His presence chases the unwanted memories and fear away.
Pink spreads over Heidi’s cheeks. She grabs the wand out of my hand and stuffs it back into its packaging.
“What’s that?” Rooster asks. The question comes out innocent enough but by the tilt of his lips, it’s clear he knows exactly what he’s looking at.
“Heidi’s handing out presents like she’s appointed herself the naughty elf of our little group,” I explain.
Rooster’s gaze narrows on the colorful boxes scattered on the couch and floor around us. “Really?”
Heidi hands over my gift and I hold it up for Rooster to inspect.
“Very nice.” He runs his hand over his beard a few times. “We’ll put that to good use. Thanks, Heidi.”
“You’re not bothered or threatened by toys in the bedroom?” Anya asks.
Rooster snorts. “No.” Thankfully, he doesn’t elaborate. I’m ready to melt into the floor as it is.
Anya bundles everything together into the larger box and thanks Heidi again.
“Wait, no gifts for Trinity?” I ask.
One corner of Trinity’s mouth lifts and she nods to where her husband’s standing across the room talking to Ice and Murphy. “My husband keeps my toy chest well-stocked, don’t worry.”
Rooster reaches for the box in my lap. “Do you want me to put that away?”
“Do you really want to be seen carrying it around the clubhouse?”
He rolls his eyes. “Do I look like I’m worried?” He wiggles his fingers in a hurry-up-and-hand-it-over sort of gesture.
I pass him the box.
“I’m going to put it in the RV.” He raises an eyebrow. “Unless you feel like trying it later.”
“How loud is it, Heidi?” I ask.
“Not that bad.” She glances around the clubhouse. “I don’t really think you need to worry about it here, though. Not like anyone will notice. Or care.”
“If you’re heading out to the parking lot, will you help me load this in my car?” Anya kicks the box by her feet.
“Sure.” Rooster leans over and kisses my cheek. “You good?” he whispers.
I nod quickly.
“I’m going to plug this in while I’m out there.” He presses another kiss to my lips. “So it’s charged and ready to go.” His eyes meet mine. A bolt of desire electrifies me. Why exactly was I being so uptight about this again?
“Sounds good.”
He grabs Anya’s box and hefts it into his arms as if it weighs nothing. “Be right back.”
“You two are so adorable together.” Heidi claps her hands. “Rooster’s such a good guy. I’m so happy you two met.”
“Technically, he fished me out of the water,” I joke.
“So romantic.” Heidi sighs.
“Who’s romantic?” Murphy’s voice rumbles from behind us.
Heidi nods to the clubhouse door. “Rooster.”
Murphy throws himself down onto the couch next to Heidi and wraps his arm around her. “Not much romance happening in this clubhouse for a while.”
“Lies,” Jigsaw says. He rests his hip on the arm of my chair and peers down at me. “Where’d my boy go?”
“Parking lot. Helping Anya load her car with some stuff.”
He tilts his head. “You’re okay with that? Why didn’t he ask me to do it?”
“I don’t know. You weren’t here. He wanted to run out to the RV anyway.” I shrug. “If I’m gonna worry about my boyfriend banging someone every time he’s out of sight, we probably shouldn’t be together. That is what you were implying I might be worried about, yes?”
He taps his forehead, then mine. “Ah, songbird. We’re like one mind sometimes.”
I slap his hand away. “I highly doubt that.”
“Why are you annoying my girl?” Rooster’s voice hovers between amused and annoyed.
“Why’d you leave her alone?” Jigsaw responds, jumping away from my chair.
Rooster glances at me and I shrug. “Jiggy’s just looking out for me.”
Murphy points at Rooster, then me. “Did you have the decency to warn your girl about what’s going down here?”
Rooster shoots him a cool look. “Not yet.”
“Ooo, what’s going down?” I ask Rooster.
“Everyone,” Jigsaw quips.
“Later.” Rooster touches my shoulder. “The PR woman got back to me. She has an opening in her schedule. Ice said we could use his office.”
“Now?”
He slaps Jigsaw’s back. “Don’t worry. This fuckwit will still be around causing trouble when we’re done.”
“All right.” I glance at Heidi and Trinity. “Guess I’ll be back later.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Shelby
Miranda, who is apparently my new public relations specialist to help me ward off any bad press from my abduction, is full of ideas.
I’m exhausted just listening to her.
On the computer screen, she comes across as tiny but feisty. Maybe a little older than my momma, with black hair slicked into a bun so tight it gives her eyes a catlike appearance. By her confident, cut-throat tone, I don’t doubt she knows her business.
“Congratulations on your nominations, Shelby. This is a huge thing and could really help bury this whole nasty kidnapping, Glenna Wilson fiasco.”
She makes it sound like a trivial event instead of the most terrifying thing that’s ever happened to me.
“Now, hear me out,” she continues in her bubbly voice. “I’d really like to see you attend the Small Screen Music Awards that are coming up. It’ll be a nice dress rehearsal for you before the big show.”
Sounds like she’s worried I don’t know how to behave on a red carpet or something. “But I only have one video. For Big Lies.”
“That doesn’t matter. The SSMAs don’t hold the same prestige they did back in the Eighties. Today, getting nominated is more of a who-you-know situation. But it’s a fun event where you’ll be photographed a lot.”
“Okay,” I answer slowly. “I’m on tour now.”
“I know.” She blows out an exasperated breath. “Let me see what I can do. Dawson’s probably up for a few nods himself. So maybe you both can work it into the schedule.”
I don’t think I like where she’s going with this, but I don’t want to piss her off yet. I’ll have to reserve judgment for later.
“Now,” she says, briskly transitioning to the next item on her list. “The Glow magazine interview is scheduled. They’re going to meet with you the day after the Atlanta show.”
“I thought that show got canceled?”
“Well, Dawson says it’s on or it’s been rescheduled.” She waves her hands in the air as if it doesn’t matter, which I suppose it doesn’t. I don’t wanna bring another lick of negative attention to myself on this tour. No matter how understanding Dawson’s been, if people start to think I’m a magnet for trouble, I’ll never be invited onto a major tour again. And Lord knows, I’m not big enough to headline my own shows yet.