Page 92 of Love You Like This

Stone pulls a Mariners baseball cap low on his head as he stretches out his calf muscles. We’re both as incognito as we can be for our run this morning. It’s not an easy feat for us considering we both stick out in a crowd just based on height alone. Not to mention the two towering bodyguards joining us who each are closer to seven feet than they are six.

When Stone suggested a sunrise run along the beach yesterday, I couldn’t say no. The Pacific will always have my heart, but there is something to be said for the sandy white beaches of Florida. If I had time I’d rent a board and go find some waves, but each of our Florida shows have short turnaround times as we go city to city on the tour.

I’m the weakest runner of the group, so they let me set the pace as we jog down the sidewalk and toward the beach. It’s early on a Sunday morning, so there are not a lot of people outside as we cut across the street. The scent of the ocean hits me as we hang a left and start following the sidewalk north. Palm trees sway above us in the cool breeze coming off the water.

“Is Jade still pissed at me?” Stone asks. “Hazel won’t tell me because I deserve it.” He uses air quotes around the end of his statement.

I chuckle. “She may be, but I’m not.” I hold my fist out for a bump.

After hours of fucking back in Nashville, she explained what happened before she stormed into my room. It’s good to know that despite his great relationship with her, he still has my back when push comes to shove. And fuck knows she needed the push.

I’m still not allowed to talk about us, though. She’s adamant that we can’t go public due to her professional reputation. It’s frustrating because I want everyone to know she’s mine. Especially when she’s so unaware of all the people who ogle her on a daily basis. Not being able to stake my claim kills me.

None of that to say I don’t understand and respect her stance, though. She’s worked hard to get where she is. Before we scooped her up for the band, she had a corporate job. She worked her ass off there and was on the way to her third promotion when Dad reached out about us needing help.

In all honesty, had it not been him asking, I don’t think she would have accepted the position. None of us are afraid to resort to manipulation tactics to get what we want though, so she eventually gave in. Her addition to the team has been nothing short of meteoric. In fact, we all just sat down and decided after the tour to give her a raise on top of the bonuses everyone will be given. Even if we weren’t back together, I’d take any opportunity to be able to help provide for her.

“I think we should plan something for after the tour. Not a party,” Stone clarifies.

“Like a trip?” I ask between heavy breaths.

“Yeah. My cousin has that ranch in Colorado outside of Steamboat. We could rent the whole property out for privacy. They live there, but it’s just them and their kids.”

How the fuck is he talking so normally? I drag in a breath and try not to sound like a locomotive chugging along.

“That could be fun,” I say between pants.

“Especially in the winter. Skiing, snowboarding.” He looks over and waggles his brows. “Private hot tubs at each cabin.”

He’s thinking about sex while I’m fighting for my life as we turn away from the beach and back in the direction of the hotel. I always thought I was reasonably fit, but this excursion has me doubting the workout regimen I follow. But also, fuck running.

By the time we get back to the hotel, I’m doubled over, hands on my knees and wheezing. Stone, on the other hand, hops from foot to foot and could probably run a goddamn marathon. Hans and Adam are both equally unbothered as they stretch their muscles.

Stone slaps my back. “You good?”

I look over my shoulder at him. “I’m never doing this again.”

He tosses his head back and laughs. “I mean, it looks like you need to start doing it daily.”

His laughter only increases when I flash my middle finger at him.

We stay outside until I catch my breath and no longer sound like an asthmatic cat on its ninth life. A few people do double takes in the lobby when the four of us walk through to the elevators, but no one asks for autographs. Not that we’d ever say no, our fans are important to us. We’d have nothing without them, but it is nice when we’re given space to be normal people.

Jade is getting dressed when I get back to the room. She hasn’t noticed me yet, so I rest against the door frame and watch as she buttons her high-waisted black pants and pulls on a turtleneck sweater in a deep, jewel-toned purple. She pulls her hair out and lets it fall down her back in beautiful red waves.

“I could spend every morning watching you get ready,” I say.

She fights a smile as she looks over at me. “You say that now, but wait until you see me with dark circles and a face full of clay from one of my masks.”

“You could swim in a dumpster and still be the most beautiful person alive.”

“That’s a horrifying mental image.” She scrunches her nose.

I close the distance between us and lift her chin. She rises to her toes and presses her lips to mine. My hands wrap around her waist as I deepen the kiss. Her fingers trail over my sweat-soaked shirt and down to my abs.

“If you weren’t already dressed, I’d drag you into the shower with me,” I say against her lips.

“If only I didn’t have work to do.” She breaks the kiss and runs her thumb over my lips to wipe her lipstick off.