After his meteoric rise to superstardom, Jim O'Brien is no longer a small-town boy who plays in bars and dreams of success. His handsome face is plastered on the covers of celebrity gossip magazines, and his voice alone is enough to make girls swoon...
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It took me a moment to understand why it was so hot when I opened my eyes in the morning. But then, I felt the weight of Jim's arm around my waist.
He was asleep and looked relaxed. Handsome. Everything about him exuded masculinity, from the light stubble on his jaw to the taut muscles of his chest and his strong arms. Also, his hands that touched me last night.
I didn't want to leave him, but the recollection of what exactly led to Jim touching me catapulted me off the bed. I shoved my feet in a pair of slippers and unlocked my bedroom door, only to shut it carefully behind me.
"Dad!" I called as soon as I was downstairs.
"Here."
I dashed toward the sound of Dad's voice and found him in the kitchen, drinking coffee as he scrolled through the news on his phone.
"I can't believe you got Jim drunk." I plopped down on a chair and narrowed my eyes at my nonchalant father.
"I didn't know Hendrix was such a lightweight." Dad shrugged. "How's he?"
"Sleeping. And maybe he wouldn't be smashed, but you forgot he spent a week at home with a sore back."
Dad laughed into his mug. "He'll live, Pumpkin, but it's cute that you worry. I put some pills on the counter. Give Jim those together with some coffee and orange juice, and he'll be ready to take over the music industry in a couple of hours. Oh, and Leo liked him."
"Before or after threatening him?"
Drunk Jim was a talker. A handsy dirty talker, too, but Dad didn't need to know that part.
Dad's eyes twinkled. "Somewhere in between. Aw, come on, you know Leo. And you know Coop. It's not my fault they thought I wouldn't manage without their help."
"Manage what? To scare off my first boyfriend?"
"I doubt anything would scare the guy, but the headache he'll have will be a bitch. Grab the pills, Ava. And tell Jim I had fun last night."
I rose to my feet and strolled to the counter. "You can tell him that yourself."
"No can do. Meeting Leo in half an hour. He bought a new TV, and I promised I'd help him set it up."
"Okay." I sighed. "Have fun."
"You too. Tell Jim I said hi."
Dad walked over to me and kissed my cheek. I got the coffee ready, and by the time I'd put our breakfast onto a tray, Dad was already by the front door, ready to go out.
He waved goodbye and left the house. I went upstairs to check on Jim.
Jim was hugging my pillow, sprawled in the middle of my bed. I set the tray on the nightstand and got under the comforter. When my lips touched Jim's cheek, his eyes opened.
