Blind Attraction (25 page)

Blake raised a brow. “And why do you think he said those things?”

“Because he’s a jerk!” Her heart skipped a thudded beat. She needed to believe he was a chauvinistic pig. Otherwise she would end up crawling on her knees and asking him to give their relationship another try.

“No, sugar. He said it because he knew it would get you to let him go without a fight. And in case you didn’t know, that time we spent together—”

She frowned in confusion and he waggled his brows at her. “Ohh…yes.” He meant the time when they were
all
together. Her cheeks heated at the memory.

“—Mitch has never done that before. The whole protective-jealous thing, I mean. He cherishes you, Alana. I’ve never seen him this way.”

“I don’t understand. Why did he need me to let him go in the first place?”

Blake stepped toward her and grabbed her hand. “I’m not the person you need to ask.” He tugged her toward him. “Come on. Let’s go find where he’s hiding.”

She followed in a daze, her mind mulling possibilities which made her smile. Mitchell was here for her. He flew half way across the country—for her. They turned the corner to the entrance hall and found her mother pacing near the door. Her gaze shot to them, then lowered to their joined hands. Her face paled and her fingers shook as they rose to cover her mouth. “I apologize.”

Alana’s heart warmed with appreciation. She hadn’t expected her mom to atone for her life-threatening mistake without the threat of legal action falling into play.

“I-I don’t know what happened... I just...there was too much... I didn’t mean to... I...I.” She began to sob, big chest heaving cries which echoed off the walls.

Dropping Blake’s hand, Alana embraced her mother. She became the rock, holding strong while tears dampened her white camisole. “You need help.”

Her mom nodded into her shoulder. “I’m going to see a counselor. It’s been too long. I can’t go on like this.” She squeezed Alana tight. “Is he going to press charges?”

Alana glanced over at Blake and he shook his head. “No, Ma. He’s not going to press charges.”

“You love him?”

“What?” Alana leaned back. “No. This is
Blake,
not Mitchell.”

“You shot the wrong guy.” Blake chuckled, then winced and clutched his side.

Her mom stepped away from Alana’s embrace and faced Blake. “I hope you can accept my apology.”

“No worries.” He smiled and opened his arms.

Her mother glanced at him with wide eyes. Alana held her breath waiting for her mom to flee. Instead she stepped forward, paused, then did it again, and again, until finally she was in Blake’s arms.

With her mom’s stiff posture and the uncomfortable expression on Blake’s face, they wouldn’t score the world’s most comfortable hug, yet those few steps were a lifelong journey for her mother.

Alana sniffed and blinked away tears.

“You want to join in, sugar?”

She rolled her eyes and Blake released his hold.

“Are you ready to go find Mitch?” He held out his hand and she grasped his offering.

“Yeah.” Hope would kill her if she didn’t speak to him soon.

He led her past the front door and paused on the porch. Mitch rested against his car, legs crossed at the ankles as he stared at his shoes. He glanced up when the screen slammed shut and frowned when his focus lowered to their entwined hands.

Blake leaned in close, his breath whispering against her cheek as he placed a kiss on her temple. “Just for good measure,” he whispered.

She struggled not to laugh. “You’re a horrible friend,” she scolded.

“Don’t worry, he’ll thank me for it one day.”

She sighed and raised his hand to her mouth. She kissed his knuckles, silently thanking him with her eyes. “Just for good measure,” she whispered, and then pressed her lips together to stop from blubbering.

“Now, this time, don’t back down. Clamp those delicate hands around his neck if you have to. Don’t let go until all your questions are answered.”

“I plan on it.” She dropped his hand and strode down the stairs, her chest expanding with each step.

She didn’t take her gaze off Mitchell, not even to check if Blake followed. Her attention remained on the man who held her heart.

Mitch pushed off the car and wiped his hands on his jeans. He waited until Alana stopped in front of him and gazed down at the most beautiful shade of light green irises he’d ever seen.

“How’s Blake?”

“He’s fine.” Her voice was gentle, soft and sweet and feminine. “Patty gave him a few stitches. He’s lucky the pellet only scrapped his side.”

Mitch released a relieved breath. He already felt like a heel for dragging his friend here. He should be the one getting stitched up...the one Alana took care of. “That’s good.” He wanted to reach for her, to hold her hand just as Blake had.

“I’m not leaving, Allie. Not until you give me a chance to explain.” He tried to implore her with his gaze. “I’m opposed to being shot in the ass, but I’ll risk it.”

“OK.” Her lips tilted in the faintest smile.

“OK?”

Her grin widened. “OK.”

“Is there somewhere we can go to talk? Preferably out of shooting range?”

“Yeah, I live over there.” She glanced over her shoulder and pointed to a small brick cottage. “Well, I used to anyway.”

He turned to Blake on the porch of the main house and threw him the car keys. “We’re going over there for a little while.” He jerked his head in the direction of the cottage. “Do you want to drive the car out to the highway and wait for me?”

Blake nodded. “No problem. I’ll go into Monument and get a coffee.”

“Are you guys staying in Colorado Springs?” Alana asked.

He focused on her for a moment, reading the uncertainty in her features. “That depends on you.”

She raised her eyebrows. “Let’s go talk, then.”

He followed a few steps behind as they walked to her cottage. Without a word, she held the screen door open for him and allowed him to lead the way. He strode into what he assumed was the living area with a small kitchen at the back. Everything was bare, no photos, no rugs, not even furniture. The only thing in the room was a handbag on the kitchen counter.

“I...like what you’ve done with the place.”

She chuckled and slapped him gently over the chest as she passed. “The moving truck—”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her back. She gasped and sunk into him. He held her wrists to his chest, their bodies joining at the waist. Her wide eyes gazed up at him through thick dark lashes.

“I... The movers took my things this morning.”

“You’re moving?”

She bit her lip and nodded. “To Richmond.”

“I assumed you’d moved back here for good.”

“No.” The word whispered over his skin. “Mom had a bad fall, and when I found out she was in hospital, I came straight home.” She breathed deep and let it out slowly. “I’m not staying. This place isn’t for me anymore. It never was.”

“Have you ever been to New York?”

She lowered her gaze to stare at the floor. “Why are you here, Mitchell?”

His heart clenched, burying its way deeper into his chest. “I was stupid to push you away.” He released her wrist and cupped her cheek with his palm, drawing her attention back to his face. “You were right. I was scared... The way I feel about you scares the hell out of me. The time we spent together...” He inhaled deep and measured his exhale, needing each additional second to settle his hypersensitive nerves. “I haven’t had a woman treat me the way you did since before I became a part of Reckless. You were blind, yet you could see me better than anyone else. You aren’t after my fame, or my money, or my success. You’re...” He swallowed hard to clear the discomfort clogging his throat.

He cupped her other cheek in his palm and stared deep into her eyes. “You are beyond perfect. And I’m a fool for thinking I could ever let you go.”

“So why did you?” she whispered.

“It isn’t easy living in the spotlight. I thought letting you go now, while things between us were good, would be better than waiting until you started to resent me. You’re the first to admit you’ve had a sheltered life. I didn’t want to ruin your first experience away from home with the drama that follows the band around.”

Her eyes filled with moisture, and his own burned in response. "I’ve watched a never-ending line of relationships crumple around me, with each sordid detail publicized to the world. I couldn’t stand to hurt you that way.”

She peered up at him, her light green irises swimming in unshed tears. “What changed your mind?”

“Letting you go nearly killed me. I saw your blog posts. Each one made me want to throw away my commitments and fly back to you. I dialed your number a thousand times because I missed the sound of your voice. You never left my mind, Allie.”

He brushed his lips over hers. The feather light touch ignited a flame that burned his chest. “I won’t let us turn into another statistic.” He rested his forehead against hers. “I won’t. The time we’ll spend apart because of work will be torture, but I have plans to make it easier. I can handle it for now, as long as I know I will always be coming home to you.”

A single tear streaked over her flawless skin and he leaned in to kiss it away. “You won’t have to worry about my fears again. My only concern now, is that I might scare
you
off.”

She moved her arms around his waist so their bodies touched from thigh to stomach. “I wasn’t scared in the first place.”

“Yeah, I know. But you might be now.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the white gold ring he purchased a week ago. He placed it in the middle of his palm and held it out to her.

She sucked in a breath, and stepped back. Her eyes were wide as her hand raised to cover her mouth.

“Don’t panic.”

Her focus shot from the ring to his face.

“I’m not proposing.”

She released a heavy sigh and her shoulders relaxed.

“No need to be so relieved, sweetheart,” he chuckled. “It’s a commitment ring. I wanted to show you how serious I am about us.”

Her hand fell away and she smiled. “You scared me. We haven’t known each other long and, although I do love you, a marriage proposal would make me run—”

He grabbed her hand and tugged her back into his body. “You love me?” He scrutinized her face as his heart threatened to explode.

Her smile widened, bringing out two beautiful dimples. “With all my heart.”

Grabbing her ass, he lifted her off the ground. She squealed with laughter, circling his waist with her legs.

“God, you don’t know how happy that makes me.” He kissed her hard, once, twice, the third time swiping her lips with his tongue. He walked her to the kitchen counter, placed her down, and held the ring out for her to take. “Be with me, Allie. Make me the happiest man alive.”

She bit her lip and stared at his offering. Her hand shook as it rose to roughly wipe the tears away from her face. “I don’t know what to say.”

He grabbed her hand and stroked the ring finger on her right hand. “Say you’ll be mine.”

She nodded, her head bobbing up and down as tears continued to flow. He pushed the ring up her finger and winced at the loose fit.

“Well, even though it doesn’t fit, will you still be mine?”

Alana sniffed and leaned forward to place a kiss on his lips. “Always.”

Alana held up her camera and captured the shot of the three women smiling at her.

“Thanks, ladies. I hope you enjoyed the concert. The photo will be uploaded to the Reckless Beat website within the week, if you want to check it out.”

Tonight marked the last night of their U.S. tour. The fans had been wild, the screaming continuing well after the second encore. The women paid her little attention. They were too hyped, the adrenaline pulsing from them in waves as they spoke loud and fast about their favorite aspects of the show.

Alana turned away and strolled to the staff entrance which led back stage. As she walked, she scrolled through the images she’d taken via the camera’s display screen.

A strong set of hands encased her waist and she screamed when they began to tickle. “I’ve been looking for you.”

“Mitchell, stop it!” She gripped her camera tight in one hand and whacked him with the other. “People will see you.”