Page 161 of Just Wait

I catch a shot of him smiling at me while I smile at the camera. It’s one of those pictures that makes it look like the guy is head over heels for the girl, and she doesn’t even notice.

It scares the hell out of me, so I exit out of the camera, close my phone, and shove it into my pocket.

“Would you like to see one?” The shop owner nods at the wall, rubbing his hands together. “I can get any of them down for you.”

I shake my head. “I was just admiring them. They’re amazing.”

“Can we check out the 339?” Mal asks, wrapping his arms around me from behind. “I was jealous of how much you love Kincaid’s Fender, but his Telecaster has nothing on that sweet Gibson.”

I laugh. “All guitars are beautiful.”

Malcolm’s chest vibrates behind me as he laughs. “Keep talking like that, and I’m going to have to marry you, baby doll.”

Oh, shit.

I focus on the shop owner, who chuckles as he climbs onto a step stool that seems to have appeared from nowhere. Concentrating on the guitar is a way better idea than spiraling about Malcolm’s joke.

The old man climbs down, holding out the electric blue guitar. It’s gorgeous, with darker blue weaved in.

“Would you like to test it out, sir?” he asks.

“Nah, this is a treat for her. Go on, Lulu. See if you like the feel.” Malcolm pats my hips and steps back.

My eyes dart to the big black price tag still hanging on the wall. That sucker is not cheap, but it won’t hurt to test it out.

“Are you still mad at me?” Malcolm asks as we walk down the sidewalk to wherever we’re headed next.

“I was never mad.” I snort. “I was just trying to explain that I didn’t need such an expensive guitar.”

Did I want it?

So much.

But wants aren’t needs.

“The way your eyes lit up. We had to get it.” Malcolm squeezes my hand, bringing it to his lips. “Now you have your very own to practice with.”

“Thank you,” I tell him for the tenth time. “I’ll cherish it forever.”

I peek back over my shoulder, checking that the security guy has the case. That guitar is officially the most expensive thing I own, and that includes my car that’s currently sitting in my dad’s driveway.

I suggested we should head back to the hotel, or at least drop it off in the SUV, but Malcolm has one more place he wants to visit, and he swore it’s close.

“Until the next one comes along and catches your eye.” He chuckles. “It happens to me all the time. Wait until you see our condo in Florida. It has some that are straight-up just for show.”

The guitar Malcolm bought me was a few thousand dollars, but I’ve seen some special edition guitars that go for ten to twenty grand when they’re brand new. That price goes up exponentially when they’ve got a story attached or there’s verification that it was played at a particular show.

Mal also helped me pick out a gift for Riser’s birthday while we were in the music shop. It was close to three hundred dollars, and Malcolm offered to pay for it, but I was stubborn and put it on my credit card. While it was more than I planned to spend, as long as he likes it, I’ll be fine.

I’m just about to ask who lives with him that he called it our condo, but he speaks before I get the chance.

“Ahh, here we are,” Malcolm says. “All right, baby doll. It’s time to shop for jewelry.” He drags me to the door, pulls it open, and guides me inside.

Hanging out with them is like a whole different world from what I’m used to.

Maybe I’m rotten, but I kinda love it.

I also need to work on making sure he understands that I like him for him.