Page 12 of Flawless

“Because I like her. I have fun with her, and according to you, I need to have more fun.”

“So, that’s it?” she demanded. “You hang out with her for a couple of days? Maybe sleep with her, if you’re lucky, then head home and dive back into work and your boring routine, like y’all never met?”

No way could I forget Rylee. And if I slept with her, I was pretty sure she’d stake her claim on my heart, whether I liked it or not.

“What’s the alternative?”

“Give me a break, Cam. It’s a ten-hour drive from Oklahoma to Tennessee. A one-and-a-half-hour flight. If you wanted to see the girl on the regular, you could find a way.”

“I’m busy with my work and so is she. It’s not that easy, and you know it.”

She stood, tossing the pillow at me. “All I know, is if I were you, and met someone I had that kind of chemistry with, I’d follow her anywhere.”

“That’s you, not me.”

She smacked me lightly upside the head before she said, “That’s why I’m happy with the love of my life and you’re still alone. Time to get your shit together, and fight for what you want.”

Fight for what you want.

Those words were echoing in my head long after she walked away. Damn her.

Chapter Five

Rylee

I was performing for a packed house at Jimmy’s, but it was a certain lawman stealing all my attention. I worked the stage, sang the songs, engaged the crowd, but my eyes kept drifting to him.

The way he watched me. The way his eyes zeroed in on all the guys crowding the stage, trying to get my attention. The way his gaze kept drifting to my ex, who just happened to be playing bass for me tonight, because apparently J.T. had invited him to be part of the show.

I never got distracted when I performed. I was always in the zone. But tonight, I couldn’t help thinking about the way his lips tasted when he kissed me. The rough scrape of his hands when he touched my bare skin. The way he held me close when I slept. And the fact I’d be watching his taillights as he left town the day after tomorrow.

Damn. I didn’t want to see him go.

I told the crowd I was taking a little break before I hopped off the stage. But before I could make my way to Cam, my ex grabbed my arm. “Hey, Dean. Good job tonight,” I said, faking a smile. “You didn’t miss a beat. I was surprised you knew all my new songs though.”

“Why are you surprised?” he asked, giving me a once-over. “You know your music is my vibe.”

“Hmm.”

I was watching Cam make his way through the crowd, presumably to the restroom. I couldn’t help but notice all the women smiling and flirting with him. Girls touching his shoulder. Arms wrapping around his waist. And I was having none of it.

“Excuse me, Dean. There’s someone I need to talk to.”

I stepped in front of Cam before he could make it past me. “Where ya goin’, Sheriff?” I wrapped my arms around his neck and rolled forward on my toes to kiss him, because I was bold like that. Taking what I wanted without asking permission first.

He didn’t hesitate before wrapping his arms around my waist, lifting me off the ground and kissing me back. When we finally broke apart, he asked, “Why is your ex here, playing for you?”

I smiled, tipping my head back to look at him. “Jealous much?”

“Yeah. Now answer the question.”

I normally hated possessive, demanding, jealous guys, but the green-eyed monster was alive and well inside me when I saw women pawing at him, so I got it.

Apparently, the fact we only had a few days together meant everything was accelerated and we’d jumped past the ‘getting to know you’ stage and dove headlong into the ‘I don’t want to see you with anyone else’ stage.

“I didn’t invite him, J.T. did. He knows we’re still friends, so he didn’t think it would be a big deal.”

“You’re still friends?” he asked, watching Dean watching us.