and you caught my eye in the front of the crowd. I didn’t know who you were at the time, but I recognized you the moment my brother introduced us for the first time.”
“You noticed me that night?” she asks softly. “How? There had to be close to three hundred people there that night.”
“And none of them stood out but you,” I admit. “The girl with the mahogany hair that disappeared rather quickly. I looked for you for like two songs before I finally realized you probably left. Was I right?”
She hesitates before nodding.
“Why did you leave?”
“The truth?”
“The truth…”
“I couldn’t stop staring at my boyfriend’s brother and it made me feel guilty. That mixed with the emotions you possessed while you sang was too intense for me and I had to get out of there.”
“Kind of like tonight?” I say, pushing more boundaries. “I saw the look in your eyes before you walked away, Nat.” I add when she doesn’t respond quick enough. “It’s okay to feel that way. Most girls do, and that’s not me being cocky. Music is supposed to make you feel that way. It’s supposed to make you feel something. That’s why I love doing it.”
“Why does it make me feel guilty then? Like I’m doing something wrong?”
“Do you want to do something wrong?”
Her mouth opens as if she’s about to speak, but the side door opening has me pulling her across the hot tub and into my lap.
“Hey, guys.” Jess pops her head around the privacy wall so she can see us. “Just wanted to make sure you’re feeling better, Natalie. Madden said you needed to cool off because you had a little too much to drink. Sorry if I made yours too strong.”
“I’m fine,” Natalie confirms. “Just needed a few minutes to calm down and gather my thoughts.”
“Nothing wrong with that, hon. Especially when you have, well… you know who to deal with. You don’t know any of us very well and I’m sure it’s not easy being here.” She pauses for a second to smile when I kiss Natalie’s neck to comfort her. “But I’m glad you came. Even if Alana is freaking out on me every chance she gets. I’m not going to pretend I don’t like you just because she doesn’t. So just know that I do and so does everyone else, Alana excluded, of course. But that can’t be helped.”
“Thanks for checking on her.” I should’ve known she would, because that’s how Jess is. “And thanks for being supportive, Jess.”
“Always. We just brought out some blankets to lay around the fire and hang out. No one is really drinking or talking much anymore. I grabbed an extra blanket in case you want to join us after the hot tub.”
“Thanks, Jess. That was nice of you,” Natalie says from my lap, where my arms are tightly wrapped around her waist. “Sounds like a good idea.”
“Okay, good!” Jess offers a friendly smile before turning around when Alana calls her name from inside. “I better go before Alana comes out here looking for me. I know she’s dying for an excuse to come spy on the two of you.”
“Are you wanting to join them?” I ask once we’re alone. “All it’ll require is me cuddling you on the blanket. You can pretend I’m my brother if it helps. We don’t even have to talk.”
She looks as if she wants to say something, but instead, she just nods and moves out of my lap. “Yeah. Cuddling by the fire sounds nice.”
That’s something we both can agree on.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Natalie
I haven’t been able to stop thinking about mine and Madden’s conversation in the hot tub since we climbed out and changed into dry clothes. The fact that he noticed me before his brother introduced us has been on my mind since the moment he admitted it.
Out of all the women at the concert that night, I stood out to him. He noticed me and even looked for me when I disappeared. That’s going to screw with my head for a long time after this trip is over. I hate it, but it will.
Madden is first to take a seat on the empty blanket, before he grabs my hand to pull me down to him. I’m not surprised when he immediately guides me between his legs and wraps me up in his arms. What I am surprised by is how good it feels to be held by him. If I’m being honest, I don’t think his brother