it.”
He undid the latch of his seat belt and knelt before her, clasping her hands. “We mesh”—he thumped his chest—“in here, Skye. Right the fuck in here.” He brushed his lips against her knuckles. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“This has nothing to do with who you are or what you do for a living. I said, it’s me, not you.”
His eyes narrowed with suspicion. “I don’t believe you.”
She cupped his strong jaw. “I’m not sure it’s fair to involve you in all my complications.”
The richness of his scent enveloped her in a familiar blanket of spice and musk, a sexy fragrance that was purely Ash. He made her feel comforted and safe, an oddly unique experience.
“If it’s about your ex, don’t worry about him,” Ash said. “I’ve known guys like him, and I’ll make sure he doesn’t hurt you anymore.”
He held himself a breath apart from her. Their lips trembled but did not touch.
Oh, poor Ash. If only it were so simple…
“No, I’ll take care of him.” She would end the engagement once and for all even though she’d feel like the world’s biggest coward doing it by phone.
Skye leaned back, breaking the connection between them, terrified they would kiss if she remained close.
“So, what’s wrong then?” he asked. He settled back onto his heels, uncertainty and vulnerability framing his face. “Is it because I’m Blaze? Is the fame putting you off? You liked me well enough when you thought I was Nobody Ash.” He shook his head. “Usually, it’sthe other way around. No one wants to know Ash, but they sure as hell are all over Blaze.”
“What do you mean?”
“Only that women are predictable.”
“Predictable?”
“Forget it.”
Like she was going to let that comment go. “Explain what you meant.”
His eyes pinched, and he tilted his head back. “Okay, this is going to sound bad, no matter how I say it, so I’m just going to say it.”
“I’m listening.”
He paused for a moment and then continued, “Women throw themselves at my feet, at the feet of Blaze, just to have a piece of me. And I admit, I’ve taken advantage of what being Blaze has done for me, but I want more. I gorged myself on sex and sin until I got sick of it. The few relationships I tried were a joke. Women take and take, like I’m some goddamn giving tree. They used me for my money or to be close to my fame, but none of them cared about who I am. I’m sick of it. I want what my father has, what my brothers have.”
