endless fantasies out of, especially when they’re wrapped around me.
“You’re early,” I say.
Looking past me, she surveys the suits who’re covering their notepads and computers.
“It’s okay,” I tell them.
Only then do they relax an inch. I turn back to my fiancée and close the distance between us in a few easy strides. She smells as good as she looks, and I want to bury my face in her neck.
And then other places.
I’ve seen every expression Annie Jamieson owns, and with a few exceptions—like the way she looks when I’ve ripped her heart in two, which I swear I’ll never witness again—I love them all. But in this moment, there are few things I wouldn’t give to replace her look of stunned suspicion with one of wanton pleasure.
“These are my attorneys,” I say, covering up my desires. “We’re working up an agreement.”
She cocks her head, amber eyes flashing. “It’s a little late to talk about a prenup.”
I’d laugh if she didn’t look so alarmed.
My gaze strokes over the curve of her full lower lip, wishing I could feel it rather than stare at it. “It’s not a prenup. I’m buying Wicked.”
She stiffens, turning before I kiss her so my mouth grazes her cheek instead.
Annie heads to the kitchen.
I hold up a finger to let the lawyers know I’ll be a second before following her. She sidesteps around boxes of merchandise I’m supposed to sign for my upcoming tour, and I avoid them too.
Near the giant stainless smart fridge, she turns. “You’re what?”
This is not how I wanted this to happen.
“Your dad’s been working on a deal since he heard they were at risk of going under. Quietly.”
Something clicks behind her eyes. “He’s been trying to get hold of me, but we’ve been playing phone tag. Since when are you involved?”
“He needed additional partners.”
“You mean your money.”
“Yes. We’ve been discussing it for a few weeks—”
“Not with me.” Her voice is sharp, but there’s an edge of hurt underneath. I hate that I put it there.
Annie Jamieson experiences the world full throttle. It’s one of the things I love about her. It fucking ruins me how raw she is, and it makes me want to protect her—from the world and from herself when she feels everything.
“I wanted to tell you in person.”
Annie and I have talked about the need to make investments, even though we’ve discussed our finances before and agreed—technically, she insisted—most of our money would be kept separate. She’s so damn independent and doesn’t want to owe anyone, including me, anything.
(Of course, the day we’re married, her name goes on everything whether she wants it or not. There’s no way I’m not taking care of her if and when she needs it.)
“So, you’re going to run a label?” Her voice rises.
“Fuck no,” I say firmly, reaching for her arms.
This reunion is going nothing like it was supposed to. Her body should’ve been under mine by now. Judging by the words she uttered before she walked in, she wanted that too.
Now she’s pissed, and I’m horny, and we’re fighting in the kitchen with half a dozen lawyers who charge for an hour what I used to make in a month listening from the other room.
I wanted to keep her out of this deal because I didn’t want her worrying about it, or me, or the fact that Jax and I are doing it together. Annie and her dad have had enough issues in the past, and some of them have been my fault. He’s not only my future father-in-law, but my mentor. The man who helped put me on the map.
But I swore I wouldn’t come between them again, which is why I insisted to Jax I wanted a transactional deal: my money and reputation as someone without any grudges in the industry in exchange for a share of one of the biggest record companies of all time.
And it was supposed to be finished by now.
Frustration has me biting back a groan.
“It’s an investment,” I say evenly. “That’s all.”
Still, Annie looks unconvinced. “I know the new album is doing well, but that’s why you have an investment manager. Buy a horse ranch or a vineyard or something.”
I take her hand, threading my fingers through hers. “Six… I’d have to buy more than one.”
“Oh.”
God, I love this woman. She grew up with nothing. Then she learned her father was Jax Jamieson, and she was transplanted into a world with everything. She never takes a piece of it for granted.
I swear I never will