Live For You (Boys of the South ~ Book 1) Read online

As Norma walks away, Lacey turns to me. “Thank you.”

  I shrug. “You don’t have to answer any questions you don’t want to, you know.”

  Her brows draw together. Freckles dancing as her nose scrunches. “But I’m horrible at lying. My face gets red and I start itching everywhere.”

  If she weren’t so serious I’d laugh, but she is and I really want to get to know her. “How about I help you deflect questions, like I’ve had to do in the past.”

  “You want me to say: no comment, while wearing dark glasses?

  “Hey, don’t knock it until you try it, honey,” I say, wagging a finger at her. She smiles. “Plus, dark glasses hide dark circles from the night before, when you’ve been playing for what seems like days on end.”

  “Should I take notes?”

  “From what I’ve seen and heard, you have a pretty good memory.”

  She nods. “This is true. Okay, so tell me.”

  I look up at the ceiling, then back at her again. “Say you get asked about what you and Wyatt were doing last night around seven p.m.”

  “That was after dinner, so…” She grins, a blush stealing over her cheeks. “We were making out in his apartment.”

  “That’s awesome, Lacey,” I squeal—quietly, in case Norma is eavesdropping. “But you should have answered with something more vague. Like: We ate dinner and then hung out.”

  Her eyes widen. “Oh, that’s good. What else?”

  “You can also answer a question with a question.”

  “That works?”

  “What do you think?”

  This time she wags her finger at me. “Touche`, Miss Givens.”

  Little by little, Lacey warms up to me and pretty soon I find myself giggling and talking about guys—what else?—with her. By the time our toes are dry, we’re walking outside to her car, arm in arm.

  I put on my sunglasses. Lacey studies me a minute, then does the same.

  “How do I look?” I ask as we get in her car. This is her final test. All she has to do is—

  “Like my friend,” she says and starts up the engine.

  Yet another person added my list of people I’m not leaving behind.

  *** *** ***

  Cole

  Ever since word’s spread that the Jaxon Hunter is coming to The Double Deuce, I can’t pour drinks fast enough. If this keeps up, I’ll have to hire another bartender and two more waitresses.

  Tonight’s the last night we’ll be open before I temporarily close down the bar. I’m scared shitless, but Rae and surprisingly enough Jane, think that anteing up the mystery of Jaxon’s visit will draw an even bigger crowd.

  Plus Jane, this time supported by Rae and Parker, is getting her way by having the entire bar cleaned from top to bottom. Only I’m not on board with all the changes she wants to make to the décor, not because I hate change, but I have no idea where I’ll get the money.

  The mortgage on this place is due, along with the debts and other bills that go along with it. Payroll is due, too. I don’t have enough money to pay everyone.

  While I pour over the books, and I mean actual books, because it was never switched over to a software program, Rae comes waltzing in while singing, “Happy Birthday to you!”

  I look up from beneath my brows. “My birthday’s not until next April.” But if she’s my present, I’ll be more than happy to unwrap those tight jeans and green top from her body. Slowly. With my teeth.

  As soon as she gets close enough, I pull her in my lap and capture her mouth, cutting off her singing. I hear something drop on the desk, but my mind and hands are firmly on Rae. In my next heartbeat she’s just as caught up in me as I am in her. Her hands are down the front of my pants and I’m pushing against her.

  Then I break my no-sex-in-the-office rule, order her out of her clothes and bend her over my desk. I keep mine on, only unbuttoning my fly and shoving my jeans and boxers to my knees. Then I rub my cock against her wet folds.

  “Now, now, now,” she chants and I slowly ease the head of my dick in.

  “So damn tight,” I groan, then pull out and slam my hips against hers. The minute I’m all the way inside of her she begins to shake, and my name leaves her full lips in little moans and gasps.

  There’s nothing in this world that compares to being inside of Rae, feeling her heart beat as she surrounds me. I’m pretty damn sure this is as close to Heaven as I’m ever getting.

  “I have to come,” she cries out, her hand reaching between her thighs. The tips of her fingers brush my balls before sliding up my cock. I can only imagine what her fingers looks like as they slip and slide over her swollen clit.

  “Go on, baby. Come for me.”

  Her mouth opens wide and I cover it with my hand just in time. A couple of thrusts later and I’m joining her. “Hell yes.”

  It takes both of us a long time to calm down from that. Even as I help her clean up and get dressed, we can’t stop touching and kissing each other. A part of me wonders if this is because of what I know what’s going to happen.

  Her ex will come back, so will Nashville, and they’ll all want her to come back home. To her old life.

  She picks up a thick envelope off of my desk and hands it to me. “I was trying to give you this before we got so distracted.”

  “Is that what the kids are calling it nowadays?” She punches me in the shoulder and I laugh, then open up the envelope and find the deed to The Double Deuce. There’s another document inside, stapled together like it’s a contract. “What’s this?”

  “My gift to you.” She smiles shyly and bites her bottom lip. “You’ve given me so much, Cole, and I’ll never be able to pay you back. I had my lawyers check into things—“

  “Lawyers?”

  She nods. “And I bought the mortgage on the building, including all of the debts owed by The Double Deuce. They’re all paid off now.” She steps closer and take my hand. “So I decided to put it in your name. The Double D belongs to you. No strings. No nothing. Keep it. Sell it. Burn it down. It’s all yours.”

  “I don’t know what to say.” And I don’t. She’s given me a freedom that I would have never been able to buy on my own.

  “There’s nothing to say,” she says softly. “It’s a gift.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Violet

  The last car I ever expected to see sitting in Nana’s driveway is my mother’s BMW.

  “Did you know you had company?” Cole asks, parking his Jeep.

  “That’s not company. That’s my parents,” I say as we make our way to the house. I grab his hand and lace my fingers through his. “I’d like to introduce you to them”

  “You sure about that?” His blue eyes look slightly panicked.

  “Good grief, Cole. You’re smart, enrolled in college, raising your little sister and running a business,” I say, ticking off my impromptu list on my fingers. “I’m pretty sure that’s every parents dream.”

  “I’ve also been in arrest more times than I can count, have spent the night in jail a half a dozen times and have an addict of a mother that abandoned her children. That’s every parents’ nightmare.”

  “Please, Cole,” I let out a shaky breath. “I could use the support.”

  He squeezes my hand. “Whatever you want, darlin’.”

  “Yeah, about that… better not call me that in front of them,” I say as we resume our walk. “They’re kind of old-fashioned about things.”

  “What about baby? That’s pretty old skool.”

  “No!”

  “Candy ass?”

  “Cole!”

  “Thought you wanted to be called Rae?”

  Smacking my forehead with my free hand, I groan. “No more, please.”

  “Fine.”

  We stop at the front door and I can’t go another step. My mother’s bound to be huge by now, and I’m not sure what I’ll say when I see her. If I can say anything at all. And if she starts talking about baby things, I’m worried that I’ll make t
hings worse.

  I want to make things better. I miss my parents. And it’s not my mother’s fault or my little brother or sister’s fault that I chose to drink and then get behind the wheel. It’s mine.

  “Right,” he says. “Best show my manners.” He knocks once, then opens the door and holds it, gesturing for me to go inside.

  It’s time for me to finish growing the hell up.

  I let my hands fall to my side and square my shoulders, then walk inside.

  *** *** ***

  Cole

  I walk a couple of steps behind Rae, shoving my hands in my pockets so I don’t accidentally grab her ass.

  That wouldn’t go over too well with anyone in this house. When we get to the living room, Miss Violet’s sitting in her usual spot. Only in mine and Rae’s usual spots sits a man and woman. Both blonde, blue-eyed and…kind-looking. Pleasant.

  “Violet,” Rae’s mother cries, pushing up from the couch and I blink at the sight her very pregnant belly.

  At first Rae just stands there, frozen and her mother’s smile begins to falter. Then Rae runs the small distance between them, hugging her momma tight. Her dad starts crying and joins them.

  This is way too much crying for me, and I feel awkward as hell just standing here.

  Miss Violet stands, then gestures for me to follow. Thank God.

  We end up on the back porch. She takes my elbow and leads me to the fall garden that Rae helped her plant. .

  “You know why they’ve come here,” she says, stopping shy of the row of broccoli.

  I glance around, jaw working. “To take Rae home.” Where she belongs. Though I don’t say it, it’s what we’re both thinking.

  “Among other things,” she says, letting go of my arm and stepping into her garden. She starts picking broccoli, tucking them into her apron. “Violet Rae has responsibilities she’s been neglecting.”

  “You mean as Violet Lynn.”

  A smile quirks on her face. “She told you.”

  “Yeah.” I run a hand through my hair. “I wasn’t planning on holding her back, if that’s what you’re worried about. I know she deserves better than me.”

  She straightens. “I wasn’t worried. And I think Violet Rae knows who she deserves.”

  “Someone like Jaxon Hunter.”

  Miss Violet frowns. She looks as though she wants to say something and then decides against it. “One thing I’ve always admired about you Morgan boys, y’all never let anyone keep you down. But you have to realize something, Cole.”

  “What’s that?” Here it comes. This is where Miss Violet tells me that someday I’ll find another person to love or be with, and she’ll be perfect for me. The timing will be right.

  “You can’t let you keep you down.” She picks another handful of broccoli. “There’s some real truth to the saying that we’re our own worst enemy.”

  Not what I expected at all. I flounder for a moment before finally saying, “You think I should fight for her?”

  She walks back to me. “Heck, yes.” Her hand presses against the center of my chest. “With your whole heart while using your head.”

  Just as I let those words sink in, Rae’s dad comes walking up. He lays a hand on my shoulder. “Son, we need to talk.”

  Yeah, I knew this was coming.

  *** *** ***

  Violet

  “That wasn’t too bad, was it?” I say as Cole and I sit on the front porch. I’m snuggled against him while his arm rests along the back of the porch swing.

  “Oh no, it was great.”

  “Poor thing, being grilled over dinner. And that leg of yours, shaking so hard that Nana’s china dishes started rattling. I thought it was kinda cute you were so nervous,” I tease but he doesn’t smile at all. “I’d be happy to make it up to you.”

  Cole keeps staring straight ahead. “You don’t owe me, Rae.”

  Startled by his answer, I try again. “What do you think about the invite for Violet Lynn to play at the Coliseum in Charlotte next month? Kelly, Parker, Wyatt, Lacey and even Beau are invited. I’ll give y’all backstage passes. Does that sound good?” I sound desperate and like a deranged Little Miss Sunshine.

  “If you’re happy, then I’m happy for you.”

  “Oh…what’s wrong?”

  He finally looks at me. “You can’t stay here forever, Rae. Eventually you have to go back to Nashville and do your thing.”

  “I know that, but I thought you and I could—could work out a plan or something.”

  “A plan?” he asks, his brows raising. “Like you’ll pencil me in? Thanks but no thanks, darlin’.”

  I can’t believe what I’m hearing. “Pencil you in? I don’t even know what to say to that.”

  “Then let me do the talking.” He stands, shoves his hands into the pockets of his jeans. The slight breeze ruffles his dark hair. His blue eyes are blank, emotionless and scare the crap out of me. I’ve never seen him like this. Ever. “You and me won’t work. Ever.”

  Then he walks away, get in his Jeep and drives off into the sunset.

  Without me.

  And I let him. Because I’m too damn stunned do anything.

  My phone vibrates. Out of habit I read the screen.

  Cole: I’m so sorry, baby. Please don’t hate me. It’s for the best.

  My dad joins me on the porch before I can respond to Cole’s text. As if I could respond to that text right now.

  Davis looks at me, the empty space by my side, and smiles sadly. “Guess finding out he’s been dating a celebrity was a bit too much, huh?”

  Until now I’ve always trusted my parents to have my best interests at heart. They’ve never taken more than their cut as my managers. They’ve always made sure that no one else took advantage of me too.

  “Did you tell Cole to break up with me?”

  Davis holds up his hands. “Now, Violet, don’t—”

  “How could you? I love him.” Jumping to my feet, I slip my phone into my back pocket. “You don’t have the right to dictate whom I’m allowed to see.”

  “He has an arrest record, going back for years, honey. His mother, too, and she’s been in and out of rehab a half dozen times. God knows where his father is.”

  “Don’t be so judgmental. Not everyone gets to grow up like you and me,” I snap, thinking I had sounded exactly like that when I’d said those words to Cole. I so don’t deserve him.

  “Rae, I grew up without a father and yet somehow I made it through life without being arrested.”

  I don’t bother pointing out that I grew up with both parents and had been arrested. “But you have Nana. Cole doesn’t have anyone.”

  “I’m not arguing with you about life choices, Violet.” Davis rubs his jaw, something my dad does when he knows he’s said or done something wrong. “I was only looking out for you. A lot of important people are taking a chance on you. Why give them a reason to doubt you’ll deliver? I didn’t talk to Cole for selfish reasons, honey. I love you. So does your mother. We only want what’s best for you and your career.”

  I close my eyes and count to twenty before answering. “I know you’re doing this out of love and concern, but you could have talked to me first. You could have asked what I wanted.” I smack my chest with the flat of my hand. “Me, Violet Rae Givens, your daughter, not Violet Lynn, your moneymaker.”

  “Not fair, Vi. Not at all,” he says.

  I shake my head. “You told the one person who loved me for me that I was better off without him. That’s what’s not fair.” Then I shove past him, race inside and begin to pack.

  ***

  “What’s going on, Vi?” My mother stands the doorway, a hand on her stomach. It doesn’t hurt as bad as I’d thought it would to see her so glowy and so obviously pregnant.

  “You and Daddy decided to dictate whom I’m allowed to date.”

  “Oh baby girl, I’m so sorry.” She steps into the room, stopping at the edge of the bed. “I had nothing to do with that. The last time we enc
ouraged you to date someone, Jaxon Hunter happened.”

  The shirt I was getting ready to stuff into my duffle bag falls to the floor. “You know he cheated on me?”

  “Easy enough to figure out when he doesn’t come to see you and your best friend doesn’t either, then they end up engaged to each other.”

  Shame and embarrassment heat my face. “That means a lot of other people did too.”

  “Who cares what other people think? She’s his problem now, not yours.”

  A giggle escapes me. “He sure is. Wonder if they’ll fight over who has the best hair?” Kimberly sits down on the bed and gives me a tentative smile. I’m not sure how to respond to her. “Aren’t you going to ask me where I’m going?”

  “Nope,” she says.

  “But aren’t you supposed to?”

  She shrugs. “I think by the time a woman’s twenty she ought to have a lot of say in where’s she going and what she’s doing without parental interference.”

  “What if I don’t want to sing anymore?”

  “That’s up to you, but you are required to fulfill any contractual obligations.”

  I roll my eyes. My parents are all about honoring their word, verbal or written. Not that I’m much different. I hate breaking a promise to anyone, even for the things out of my control. “I know that. I think—no, I want to take some time off, maybe go to college or make indie records without a contract or producer. Or managers.”

  Kimberly leans over and grabs my hand. “Whatever you do, just know that your father and I will support you.”

  Fresh tears well up, but at least this time they’re not sad. Suddenly my momma gasps, winces and I panic.

  “Oh God. Is it the baby? Pleaseletitbeokay,” I moan, my words running together as I fumble for my phone. I have to save this baby. I can’t let what happened to me happen to—

  “No, no…Oh Violet. They baby rolled, that’s all.”

  “So you’re okay? The baby’s okay?” I press my hand to her stomach, closing my eyes as I feel small feet kick my palms. Still moving. Still alive.

  It’s not me, lying broken in a field. Staring up at the stars while the jagged edge of the windshield tears into my womb and kills what’s inside of me.