Playing Games(76)

Maybe the loneliness was because I'd been discarded romantically? I kept telling myself that it wasn't important. My brother had been callously dumped by Tesla and wasn't upset because he'd known it was short-term. I told my brain that I shouldn't be upset, too. But I couldn't help it.

I had stupidly fallen for a guy that hadn't even wanted to be my partner in the beginning. Unhappy, I stared off into space, resisting the urge to tap my fingers on the bag like Liam had, always with a melody in his head.

Whispers and giggles drove me out of my reverie. "You think that's really him?" someone said nearby.

I glanced up.

Two girls were giggling, and one had her phone out and was videotaping something in the distance.

"Go ask him for his autograph," another girl whispered, and more giggling followed.

I craned my head, trying to see what they were staring at. To my surprise, Liam Brogan, lead guitarist of Finding Threnody, was heading my way, a backpack slung over one deliciously tattooed shoulder, his shaggy hair falling over his brow, piercings gleaming in the sunlight streaming through the airport windows.

And he was heading directly for me.

I got up from my seat as if in slow motion, staring at him, drinking in his tall, delicious form, the dark eyes, the wicked glint in his gaze, the sensual mouth that I loved to kiss.

He ignored the girls filming him and the stares he got, and came to stand right in front of me. His gaze moved over my hair, and his mouth quirked into an amused grin. "No pigtails?"

"I'm done with those for now."

"Shame," he said, and the word was so low and husky that it made me quiver. "I kind of liked those."

I blushed. "You're still here? I'm kind of surprised."

"Why? You never came to say goodbye."

My jaw dropped. "I…Brodie said—" I snapped my mouth shut and groaned. "God, remind me never to listen to my brother again." I rubbed my forehead, just thinking about the headaches that came with being related to Brodie. "He told me everyone else flew out hours ago."

"Not me," Liam said. "I was waiting to talk to you, but you never came."

"It wasn't because I didn't want to," I told him softly, and to my horror, my eyes filled with tears. "I just thought that we were done because the race was done."

Liam's arms went around me, and he pulled me closer. "Now when," he whispered huskily, "have I ever given you that impression?"

My hands slid around his waist and I splayed my fingers on his back, enjoying the play of muscles against my hands as I stared up into his face. God, he was gorgeous. I could eat him up with a spoon. No wonder all these girls were ecstatically taping him. "But you're a big famous rock star and I'm nobody."

"You're Katy Short," he said with a grin. "Smart, determined wearer of pigtails and winner of The World Races. And I happen to be in love with you."

My breath caught in my throat. "You are?"

"I am," he said, and leaned in to brush the lightest of kisses over my mouth.

"I love you too," I breathed against his lips.

And then he kissed me, harder, and I felt his tongue swipe into my mouth and my knees went weak. This felt like a dream.

He broke off the kiss and nuzzled me, his hands sliding to my ass and cupping me against him. "So what are your plans?"

"I have no idea," I told him honestly. "I guess I see what a cash influx of five hundred grand can do for my business."

"How about a vacation?"

I laughed at that. "You didn't get enough travel in over the past few days?"

"I wasn’t thinking about traveling," he told me, brushing a lock of stray hair off of my brow in a tender motion that made my heart ache. "I was thinking you and me on a solitary beach house for about a month or so. We can sleep late, eat meals that aren't airport food, and pretend that the outside world doesn't exist."

That sounded like heaven. My hands tightened around his waist. "I'd love to, but don't you have rock star stuff to do? Like go on tour?"

"Tour's over," he told me. "The band's breaking up. Tesla actually just finished recording her first solo album. The label just hasn't announced anything yet. They're waiting for the show to air. It's all been agreed upon with the network."

I gaped at him. "Your band broke up? Oh my god, I'm so sorry."

"I'm not," he said bluntly, and he gave me a grin that didn't seem unhappy at all. "Tesla was miserable to work with and I have the connections now that I can do what I want. And I like song-writing. So if I take six months off to just write a bunch of songs, it's no big deal."

"It isn't?" I breathed the words, barely daring to hope.