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 was barely eight in the morning when we left the city. Music poured from the speakers of Jim's car for the first half of the drive.
Jim kept one of his hands on my knee and pecked my cheek whenever he could. I observed the scenery behind the car window as we drove onto the two-lane road.
Gravel crackled under the wheels of the Audi when we got close to the house.
Jim downshifted. The vehicle slowed down and came to a stop, allowing him to park in the shade of the tall trees.
"Still sleepy?" Jim asked me, smiling.
"Not anymore."
I unbuckled and leaned over the console. My arms wrapped around Jim's neck.
"Hey." He kissed the spot below my ear, rubbing small circles on my back. "You okay?"
"Just wanted to hug you."
Jim nuzzled into my neck and tightened his hold on me. "I missed you too."
Reluctantly, we broke apart and got out of the car. Jim circled the Audi to get our bags.
Hands locked, we strolled down the narrow path leading to the Victorian. My eyes drifted over the beautiful garden full of blossoming trees and bright green grass.
"It looks much better now, doesn't it?" asked Jim.
I looked up at him. "You fixed it?"
"I did. I also got one of the bedrooms ready. I figured we wouldn't want to spend our time here cleaning."
"I wouldn't mind helping you."
Jim smiled. "I know. I didn't manage to do everything; just made sure we wouldn't breathe in dust. I'd rather eat in a clean kitchen and bathe in a clean tub."
"Tub?"
Chuckling, Jim pecked my lips. "Yeah. No shower here. I'll show you."
He dropped the bags and reached into the pocket of his jeans. A set of keys appeared in Jim's hand. He unlocked the front door and opened it wide. "Come on, baby."
I took a hesitant step forward. Just like the first time I'd been to the house, I marveled at the high ceilings and the beautiful wooden staircase.
The air inside was fresh. Wind ruffled the curtains, bringing in the scent of the flowers.
Jim put his hand on the small of my back and gently nudged me forward toward the stairs.
"We'll stay in this one," he said, opening the door to one of the rooms on the second floor.
What caught my attention was a four-poster bed and a fireplace. A thick rug covered the floor, and the tall, narrow windows faced the garden.
Jim dropped one of the bags by the bed and crouched down to get his clothes. After I unpacked, I put my things in a dresser drawer and followed Jim to the adjacent bathroom. Just like he said, there wasn't a shower, only a big clawfoot tub.
