Colliding With You

  Yeah, he and Allen enjoyed the company of some of the ladies. They didn’t realize those few would tell their friends, who told their friends and so on. Now many of the women who followed them from city to city were hoping for a night alone with one of them. The numbers were growing, which made leaving a hotel, going outside, even standing near a window, complicated.

  “Jesse, you know we love ya, man. We’re asking this because we want to keep you and everyone else safe.”

  Josh Decker meant well. He had from the moment he offered to manage their band. Even his brother, Joel, had good intentions with what they were suggesting. As their agent, he was always considering locations and events where they would show up or perform, and safety was always a high priority.

  Still, Jesse didn’t feel right about any of this.

  “I am not interested in having a girlfriend right now. I’m a musician. We’re not the best boyfriend material.”

  “Christ, Jesse, I’m not asking you to find your future wife,” Josh snorted. “All I’m saying is find a girl you like, make some appearances with her, and all of our problems will be solved. It won’t stop these women from showing up, but it will deter many from swarming the band every time you step outside.”

  Maybe it would help. Maybe it wouldn’t. It wasn’t Jesse’s biggest concern. Why couldn’t they figure out a way to keep Maggie from blowing up his phone?

  Before he could ask them for as much, Joel added his two cents. “If it’s a sweet girl they can relate to, they’ll love your relationship. Hell, they’ll combine your names into a cute little nickname and use it as hashtags on social media. It’s free publicity.”

  Freaking idiots. How would they like it if someone suggested they find a temporary girlfriend and fake being in love? Jesse had never loved any woman like that. How could he fake something he’d never experienced?

  “It’s hard to find someone who is interested in me. Instead, I’m treated like a piece of meat they want to claim.” Turning from the picture window, he faced his manager and agent. “I’m not saying I don’t enjoy the attention, but I can’t find a girlfriend under these conditions. How could I trust a stranger to travel with me or sleep in the same bed I do, night after night? You can’t just jump into a relationship like that.”

  “So hire someone.”

  Jesse glared at Joel. “Are you being serious right now?”

  His agent was known for his sense of humor. He loved bullshitting anyone who’d give him a chance. Jesse had never fallen for his bluffs, but right now, he wasn’t sure if he was bluffing.

  “You wouldn’t be the first musician to do it. Hell, a lot of celebrities date or marry for convenience. This girl would be getting more than a paycheck. She’d get a taste of the limelight.”

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, he couldn’t believe this conversation was taking place. Would they be saying the same thing to Theo or Jeff if they weren’t in long-term relationships? And what about Allen?

  “Why aren’t you having this discussion with Allen too? Do you think I’m the only person causing these women to act like this?”

  “We’ve already had a discussion with Allen while you were in Miami. He’s thinking it over. We need you to do the same.”

  Great. He was hoping they hadn’t spoken to his friend yet. It would have given him the opportunity to do it first and make sure he and Allen were on the same page about not having someone dictate their life.

  What would they do to him if he refused?

  Guess he couldn’t. What was happening didn’t just affect his life. It affected Theo and Jeff, their spouse and girlfriend, even their children. He needed to swallow his pride and accept the responsibility. But could he change the lifestyle he’d become accustomed to?

  Ignoring this wouldn’t make it go away. He’d already let enough people down in his life. From Theo, when they first went to New Orleans, to a few weeks ago when he revealed Cori’s secret. If he didn’t do what they were asking, he’d be nothing but a selfish asshole.

  It was in that moment of remorse when the solution made itself known. There was a slim chance he could make up for some of his past mistakes and fix the bad situation his actions had caused the band. There was no guarantee it would work, but he had to try.

  Hopefully, by the end of the day, he’d have his answer.

  Cori observed Mariah as she packed her makeup bag, hair supplies, and a few odds and ends she didn’t have at her parents’ house. Part of her envied her best friend for being able to go home and spend her Christmas break with her family. Cori had looked forward to doing the same. Now, her father hated her, regardless of what her mother and Cassie said. She missed talking to both, but she was tired of hearing them make excuses for him.

  “You know you’re more than welcome to stay with me and my parents,” Mariah spoke as she folded a sweater. “Mom said my brother isn’t coming until New Year’s Eve. For Christmas, he’s going to New York City to meet his girlfriend’s family. You can take his room, or you can stay in my room, just like you did when we were in school.”

  She loved Mariah’s folks. They’d always been good to her and treated her like part of their family. There was no doubt in her mind that they would welcome her with open arms.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I’m going to stay right here.”

  “At least come over Christmas Day. Mom always makes too much food. You know this.”

  “I think I can make a spot for you in my busy schedule,” Cori snickered, trying to make light of her situation when part of her felt empty. Still, she wouldn’t go back to her family and beg her father to forgive her for hiding the classes. Until he wanted to treat her like an adult, she wouldn’t speak to him.

  “Okay. I think I got everything I need. It’s not like I have to travel hours back if I forget something.”

  “That’s true.” Cori smiled at her and brushed away a hint of sadness from her demeanor.

  If anyone could read her like a book, it was Mariah. She wanted her friend to enjoy her holiday break with her family. This wasn’t the end of the world. She would be fine. Besides, she needed to speak with Beverly, apologize for what happened to her client, and hopefully get a few more clients so she could increase her savings.

  Too bad she didn’t get the money from her first client, Lucas Kemp. She would have been able to buy food and pay for her daily expenses. The rest would have hit the bank, an account she would open on her own.

  No such luck. For whatever reason, Lucas ditched her at the bar. Part of her wished he would have explained to Beverly why he just up and left her, but he didn’t. It had to be something Jesse did. Things were going great until he showed up.

  Thankfully, Mariah had her back. She hated accepting money from her friend, but she always paid her back. This time would be no different. She would find other clients, more established clients, unlike Lucas. Maybe he felt guilty for hiring someone to be his date. Who knew?

  Once Mariah slung the duffle bag strap over her shoulder, she approached Cori and gave her a huge hug. “If you change your mind, let me know. Just remember, it’s an open invitation.”

  “You’ll be the first to know if anything changes.”

  Mariah didn’t extend her goodbye too long. After she and Cori broke their embrace, she grabbed her purse and keys and headed out the door. And just like that, Cori was alone.

  This would be her first Christmas without her family. There would be no trips to town while singing carols in the car, and no shopping with her mother and sister at the mall. She would miss out on helping her father set up the tree, as well as the homemade eggnog recipe that her mother had perfected.

  Despite all that she would miss, there was an upside to it. Cassie always conned her into staying up late, wrapping presents she’d put off until the last minute. Not this year. Cori could go to bed whenever she wanted.

  Another plus was not having to hang out with some of their snobby family members, listening to their long list of complaints, and she wo
uldn’t get asked a million times if she was going to settle down like her sister. She heard enough of that question at the wedding.

  The best part of all, she didn’t have to watch her sister and Theo share their first Christmas together as husband and wife. She wouldn’t be there to watch them kiss under the mistletoe or cuddle together on the couch, in front of the tree . . .

  The door rattled as someone knocked. Maybe Mariah had forgotten something, but why wouldn’t she just use her key? Perhaps Dusty was coming to see her before he left for break. Good. Maybe she’d give him an early Christmas present. They’d tried continuously to hook up, but the constant interruptions made it hard.

  Had the right moment arrived?

  Nope.

  The second she opened the door, she faced stormy eyes, pouty lips, and a stubbled jaw that was undeniably sexy, regardless of how much she disliked seeing him. Why was Jesse here, and how the hell did he find her dorm room?

  It had to be Cassie. That meant he was here for one of two reasons. Her sister enlisted his help in getting Cori to come home and make amends with their father, or Jesse had gone back on his word and told her what he learned in Miami.

  “What’s up, Woods? What brings you to my dorm room?”

  “I, uh . . . I wanted to talk to you. I don’t like the way we left things in Miami.”

  Great. This was just what she wanted. A lecture from Jesse.

  As much as she’d like to slam the door in his face, she opened it wider instead and motioned for him to come in. She left him to shut the door as she returned to the edge of her bed. Hopefully, he would be quick.

  “Cori, I want to apologize.”

  “For what?”

  “You know what I’m talking about. I feel horrible about what happened at your parents’ house.”

  She shrugged. “What’s done is done. You can’t put a cat back in the bag once it’s out.”

  “I know. It still makes me feel like a jerk. I didn’t know your classes were a secret. Cassie had told me about them a few weeks ago. I thought everyone knew.”

  His remorsefulness got the best of her. She didn’t have a right to be mad at him. He wasn’t the one who kept the secret from her parents. That was on her.

  “Seriously, Jesse. It’s okay. I know you didn’t do it on purpose. It’s my fault. I chose to keep it from my dad.”

  “Maybe so, but it doesn’t fix your situation. Because of me, you lost the financial support of your parents.”

  “I can take care of myself, Jesse. I’ll be okay.”

  “No, you won’t.” He traipsed across the floor and sat on the edge of Mariah’s bed, facing her. He glanced lower, toward his feet, when he spoke again. “You took a job as an escort. That’s in the same realm as stripping and prostitution. It’s not safe.”

  Squirming under his gaze, she finally stood and walked to the mini fridge near the foot of Mariah’s bed. She opened it up, got out a beer, and twisted the cap. “It’s not my dream job, but it will help me pay for the rest of my tuition and my dance course. I won’t be doing it forever. Just until spring.”

  “You could be dead before spring arrives.”

  The deep tone of his voice rattled her. He wasn’t saying anything she hadn’t thought already. Still, she’d applied for other jobs, but she hadn’t received any callbacks.

  Taking out another beer, she twisted the cap then shut the door. She carried a bottle in each hand as she made her way toward Jesse. When she stopped in front of him, he acknowledged the beer, but his eyes trailed up and down her body. He accepted the beer soon after.

  “I know you don’t like my job, but it’s not as bad as you think. They vet the clients, do extensive background checks, and security always follows us when we’re with a client. I also carry a tracking device. I’m safe.”

  “Nothing is foolproof, Cori. You’re too young and naïve to realize that.”

  “You’re only three years older than me.”

  “Yeah, and I’ve lived and learned in those three years, especially the hard way. I’ve seen what can happen to young, beautiful women like you.”

  His compliment made her blush. It wasn’t just the heat she felt in her cheeks that made her aware of it. The way Jesse’s lips crooked in a sly smile said it all. He’d noticed too.

  “Cori, if something happened to you because of this job, I would never forgive myself.”

  This time, it wasn’t embarrassment that filled her. It was an ache. The way his voice grew huskier, the seriousness in his tone, the close proximity of his body . . . it was making her heart kink. Jesse’s presence and what it did to her was something new. She wasn’t sure how to handle it.

  “Nothing is going to happen to me, and if something did, it wouldn’t be your fault.”

  “Yes, it would.” He clasped her free hand and squeezed it softly. “You wouldn’t be at this job if I hadn’t opened my big mouth and ruined things between you and your father. If something happens, I will be at fault. I can’t live with that.”

  “Jesse stop.”

  She didn’t like him blaming this on himself. What he did was innocent. Hell, it meant he’d taken an interest in her at some point, even if it was something as innocent as him and Cassie discussing her life. He was probably being polite after her big sister mentioned her.

  Taking a long chug of her beer, she wasn’t surprised to see Jesse do the same. He even set his bottle down on the nightstand next to hers. Then he refocused on her.

  “What if something came up and you found another job that would pay you as good as what you’re getting with the escort service.”

  Cori burst into laughter. Was he kidding? For one, she couldn’t think of too many jobs that would pay as well. Second, if such a job existed, she was undoubtedly unqualified.

  “No one wants to hire a college student whose major is in teaching and minor is in dancing.”

  “You have to have other skills, Cori.”

  “I do, but I don’t have the experience. I’m not able to teach until I have my degree and certification. I can’t teach dance classes because that, too, is part of my education. A minimum wage job isn’t going to cut it.”

  She hated the fact that she was unloading her life problems onto him. He was a rising star that was well on his way to fame and fortune. Admitting that she’d failed in certain areas of her life was embarrassing. He didn’t need to hear this when he was just being polite.

  “I happen to know of a job that’s available. It might not pay as well as this escort service, but it blows minimum wage out of the water and even some salary-based jobs.”

  “Sounds too good to be true.”

  “It is true, and I can guarantee you the job if you’re willing to take it.”

  A guarantee? How many people could give her such an opportunity? None that she could think of. Still, she didn’t have enough information to make a decision.

  “What would my job duties be?”

  “You would be sort of like an assistant. Your duties would include answering your boss’s phone, taking messages, replying to texts and emails, and a little bit of traveling to assist your boss at functions.”

  “Sounds easy enough, but I feel like there’s a catch.”

  Jesse’s brow rose. “A catch?”

  “Yeah. This job sounds easy peasy. If it’s everything you say and it pays well, why isn’t the position filled?”

  Stammering for a response, Jesse finally gave up. He released a sigh and leaned his hands on his knees. “The position just came open . . . but I guess there may be a slight catch. The guy you’ll be working for, well, he can be an asshole every now and then, and overbearing.”

  Now it made sense. Jesse was probably polite in his description of the guy. Still, he wouldn’t be the first jerk she’d worked for. If she could hold the job until spring, then she’d be home free, and it would beat working as an escort.

  “I can handle my boss being a jerk every now and then so that’s not a deciding factor. When would I be ab
le to start?”

  “Is today too soon?”

  She couldn’t contain her laughter. “Today? I haven’t even met this person yet. How do I get a hold of this guy? Does he need to interview me?”

  The sly smile Jesse sported grew even wider. “Actually, he’s already interviewed you, and he wants you to know, you’re hired.”

  His words confounded her. How could this guy have interviewed her already? Was it somewhere she’d already applied? It couldn’t be. Out of all the places she’d sent her resume, none had a job description like Jesse just described.

  He must have noticed her confusion. The way he chuckled said as much. “Cori, the job offer is from me. I need an assistant, and I can’t think of a better person to do the job.”

  “You?” When he nodded, her mouth opened. “But . . . You’re in a band, Jesse. Why do you need an assistant?”

  “I have a lot of appearances to make in the next few months. It’s hard to keep everything organized so I need someone to help. My manager and agent agreed. In fact, they’re the ones that more or less suggested I do this.”

  She was having second thoughts until he stood. He stepped close enough to grab both her hands. Then he laced his fingers through them. “Cori, I’ve known you a long time. You were one of my sister’s closest friends and the sister of one of my close friends. I trust you more than I would a stranger. Hell, I trust you more than most people, especially the ones in this industry. Don’t think of this as me helping you. Think of it as you helping me.”

  He wasn’t leaving her a reason to refuse. His offer beat the alternative. Yet she still needed to set some rules.

  “Okay. I’ll take the job, but I have a few stipulations.”

  “I’m listening.”

  “First, I don’t want you reporting my every move to my sister or Theo. I will talk to Cass when I’m ready.” He acknowledged her request with a nod before she continued. “Second, I need advance notice if we’re going to be working out of town. I may be on Christmas break, but I’ll be back in classes come New Year.”