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A bitter laugh leaves my lips. "Oh, the irony." I glare at him. "Guess  what, Scottie? I'm not telling. Because I don't fucking want to!"

I slam the door behind me and head out into the night.





Chapter Nineteen





Gabriel







"You tug at those cuffs any harder and they're going to fall off."

I don't bother turning to acknowledge Killian at my side. It will only  encourage him. And I don't have it in me to pretend I'm impenetrable  right now. I hurt Sophie last night. I ruined her fun and then made her  think she was a problem to be solved.

I didn't realize how badly I was mucking things up until she stormed  out. I'd only thought to protect my private life as I've always done, by  putting up a wall and sniping at anyone who tried to look over it.

The method still works; she left. Cut me off at the fucking knees. I'm  stuck walking on stumps and trying to pretend it isn't agony.

Around us, stagehands, lighting engineers, and sound techs scurry to and  fro, getting ready for the concert. On the other side of the massive  screen we're standing behind, the crowd fills up the stadium. Their  murmurs and laughs create a constant hum.

"Shouldn't you be in the dressing room getting your hair artfully disheveled?" I ask him.

"Libby does that for me in her own special way," he answers easily.

Of course she does. Every damn person on the tour has been treated to  the sounds Killian and Libby preparing for concerts. And celebrating the  conclusion of each show. I don't know how they ever thought they were  being secretive.

"Then go find your wife," I say. "I'm fairly certain she's waiting for you in the lavatory."

"Man, don't let on that you know about the bathroom hookups or she'll never give it to me there again."

"It would do well for you not to provide me with ammunition at this moment."

He falls silent, standing at my side and watching the well-choreographed  art of the stagehands' work. I know what he's doing. Babysitting.  Killian knows me too well. Just as I am able to tell if he's hurting  with one look, so is he. Granted, it's been over ten years since he's  seen me hurting. Thinking about that time adds another stone to the  gravel pit that's formed in my gut.

Sophie didn't come home last night. Home. I have not thought of any  place as home for so long I'm surprised I even remember the concept. My  houses are dwellings in which I rest when not working. Given that I'm  always working, I rarely spend time in any of them. Yet from the first  night Sophie settled her things alongside mine and filled those quiet,  orderly spaces with her effusive nature, wherever she is feels like  home.

Last night, alone in my bed, it was more like hell. I wasn't able to  lower my pride enough to ask any of my crew if they knew where she was.  But it was a close thing. I'd been tempted to beg. That chafes too.

Eventually the tour will end. Sophie will move on to other projects, and  my life will return to normal. Why that thought makes my gut clench  isn't something I want to dwell on.

Knowing Killian as I do, it isn't a surprise that he can't keep quiet for long.

He huffs out an impatient sound. "Seriously, dude, what's got your dick  in a knot?" From the corner of my eye, I can see him grinning, wide and  smug. "I thought for sure your coach would be rocking for a few hours."

"Don't be disgusting," I snap, leaving my damn cuffs alone.

"Hot lovin' is never disgusting." He nudges me.

"I might be emotionally scarred for life after hearing you say hot lovin'. And mind your business."

"Oh, please. It's not like you're hiding anything."

I finally glare at him, and he keeps that smug grin in place.

"You are so gone on Sophie," he says happily. "You have been since you got off that plane."

Sophie had been so happy, dancing like an erotic weapon and rapping-the  lyrics falling from her lips in syncopated rhythm without falter or  embarrassment. It was unexpected and lovely. I'd wanted to laugh just  for the joy of it. I'd wanted to haul her over my shoulder, take her to  my bed, and have her sway and thrust those hips of hers right over my  mouth. My cock stirs at the thought, and I remember Killian is standing  there, looking at me as if he's never seen me before.         

     



 

"Why are you grinning like a fool? You don't even like her."

"Eh," he shrugs. "I was pissed about old shit. She's cool. Just took me a bit to let myself see it."

Despite the fact that I want to tear my skin off and throw myself into  traffic for putting that hurt on her pretty face, I'm mollified by  Killian's acceptance. The fact that it means so much to me also irks.

"Everyone likes her," he adds as if he's trying to reassure me.

"It's impossible not to," I mutter. A mistake. It gives Killian an opening.

"So … " he prompts with a wave of his hand. "Why aren't you knocking boots  with Sophie right now? You two are clearly dying to fuck like horny  bunnies-"

"One well-placed punch, Killian. That's all it would take to have you silenced for the rest of the night."

"Touchy. Touchy."

He's loving this. Throwing myself into traffic sounds more appealing by the second.

"I'm just saying," he goes on, "I've never seen anyone more in need of a good, hard fuck than-"

"Shut your fucking gob."

"You," he finishes broadly, dancing out of striking range. "But it's  good to know you're protective of Sophie's rep. Means you care."

My hand curls into a fist. Killian dances back a few feet more, flashing  me a cheeky smile. "I'm done. No more poking the bear. I'm going now."

"Your timing has been off during ‘Distractify' lately. You're late on the opening riff by two seconds."

Killian laughs. "Low blow, man. But correct. Don't know why I'm off, but  I'll work on it." He pauses, his heel poised to turn. "Whatever you did  to make Sophie storm into Brenna's coach, just tell her you're sorry."

Regret is a fist through my heart. It's a struggle to get in a breath. But at least I know where she is now. Safe with Brenna.

"Women need us to acknowledge their hurts," Killian says, digging the knife in farther.

"You think I don't know as much?"

His dark eyes are suddenly solemn, and I know he's about to gut me. "She  missed you when you weren't here. As much as you hide, Sophie sees  right through it and still cares. Don't fuck that up, man. Trust me on  this."

I don't nod. I don't have anything to say. I've already fucked it all up.







Sophie







"You're taking the night off." Brenna's tone brooks no argument.

Doesn't mean I'm not going to try. "That's ridiculous," I say, dabbing a  bit of her concealer beneath my eyes. No way in hell am I allowing  Gabriel to see me with puffy, bruised eyes.

I haven't cried over him, but I did spend a good chunk of last night  drinking vodka tonics and cursing his name while a sympathetic Brenna  and Jules agreed that the man can suck it. "I'm fine."

Brenna slicks on a deep plum lipstick before handing me a tube of rosy red. "I know. Doesn't mean you can't enjoy a night off."

We stare at each other's reflection in the mirror of Brenna's bathroom, both of us wearing stubborn expressions.

Jules pops her head in. "Yeah, read a book, watch cheesy movies."

Cheesy movies just makes me think of Gabriel and his threat to force a  Star Trek marathon on me. Less than twenty-four hours, and I miss him  like a lost limb.

"If I stay here," I tell them, "I'll go batty."

Brenna smoothes her hair into her trademark high ponytail. "So go to the concert and enjoy it as a fan."

The idea doesn't sit well with me; I've been hired to do a job, not wuss out because my feelings have been hurt.

Unfortunately, if I want to work, I have to go back to the bus and get  my equipment. That's not happening. Maybe I am a wuss, because I need to  lick my wounds a little longer.

"I don't have anything to wear."

Brenna is at least three sizes smaller than I am, and Jules is four inches shorter.

"Excuses, excuses," Jules says. "I'll find you something. Hold up."

Her bright head disappears, and then she comes back with a flowing  green, stretchy jersey skirt and white tank top. "The skirt is mid-calf  on me so it will probably be at your knees, but it's better than  chocolate ice cream-stained clothes." She grins wide, showing her  dimples.

"Don't remind me." Last night ended with a raid on their emergency ice cream stash. I'm still feeling a little queasy.

I put on the skirt and top and frown down at myself. "I look like I'm headed to the beach."         

     



 

"You look hot," Jules says, giving my butt a slap. "I'm off. A certain  man who shall not be named just texted that he's at the stadium, and he  gets pissy if his employees aren't on time."

She shakes her head, but there's no real irritation in her expression.  If I'm not mistaken, she looks eager to start her night as she hurries  off. I envy her.