Page 9 of Rising Star

“Good. ’Cause I’ve made scrambled eggs. Want some?”

I nodded.

“Here,” he said, pushing a plate in front of me. “I’m gonna pick up the girls. Need anything?”

I swallowed a mouthful of food. “No. All good.”

“We are spending the day running errands. Just rest, okay?”

“You sure? I can take care of them if you have work to do. I’m not at the top of my game, but I’m feeling much better than yesterday, and I can deal with them.”

“Nah. Take it easy.”

I brought the fork to my mouth but didn’t eat. “About last night, thank you. For everything.” I paused. “Are we fine?”

He swiveled to face me. “I am if you are. It was a lack of judgment on my part. I’m sorry I put you in an embarrassing situation. Don’t want you to think I took advantage. I shouldn’t have—”

“You were there for me.”

“Yeah…then…okay…yes. We’re good.”

Sam left me alone with my chaotic thoughts when he took off.

“What’s wrong with you?” I chastised myself. “No matter how amazing the chemistry is between you two. Get. A. Grip. Over. Yourself. Girl.”

Caring and longing for someone were two different things. And right now, thanks to yesterday’s fever, I was mixing them both.

“Get your groove back on. You have a job to do.” After I cleaned the kitchen, I wrapped myself in the pink fluffy blanket in the den and lay down on the couch, too weak to do anything but rest, as Sam suggested.

I exhaled my annoyance.

Every time I convinced myself I should stay away from him and I made progress in that direction, an incident came up, and I bounced back to square one.

I breathed out the last dollop of mortification squirming in my lungs.

Adjusting myself, I sealed my eyelids and abandoned myself to sleep, praying it would make me forget the awkwardness of the morning.

I sighed. All better now.

4

SAM

In a rush to leave and before the weirdness between Maddison and me returned, I exited the kitchen, climbing into my truck minutes later. Turning the key in the ignition, I relished the sensation of freedom I experienced at that moment. Now I was sure if I didn’t keep myself in check, this woman would ruin me.

Alone in my car on my way to pick up the girls, I got lost in my own mind. Images I tried to keep at bay flashed in rapid succession, my brain refusing to grant me the reprieve I begged it for. Madison, with her hair loose on her back, still damp from her shower, and her cheeks now a healthier shade of pink. When she entered the kitchen while I prepped breakfast. Her sea-green irises that drew me in, the moment she neared me.

How we stared at each other for a fat minute, neither of us strong enough to escape the magnetism we always fell under.

My heart thundered in my chest at the memory, the sight alone strong enough to break free all the locked-in lust simmering inside me.

I cleared my throat and stretched my neck, my blood flowing to my groin instead of my brain.

“Daddy,” Justine screamed, tackling my legs before I could lift her up as she opened the door at Riley’s. A craftsman house he bought a few years back. My friend slash manager had the means to live in the most upper-class neighborhoods of Nashville, but after growing up in one of those mansions, he said he preferred living a much simpler life. And it suited him.

Hope came running too, and I squatted down to pet her head while she licked my bare knee below my khaki shorts.

Wrapping my baby in my arms, I kissed her cheek. “How was the sleepover? Did you girls have fun? Have you been nice?”