The Rock Star's Baby Bargain - Lili Valente Page 0,49

It’s time to say the things only I can say and write the songs only I can write.

That’s the reason I’m here—to bring my unique voice to the world.

And maybe, to love this woman…

I step into the living room just as Colette descends the final stair, sending her flowers-and-sunshine smell wafting through the room. She meets my gaze and smiles that big, beautiful smile that goes straight to my heart every time, and I know it’s true.

I was made to love her.

Hopefully, she’ll let me. Hopefully, I can convince her I’m worthy of her trust, and that if she takes a chance on us, I’ll make sure she never regrets it.

“Hike and then head into town for ice cream?” I ask, crossing to take her hand. “Or ice cream and then hike?”

“Hike and then ice cream,” she says, eyes dancing. “That way I won’t feel guilty about having three scoops.”

“Three?” I arch a playful brow.

“When it comes to ice cream, I’m shameless,” she says, pressing on her tiptoes to kiss my cheek. With her lips still warm on my skin, she adds in a softer voice, “And then we should hit the grocery store. I want to make you dinner tonight. Something special I only make for my very favorite people.”

I wrap an arm around her waist, hugging her close, my chest filling with a sweet, scary ache.

Sweet, because there’s nothing better than holding the person you love.

Scary, because I know there’s a good chance we won’t be able to make this work.

Colette is no dummy. She has to know the emotional songs I’ve been writing are about her. But instead of asking to hear them, she made plans to leave. Either she doesn’t feel the way I feel, or she doesn’t see a future for us for some other reason.

Maybe I’ll be able to change her mind.

Maybe I won’t.

Either way, I’m going to treasure every second of the time we have left.

Kissing the top of her head, I draw her closer until we’re chest to chest. I can feel her heart thudding against my ribs.

“Are you always hard?” she murmurs in a husky voice.

“No,” I say, smiling as I kiss her hair again. “Just whenever I’m touching you. You do things to me, Sunshine.”

“You do things to me, too.” She lifts her chin, her lust-filled gaze locking with mine, making me even harder. “Maybe we shouldn’t go out. Staying in can be fun, too…”

I shake my head. “Nope. You’re not getting any more of this until tomorrow. Once a day. You know the rules.”

Her bottom lip juts out. “I never should have told you about sperm count.”

“I’m glad you did.” I cup her ass in my hands, giving it a squeeze. “It turns me on, knowing I only get you once so I’d better make the most of it. Boundaries can be hot.”

She arches a skeptical brow. “Hmm…maybe you are too boring for rock ’n’ roll.”

I laugh and bite my lip. “Keep it up, woman, and I’ll show you boring. With your hands tied to my headboard while you get that spanking you’ve been begging for.”

“Oh, yeah?” Her eyes glitter. “You promise?”

“Cross my heart.” I swat her bottom, making her laugh as we start for the door. But when we reach the foyer, I stop, remembering her shopping plans. “Just a second, let me grab some bags for the groceries before we head out.”

“Oh yeah, good thinking.” She takes her purse from the table by the door and slings it across her chest, pulling out her phone. “You get those, and I’ll call Nancy and tell her we don’t need her to cook for us tonight.”

“Perfect.” I jog into the kitchen, opening cabinets until I find a soft cotton tote small enough to wad up and shove in my pocket.

I’m about to head back to the door when my phone dings. I cross to the counter, glancing at the screen to see half a dozen text alerts from Chip, but I don’t read them.

Instead, I reach down and turn the phone off.

Colette’s my focus right now. The battle with Chip will still be here in two days; she won’t.

Unless I can change her mind.

I’m a nice guy, but I’m not afraid to play hardball when it comes to the things I want. And right now, there’s nothing I want more than this woman in my life.

For now and for the foreseeable future.

Chapter Eighteen

Zack

We decide to start our hike out of the backyard, wandering past Nancy and Jed’s cottage as