Chapter 25

Despite Doctor Mills's assessment of Jace's condition, Aggie made him go to a hospital for a more thorough examination while the band and crew prepared for the next, extended leg of their tour. A blood test, MRI, and IV of enriched fluids later, Aggie seemed satisfied that Jace was okay to travel. He wasn't used to having a woman as a fixture in his life. Wasn't sure how to react to her constant hovering and concern. He hoped he healed quickly so she'd knock it off already. And she'd made him go shopping. Sure, her suitcase had been stolen, and she needed clothes and other necessities, but shopping? Jace hated shopping. Almost as much as he hated that pitying look she kept giving him.

"Maybe you should just stay at my place while I'm gone," Jace said, leaning heavily on the shopping cart as they ambled through the aisles. She'd tried to get him to use one of those electric scooters when they'd first entered the store. Next, she'd ask him to hand over his balls on a plate. "I promise I'll take it easy."

"You don't want me to go on tour with you?"

He trod carefully into loaded-question territory. "It's not that I don't want you to go with me." The guys are going to rip on me constantly if I bring a smothering chick on tour. And this whole go on tour "thing" had been her idea, not his. He didn't get why she insisted on it so vehemently. He knew she needed a break from her mother, but she didn't have to ride on the tour bus to get away from her. "I just think you'd be more comfortable at my place. You'd still be away from your mother, and Brownie would love the company." He rubbed his jaw on his shoulder to catch sight of her expression. Was she buying it? That would be a negative. She stared at the shampoo display with her pretty face twisted in a harsh scowl.

"I see," she said in a clipped tone. "I might as well go back to Vegas."

"No, I didn't mean…"

She tossed shampoo and conditioner in the cart.

"It's gonna suck for you to be trapped on a bus with five…" And Jon made six. "Uh, six guys for a month. I think you'd be better off—"

"This has nothing to do with my mother. Don't you get it? I'm worried about you. I feel responsible for you getting hurt."

He understood what that guilt felt like. He shouldn't have been so worried about what the guys would think. He wrapped his good arm around her, his injured one trapped in a newly acquired sling, and held her close, stroking her silky hair with one hand.

"Okay. If it makes you feel better to go on tour with us—"

She stiffened and pulled away with a frustrated sigh. While he tried to figure out what was wrong with what he'd said, she tossed toothpaste, mouthwash, and a toothbrush in the cart, yanked the cart from his grasp, and zoomed off to a different aisle.

Jace struggled to catch up, a stitch in his side. He needed to lie down again. He found her several aisles over selecting cosmetics. He smiled when she added a tube of glossy, cherry-red lipstick to the cart. She looked incredibly hot in red. And leather. He missed her leather.

"I don't want to force myself into your life, Jace," she said. "If you don't want me around, then just say it."

Why would she think that? He thought the world of her. He just didn't want any of his bandmates to know it. "I do want you in my life, Aggie. I'm not used to… the hovering. I… my mother died when I was nine, and my father never remarried, so women… confuse me. Why are you mad at me?" And why did asking that question make his heart thud so hard?

"I'm not mad at you," she said.

She wasn't?

"I'm sorry about your mom." She slid her hand into his hair and kissed his forehead. "Why don't you tell me about her?"

"No. I didn't bring her up to make you feel sorry for me. I want to know what I said that made you mad."

She smiled and hugged him. "You're fucking adorable. Do you know that?" She kissed the tip of his nose.

Scowling, he wiped at the wet spot with the back of his hand.

"The reason I'm mad—though I'm not exactly mad, just a little hurt—is that you make me feel like you don't want me on tour with you."

Well, he kind of didn't. He wanted to see her, yes, but having her on tour? No, thanks.

"I was hoping that you'd be happy to spend time with me, Jace. Show some enthusiasm. Not look at me like, oh fuck, now I'm going to be stuck with this stupid bitch for a month."

"I never said that. Never even thought it."

"It's the vibe you're giving off."

He was supposed to keep track of his vibes now too? Fuck, he couldn't win. At least he understood what she wanted.

"I can't wait to be stuck with you for a month," he said earnestly.

She laughed and hugged his arm. "Oh, you. What am I going to do with you?"

He kissed her deeply, lust flooding his loins. "I can think of a few things."