It was nearly six thirty when JC hopped out at the hotel’s entrance, making quick work of the distance through the lobby toward the elevators.

“Jace!”

He turned at the voice, smiling when he found Diane getting up from a couch facing the rear gardens. “Hey.” Changing direction, he approached her, his smile becoming a grin when he saw Jen curled up against one of the armrests. “How is she?”

“She’s doing good.” Diane bent down to pick up her bag. “I was starting to get worried, then she called me around noon. Said she’d slept in, eaten the snack you’d left her, cleaned up and was ready for lunch.” With a quiet laugh, she shook her head. “She ate well, and the staff let her take a large bowl of fruit and cheese and some crackers back upstairs. I hung out in the room with her, just to make sure everything was okay. She made a few phone calls this afternoon, and was trying to move around a bit, but I think she’s starting to feel sore. If she gets still, she’s out like a light.”

“Good. At least she’s resting.” Looking over his shoulder, he saw the van still parked at the curb. “Go on out. We’ll be right behind you.” He watched as she nodded, then made her way to the entrance before kneeling beside the couch. “Jenny?” Her stomach growled loudly, and he laughed, bringing a hand to her face, being careful of the bandage covering her cheek. “Hey, Boof. Ready to eat?”

“Mmm.” She breathed deeply, humming as his fingers combed through her hair, coming awake slowly. “Josh?”

“Yep. If you’ll wake up, I’ll feed you.”

“Awesome.” Sitting up, she blinked, yawned and stretched, her brow furrowing as her stomach growled again. “I really shouldn’t be hungry, but I’m starving.”

“Well, you’re having to catch up.” Reaching for her hands, he stood and pulled her to her feet, watching carefully that she was steady enough to stand. “Come on. Some of the best pasta you’ll ever eat is waiting.” Before he could turn to lead the way, she’d stepped close to him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face into his chest. He hugged her tightly, leaning down to kiss the top of her head. “Are you all right?”

“I’m getting there.” Tilting her head back, her eyes met his, a small smile lifting her lips. “All I could think about was finding you.” Her voice was weary as she rested her cheek against him. “Now that I have, I don’t want to let you go.”

“You don’t have to. Not right now, anyway.” Lowering his hands, he was careful where he gripped her. “Don’t let me hurt you, okay?” He felt her nod and held his breath as he lifted her up off the floor and into his arms, sighing when she never flinched. Pressing his lips to the side of her head, he started moving. “And don’t fall asleep on me, either. There’s a van full of people out front waiting to see you.”

“I won’t.” She laughed into his shoulder, tightening her arms around his neck as he carried her toward the door. “There’s food out there somewhere. Did you say pasta? I love pasta.”

“I know. One of Chris’ favorite restaurants is on the other side of the city and has a whole menu of it. You’ve got to try the spaetzle. And they’ve got this chocolate streusel cake that’ll make you cry. Tastes almost exactly like that lip gloss of yours.” A grin formed as he spoke, walking quickly to the van. “Here we go. See? Your public awaits.” A chorus of voices washed over them, and he felt her laughing again. “Think you can make it to the seat, or do you want me to pass you to somebody?”

“I’ve got it.” Finally releasing him, she let him set her in the van and gave a tired smile to all the relieved faces around her. “Hey, guys. You sure are a sight for sore eyes.”

“You’re telling us.” Chris slid over toward Tiny, giving her more room on the seat beside him. “Get in here, Gracie. Take a load off.”

“Thanks.” She moved slowly, wincing as she sat down. JC took the seat next to her, and she glanced up just in time to see the concerned look pass between him and Justin as he reached out to pull the door closed. Without thinking, she scooted closer to him, sighing when his arm went around her, pulling her into his side so she could relax against him as the van lurched into traffic. “I’m okay, I promise. I’m just sore and it hurts to move.” Pushing up her sleeve, she held out her arm to show off the deep purple bruising that began just above the bandage on her forearm and went all the way up toward her shoulder. “My hip looks worse than my arm, believe it or not. Face planting out of a train wearing a thirty-pound backpack is a little more extreme than falling down my stairs at home.”

“God, Shorty.” Justin’s brow furrowed as he leaned across the seat to get a better look. “You look a lot better than you did last night, though.”

“That’s good. I feel a lot better, too.” A quiet laugh shook her chest. “I’ve done nothing but eat and sleep all day, and Diane pampered me a lot more than she probably should have.” Shifting carefully, she sent an appreciative smile to the woman in the seat behind her. “Thank you.”

“You haven’t heard what I’ve got planned for us tomorrow.” Diane laughed, glancing back at Lynn. “While the boys are running themselves ragged all over the city, we’re going to have a spa day at the hotel. And I’m betting you don’t have anything to wear to the release party, so we’ll have to do a little shopping, too.”

“Party?” Jen’s eyes widened. “Right. There’s a party tomorrow night. I forgot all about it.” She turned toward JC. “It’s not formal, is it?”

“Not formal, but we can’t wear jeans, either. Think of it like you’re going clubbing.” He sighed, looking down at her. “You know I’d love for you to be there, but I don’t want you pushing yourself, Boof. If you don’t feel like …”

“Oh, I’m definitely not missing your release party.” Her hand found his, giving it a squeeze. “The album is awesome, and I want to celebrate with you. I’m so proud of you.” Raising her voice, she included them all. “I’m proud of all of you. As long as I take it easy the rest of the day, I should be fine.” She turned back to Diane and Lynn. “Some time in a steam bath sounds like heaven right now. And I saw some really pretty colors in a shop window just down the block across from the hotel, so I don’t think we’ll have to go very far.”

“Perfect. We’ll start there.” Diane arched a brow at Lonnie. “Any idea when Johnny will be in?”

“Last I heard, his flight was scheduled to land about an hour before we’re supposed to be at the club. I’d guess he’ll be meeting us there.” The guard turned around in his seat, eyes narrowed. “And that could be a problem, couldn’t it?”

“I’d say so.” Lynn spoke up from the back. “How are we handling it?”

“I’ll figure it out.” Lonnie looked to Tiny, then over at Kenny. “We may have to get creative.”

“What are you guys talking about?” Jen’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What problem?”

“Sara.” Lance spoke up from somewhere behind her. “They’re trying to figure out how to handle Sara.”

“I know exactly how to handle Sara.” Brown eyes turned fiercely toward Lonnie. “Let me have her. There won’t be anything left.”

“You should probably know that we’ve already had a little run-in with her today.” Diane cleared her throat, fighting back laughter. “I don’t think she was as sure of herself by the time Jen finished saying her piece. And she’s been well warned, so anything that may happen is completely on her.” Leaning forward, she placed a hand on JC’s shoulder and spoke softly. “Never let this little firecracker go. She’s priceless.”

“I don’t plan on it.” He winked at her, chuckling under his breath before turning back to Jen. “You’re not in any shape to be picking fights, Jenny.”

“I don’t really care.” She sighed wearily, sending him a look that told him she remembered things he’d much rather she didn’t. “That stunt she pulled could’ve landed me in the hospital, or worse. Your security team needs to know that if she tries anything else, she’s done.”

“I believe her exact words were that she’d snatch her bald and beat her sorry, worthless ass beyond bloody.” Diane barely got the words out before she dissolved into laughter, quickly joined by the rest of the group. “God, I wish you all could’ve seen Sara’s face.”

“Well, we all know Gracie packs a real punch in that tiny package.” Chris hooted. “Right, Joe?”

“Shut up, man. That was an accident.” Joey’s voice was a mixture of irritation and humor, and he crossed his arms, muttering an apology when he elbowed the guard beside him. “Sorry, Randy. She wouldn’t have been able to take me down like that in a fair fight.”

“Oh, really?” Jen arched an eyebrow at him. “Want another round, Joe Bear? I’ve learned some new tricks.”

“New tricks?” JC nudged her gently. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Never mind.” She held her breath as the van came to a stop at a light, the sudden rocking sending shocks of pain through her body. “Just know that if she comes at me again, I’ll lay her out. You know I can, and now she knows I’ll be happy to do it.”

“Sure.” Hearing the strain in her voice, he moved smoothly, keeping up casual conversation as he slid toward her on the seat and lifted her onto his lap. “Defend yourself if you need to, but don’t go looking for it. Please?” His arms held her still as the van began lurching through the intersection, his body absorbing the movement as he leaned closer to her ear and lowered his voice. “Better?”

“Much. Thanks.” Her relieved sigh was quiet, and she relaxed back against him, her head resting on his shoulder. In the rearview mirror, she caught Kenny checking on her and sent him a smile. “It’s okay, Kenny. You’re good.”

“Not too much further, Tink.” His eyes went back to the road. “Just over the bridge and a few blocks down. We’ll be there soon.”

“That reminds me.” She tilted her head back to look up at JC. “I wanted to see the bridge and the cathedral. Do you have any free time while we’re here? Other than now?”

“Yeah, we’re free after the photoshoots on Tuesday until we leave Thursday morning.” He bent down until he could kiss her cheek. “They want us to get out and be seen, so if you’re up to it, we’ll do the tourist thing.” A laugh escaped. “After this, we’re really going to Stuttgart for a few days, so we can still visit your castle, unless you got to see it before.”

“Great.” Her shoulders rose in a yawn, her voice carrying around the suddenly quiet van. “I should’ve been able to see it between the airport and the train station, but I wasn’t even halfway through the park when I lost the sun and it started getting dark. Jogging with that backpack didn’t give me much of a chance to stop and check out the scenery.”

His arms tightened around her as a low grumble flowed around the group, then one voice spoke over the others. “Miss Jenny?”

She glanced up in surprise, focusing on the large man on the other side of Chris. “Yeah, Tiny?”

“If she gets in your face, I’ll be happy to step aside and let you go to town.”

“Thank you, Tiny.” JC’s frustrated groan vibrated against her back and she laughed, leaning forward until she could reach across Chris and pat the guard’s arm. “I appreciate it.” Her laughter seemed to lighten the mood, and conversation picked back up where it had fallen off. Then she sat up straight as something occurred to her. “Lonnie? Is the party an open event?”

“No. They’ve rented one of the downtown clubs and only invited folks from radio, TV, the studio, and the label. Some of Johnny’s people, a few magazine reporters and photographers, and some local contest winners will be there, but no outsiders.” He turned around to look at her. “Why?”

“Are you guys working the door?”

“Not this time. We’ll be shadowing until we arrive, then on crowd control once we’re inside. The club has a staff that will work the entrance and check IDs.” His brow furrowed. “What are you thinking?”

“I’m thinking Sara set this entire thing up. What are the chances that my name even makes it on the list?”

“Well, damn.” Lonnie shook his head in frustration. “You’re right.”

“She’ll be with Jace.” Lance spoke up. “Won’t they let him have a plus one?”

“Not at this club. If you’re not on the list, you don’t get in. You guys even have to show your IDs to get through the door, and it’s your party.” A deep sigh escaped as they pulled to a stop at another intersection. “I don’t get to see the names at all.”

“How about Johnny?” Justin leaned forward, reaching out to touch Jen’s shoulder. “Doesn’t he get final say?”

“I’m sure he does, but he doesn’t control which list the staff goes by.” The guard faced forward, thinking quickly. “I’ll call and give him a heads up about what could happen. He’s already mad about the 'mix up' with the flights and schedules, so I don’t think he’d dig his heels in about letting me take point with the club staff.” His eyes met Jen’s in the mirror. “We’ll take care of you, Tink. I promise.”

“I know you will.” She let her gaze travel out the window as they pulled up in front of the restaurant, her voice lowering to a quiet murmur. “She’s the one who hates that I’m even breathing.”

*********************

Jen managed to stay awake through their meal – raving about both the pasta and the dessert – but by the time they were back in the van, she was passed out in JC’s arms, hugging him around the neck and breathing steadily against his shoulder. Back at the hotel, he and Lonnie located the doctor’s office and roused her up just enough to have a quick check up. Dr. Williams was pleased at her progress and declared that she should be able to remove the bandage from her cheek in the morning, but suggested leaving the wrappings on her forearm, thigh and shin for another day or two. Armed with a small bottle of pain medication and instructions to let her sleep, eat and drink as much as she wanted, Lonnie took over carrying duties as they made their way to their rooms.

Diane had tapped JC on the shoulder during the ride back, letting him know that she’d moved all of Jen’s things to his room while she’d been napping that afternoon. He’d thanked her, relieved he wouldn’t have to leave her to go gather her bags. Without having to make any extra stops, they breezed down the halls until he was able to slide his keycard through the slot. He opened the door and stepped inside, holding it for Lonnie to pass through, careful not to jostle Jen or knock her against the doorjamb.

“Give her the bed by the balcony. It’s further away from the air conditioner.” JC moved to the thermostat, raising the temperature a bit in the cool room as Lonnie laid her down on the soft mattress. She sighed quietly, rolling onto her right side and burrowing her face into the pillow.

“I’d say she’s out for the night.” Lonnie chuckled, glancing up at him. “And she’ll probably be really hungry when she wakes up. Should we call downstairs to see if they have any more of those crackers to leave for her, or do you think she’ll feel like eating breakfast with the other ladies?”

“She loves breakfast almost as much as she loves pasta, so I’d bet she’ll be eating in the restaurant.” JC grinned, making quick work of slipping off her shoes and pulling the comforter over her, wrapping it around her loosely. “We might need to let Lynn or Diane know about her pills. She’s supposed to take them with a good meal, so maybe they’ll be okay with a larger breakfast.”

“I’ll go down there before I turn in. I’m sure they’ll do whatever keeps her comfortable.” A frown marred the guard’s face. “I’m not sure about the spa day, though. Won’t that hurt her? Or make it worse?”

“Lynn said they’d asked about it. They have a less intensive package that’s supposed to relieve soreness and stress. She said something about a session in an aromatherapy steam bath, a salon and some other girly type stuff.” His grin softened into a smile as he brushed the stray hair out of her face. “Sounds like exactly what she needs right now.”

“That and you.” A big hand clapped over JC’s shoulder. “Don’t forget how much she needs you, boy.”

“I won’t.” Leaning down, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I need her, too.”

“Did you guys talk earlier?”

“No. We didn’t really have time.” A sigh shook through JC’s chest. “But she knows. We’ll talk about it once she’s able to focus on something other than recovering.”

“She knows?” Lonnie arched a brow at him. “Are you sure? She didn’t say anything.”

“I’m sure. It was all over her face when we were talking in the van.”

“She didn’t look anything other than worn out and pissed to me.”

“I’ve been reading her face since she was six years old, big guy.” Shaking his head, he let out a quiet laugh. “She wasn’t that mad about what Sara did to her. She was furious about what she did to me.” Moving slowly, he dropped wearily onto the foot of the other bed. “You and the rest of your guys need to be keeping a close eye on her anytime Sara might be in the same room. She wasn’t kidding when she said she’d be happy to take her out. Jen has a really mean right hook when she decides to use it.”

“I’ll pass along the word, but I doubt any of them would bother to step in, unless she was about to get hurt.” Lonnie crossed his arms over his chest. “It didn’t take more than a few hours for the little fairy to wrap them all around her pinkie finger. Even Tiny had problems sleeping while she was lost, and nothing fazes that guy.” A grin formed as he gave an exasperated shake of his head. “Hell, she got to me, too. I haven’t even known the kid for a week, and it already feels like she’s torn my heart out.”

“Crazy thing is, she doesn’t even know she does it.” JC smiled, falling back on the bed with a yawn. “Sorry you got stuck here with me, Lon. I know you’d much rather have gone out partying with the others.”

“Shut your mouth, boy. The good Lord above was smiling on me when I got assigned to you. I’ve never been this rested.” Biting back a booming laugh, the big man turned toward the door. “I’m running down to see Diane and Lynn real quick. If they tell me anything other than they’ll see her for breakfast, I’ll stop back by. Otherwise, I’ll be next door if you need anything.”

“Thanks, man. ’Night.”

“’Night, kid.”

*********************

The room was softly lit by the muted glow of the city lights around the curtains when he came awake to the rush of water running in the bathroom. The scrubbing sound of a toothbrush carried through the wall and he smiled, glad she’d found her bag underneath the sink. Stretching under the covers, he blinked at the ceiling and listened until he heard the light flick off and the door open, then rolled over to face her side of the room. “Boof?”

“Yeah. Sorry, Josh.”

“It’s all right.” Lifting the blanket and sheet, he slid over on the mattress. “Come on.” Without hesitation, she came directly to him, settling carefully on her right side before hugging herself to him. Letting the covers fall back down, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her softly. “Are you okay?”

“I think so. The medicine can wait until morning. It’s not so bad right now.” She sighed, letting her gaze meet his in the darkness. “How about you? I didn’t know how much you’d said to everybody else, so I didn’t want to mention it earlier. Are you okay?”

“I’ll be fine.” Tilting his head forward, he let his forehead rest against hers. “I was praying you wouldn’t remember seeing that. I’m sorry, Jenny.”

“What for? It’s not like you invited her in or anything.”

“I was so worried over you I hadn’t been sleeping and I finally hit a wall. I didn’t even hear her come in.”

“It’s okay, Josh. I know how you get, remember?” He could hear the smile in her voice. “I’m just like you.”

“Yeah, I know.” A deep breath lifted his chest. “But when I realized that you’d probably seen us right before you passed out, I was terrified you’d think …”

“Honestly, at that point, I was so out of it, I really didn’t know what to think.” Her nose wrinkled as she tried to gather her thoughts. “I didn’t figure out what I’d seen until I was cleaning up this morning. I’ve never wished death on someone, but when it sank in, I literally wanted to kill her.”

“I-I was dreaming of you.” There was a pause as he cleared his throat. “Then Lonnie came slamming in, raising hell, and I almost jumped out of my skin. When I saw her standing above me, I nearly threw her across the room.” For a second, he was silent. “I don’t remember much of it now, but then, it was fresh. Thinking about that dream and knowing it was really her touching me instead of you … I felt so dirty, Boof. Part of me still does.”

“You shouldn’t. Don’t do that to yourself, Josh.” Her hand came to his face, her fingers gliding along his jaw as she leaned forward and kissed his cheek. “What she did to you was dirty. You aren’t.”

“I keep trying to tell myself that, but then I remember I was kissing her, and it just makes me sick.”

“Well, I don’t guess I can blame you for that. But …” She trailed off as her gaze moved over his face, picking out his features. Her fingers traced over his lips and she gave him a small smile. “Maybe I can help?”

His eyes met hers, then skipped down to her mouth before coming back up. “Maybe you can.” He returned her smile when he felt her leaning in, catching his lips with hers. A relieved sigh left him completely relaxed as he pressed closer to her, tilting his chin down to kiss her again, a bit deeper this time. His hands squeezed her, and she let out a whimper. Pulling away quickly, he loosened his hold on her. “Am I hurting you?”

“Not enough for it to matter.” Her fingers slid through his hair and she laughed softly, bringing him back to her. “Where were we?”

A while later, he finally took a deep breath, raising his head to press his lips to her forehead. “I’ve got an early start in the morning.” She felt him smile against her skin, then he rolled onto his back, pulling her until she could cuddle into him without putting pressure on her injuries. “And you’re supposed to be getting all the rest you can.”

“I know.” Yawning quietly, she settled against his chest, her fingers tangling in his shirt. “Still feeling dirty?”

“I feel like I’ve just taken a thousand showers.” His hand came to her chin, and he tilted her face up for one last kiss. “You’re magical, remember? Now, get some sleep. There’s a party you want to go to, right?”

“Mmhmm.” Her voice was already drowsy as she rapidly fell into slumber. “I was so scared, Josh.”

The words had faded immediately, and suddenly she was breathing deeply against him, as if a switch had been flipped. His arms tightened around her and he buried his face in her hair, feeling sleep coming quickly. “Me, too, Boof.”

*********************

“Hot damn.” Joey’s eyes went wide when Jen pulled the door open, and she couldn’t hold back her laugh at his expression. “Has Jace seen you yet?”

“No. We were still finishing up at the spa when the first car loaded up. I just had to run up here to grab my jewelry and wallet.” She glanced down at herself and did a quick turn for his inspection. “What do you think? Am I party worthy?”

Her black pants were long, loose and just a little sparkly – the perfect fit to avoid the leg wraps and the bruise still forming on her hip. The matching tank top was covered by a flowy, lightweight long-sleeved blouse the shop owner had put in last season’s rejects when it arrived with no buttons. The glittery colors were her favorites – a watercolor pattern of shimmery blues, purples and greens that was dark enough to cover the bandage on her arm – and they’d found the perfect silver belt to hold it together where it overlapped at her waist, cinching in the loose fabric to accent her curves. An hour with the spa staff doing her hair and covering up the redness on her cheek, a pair of comfortable dress shoes, her favorite silver jewelry and she was ready to go.

“Hell yes.” He held out his arm with a silly grin, offering to lead her to the elevator. “Definitely party worthy. And he’s definitely going to kill me for being the one to bring you.”

“How did that happen, anyway?” She linked her arm through his and arched a brow at him as they walked slowly down the hallway. “Lonnie just called and said there’d been an unfortunate change of plans.”

“Unfortunate for C, maybe. Not for me.” They reached the elevators, and he shook his head. “It was Johnny’s idea. He and Lonnie made sure the club staff was given the right list, but they weren’t positive we’d be able to get you in without Sara raising hell if she’s watching the door. Johnny said we should split the two of you into different cars and let you come in later with someone else. If her focus is really on getting Jace, then she won’t be paying as much attention to who’s coming and going once he’s there.”

“Good thinking.” Her head tilted as she watched him. “And how did you get to be the lucky one to babysit me?”

“Hot Stuff, if this is babysitting, sign me up for life.” His laugh was loud, drowning out the chime of the arriving elevator. “We argued about it for a while, but then we decided to play for it. J gave me a run for my money, but I’m officially the Rock, Paper, Scissors champion.”

“Seriously?” Jen followed him into the small car, amusement lifting her tone. “How do you cheat at Rock, Paper, Scissors?”

“Hey, now. I’m no cheater. I won fair and square.” He took a deep breath as they descended to the lobby. “God, Jenny. You even smell like something out of a dream.”

“I chose the floral aromatherapy in the steam bath today.” She laughed quietly. “I’m going to have to find a spa back home with that service and take Mom and Maggie for a girl’s day. That was the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.”

“All I care about is that you’re ready to party.” They stepped out of the elevator and walked toward the group waiting in the lobby. “I know Jace is going to claim you as soon as he can, but do I still get at least a dance?”

“Of course, Joe Bear.” Her hand reached for his, giving it a squeeze. “I want to dance with all of you. As long as my hip cooperates, anyway.”

“Right. He wanted me to make sure you’d either taken your pain stuff or were bringing it with you.”

“I took it at dinner, so I should be good to go.”

“Good. I plan to collect on that dance, Gracie.” Chris came up on her other side as the limo pulled up to the hotel entrance. Taking her hand, he twirled her in a circle and let out a low whistle. “Wow. Planning on stopping hearts tonight?”

“I highly doubt that, Spazz.” She sent a grin in Diane’s direction, stepping in line to get into the car. “Diane and Lynn have great taste, though. All I did was find the shirt. They did the rest.”

“Well, I’d give money to be next to Jace when he first sees you. I’ve got a feeling he’s going to be having very unfriendly thoughts toward Joey here.” He climbed in behind Diane, reaching out for a high-five as he sat down. “Great job, Mama Bass. You both clean up real nice.”

Jen couldn’t hold back her laughter as Joey gave her a hand into the car, then slid onto the seat next to her. “Cool. I’ve never been in a limo before.”

“Nice, huh?” Joey had to scoot closer to her as Tiny took the last open space and closed the door behind him, the car immediately veering into traffic. “How’s your soreness tonight? C really might kill me if I have to hold you in my lap like he did last night.”

“I’m fine.” She elbowed him when he gave her a fake pout. “And I have a hard time believing that Josh would have an unfriendly thought toward any of you. Why would he?”

“You’re kidding, right?” Chris arched a brow at her. “Even before you showed up in Orlando for your first semester, he was warning us that you were strictly off limits.”

“Really?” Her brow furrowed. “Why would he do that?” Every eye in the car zeroed in on her. “What?”

“Because even back then, he knew you were it for him.” Leaning back in the seat, Chris shot a look at Diane. “Damn, Jenny.”

“But there wasn’t anything between us until right before you guys came overseas.” She shook her head. “And even then, it’s always been just a possibility. He keeps talking about waiting and asking me to be patient, but he’s never said anything about us being permanent. He made sure I knew that he didn’t expect anything from me, and I don’t expect anything from him.” Her teeth worked over her lip. “If I keep my hopes low, then I can’t be disappointed, remember? I always figured that we were caught up in saying goodbye, and I’m just waiting for him to find someone else, some girl who can be everything he needs. I’m really just enjoying being a friend with a few benefits until he finally moves on and I get sent to the background, if whoever she is lets me stay there.”

“My God. You’re serious, aren’t you?” Joey glanced over to Chris quickly, astonishment lighting his features as he looked back to her. “He’s not looking for anybody else, Hot Stuff. Even when you’re not with him, he’s so wrapped up in you, nothing else exists. You’re his … how did he say you put it? His Meant to Be. You’re his Meant to Be.”

“No. That’s not possible.” Her trembling fingers fisted on her knees. “He’s gone through eleven girlfriends since he turned thirteen, and I was there for every single one of them. Somewhere in one of my journals, there’s a list with each one’s name and her description. I’m nothing like the girls he’s chosen to be with. It’s like he’s got a set of boxes that have to be checked, and I … I don’t. I don’t check his boxes, Joey. I never have, and I don’t think I ever will.” She stared down at her hands. “If I did, why wouldn’t he just say so? Why would he put it off until I graduate? Or why would he make it wait until you guys can come back home?”

“It’s because he loves you, honey.” Diane leaned forward, reaching out to place her hand over Jen’s. “He loves you enough to do everything he can to not be a distraction while you’re building a life at home. You’re working toward your degree, creating an amazing career, doing all of these outstanding things, and he’s so proud of everything you’ve accomplished that he doesn’t want to take the chance of you turning away from any of it to be with him.” She glanced up as they came to a stop in front of the club. “I want you to pay very close attention to him when he first sees you. If you see his reaction to you and don’t feel a reaction to him, then maybe you need to really think about whether he’s the best thing in your world. I know that’s what he wants to be, but if he isn’t, then you should let him know now, before it’s too late.”

“Josh has always been the best thing in my world, and I always have a reaction to him. I’m pretty sure I’ve loved him since the sixth grade, even though I knew I was just one of the guys. Hell, we were eleven, he was trying to set me up with his friends so he could go out with the class princess and I still fell for him.” Jen tried to blink back sudden tears. “It wasn’t hard to figure out that a perky cheerleader type would get him, so I tried to stop it, but I just couldn’t. When he asked me to wait for him that day at the airport, I’d already been waiting for him for years, watching him turn to everybody else but me. We’ve got so much history between us …” One tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. “I can still remember a time when I had to get past being the worst thing for him. It’s so hard to let myself believe that maybe I could really be what he wants, because I know how amazing he is and I don’t want him to feel like he has to settle for me.”

“Shit. Come on, don’t start the waterworks, Gracie.” Chris’ eyes widened when she let out a sniffle. “If he thinks we’ve made you cry, he’ll never let us around you again.” He grabbed a tissue from the box under the seat and dabbed carefully at her skin, trying his best not to smudge the spa’s work. “I’d kind of miss seeing that magic smile of yours.”

“Yeah, but you’d miss the peanut butter cookies more, wouldn’t you?” She laughed at his sheepish shrug, then swallowed back the tears and took a deep breath to collect herself as Tiny pushed the limo door open. “Tonight isn’t about me, anyway. You guys just released an awesome album, and we’re here to party.” A smile lit her face as Joey reached in to help her out of the car, blinking when flashes started going off around them. “Wow. You guys really draw a crowd, don’t you?”

“Something like that, yeah.” He took her arm, leading her toward the club’s entrance.

“The worst thing for him?” Diane gave Chris an odd look as he offered her his hand, her brow furrowing. “What is she talking about?”

“No clue.” Shaking his head, Chris flashed a bright smile toward the photographers. “And I doubt we’ll figure it out tonight.”

Jen was relieved to see that Sara wasn’t hovering around the door, and smiled as she gave the bouncer-type man holding a clipboard her ID. Looking her over quickly, he widened his eyes slightly at her, then handed back her card. His gaze moved over her again, slowly this time, before he glanced over to Joey with an appreciative nod and motioned them on through. “Okay. That was … different.”

“What? The guy checking you out?” Joey laughed at her nod, draping an arm over her shoulders. “Hot Stuff, you’re so damn clueless, it’s adorable. Whenever you walk in a room, all eyes go straight to you.”

“But I don’t want all eyes on me. Just Josh’s.” She blushed quickly at her slip. “Yeah, that sounded pathetic.”

“Not pathetic. Honest.” He took her hand, spinning her into the room ahead of him. “Trust me, you don’t have to worry one bit about Jace. Here, pay attention.” Glancing around quickly, he found JC standing across the floor, holding a drink and talking to a girl in a green dress next to the bar. “He’s at the bar, making small talk with a green dress. Keep a watch on him, okay? We’re gonna give him a little show.”

“There’s nobody else dancing, Joey.”

“Then let’s get this party started.” An upbeat song began thumping over the speakers and he spun her again, grinning when she laughed and put a hand on his shoulder to keep from slamming into his chest. “Come on, Jenny. I know you’ve got some moves in there.”

“Okay, okay. Just remember to take it easy on me.” She grinned back at him, settling into the rhythm. “Do you remember the Kid ’n Play?”

“Seriously?” He arched a brow at her, then laughed and joined in with the familiar dance moves, following along when she started creating variations that had them going in circles and backward. People were staring at them, grins forming around the room at their antics, and when they began to trickle onto the dance floor, he made a point to turn them where she had a clear view of JC, who hadn’t noticed her yet. “Keep watching him, Hot Stuff.”

Peeking around Joey’s arm, she focused on where he was standing just as he caught sight of her for the first time, blue eyes widening in surprise, then darkening with what she hoped was longing. With perfect timing, Joey swung her out so the lights glittered off her outfit, then pulled her back to him. Resting for a second, she soaked in the expression on JC’s face as his gaze met hers – the spark of appreciation that lit his features, followed by a tender smile, his eyes softening with a look that made her heart stop. For a moment, they just stared at each other, until she shook herself out of it, giving him a little wave and a wink before smiling up at Joey, breaking away and into the Roger Rabbit as the song changed.

“Having fun?” He pulled her just a little closer to his side as he mimicked her, keeping her clear of the bystanders who’d formed a crowd around them.

“Yep. Maggie had to get Matt to help her out with a bunch of dances for one of her classes last semester, and she made me learn them with her. If they break out Thriller or anything from an eighties movie, I’ll kill it.” Breathing heavily, she tried to do the Running Man, but had to stop at the jolt to her side. “Okay, not that one. The Cabbage Patch?”

“Hang on a sec.” Twirling her around and back into his arms, he leaned down to speak softly into her ear. “Did you see it?”

“I-I think so.” Sighing quietly, she looked up at him. “Yeah, I did.”

“He’s all yours, Jenny. He has been for a long time.” He attempted some kind of hip shimmy that set her to laughing. “I think you really need to listen to Diane. I know you’re beyond ready to get things moving, but he’s only thinking of you when he asks you to be patient. It tears him up that he’s here and you’re there, you know? He can’t just drop everything and hop a flight anytime he wants. Neither can you.”

“Yeah, I know. Geographically, we don’t work right now.”

“Exactly. But hang in there, okay? With you here, he’s been the happiest I’ve seen him since we left Florida.” A smile tilted his lips as he hugged her tightly, shuffling her around to the beat until he could see the bar, his eyes meeting JC’s. “The feedback from the album has been great, and if it charts well, Johnny thinks we have a chance at getting the right kind of attention from the people we’re trying to impress. Stick with it, Hot Stuff. I have a feeling it won’t be too much longer and you’ll both be getting exactly what you want.”

“I hope you’re right, Joe Bear.” A wince marred her face as pain shot through her leg, and she had to stop moving. “This is the happiest I’ve been in a long time, too. I’ve just been waiting so much longer than he knows … and it hurts.”

“What hurts?” A dark brow arched, his hand motioning toward her hip until he saw JC nod and step away from the bar. “Your hip? Or the waiting?”

“Both.” Another sigh lifted her shoulders. “Definitely both.”

“Well, it looks like Jace is on his way to claim his girl, so at least your hip will get some rest before the others come to collect on their dances.” With a grin, he kissed the side of her head. “Just so you know, he was sporting a seriously dreamy look all morning. Did you have anything to do with that?”

“No comment.” Reaching up, she socked him on the shoulder, rolling her eyes and biting back a smile at the memory of the kisses JC had woken her with before leaving the hotel room. “And totally none of your business.”