Just as I finished up cleaning, the phone Tootse handed me started buzzing on the table. Both Lyla and I looked at it as Jett’s name appeared on the screen.

“Are you going to answer that?” Lyla asked.

“I don’t know,” I admitted.

Lyla shook her head at me and put her shirt back on. “Don’t ruin the best thing that happened to you because of pride.”

“Pride? Is that what you think this is? It isn’t pride, Lyla, it’s not wanting to get stepped on. Jett has a very strong personality…”

“And yours is stronger. Do you really think he is the dominant one in the relationship? Maybe in the bedroom, babe, but in life, you are. You’re the one that holds the cards.”

The minute the words left her lips, I wanted to ask her if Jett told her to talk to me, because those were his exact words…that was what he’d told me many times before. I was the keeper, the one who called the shots, and at one point, I thought I really did, until he didn’t trust me to take care of our business.

“Don’t, don’t do this, Goldie. Give him a chance.”

“I want to, Lyla. But my life can’t revolve around him. I want to do something for me. I want to find out who I am, what I’m supposed to do in this world.”

With a soft smile, Lyla came over to me and pulled me into a hug while she whispered into my ear. “Sometimes, life has a funny way of helping you figure things out. You might not see it now, but I think Jett Colby was brought into your world so you could finally find yourself once and for all. I love you, girl. I think you know what to do.”

She kissed me on the cheek and took off down the stairs before I could yell back at her to give Kace a chance, because maybe he was her Jett Colby. That would have to be a conversation for another day, because hell if I was going to let Lyla get away with not letting Kace into her life. They would be perfect for each other, easily. They would just have to get past their demons first.

Shutting my door for some privacy, I grabbed the phone Tootse had given me, laid down on my bed, and touched the voicemail button to hear what Jett had to say.

“Hello, Goldie. It’s Jett. I was calling to inquire about our date. When you have some spare time, I would love to hear back from you. Have a nice day.”

I laughed out loud at the professional voicemail he’d left me. I could tell he was trying to control the way he spoke to me, being more cautious than anything, and add his southern politeness on top of that and the voicemail was ridiculous. Just so fucking Jett Colby.

With a quick swipe, I called him back.

The phone rang twice before he picked up.

“Goldie,” his voice rang through the phone. It was soft, almost relieved…it cut straight to my heart.

“Hi, Jett,” I held back the giggle that wanted to come out.

“How are you?” he asked, once again, being cordial, not the same Jett I knew.

“Umm, a little concerned.”

“Concerned? Why?” he asked.

“Well, you see, I knew this guy, this really hot guy, he kind of umm, took me by surprise by how fast and hard I fell for him, but he’s missing now…”

Clearing his throat, Jett said, “Do I want to hear this?”

“I don’t know, do you know where the real Jett Colby is?”

“What?” Jett asked, confused, but clearly satisfied that I’d said his name.

“Calling to inquire about our date?” I imitated his deep southern voice, but did a piss poor job at it. “When have you ever talked to me like that?”

A sigh came from the phone, and I could envision the man settling in his desk chair and undoing his tie, then taking a sip from his tumbler full of dark liquid. Just thinking about him in such a position had me wishing I wasn’t at Diego’s house.

“I’m sorry. I just don’t know how to act around you right now. I feel like I don’t know how to talk to you anymore.”

“Is that because you don’t trust me?” I asked, feeling sad.

“No!” he said quickly. “No, Goldie. I just…” he paused as I heard him shift in his chair. “I feel like there’s been too much distance between us. I feel like I’ve lost you.”

The pain in his voice was almost too much to handle. I swallowed hard as I controlled the emotions that were threatening to boil over.

I was so up and down with this man. I wanted him, more than anything did I want him, but would he give me what I really needed? It seemed like he wanted to, like he was ready to do whatever it took, but I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see. I couldn’t be hurt by him again; I just couldn’t.

Reassuring him, I responded, “You didn’t lose me, Jett, we just need to patch up the crack that has separated us.”

“Are you willing to do that?” he asked, hope in his voice.

“I think I am,” I admitted. “But we have to both work at it; it can’t be a one way street. I can’t do everything, Jett.”

“I want to put in the work, Goldie. I…I miss you. It’s not the same here without you.”

“Why, no one busting your balls? I need to talk to those girls, remind them what their real responsibility is.”

Laughing, Jett said, “Yes, I do miss the daily ball busting. You really know how to put a man in his place.”

“I take great pride in juggling nut sacs.”

“I’m sure you do. So, how are you juggling the nut sacs over where you’re staying?” I could sense he was curious about my relationship with Diego and Blane, but he wasn’t jealous, because deep down, the damn man knew I belonged to him. I could deny it all I wanted, but the man knew.

Fucking cocky bastard.

“Well, trying to get two nut sacs in my mouth at the same time has been challenging, but with a few more jaw stretching exercises, I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to accomplish it. Diego said if I get good enough, I could bring it to the main stage as an act. What did he call it?” I paused for effect. “Oh, yeah, testies be gone with your bad self.”

Silence rang through the other end of the phone, as I held in the snicker that wanted to escape.

Clearing his throat, Jett said, “Goldie, I hope you’re joking.”

Letting out a laugh, a good one, one that I hadn’t felt in a long time, I settled into my bed and pressed the phone closer to my ear, trying to be as close to him as possible while I spoke.

“Come on, you know me better than that, Jett. I can easily get three pairs of balls in my mouth at the same time.”

“Goldie…” he warned, making me laugh some more.

“Fine, I haven’t had any balls in my mouth. Does that make you happy?”

“Very. So, how are things with the boys? Are they treating you well?”

“Yes, they’ve been the perfect gentlemen. I mean, Diego is a continuous flirt, but he’s been like that since I first got here, so that’s nothing new. I don’t think he would ever act on anything. He wouldn’t be able to handle me. And, Blane, well, he’s like a big brother to me. I could never get with that.”

“Good to know.”

“What about you? Have you porked anyone lately?”

“How I’ve missed how eloquent you are,” Jett teased. “And, no, I haven’t been able to take my mind off of this Little One I know.”

“Is that right? So, have you slapped the salami lately to this Little One you speak of? Maybe stroked the log in the shower? Fondled the old fiddle? Playing a little five on one? A little hand to gland combat?”

“Are you asking if I’ve masturbated to your gorgeous face?”

Feeling a little caught off-guard by his bluntness, I cleared my throat and replied, “Umm, yeah.”

“What do you think?” he asked, his voice going an octave deeper. I knew that fucking voice, that was his Bourbon Room voice, that was the voice he used right before he took me up against the wall and took what we both wanted.

Oh, fuck, I was so damn horny; just from his simple question, I could feel myself going wet. It was going to be one hell of a long night at this rate.

“I’m going to say yes.”

Seductively, he answered, “Every fucking morning, Little One.”