But there’d be time for that later.
Chapter 28
CORAL
Boob sweat was the worst.
As soon as we arrived at the Good Day New York studios and the guys were settled into a guest dressing room to wait for Stone and Bryan, I ran for the ladies’ to mop myself up.
I’d ridden all the way across town in the car the studio had sent for us, squashed between Hugh and Ennis. I’d done my best to keep my nose buried in my phone, ignoring the heat surrounding me. But it was hard to concentrate so close to those two beautiful guys, one of whom I’d kissed the night before. And then fallen asleep on his shoulder.
Damn them.
If I’d known Bryan and Stone were catching their own ride, I could have hopped in the front seat. But I’d been trapped.
Was that another plan of theirs?
I’d told myself there’d be no more messing around with any of them. It was unprofessional. Unwise. Nothing good could come from it. Sure, it felt great to have Ennis’s tongue lapping me between my legs, and god knew I’d fantasized about it every night since.
My decision to keep things professional lasted all of about twenty-four hours, when I’d found myself kissing Hugh backstage after the concert. Jesus, what was wrong with me? They were going to see me as nothing more than another groupie, reinforcing their already-inflated egos.
Then why did it turn me on so much to know that they couldn’t keep their eyes off me at breakfast, had their gazes glued to my ass as we walked out of the hotel, and couldn’t help but peek down my dress as I climbed out of this morning’s car?
I dabbed myself dry with the bathroom’s coarse paper towels and hustled back to the dressing room. As much as I was attracted to the guys, I didn’t trust them as far as I could throw them. I dare not leave them for too long.
Stone and Bryan had arrived, thank goodness, although Stone had some kind of bug up his ass, pacing the room with a scowl that would scare off a hungry grizzly.
Stone, please don’t fuck this up.
Was he still pissed by Hugh’s suggestion that they spend a low-key evening together? Was it really that much of a drag for him to miss a night of partying?
But there was something else going on. No one could pout this long about a spoiled night out—not even Stone.
Whatever call he’d taken when he had to return to the room for privacy suggested that all was not well.
“Stone, are you gonna tell us what’s going on?” Ennis asked.
When he provided no answer, Hugh chimed in. “Dude, what’s going on? Who the hell was on the phone that set you off so bad?”
He responded with dirty looks and continued pacing and huffing.
I just hoped he could paint on a smile for the duration of his quick appearance on the show without losing his shit, and that I could get them all out of there before anyone or anything blew up.
“So guys, you ready?” I asked, cheerfully. “You’re on in five.”
Hugh and Ennis jumped to their feet and high-fived each other. Stone, however, just stared at the floor.
“Stone, man, can you liven up?” Ennis asked.
No answer.
“Stone, what happened? What set you off?” I dared ask.
I knew I was pushing my luck. If he were being a dick to the guys, there was no way he’d be nice to me, but I had to get him out on that stage. Both our jobs depended on it.
He took a deep breath and looked up. “I’m fine. Let’s do this. Get it over with,” he said with a grimace.
Yes.
Doing my job—and helping the guys with their images—shouldn’t be like pulling teeth. How many other times would there be when I had to beg them to do things that they would only benefit from? It made no sense.
But a lot of things about the guys made no sense to me. Like Hugh watching.
Even though it had been kind of hot.
I was pissed, and yeah, I’d run off like a frightened animal. But after I got over my initial embarrassment, all I could think about was the look on Hugh’s face as he watched Ennis and me.
And what did Ennis mean that they ‘liked to share’?
I followed the guys to the stage, which they entered to roaring applause. In my spot out of view of the audience, I could watch and hear everything. The guys were now live on-air, and anything they did was out of my hands.
Ennis and Hugh smiled for the screaming audience, and when they turned to the hosts, they graciously hug-kissed Leah and shook hands with Pete. Hugh stepped aside so Stone had no choice but to do the same, and he turned and waved at the audience, which went wild.
They loved him.
And I was thrilled. Whatever bug he’d had up his ass seemed gone, at least for the moment.
“Dirty Bandit, welcome to Good Day New York!” Leah chirped.
The guys smiled and nodded and proceeded to politely answer a slew of inane questions.
Did you really start out playing in a garage?
Where do you get inspiration for the songs you write?
Did you ever think you’d get so popular?
And on and on.
They looked so good sitting on their counter-height stools, seeming for all the world like ultra-cool rockers with their crossed legs and relaxed smiles.
It was no wonder I’d dreamed about the bastards every freaking night.
The audience was eating it up, and preliminary numbers showed a huge at-home viewership, according to one of the producers.
I looked over my shoulder to find Bryan practically dancing a jig.
The network had advertised the shit out of the show, knowing Dirty Bandit would be a big draw.
Success all around.
My phone vibrated with a text from Randall. Geez, it was four a.m. in Los Angeles.
you’re up?
of course. i have to watch my clients!
they’re doing great
they are. i appreciate all your work. call me later. going back to bed
The guys had been on for ten minutes so far. It was time for the hosts to wrap things up and cut to commercial.
Then why was Leah giggling maniacally and rubbing Stone’s arm?
Chapter 29
CORAL
“Okay Dirty Bandit. One last thing before you go. Oh, by the way, can I get tickets to your next show?”
She dropped her head back and emitted that crazy laugh again. How did people watch this day after day?
Before they could answer, she continued. “Just before you came on this morning—” she slowly looked at each guy before settling on Stone, “—we got an interesting piece of news that we wanted to ask you about.”
Hugh and Ennis nodded politely. Stone did not.
In fact, he looked like he was going to throw up.
Sweat trickled down his temples, and his fingers were white from gripping the arms of his chair.
What the hell was going on?
I waved at the showrunner on the other side of the stage, also out of sight of the audience, and tapped my finger on my watch.
He held up a wait a minute finger.
Something didn’t feel right.
Leah continued.
“Word has it from a reliable source, Stone, that you’ve had intimate relations with an underage girl.”
I clutched the wall behind me, the coffee I’d just had perilously close to ending up on the floor at my feet. Hands shaking, I reached for my phone to see if Randall had texted. So far, nothing. Had he gone back to bed, or was he, too, shocked speechless?