Midnight Diamonds (6 page)

She’d really wanted that kiss.

“I’m sorry. This whole evening has been one gigantic fiasco. My life is much quieter and boring.” She gestured to the sofa. “Can I get you anything? Water? Milk? Boot polish?”

Chuckling, Justin sat down and put his hat next to him. “You do have a way with those defensive words, don’t you? Would it help if I mention that I called you beautiful?”

She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from smiling. He made it nearly impossible to stay upset with him.

He glanced around the room. “I like your place.”

She surveyed the living area. Cream-colored walls provided a neutral canvas for various pieces of art, mostly by local artists. Her furniture had seen better days, but it had come with the house. “Thanks. Something else from my uncle when he died. Do you want something to drink? I have bottled water.”

“That would be great.” He pointed to a small angel figurine next to a CD player. “My mom collects these.”

Silver smiled and picked up the fragile piece of art. The black haired, black gowned angel had her wings tilted forward, as if hugging her body, her face an expression of pain and sorrow. “This piece is called ‘Mourning Grace.’ I bought it after breaking up with Chase.”

Justin cleared his throat. “I know it’s late, Silver. I don’t want you to be alone, but I can call a taxi if it will make you feel better.”

Did she really want him to leave, or should she let him stay in case she needed help again? Was she ready to trust someone, even the tiniest bit? She shook her head. “Let me get us some water and we’ll talk about it.”

* * *

Rubbing a hand over his face, Justin tilted his head and smiled at her graceful walk, liking the sway of her narrow hips and shiny blonde hair.

Propping one ankle on the other knee, he leaned back against the sofa cushions. This was so out of character for him. He could tell Silver wasn’t completely relaxed with him and he wondered why.

Maybe Chase had something to do with it. Or maybe she was still feeling their kiss. Her heated response had taken him by surprise but not as much as the fire she’d stirred up in him. One kiss and he’d forgotten his mother stood in the same room. That could have been awkward.

Now that the evening was over, Justin felt his energy rapidly draining away. He’d been on a performance high for a while and the fight with Silver’s ex had jacked him up a bit. Then she’d fainted and he’d gone into overdrive on adrenaline. Now weariness swept over him with a vengeance. It didn’t help that he hadn’t slept the night before, tossing and turning while he’d imagined himself as a famous singer. Would he be able to add Best New Artist to his resume’?

Reaching over to a nearby table, he sorted through a short stack of CDs. Josh Groban, U2. Lady Gaga. That made him laugh, considering where she worked. Michael Bublé. Why not? He took the CD out of the case and put it into the player. When the music began, he leaned back, singing along with “Crazy Love.”

What a bizarre ending to the day, he thought. But hey, there were worse things in life than sitting in a gorgeous woman’s living room on a Friday night…or was it Saturday morning? He was lucky she hadn’t left him on her doorstep after his approach to a confessional. It might not have been the best thing to do, but she’d been so ethereal in the moonlight, he hadn’t been able to resist getting closer to her.

And he still wanted another kiss.

Maybe he should let Sam know where he was in case a reporter needed an interview, since he hadn’t told him about taking Silver home. No, he’d talk with Sam tomorrow…or today. Something like that. He kept singing as his eyelids drifted down.

* * *

Silver froze in the kitchen when she heard Justin singing. He knew music other than country? Wasn’t that sacrilegious or something for a cowboy?

Against her better judgment, and in spite of his boots and hat, she was drawn to the man like steel to a magnet. Maybe it was loneliness reaching out, but it felt nice to have a gorgeous man in her house. She would love to hear him sing all night long…and she’d love to hear what other sounds he made…all night long.

She grabbed two bottles of water from the refrigerator and walked back into the living room to find Justin asleep, slumped down, his head resting on the back of the sofa. Silver smiled. Relaxed in sleep, he had the guise of a cute little boy with his long dark lashes brushing against his cheekbones…innocence personified. Chewing the inside of her cheek, she wondered what to do.

Walking over to stand beside him, she heard his steady breathing. “I guess it can’t hurt to let you sleep here,” she whispered. “It’s not as if we’re in the same bed… Darn it. Besides, who’s going to know?” She smiled, set the bottles aside, and picked up a blue blanket to cover him, brushing back some of his hair that had fallen over his forehead. “You really are gorgeous, Justin Rivers. Are you as wonderful as you seem to be?”

She almost leaned down to kiss his cheek, then stopped. Instead, she turned off the music and the lights and went into the bedroom, leaving the door open a bit in case he needed her.

Chapter Five

Silver frowned as she heard some kind of staccato noise. Maybe it meant something. A signal or warning. When had the school changed from one long ring to short bursts?

Fire drill!

Sitting straight up in bed with her heart pounding, she wondered why a fire drill was being done at her house.

She struggled through the haze of sleep to get her frantic breathing back under control and glanced at the bedside clock. Seven o’clock on Saturday morning. The city didn’t have the tornado siren test this early. Cocking her head, she heard something like rolling thunder. Maybe a storm outside?

A massive headache interrupted her thoughts. Moaning softly, Silver put her head into her hands. Had it really only been five hours ago that she’d fallen into bed?

Her head came up as she remembered.

Dark blue eyes.

Tight jeans.

Country music.

Justin Rivers.

She froze when the bed next to her shifted. A sickening feeling grabbed her stomach. Surely she’d remember that. Swallowing against the rising nausea, and already forming excuses in her pounding head, she slowly turned, relieved and oddly disappointed when she saw Becky.

It would be so nice to wake up next to tall, dark, and handsome Justin. She couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like with him close to her, under the covers. Then she remembered hearing him sing along to “Crazy Love” and smiled. For a cowboy, Justin had an incredibly sexy voice. Speaking of which, where was he?

Leaning out from the side of the bed, Silver peeked through the bedroom door—Becky must have left it open when she came in last night—to see if he’d left. Nope, she could see his black hair and the blue throw blanket.

Asleep. On her sofa.

She leaned out further and wondered if he had…

With a squeak of horror, she fell out of bed onto the floor.

“Ow,” she muttered softly, holding her head with one hand and her hip with the other. Silver peeked to see if Justin heard, but he hadn’t moved.

“Aren’t you a bit old to be falling out of bed?” she heard Becky mumble.

“Oh, shut up and get your beauty sleep,” Silver whispered.

“Lord knows I need it after scrambling to meet my deadline last night. Of course, it would be much easier to sleep if people weren’t thumping around on the floor.”

For some reason, those words sounded…well, wrong to Silver. She began giggling and couldn’t stop. Before she knew it, she had tears running down her face. Becky peered over the edge of the bed.

“It’s too-damned-early, Sil, but I’m thrilled I can amuse you. If you’re getting up, then close the door behind you.”

Silver stood up, wiped her face, and climbed back into bed. “No, I’m still tired. And I have the mother of all headaches. But something woke me up. A noise of some sort…”

Becky stared at her, eyes half open, and said nothing. Silver bit her lip to keep from laughing. “Still not much of a morning person, are you?”

“Not much for chit chat, either. And the buzz saw in the living room isn’t helping.”

So that’s what she was hearing. “Justin is snoring. Good grief, I didn’t recognize the sound. What does that say about my life?”

Becky rose up on one elbow and said with an exaggerated western accent, “Silver, how long has it been since you tangoed? Well, that’s too long!”

Silver gasped in shock. Both women fell into their pillows gigging like teenagers. After a few minutes, Silver sighed. “Too bad he’s a cowboy, isn’t it?”

“There are worse things, and we both know that’s not the real reason you’re holding back. Now, I’m the guest and I want a few more minutes of shuteye. Like Mom used to say to Dad: I love you, but leave me alone.” With that, Becky turned to her other side. “Go to sleep or go away.”

Silver snuggled back down under the covers and tried to go back to sleep, but her mind raced around the tribal drums beating inside her skull. Last night had been such a spontaneous experience. She thought about the dinner and the ride home…and Justin’s lips on her neck. And how she’d wanted more.

But I don’t like cowboys, she reminded herself. I don’t like their hats or their shoes or their tight jeans. Or their deep, sexy voices and soft lips. Maybe I do like their tight jeans. I kind of like the smelly hat a little bit. I definitely liked the lips.

If only he played classical or jazz or something more refined. Something…better.

Too bad she didn’t want to date a cowboy.

But you had a date with him last night
, a tiny voice pressed.

No, she reassured herself, not a date. Just an encounter. A small blip that amounted to nothing. A brief study in the irony of life.

When had she become such a liar, especially to herself?

Why not be honest? It had nothing to do with cowboys. She was scared to death of being hurt again. Of having her heart shattered and of being a disappointment…again. Her mother had adored Chase Richards and blamed her for breaking off the engagement.

Silver shook her head as she remembered the argument with her mother. Amelia Madison wanted her daughter married to a professional man, maybe a lawyer, or a doctor, or Prince Harry. “William is taken, but you could still be a princess.” The woman had been serious, and their conversation had descended into accusations and anger. Six months had gone by and not a word from Amelia. No apology. No “how are you?” Nothing.

Her head brutally reminded her of its agony, so Silver slipped out of bed and grabbed some clean clothes. She eased past the sofa and tiptoed down the hall to the bathroom. After taking a quick shower, she dropped her wet towel in the clothes hamper, brushed her teeth, and dragged a wide-toothed comb through her long hair. Then she located the aspirin bottle. Shaking out two of the pills, she decided on an aggressive assault and shook out a third.

Making her way to the kitchen, she reveled in the quiet house. Early morning stillness rejuvenated a person like nothing else could.

She glanced toward the sofa to see Justin still asleep.

As much as she liked seeing him in her house, she hoped no one found out. Silver shuddered to think about how the GaGa school board would react if they knew she’d let a man sleep in her house. Their strict rules about teacher behavior, on and off the campus, were a little old-fashioned, but gave very little room for interpretation, and the school had enough to deal with right now.

The last thing she wanted was a man in her life adding noise and confusion. Having this type of life was fine. Lonely sometimes, but she could always find someone to be with once in a while. It didn’t have to be anything more than two consenting adults enjoying each other. Right?

Moving around the kitchen, Silver turned on her coffee maker and reached for a mug while the machine warmed up. She should wake Justin. Surely he had things to do and people to call. After all, the man had been nominated for Best New Artist last night and had a Nashville agent ready to talk.

She dropped in a K-cup and started the brew. So many things to figure out. Connie’s words…the Amelia situation…why her hands shook with desire every time she glanced toward the sofa where Justin slept.

Silver rubbed her forehead and picked up the hot cup of coffee. She didn’t have the energy for puzzles right now.

Sitting at the kitchen table and holding her head until the aspirin kicked in sounded like a much better idea.

* * *

Justin’s eyes opened slowly to bright sunlight on his face. He squinted and sat up as he sniffed the aroma of freshly brewed coffee—and something unpleasant—while running a hand through his hair.

Where was he?

Memories came rushing back as he stretched his arms over his head. Silver and Becky. Punching Cowboy Wannabe in the face. A ’66 Mustang called Buddy. Winning the ACMA nomination. GramMer and Nashville.

It was the most fun he’d had since he and his brother Kade had been caught racing tractors on the county line road near Grandpa Slade’s ranch. Grandma Ginny still talked about it at family dinners.

What was that stench?

Sniffing, he realized the strong smell assaulting his nose was him.
Eau de Sweat
did not appeal to him.

Justin stood and headed to the kitchen. Silver halted in mid-sip with a coffee cup in her hand. She must have already had a shower since her hair was still damp.

“Mornin’, dar…Silver. Would it be all right if I used the shower?”

“Sure. Down the hall on the right. Clean towels are on the shelf.”

Justin walked to the bathroom, grinning. Silver looked beautiful first thing in the morning.

He stripped down, turned on the shower, stepped inside, and moaned with pleasure as the hot water sluiced down his body. Reaching for the body wash, he sniffed it then read the front of the bottle. Rain and Roses. He shrugged and poured some into his hand. It had to smell better than him.

Inhaling, he smiled. It smelled like Silver.