“How are you holding up?” I asked her, when really all I wanted to do was apologize. For the kiss. For avoiding the huge fucking elephant in the room that was my brother.
For never calling her back.
“Honestly, I don’t know. It’s been a week, Rafe,” she kept her voice low. “And everythin’ is goin’ at a million-miles-an-hour and I’m just tryin’ to keep my head above water.” The words tumbled out, her chest heaving.
Before I could stop myself, my hand slid against hers. Eva sucked in a shaky breath, keeping her eyes upfront. She wasn’t the only one affected though; her touch was like kryptonite making my knees weak and my heart stutter. Her fingers slid precariously between mine, and I risked peeking over at her. The corner of her mouth lifted in a secretive smile.
Jesus, this girl.
How the hell was I supposed to stop?
Ever since kissing her, I’d dreamed of nothing else but doing it again. It was the reason I’d spent so much time avoiding her. I couldn’t be near her without imagining crowding her against the nearest wall and pushing my body up against hers. If the heated looks I’d caught her sending in my direction more than once over the last couple of days were any indication, she felt the same.
We were a lit fuse racing toward its end, and only we could decide whether we exploded or flickered out to nothing.
Eva shifted on her seat, her arm brushing mine, sending shivers rolling up my spine. I hadn’t even touched her, not properly, but I felt her everywhere. Could imagine her naked above me, the soft swell of her hips, the gentle curve of her waist, her perfect tits. I wanted to touch her and taste her and make her cry my name over and over.
It was my turn to shift uncomfortably, fully aware that I was sporting a raging hard on. Eva covered her mouth with her hand, smothering a laugh. Letty glanced back, a deep frown pinching her face. My hand shot down over my lap as I tried to conceal the evidence that I had zero fucking self-control around Eva.
Thankfully, Fenton announced we were almost at Masterpiece HQ. The sleek building loomed up ahead and I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when there was no sign of any Die Hearts. Travis came around and opened the door for Eva who hopped out. She glanced at me through her long lashes and smiled.
“Thank fuck,” Levi groaned. “I was about to piss myself. Jake, shall we?” He jammed a hand into his pocket and swaggered over to his bodyguard, the two of them disappearing inside the building.
Alistair and Riley were busy discussing how to approach the meeting, while Hudson and Damon trailed in behind them. Leaving me with Eva and Letty.
“So, I’ll be…” Letty thumbed to the door and took off after everyone while me and Eva walked casually inside with Travis and Fenton coming up behind us.
“I’m sorry,” Eva whispered, “if I, you know...” She smothered another laugh, her eyes dropping to my jeans for the briefest of seconds.
My eyes narrowed, aware that we were no longer in the blacked-out van. “We should talk,” I said. We had to figure out how to be around each other without me wanting to tear her clothes off at any given second.
“What, now?”
“No, later.” I chuckled. “Tonight. After the show.”
Eva nodded, fighting a smile. She seemed different. More confident and sure of herself. But there was something else—a determination in her eyes I’d never seen before.
A look that said, ‘I’m here, all you have to do is take me’.
But if I crossed that line, if I put us both out of our misery… what then?
There was no time to dwell, we were herded into an elevator and directed to a huge meeting room overlooking downtown LA. Eva had made a beeline for the window, her eyes full of wonder. I could still remember what it was like, to see the world from new heights.
“Eva, Rafe,” Alistair snapped, “if you’d care to join us, we can get started.” I hadn’t realized everyone was here, too busy watching Eva watch the city beyond the tinted glass.
Damon caught my eye, shooting me a concerned expression. I took the empty seat beside my brother while Eva sat with Letty. I hated these things, but they were a necessary evil for artists. An endorsement with the right sponsor could open up doors. For us, it meant Masterpiece, one of the industries most trusted brands, saw us as credible talent with a bright future. For Alistair and Riley and the label, it meant dollar signs.
“Ah, Alistair, good to see you again.” Tim Dowager breezed into the room with a petite woman lapping at his heels. “This is Shelbie, my assistant.”
“Shelbie,” Alistair stood up and extended his hand, “it’s always nice to put a face to a name.” The woman blushed and shook his hand before greeting Riley with a warm smile.
Rumor in industry circles was that Dowager went through more secretaries than Hudson got through fan girls. Shelbie was his latest and from the way he watched her like a predator watched his prey, he wanted to bang her, if he wasn’t already.
“I gotta say, Ali, I wasn’t sure we’d ever get to this point.”
“Come on, Tim.” Alistair relaxed in his chair. “We all knew this was going to happen. It was just a case of when. Black Hearts can help bring Masterpiece into the new decade.”
“Bold statement for the manager of a band who can’t seem to control their lead vocalist.” Dowager’s eyes settled on my brother. “Levi, you’re looking well.”
“I’m in a good place, sir.” Few people brought my brother to heel, but he knew what this deal meant, to us, to the band.
“Good to hear it, son. The tour’s going well?”
“We’ll let you be the judge of that.” Levi flashed him a half-smirk, and Dowager roared with laughter.
“So damn cocky. You remind me a lot of Jagger back in the day.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“You should. But even the greats aren’t untouchable, kid.”
Levi straightened at that. He despised being called ‘kid’. Hated it with every fiber of his being. I pressed my boot down on his.
“We know that, Mr. Dowager,” Damon cut in. “And we know what it means to represent a brand such as Masterpiece.”
“Ms. Walker… can I call you Evangeline?” He turned his attention on Eva.
“Eva is fine, sir.”
Dowager nodded. “Very well. I’d be keen to hear how you’ve found it being on the road with the band.”
Alistair sat up and said, “Come on, Tim, that isn’t—”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind answerin’ his question.” Eva smiled and we all saw Dowager soften under her spell. “The band have been nothin’ but welcomin’.”
“It was a bold move the label made adding you to the tour. Why do you think they picked you?”
“Tim,” Alistair sounded pissed now, but Dowager waved him off, fully aware that he held all the cards.
“I was lucky enough to spend time with the band during the Jamesboro County Talent Showdown, and I guess you could say something clicked.” She gave a half-shrug. “Besides, I had no idea who Black Hearts Still Beat was back then.”
“You’re shitting me?” Dowager was hanging on her every word. “And it’s true, you challenged Levi to a sing-off?”