Realizing that all the talk of change was a bit of a sensitive subject, Brayden quickly steered the conversation in another direction by rolling the window down and showing me more of the sights along the strip.
When we arrived at the MGM Grand, I was surprised that he didn’t pawn me off on some of the handlers. Instead, he kept his arm around my waist and led me inside. “While we’re rehearsing, you can sit down in the front row.”
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I am.” He gave me a beaming smile. “I can’t wait for you to see the show tonight.”
I returned his smile. “Me too.”
A roadie in a headset came up to us then. “Bray, we need you out on stage.”
He nodded. “Can you please take Lily down to the first row?”
“Sure.”
Brayden leaned over and gave me a kiss before he headed off. I was happily surprised by how attentive he was being to me now that we were back in his world. Once I took my seat, I bounced my leg anxiously as I awaited the guys to take the stage. When Jake came out, his gaze instantly went to mine. Instead of a sneer or smirk, he just merely nodded his head at me. The next thing I knew the guys had taken their places and began to warm up.
I don’t think I moved during the next half hour. I was that mesmerized. After all the bars and small venues Runaway Train had performed in, it was really amazing seeing them on a huge stage. I could only imagine what it would be like later tonight with all the lights and then the screaming fans.
When he was done, Brayden immediately came down to find me. “What did you think?”
“Amazing. Seriously amazing. I can’t imagine how much better it will be tonight.”
A wide grin stretched across his cheeks. “Really?”
“Yeah, really.” I gave him a lingering kiss. “You make me very proud.”
“Thank you, babe.” He pulled me against him and gave me a kiss that had my toes curling. When he finally pulled away, we were both panting.
“Anywhere around here where we can be alone?” I questioned, wagging my eyebrows.
He laughed. “I think I can find someplace.”
“Then let’s go.”
***
After a storage closet quickie, Brayden and I emerged to find the band looking for us. When we got into the main dressing room, the guy’s eyes widened at the sight of us. My face immediately felt like it was in flames as I tried to smooth down my hair and clothes.
“We were just going to grab some dinner in the restaurant before the show,” Jake said.
“Looks like you two have already had dessert,” AJ added, with a smirk.
“Shut up,” Brayden grunted, while I wished the floor would open up and swallow me whole. It was going to take some time getting used to being around four men again, especially when it came to the free for all of discussing sex.
Trying to change the subject, I said, “Yes, let’s eat. I’m starving.”
“Guess you worked up quite the appetite,” Rhys mused.
At my humiliated squeak, the guys dissolved into laughter. “Damn, it’s good having her back,” AJ said, as he started out of the dressing room.
When I met Jake’s gaze, he smiled, “Yeah, it is good having her back.”
LILY
The Past
I was half-way in between consciousness and sleep when the hotel curtains were unceremoniously shoved aside and intense desert sunlight streamed into the room.
With a groan, I rolled over onto my stomach, burying my face in the pillow. “It can’t be morning already,” I muttered.
The bed dipped as Brayden came to sit down. “I forgot how much you weren’t a morning person.”
“It’s not just that.” Turning my head on the pillow, I peered up at him. “I only have today left with you before I have to leave.”
Brayden’s amused expression faded. Scratching the back of his head, he asked, “Can’t you take another week off from school?”
“I could, but I probably shouldn’t.” I reached out to cup his cheek. “I wish I could stay in this hotel room with you for forever.”
He brought his hand up to cover mine. “I really don’t want you to go, Lily.”
“You’re not making this any easier.”
His expression darkened. “How the hell am I supposed to act? I just got you back. I don’t want to lose you again.”
Rising up on my elbows, I leaned over to kiss his lips. “You’re not going to lose me. Just because I have to go back home, I’ll still be right here.” I touched the bare skin over his heart.
“That’s not good enough,” he whispered.
“What do you mean?”
Burning intensity shone in Brayden’s eyes. “Marry me.”
My heart fluttered at his words, but I tried my best to keep calm. We’d just reconnected after almost a year apart. Everything seemed to be happening at warped speed. “You know, I’m having an odd sense of Deja vu,” I teased, trying to lighten the moment.
Brayden smacked my ass playfully. “I’m serious, Lily.”
“How was I to know that? Besides, you’re not treating this seriously since you just smacked me.”
“Do you want me to get down on my knee again because I will? I’ll do anything in the fucking world you want me to if you’ll just be my wife.”
His words and his earnest tone sent tears springing to my eyes. “Oh Brayden.”
“Is that a yes?”
I nodded my head emphatically as I swiped the moisture from my cheeks. “Yes, I want to marry you, too.” I leaned over to bestow a soft kiss on his lips. “I really never stopped wanting to be your wife. At least the wife of the person you once were.” Leaning my forehead against his, I said, “Thank God, that man is back.”
“I promise you he’s never, ever going to leave you again.”
“I believe you. I really do.”
Jerking on my arm, Brayden tried to pull me out of the bed. “Let’s go tell the guys the good news.”
“Um, have you forgotten you’re naked?”
He gave me a sheepish grin. “Okay, let’s go shower together, get dressed, and then we’ll tell the guys. After that, we’ll go ring shopping. I don’t want you leaving Vegas without us making it official.”
I laughed. “You’re really serious about this, aren’t you?”
“Yeah, I am. We’re getting married, and the sooner the better.”