“Do not be foolish.” But instead of sounding furious, Angelo’s voice was thick with desire.
Dylan shook his head. Poor man. He knew that look on his friend’s face. He was a goner, and it was time to lend the billionaire a hand. He pushed the door open, stepping inside as he said innocently, “Am I interrupting something?”
Angelo’s head swiveled in his direction. “Charbonneau.”
The girl glanced his way, too – just before gasping and running away…to hide behind a row of bushes.
Okaaaaay.
His fans did a lot of weird things when meeting Dylan for the first time, but that one right there could probably make it to his top ten.
Angelo strode forward to welcome his friend. “Glad to see you, Charbonneau.”
Dylan shook his hand, asking, “Seriously, Valencia, am I interrupting some kind of kinky role playing—”
An embarrassed squeak emerged from behind the bushes.
Dylan stopped speaking, but Angelo relaxed at the sound. Good, he thought. She didn’t sound like she was on the verge of collapsing. That was all that mattered. Clearing his throat, he turned to face his friend and murmured, “It’s, err, a long story.”
“Ah.” He glanced towards the bushes and saw the girl peeking at them over it. She gasped and disappeared from view. Repressing his smile with an effort, Dylan commented lightly, “She’s different from your usual, isn’t she?”
Knowing that Lane was listening, Angelo drawled, “She’s crazy.”
“Am not.” The words floated out of the bushes like a deeply affronted ghost had uttered them.
Dylan’s eyes widened. “I think I know who she is.” He said slowly, “March told us about this girl in CU—” When Angelo’s face suddenly became inscrutable, Dylan knew he had guessed right and he started laughing. “No way, man. I thought March was lying, but she’s real? The girl who’s gotten you running away from your own shadow? That’s her, right?”
A gasp from the bushes.
“Go fuck yourself,” Angelo said pleasantly.
But the rockstar only laughed harder. “And you’re still running away from her?”
He gestured to the doors behind Dylan. “Exit’s that way.”
Dylan did his best to control his amusement. “Fine, man. I can take a hint.” He cleared his throat. “So…I get why you’re, umm, avoiding her. Not running away, you understand,” Dylan said with exaggerated earnestness, “but just avoiding her.”
“Please. Don’t mind me. Fuck off.”
Dylan was impressed. “That’s twice you’ve sworn in the past five minutes. I didn’t even know you know how to use the F-bomb outside the bedroom.” Angelo’s eyes flashed in warning, and he coughed. “That’s the last dig. Word of honor.”
Angelo shook his head, muttering, “I hope Bree realizes what an ass you are and dates Steel March behind your back.”
Dylan scowled. “Below the belt, Valencia.” But the thought, even though impossible, was enough to wipe any smile from the rockstar’s face. He nodded towards Miss Girl in Hiding, asking, “Is she going to stay there the entire time?”
“It depends. Will you excuse me for a moment?” And without waiting for his friend’s reply, he turned and swiftly made his way to Lane.
She was seated on the grass, arms around herself, knees tucked under her chin. She looked up as his shadow fell over her, and she said glumly, “I know what you’re going to say. You’re going to tell me I told you so.”
He crouched down beside her. “Actually,” he drawled piously, “I was going to tell you that at least you didn’t faint.”
She made a face, knowing she had given him the ammunition he needed to keep her out of his parties.
“Do you think you can survive an introduction to him?”
“I’m not sure,” she said honestly. “You didn’t tell me your friend was Dylan Charbonneau.”
Angelo’s gaze narrowed at the way Lane spoke of Dylan. So she recognized him, he thought broodingly. He had thought Lane’s panic was because Dylan’s presence had taken her by surprise, but now he realized it was because she had recognized who the rockstar was.
The fact not sitting well with him at all, Angelo gracefully came to his feet, saying with deceptive kindness, “You don’t need to meet him if you don’t want to.”
Thinking that Angelo might use the situation as an excuse to keep her locked in her room again, she quickly shook her head. “No, actually, I think you’re right.” She scrambled to her feet, saying brightly, “If I really want to attend your parties, I should start practicing now. Right?”