in Wyoming with Jon and six of his bruiser roadies, watching them jump into a bar fight with a group of hot cowboys. After the blood and the insults dried up, the dozen or so guys had shot whiskey in the tour bus until dawn.
“How about dancin’, someplace off the beaten track?”
When he rolled into town, Jon preferred to lay low somewhere he wouldn’t be recognized. “Like the Silver Star?” The honky-tonk was one of the few places in town that didn’t cater to college students.
“I’ll probably be the only Indian in the place amidst cowboy hats and shitkickers, and you know what happened last time, but it’s a deal.”
She returned to her chair while Jon flopped across from her desk. “So what’re you doing at the community center? Working out that buff bod of yours?”
Jon gifted her with a smoldering look. “I’m here just for you, dollface.”
“Wrong. Try again.”
“Man. I can’t pull nothin’ over on you.” He grinned pure mischief. “I told Jim I’d pick up Micah from basketball practice since Cindy is dealing with sick kids. But I really did volunteer so I could pop in and see what you were up to.”
Eden gestured at the piles. “The usual.”
“You work too hard, which is why I’m taking you out for a night of fun. How long’s it been since you cut loose?”
“Months. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“I heard. Jim says the center might be in trouble. What’s up with that?”
“The same old bullshit. It’s been coming for a year so I’m not surprised.”
He frowned. “Is your job in jeopardy?”
“Yeah.” She looked away to avoid his pity.
Papers rustled as Jon leaned across her desk and clasped her hand in his. “Hey. If the city is stupid enough to let you go, their loss, eh?”
Underneath Jon’s sexy persona of rocker Johnny Feather lurked a really sweet, thoughtful guy. “I guess.”
“You could always go on the road with me.”
“What would my job be?”
“My personal love slave.”
Eden snorted. “You’ve already got that position filled. They’re called groupies.”
Jon brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “None of them hold a candle to you.”
“Flatterer. But I will take it under consideration if this place goes belly up.” She threaded her fingers through his. “How long are you here?”
He sighed. “Only two days. This break isn’t near long enough.”
“And you say I work too hard?”
“Yeah, well, I’d like to hang out to catch up with Jim and his tribe, but unfortunately, most of my time will be spent in Eagle Butte.”
“Another last minute gig?”
“No. My bass guitarist is getting married.” He dropped his gaze to their joined hands. “I oughta be thrilled for him, right? His woman is awesome. He’s never been happier.”
“But?”
“That’s the thing. But nothin’. Him getting hitched won’t adversely affect the band, so it’s not a professional issue. I can’t figure out why I’m…pissed. Frustrated.”
“Jealous?” Eden offered.
“Maybe.” Jon’s thumb stroked the inside of her wrist. “He’s the first one of the band members to pair off. Which is cool. When he’s with her, it’s like they’re the only two people in the world, even if there’s a dozen people on the bus. I’m surrounded by people almost twenty-four/seven so why do I always feel so damn lonely?”
Eden was familiar with that feeling, but as this was one of the few times Jon had opened up in recent years, she didn’t interrupt.
“Do you ever look around at your life and feel like you’re missing out on what’s really important, even when you aren’t sure what that important something might be?”
“Yeah. We all have days like that.”
“Some of us more than others. I just wish…”
“What?” When his startling blue eyes connected with hers, her stomach cartwheeled.
“I forget how beautiful you are.”
Her face heated and she yanked her hand back. “Jon. Stop.”
“I’m serious, Eden.
“How about dancin’, someplace off the beaten track?”
When he rolled into town, Jon preferred to lay low somewhere he wouldn’t be recognized. “Like the Silver Star?” The honky-tonk was one of the few places in town that didn’t cater to college students.
“I’ll probably be the only Indian in the place amidst cowboy hats and shitkickers, and you know what happened last time, but it’s a deal.”
She returned to her chair while Jon flopped across from her desk. “So what’re you doing at the community center? Working out that buff bod of yours?”
Jon gifted her with a smoldering look. “I’m here just for you, dollface.”
“Wrong. Try again.”
“Man. I can’t pull nothin’ over on you.” He grinned pure mischief. “I told Jim I’d pick up Micah from basketball practice since Cindy is dealing with sick kids. But I really did volunteer so I could pop in and see what you were up to.”
Eden gestured at the piles. “The usual.”
“You work too hard, which is why I’m taking you out for a night of fun. How long’s it been since you cut loose?”
“Months. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
“I heard. Jim says the center might be in trouble. What’s up with that?”
“The same old bullshit. It’s been coming for a year so I’m not surprised.”
He frowned. “Is your job in jeopardy?”
“Yeah.” She looked away to avoid his pity.
Papers rustled as Jon leaned across her desk and clasped her hand in his. “Hey. If the city is stupid enough to let you go, their loss, eh?”
Underneath Jon’s sexy persona of rocker Johnny Feather lurked a really sweet, thoughtful guy. “I guess.”
“You could always go on the road with me.”
“What would my job be?”
“My personal love slave.”
Eden snorted. “You’ve already got that position filled. They’re called groupies.”
Jon brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. “None of them hold a candle to you.”
“Flatterer. But I will take it under consideration if this place goes belly up.” She threaded her fingers through his. “How long are you here?”
He sighed. “Only two days. This break isn’t near long enough.”
“And you say I work too hard?”
“Yeah, well, I’d like to hang out to catch up with Jim and his tribe, but unfortunately, most of my time will be spent in Eagle Butte.”
“Another last minute gig?”
“No. My bass guitarist is getting married.” He dropped his gaze to their joined hands. “I oughta be thrilled for him, right? His woman is awesome. He’s never been happier.”
“But?”
“That’s the thing. But nothin’. Him getting hitched won’t adversely affect the band, so it’s not a professional issue. I can’t figure out why I’m…pissed. Frustrated.”
“Jealous?” Eden offered.
“Maybe.” Jon’s thumb stroked the inside of her wrist. “He’s the first one of the band members to pair off. Which is cool. When he’s with her, it’s like they’re the only two people in the world, even if there’s a dozen people on the bus. I’m surrounded by people almost twenty-four/seven so why do I always feel so damn lonely?”
Eden was familiar with that feeling, but as this was one of the few times Jon had opened up in recent years, she didn’t interrupt.
“Do you ever look around at your life and feel like you’re missing out on what’s really important, even when you aren’t sure what that important something might be?”
“Yeah. We all have days like that.”
“Some of us more than others. I just wish…”
“What?” When his startling blue eyes connected with hers, her stomach cartwheeled.
“I forget how beautiful you are.”
Her face heated and she yanked her hand back. “Jon. Stop.”
“I’m serious, Eden.
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