Ace (Playtime Series Book 1) by Gemma Arlington (distant reading TXT) 📕

“Jake, I’ll do you a deal; I’ll agree to go to the party for the band this weekend with you, if you agree to leave me alone to finish filing through paperwork,” I bargained.

I was sitting on a brown, leather couch in the sound booth, filing through contracts and the itinerary for next week’s tour. The band was set to start the journey in the Deep South and make their way around the country. JED already had a serious following; groupies as I called them. All in all, I gathered they were just a bunch of horny women hoping to try and score with the band.

“You’ll come to the party with me?” Jake asked, seemingly shocked.

“I just said that, didn’t I?” I sarcastically responded.

“You got yourself a deal baby cakes! I’ll text you the address later,” he replied with a grin, as he turned and headed back into the studio to record yet another track.

They seemed to be flying through recording tracks and I had to say this new album of theirs was going to be amazing. Not to mention great publicity for them. I intended to hold off until after the tour to release the JED’s self-titled album and I was so glad that Dash and the company agreed with my idea. Once the band finished the tour, they would launch JED’s studio album with a massive L.A style party.

I swear I had never loved a bath more than I loved the one I was soaking in now.

My sore, achy muscles were now feeling a lot more bearable and I intended to try and relax a bit before heading to bed early. I had bought home some really greasy Chinese food and planned to wash it down with a glass of wine, after I soaked a little more in the tub. I had meetings tomorrow with stylists, photographers and bloggers that were needed to help with the tour.

Friday was the day of the party I was now attending with Jake.  As his fake girlfriend, I guess it was my duty to go and try to seem like I was interested in him, and truth be told, I was intrigued to find out more about him. The guy was dubbed the bad boy of the band, but Damon wasn’t too far behind him. I had to admit, Damon freaked me out, because it seemed Elle was interested in him…and Elle being into Damon wasn’t something she needed.

My mobile rang beside the tub, I flicked the screen and hit loud speaker.

“My beautiful Ace.” Hank called.

“Hank,” I squealed, I missed him! I had almost ordered more Chinese, thinking he was home, but then I remembered he had left a few days earlier to head to New York on business with a client.

“How you holding up?” he asked.

“You heard?” I wondered how long it would take before Hank got the news of Jake and I.

“Hank, just so you know it’s all fake; Dash and JED’s publicist asked me to do this as a favor to Jake,” I sighed, trying to reassure him just as much as myself.

“Don’t worry baby girl I know. Dash contacted me after the meeting. He was a little worried you were jumping head first into a situation you couldn’t handle. But then he told me you made Jake sign a contract stating your demands.”

I laughed, the contract Dash made Jake sign was full of dot points Jake didn’t agree with. Sex was off the table, but the guy still seemed as keen as ever to try and get into my pants. I was only a front, a means to an end, to try and clean up his act.

“I miss you,” I said, sitting up in the bath. A little water had slipped over the sides and onto the tiled floor. I would need to get out of the bath soon before I shriveled up like a prune.

“Ace, are you in the bath?” Hank inquired.

“Hmm,” I mumbled.

“Lacey,” he said.

“Sorry Hank, the water is a bit cold and I really need to get out of the bath.

Can you wait a minute?” I called, stepping out of the tub and wrapping myself in a robe before picking up my phone and heading back into my bedroom to flop on the bed.

“You know you could have delayed my call and phoned me back. Now I’m going to have a mental picture of you in the tub with bubbles,” he remarked.

“Hank,” I shrieked, slightly embarrassed by his words.

“Sorry Lacey but picturing you in my tub at home is just too good to pass up. These dirty, dirty images are going to tide me over till I return to see you,” he joked.

“Hank James Leroy,” I snapped, ready to yell at him for toying with me.

 He laughed, amused, “Calm down sweetheart, I’m just joking with you.”

“Why do I get the impression you’re not really joking with me, that the thought of me in your bath at home naked and soaped up is actually what you want to picture,” I giggled back.

“Let’s not go there Ace,” he said, realizing it was time to change the subject.

Things were already awkward after our so called kiss, which ignited an internal fire deep in the depths of my core.

The problem was, we both knew never to delve down the path of becoming anything more than friends and work colleagues, because if we did, things could get ugly.

“I have to get going,” he diverted, “I have another meeting in about ten minutes.

I just wanted to check in with you and see how things were going, but I can tell you’re fine and your chipper self.”

“I really do miss you,” I whispered.

“I miss you too, take care and I’ll see you at the launch party of JED’s