Page 176 of Jude

Every single night at nine o’clock, the phone on my nightstand rang, and Jude’s gravelly voice filled the quiet room.

Six Sinners was winging across Oceania.

They’d finished off their Australian leg in Perth and Auckland and were now in Singapore, home to some of their most passionate fans.

They had a few more shows in Abu Dhabi, Mumbai, Seoul, and Hong Kong

‘The humidity in Singapore is freakin’ affecting Grace, babe,’ Jude grumbled to me one evening. ‘The strings are not taking it well. How’s the house? You need me to wire more funds?’

‘We’re fine, honey, I’ve got more than enough in the shared account,’ I murmured, leaning back into the pillows. ‘Just focus on your sets and get your butt back to Tennessee.’

‘Miss you much, woman.’

‘Miss you more, tesoro mio.’

Three weeks later, Jude walked through the front doors of our new home and stopped dead.

His duffel bag slipped from his grip onto the floorboards.

‘It’s a freakin’ masterpiece transformation,’ he rasped.

I’d worked with an interior design team to upgrade the kitchen with marble counters, brushed-gold hardware, and furnishings in deep, soft blues.

I’d added a few pieces from our travels, mirroring the boutique hotels we visited during our brief summer trip to Paris and Rome.

The iron windows framed the green canopy outside, uplifting the elegant, sun-drenched home with a stunning view.

‘Babe,’ Jude growled, his eyes scanning the custom barn doors and the lush rugs. ‘You’ve turned this place into a dream.’

‘All for you,’ I quipped, stepping into his arms and burying my face in his shirt. ‘Welcome home, handsome. I missed you so much.’

‘I love you more,’ he rumbled, his sinewed hands holding me close.

We kissed long and slow before I took his hand and pulled him through the entryway to show off the complete transformation.

I pointed out the refinished cedar beams, the new plush velvet sofa, the main feature of the living room, and the gorgeous art on the wall.

Near the dining alcove, I paused beside three oversized abstract canvases, the brushstrokes rich with textured hues.

‘I bought these from Roxy’s gallery downtown,’ I explained. ‘She helped me choose pieces that brought the whole room together.’

Jude walked through each space, his expression shifting from amazement to profound veneration.

He ran a broad palm along the smooth marble kitchen island, a quiet smile breaking on his handsome, rugged face.

He appreciated every small detail, recognizing the immense effort I put into turning the house into a sanctum.

‘You did all this, Sofia?’ he asked, his voice thick with emotion.

‘For us,’ I confirmed, stepping close.

Jude scooped me into his arms as he strode toward the primary.

The bedroom featured a new king-sized bed dressed in crisp white linens.

He set me down on it, his piercing eyes burning with an intense devotion that caused my breath to hitch.

We tore off our clothes and made love with a fierce, tender hunger that night.