Mandy knew Ethan had a history with the beautiful Zuriel, who was a solo pop rock act – who didn’t? But there weren’t a lot of details reported about the relationship, only that they’d been together since Ethan was eighteen and she was twenty-one. Their relationship had lasted two years while both their careers soared at the same time. Suddenly, it ended and now at twenty-seven, Zuriel still looked like the epitome of beauty and cool. How could Ethan have left her? Mandy wondered in a daze.
Instantly intimidated, Mandy squirmed away slightly as Ethan and Zuriel shared a warm embrace. Moments later, Ethan was tugging Mandy to his side again. “Mandy, this is Zuriel. And Zuriel, meet…”
“No introductions necessary,” drawled the darkly beautiful Zuriel, whose gray eyes twinkled. “I was right in the crowd, Ethan. I saw you virtually making love to that girl from the stage. That was a surprise, seeing you play the romantic.”
Ethan shrugged and Mandy could sense the tension in him even as Ethan’s lips slanted in a smile. Jaime spoke up with a raucous laugh. “Well, now that the clan’s all here, let’s go fucking party before the night ends. And if the tour bus can’t hold us, we’ll take things to the hotel – there’s more booze there anyway. Come on, guys!”
Jaime led the way and his faithful groupies followed, with Henson not far behind with his own set of groupies. The ever-present bodyguards stayed within sight but out of the way. Mandy shifted uncomfortably when Zuriel lingered. It felt weird standing so close to the star, knowing she was worth just as much as Ethan’s band due to her many endorsements, signature perfumes, and the modeling she did outside of her music. She had fans cutting across the male and female populace. So apart from being tall, slim, and beautiful, she was also a flipping superstar with talent and loads of cash who used to be a part of Ethan’s life. Was it a wonder Mandy felt a tad inadequate? She’d aimed for laid-back chic with her outfit and chosen a clingy short leather dress and matching lace-up thigh boots. She suddenly thought she looked dull and uninspired next to the eye-catching Zuriel.
“I didn’t know you’ll be at the show tonight,” Ethan said mildly to her. Mandy took comfort in the arm that was still around her shoulders, keeping her by his side. “From what I heard, you’ve been touring in Australia.”
Zuriel nodded with a playful grimace. “Eighteen venues. But an emergency came up here that I really had to fix. I’ll be flying back tomorrow. I heard you had one more concert tonight and decided to show up. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Nah. It’s always great to see you. You know that,” Ethan said easily.
“Do I?” Zuriel asked, looking straight at Ethan for a few moments in a way that made Mandy feel like she was the intruder. She squirmed again, feeling more uncomfortable by the second. But before Ethan could word a reply, Zuriel went on, “I’m glad I came out tonight, though. The audience was pumped and of course you guys killed it on stage. I’m hoping you’d like to do a duet remix with me on that last song. I loved it. What’s the title?”
Mandy wanted to scream. No! Don’t fucking touch it. That’s my song!
But she managed to stay mute as Ethan chuckled. “Never did get the time to name the song. I’ll do that once the band gets to work on the upcoming album. We will definitely let you know.”
Zuriel nodded, smiling teasingly. “Don’t keep me waiting too long, buster. Patience was never my strong point, especially when it comes to something I really, really want.”
Mandy bristled as Ethan laughed, as if they shared an intimate joke. She knew she was simply feeling jealous about whatever Ethan had shared with the gorgeous rocker. Zuriel was exactly the type of woman Mandy felt would suit Ethan; someone who would fit right along with his fun-loving crowd.
Zuriel leaned in to kiss Ethan’s cheek. “I have to go now. Hope we see each other again soon,” she said quietly before turning to Mandy. “It was nice to meet you, Mandy.”
“Thanks. Same here,” Mandy said, smiling somewhat stiltedly.
As Zuriel turned and walked away, Mandy caught a faint scent following the rock star beauty; a scent that was strangely familiar. She realized it was the same perfume that she normally wore: Heaven Scent. So this was the woman the perfume had reminded Ethan of, Mandy realized, her heart sinking further. She’d never forgotten the first time she’d met Ethan and how he’d been drawn by her perfume. Now Mandy knew the smell had reminded Ethan of Zuriel and not his adoptive mother, as he had originally claimed. The tormented strain in his voice that day when he’d identified the perfume made Mandy feel like he had more than memories going for both him and Zuriel.