Pure Wicked (Wicked Lovers #9.5)(37)
Author: Shayla Black

She looked around the restaurant to make sure no one else was nearby. “Jamie isn’t Jamie. He’s… You should sit down.” She dragged a gaping Jayla to the nearest table and all but shoved her in a chair.

“What the hell? Who is he?”

“Jesse McCall.”

Jayla looked blank for a second, then she scowled as if Bristol had lost her mind. “You’re sure.”

“Completely. When I figured it out, he fessed up.”

“You’re saying the world-famous singer bailed you out at Bubba Oink’s Bone Yard and pretended to be your boyfriend, then went home with you and rocked your world before he proposed?”

When Jayla said it like that, the notion sounded absolutely crazy. Some of Bristol’s excitement deflated.

“Yes.”

“After knowing you for only a few days? And you mean he proposed marriage, right? Not some crazy three-way like he used to have.”

“Marriage.” She winced. “Yes.”

“And what did you say?” Jayla leveled her with an insistent stare.

“I haven’t answered him yet.” She bit her lip. “It sounds ridiculous. Romantic, even. But I want to say yes.”

“But you didn’t. Something stopped you. There’s a reason.”

“I don’t know. On the one hand, it feels sudden. But…when I’m with Jesse, I’m so happy. He’s not the guy we see in the press. He’s changed.”

Jayla shot her a skeptical scowl. “They all say that. Why does he want to marry you?”

“He says he loves me. I-I think I love him, too. I realize we haven’t known one another long and I still need to learn tons about him but…he’s a better man than Hayden. In some ways, he even reminds me of Daddy.”

Her best friend took her hand. “What would you do about this place?”

That had been one of her hesitations. “I don’t know.”

“Would you go on the road with him, like another one of his groupies?”

Now Jayla’s voice sounded soft. It held notes of pity that made Bristol cringe. “I don’t know. I guess we could figure it out. He says he’s sober and wants to change his life—and he wants me at the center.”

“Or more likely he wants to change his image. Girl…” Jayla squeezed her fingers. “An international star says he loves you and wants to marry you after a few days and you’re not suspicious? C’mon, now… He’s in a tough spot. His album is doing well but he’s getting skewered in the press. The late-night hosts have made him into a punch line. What better way to convince people that he’s changed than to tie the knot with a pretty little country girl who bakes sweets for a living? If he did, the whole narration about his character would change overnight. Right now, the story is party monger and manwhore sinks to a new low. But if he married you, suddenly they’d talk about how, after learning some hard lessons, he’d discovered an uplifting love in the face of tragedy. He’d be a role model.” She snorted. “A freaking hero.”

Everything Jayla said was true—and Bristol didn’t want to hear it. “He wouldn’t do that.”

But did she know him well enough to say that for sure? How far would a man with a career as big as his go to save it?

“I’m not pointing this out to hurt you. I’m only saying it because I love you. Hayden mostly hurt your pride, but I think you’ve really fallen for Jesse. He could tear out your heart. Be really careful.”

The message Bristol heard was that she couldn’t possibly be interesting enough to keep a man like McCall, who jet-setted around the world and slept with beautiful people. She bit her lip, fearing Jayla was right. Everything had seemed so clear and real and natural when she’d been with Jesse, discussing their future. He adored her lack of worldly ways.

But was that true for his heart or merely his image?

“I don’t know what to do,” she murmured. “He wants to get married right away.”

“Did he mention a prenuptial agreement?”

She frowned. “Actually, I’m the one who brought it up. People like him don’t get married without one. And I just thought…”

“People like him? If he’s going to be your husband, he’s supposed to be your equal.” Jayla’s expression softened as she shook her head. “Think about this. Rushing you to the altar only benefits him. But you’re putting yourself in an awkward position if you marry him without thinking this through. If he’s not one hundred percent serious about being in love with you and he can’t follow through as a real husband, you’ll get dragged through the press. There are only two ways that goes: Either you’re the naive little girl he grew bored with and everyone will pity you. Or you’re the whore who broke his heart because you didn’t stay by his side when your hoo-ha could have healed his emotional boo-boos. Either way, your life will never be the same.”