Music of the Heart (Runaway Train #1)(41)
Author: Katie Ashley

She bit down on her lip to keep the tears that pooled in her eyes from escaping. “Sure.”

I took a tentative step toward her. “Angel, what the hell is going on in that head of yours?”

Gazing up at me, Abby gave me a half-hearted smile. “It’s just I can’t help but wonder if that isn’t the line you use with all the other girls. ‘Hey babe, it’s not good-bye’. Not to mention your epically loaded statement of ‘I’ve got your number’. Kinda thinking there’s been a string of girls agonizingly staring at their phones just waiting for a call from you that never came.”

My brows creased in anger. “First of all, I’m not giving you some line. When I say I’ll see you again and that I’ll call, I f**king mean it. And second, there may have been a string of girls leaving this bus like you, but I sure as hell didn’t get their numbers.”

“You didn’t?”

“No, Angel, I didn’t.” I brushed the silky, blonde strands of hair away from Abby’s face to tenderly rub my thumb across her cheek. “Whatever it is that’s started between us, I sure as hell don’t want it to end.”

She sucked in a harsh breath. “So you feel it that strongly too?”

I smiled. “Of course I do. It’s like being zapped by a f**king lightning bolt each and every time you’re near me. You make me think things…feel things I never have before.”

“So have you,” she whispered softly. Her palms flattened against my chest. “Jake, I’m sorry for what I said earlier. I don’t know what to do with all I’m feeling, especially since I have no experience with men.”

“And I could argue that we’re in the same boat here on being totally f**king clueless about what to do.”

Bringing her hand up, she covered mine that was cupping her face. “I know people would tell me that because I’m inexperienced with guys, I’m wrong about what I’m feeling for you.” She shook her head. “But I know without a shadow of a doubt the intensity of what I feel for you is real.”

I feathered kisses along her hand and fingers. “Mmm, do you now?”

“I’ve fallen for you, Jake.”

For a brief instant, it felt like she had nailed me in the balls again. Her words hit me that hard. After a few calming breaths, I managed to grin. “Well, that’s good because I’ve fallen head over f**king heels for you, Angel.”

She laughed. “You have such a way with words.”

“What can I say? You bring out the romantic in me.”

The taxi pulled up to the bus, and I winced. My chest caved in at the prospect of her leaving me, and I had to fight to breathe. I felt like a complete and total pu**y. Dammit, when had I become reduced to a codependent dude who needed a woman to survive? But as much as I hated to admit it, the truth was I needed Abby. She was living and breathing peace to my troubled soul—an angel sent straight out of Heaven. Just a look from her could calm me instantly. With everything happening with my mom, I didn’t know how I would make it without her.

Since she could read me so well, Abby threw her arms around my neck, and she pressed herself tight against me. “I wish I didn’t have to leave you. I need you desperately, but I know you need me more.”

“You’re just a phone call away, right?” I asked, hating the way my voice broke with emotion.

“Yes of course. Day or night. If anything happens with your mom or upsets you or if you can’t sleep, you can just call me, okay?”

I groaned. “You make me sound like an utter pu**y.”

She giggled, causing her warm breath to heat my neck. “You just have an amazing, tender heart, baby. Because of that, you’re always going to feel more and hurt more than other people.” Pulling away, she stared up at me. “Besides, it isn’t a sign of weakness to need other people.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“So you’ll call me?”

“Oh hell yes, I will.” I leaned over to kiss her. Even though I wanted to press her up against the bus and ravage her mouth while running my hands over her amazing tits, I knew I couldn’t do that. Not only because I wouldn’t dream of disrespecting my girl by giving the cab driver or the guys such a raunchy show, but because I didn’t want to move too fast with her. It wasn’t just her lack of experience—it was because I wanted to make everything perfect for her…and for me.

So with all the restraint I could muster, I brushed my lips chastely against hers. When she sighed in frustration, I pulled away. At her disappointed expression, I couldn’t help laughing. Cupping her cheeks in my hands, I asked, “What was your first part of the duet we sang, Angel?”

“Um, it was about not moving too fast and making it last?”

“Nice rhyming, but yeah, that line.” When her brows furrowed, I grinned. “I haven’t had a relationship with a girl since the band hit big. I’m used to loving in the fast lane, and well, you’re the emergency lane at best.”

“Hey now,” she giggled, smacking my arm playfully.

“So we gotta take this slow. I want to savor what I’m feeling and not ruin it with getting too physical too fast.”

Abby pursed her lips at me. “And what if I want some parts of a physical relationship with you? I’m not talking the full deal…well, not yet anyway.”

I threw my head back and groaned. “Thanks for trying to kill me, Angel. You’ve known me a week, and your rules are to be in love with the person, remember?”

She nibbled my bottom lip. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m on my way to falling in love with you.”

At the honk of the cab’s horn, I let out an exasperated breath. “We both have the worst f**king timing.”

“But we’ll at least continue this conversation later, right?”

“Yes, we will.” I grabbed up her suitcase and guitar case.

“Wait, you don’t—”

“Yes, I do. It’s the gentlemanly thing to do.”

She shook her head and then fell in step behind me. I eased her stuff into the trunk and then closed the lid. “Be careful.”

“Thanks. You too.”

“And knock em’ dead tonight.”

“I’ll try.”

I grinned as I opened the backseat door for her. “You will, and you know I’m always right.”

She rolled her eyes but then smiled. “Bye, Jake.”