Page 10 of Deacon

‘What do you mean?’

‘I don’t do casual,’ he admitted, his brash honesty jolting me. ‘Are we just having fun, or are you after the real thing?’

I stared at his rugged profile, loving his bluntness even as my pulse kicked up.

I sensed this wasn’t the time to play it off, so I shared my true intent.

‘I’d like to get to know you,’ I murmured, shifting to face him. ‘I want the chance to do this well. I want to date you, Deacon.’

He huffed, a soft smile breaking across his beautiful, sculpted face.

‘Good, because I’m already ruined for anyone else.’

Chapter 3

DEACON

Present Day

Itossed three cotton tees onto my bed, then folded a variety of shorts the way I liked.

The house was quiet; Raff was at the park with our housekeeper-slash-nanny, Christine, draining his last reserves of energy before our long flight to Spain.

Striding downstairs with my pile of clothes, I stopped to admire my flowering garden through the windows.

I’d worked hard for this house.

Hundreds of studio hours, numerous albums, late nights and endless touring, plus loads of saving, investing, and skimping, helped me pay off the six-bedroom property.

The place was a retreat for my son and me, a sanctuary in the heart of West Meade.

Set on a secluded, flat lot, the grounds delivered privacy and livability in spades.

Since purchasing the home new, I made extensive improvements that elevated the property.

The kitchen featured a complete range of Wolf appliances, including a range, microwave, and steam oven.

Plus a Sub-Zero refrigerator and beverage fridge, an Asko dishwasher, and refined cabinetry details.

Throughout the residence, I fitted custom Hammerton hand-forged lighting, California Closets, plantation shutters, and integrated storage inside each bedroom and en-suite bath.

I included a dedicated office, a studio, and a fitness space.

The geek in me also went for smart home controls; a purpose-built Sonos 6.1 surround sound system; and a discreet, secure safe room with fingerprint access in the primary room.

Outdoor living for Raff and me was a must, so I built a screened porch, installed new fencing, added full irrigation, a huge pool, and a barbecue area.

It was my castle, and I was its king; freakin’ proud of it, especially the garden I tended every day, watering, weeding, and mowing shit.

I stared at the blue water outside, yearning for a swim, but I had to get through my tasks before time ran out.

Instead, I sighed, more than ready for my upcoming holiday, looking forward to two months of bliss in a luxury beach villa in Mijas on the Costa del Sol.

Especially after our most recent and relentless world tour with Six Sinners.

We’d killed it in Japan, packed stadiums across Australia, and finished in Hong Kong.

We signed merchandise, sold albums, gave interviews, and hosted high-tier VIP meet-and-greets.