The Ex Factor - Erin McCarthy Page 0,70

it was a languid ride. There was no hurry to get where they were going. Raising her arms, she dug her fingers into her hair, to tug it back off her face. Chance made a sound of approval low in the back of his throat.

“I know what we’re writing today,” he said.

Jolene stared down at him, not breaking rhythm. “We’re going to talk shop right now? Really?”

“It’s about a rusted truck and a Cadillac.”

That made her give a soft laugh. “I was being sassy, wasn’t I?”

“Yes.” He gave her backside a light smack. “I like it though. Now come for me, JoJo.”

He repeated the soft spanking and she liked it more than she should. “Since you asked so nicely.” Brushing her palms over her nipples, she let herself go. She let herself go the way she should have the first moment she met Chance and knew that he was going to matter in her life. She let go in a way that meant that she couldn’t prevent herself from being hurt. That she couldn’t control the future.

Right then what she wanted was for her man to understand that she would choose him. That they were deliberate.

She stared down at him as their bodies collided together and their eyes locked.

There were no words.

They had already said enough.

Sixteen

“So what’s your story?” Chance asked Tennyson, curious as to what made her tick. She was equal parts ruthless and talented, the opposite of Jolene in more than looks.

They were alone, out to dinner without Jolene, who had gone home to take a much-needed nap and to pack a suitcase back over to his house. They were on day three of working with Tennyson, and they were all exhausted and strung out.

But he had to admit, having a total stranger in between them had actually been a boon to their productivity and creativity. They couldn’t be getting naked every twenty minutes and making constant googly eyes at each other with a third wheel present. It irritated him, but Ginny had been right. He was never going to say those words out loud though because he was stubborn and Southern. End of story.

“What do you mean?” Tennyson asked. She was sitting back in her chair, relaxed. They were out at a bar and grille, nothing fancy. She had a handful of nuts halfway to her mouth.

“What brought you to Nashville?” He meant more than that, but it was a good place to start. Tennyson had peeled back the layers on their relationship and seen them be both ugly and amazing together and it was an odd ass feeling to think she knew so much about the guts of his life, but he knew nothing about her. Less than nothing. She was the kind of person who wore a mask. She gave the reaction that was expected of her, but it was no guarantee that she was feeling or thinking that way in reality.

“Fame and fortune.” She tilted her head and gave him an enigmatic smile. “The same as anyone else.”

It was a generic answer from a generic woman. It bugged him. She had a gift with words in her lyrics, but in person? Ft. Knox was easier to get into. “Most people come to Nashville to sing. To be a star. On stage. Most people aren’t interested in being the woman behind the songs.”

She chewed her nuts and studied him. “I’m not most women.”

So he gathered. He sipped his whiskey and let his gaze float around the restaurant. It was just another summer night. Tourists here and there in small and large groups. Locals. Stars hiding in plain view. He liked that about his hometown. “So what’s the plan? World domination?”

“I’m thinking that you and I can achieve that together, actually.”

“Excuse me?” He sat up, feigning casualness he didn’t feel. “Isn’t that we’re doing right now, working together?”

“Yes, but I’m talking about being a songwriting team permanently. We’ve come up with some great stuff. I think we should continue to build from here.”

He should have predicted something like this, but he didn’t see how she thought it was going to work. “I don’t see how that’s possible. Jolene and I are a writing team, you know, and we’re going to be touring next year, I’m sure. When this album drops we’ll be really busy.”

“I’m talking about a song here and there for now, but after the tour for this album, I was thinking Jolene goes solo, you take a step back from the stage. Ginny says