Anna’s family was close. He saw that in the way her
parents and Nick had interacted on the island. The McCalls often
invited friends and family Justin recognized from country music
circles, though he usually respected their privacy when they had
guests. He knew how important having a little down time was, and
since Ty and his friends were in the same position he was, always
trying to fight off autograph seekers, they had that in common.
“Yeah, your
family seems tight. I met your parents and brother plenty of times.
Why didn’t you ever visit the island?”
“I did.”
Her hand
slipped up to cradle his neck, though he suspected it was
unconscious. The subtle touch made him react the same way he had on
the beach. “So, how is it our paths never crossed?”
“Bad timing, I
guess.”
She ran her
other hand down the front of his button down shirt, and he began to
suspect she knew exactly what she was doing. Justin stumbled over
his words. “I’m… uh… glad we finally got it right. The timing, that
is.” His body seemed to have a mind of its own. The months of
dormancy finally caught up to him, and his body welcomed the
revival.
“You were
telling me about your business in Nashville.”
He wouldn’t
admit she was his main reason for making the trip until he had a
better read on what she was thinking. “My buddy and I own a hot
sauce company. Maybe you’ve heard of it… Hotshots?”
Her mouth
dropped open before snapping shut as quickly. “You own that
company?”
“Only fifty
percent. My buddy Deacon owns the rest. He’s really the brains
behind the operation. I just agreed to put up the money when he was
starting out. A few hundred grand bought me fifty percent when the
company wasn’t worth much.” He chuckled. “I don’t know that either
one of us thought it would grow to the size it has.”
She tipped her
head back to look him in the eye. “So you take risks in business
too, huh?”
“Some people
might describe me as a venture capitalist. I love investing in new
businesses and watching their growth.” He shrugged. “Or sometimes I
have to watch them crash and burn and take my money down with
them.”
“You don’t mind
losing all that money?”
He laughed.
“Nah, my accountant says I need the write-offs. Besides, if you
don’t take a chance, you never know what might happen, right?”
Business was the last thing on his mind as he fought the urge to
kiss her. He wanted her to admit she was ready to take a chance on
him.
“I don’t know
how you can do that,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m always so
careful with money. Of course, I have to be on a teacher’s salary.”
She smiled.
“Come on, don’t
give me that. Your old man is Ty McCall. You must be used to living
in the lap of luxury.”
“Not really,”
she said, obviously considering his statement. “We had a nice ranch
house when I was growing up, but it was definitely not luxurious.
My parents have a couple of vacation homes because they’ve always
been big on spending time with family and friends during their down
time, but as you can tell, they don’t usually go for the biggest or
flashiest house.”
Justin threw
his head back and laughed. “Unlike me, you mean?” He didn’t mind
her teasing him about his ostentatious taste in homes. Wait until
she caught a glimpse of his car collection.
She asked,
“What makes you think that was a shot at you?” with her tongue
firmly planted in her cheek.
They shared a
smile before the amusement was replaced by a more passionate vibe.
His eyes landed on her glossy, full lips. “Anna, I like you a lot.
If you want to know the real reason I’m here, it’s because I
couldn’t stop thinking about you.” Never before had he felt so
compelled to lay it all on the line with a woman.
Ever since
they’d lost Todd, he started approaching life differently. He could
be the next one killed too soon, and he didn’t want to lie on a
stretcher in the back of some ambulance
parents and Nick had interacted on the island. The McCalls often
invited friends and family Justin recognized from country music
circles, though he usually respected their privacy when they had
guests. He knew how important having a little down time was, and
since Ty and his friends were in the same position he was, always
trying to fight off autograph seekers, they had that in common.
“Yeah, your
family seems tight. I met your parents and brother plenty of times.
Why didn’t you ever visit the island?”
“I did.”
Her hand
slipped up to cradle his neck, though he suspected it was
unconscious. The subtle touch made him react the same way he had on
the beach. “So, how is it our paths never crossed?”
“Bad timing, I
guess.”
She ran her
other hand down the front of his button down shirt, and he began to
suspect she knew exactly what she was doing. Justin stumbled over
his words. “I’m… uh… glad we finally got it right. The timing, that
is.” His body seemed to have a mind of its own. The months of
dormancy finally caught up to him, and his body welcomed the
revival.
“You were
telling me about your business in Nashville.”
He wouldn’t
admit she was his main reason for making the trip until he had a
better read on what she was thinking. “My buddy and I own a hot
sauce company. Maybe you’ve heard of it… Hotshots?”
Her mouth
dropped open before snapping shut as quickly. “You own that
company?”
“Only fifty
percent. My buddy Deacon owns the rest. He’s really the brains
behind the operation. I just agreed to put up the money when he was
starting out. A few hundred grand bought me fifty percent when the
company wasn’t worth much.” He chuckled. “I don’t know that either
one of us thought it would grow to the size it has.”
She tipped her
head back to look him in the eye. “So you take risks in business
too, huh?”
“Some people
might describe me as a venture capitalist. I love investing in new
businesses and watching their growth.” He shrugged. “Or sometimes I
have to watch them crash and burn and take my money down with
them.”
“You don’t mind
losing all that money?”
He laughed.
“Nah, my accountant says I need the write-offs. Besides, if you
don’t take a chance, you never know what might happen, right?”
Business was the last thing on his mind as he fought the urge to
kiss her. He wanted her to admit she was ready to take a chance on
him.
“I don’t know
how you can do that,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m always so
careful with money. Of course, I have to be on a teacher’s salary.”
She smiled.
“Come on, don’t
give me that. Your old man is Ty McCall. You must be used to living
in the lap of luxury.”
“Not really,”
she said, obviously considering his statement. “We had a nice ranch
house when I was growing up, but it was definitely not luxurious.
My parents have a couple of vacation homes because they’ve always
been big on spending time with family and friends during their down
time, but as you can tell, they don’t usually go for the biggest or
flashiest house.”
Justin threw
his head back and laughed. “Unlike me, you mean?” He didn’t mind
her teasing him about his ostentatious taste in homes. Wait until
she caught a glimpse of his car collection.
She asked,
“What makes you think that was a shot at you?” with her tongue
firmly planted in her cheek.
They shared a
smile before the amusement was replaced by a more passionate vibe.
His eyes landed on her glossy, full lips. “Anna, I like you a lot.
If you want to know the real reason I’m here, it’s because I
couldn’t stop thinking about you.” Never before had he felt so
compelled to lay it all on the line with a woman.
Ever since
they’d lost Todd, he started approaching life differently. He could
be the next one killed too soon, and he didn’t want to lie on a
stretcher in the back of some ambulance
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