“She was watching me,” he defends.
“She saw something that piqued…shocked her. In turn, you saw an opportunity,” I snap. “That’s the behavior of a fucking predator. I know it when I see it, so don’t play innocent.”
“Far from that, mate.”
“I’m not your fucking mate,” I snap, turning to retreat off stage before my anger bests me.
“No, you’re not my mate. You’re a fucking spoiled cunt. I’d almost be relieved if you carry through with the threat to fire me,” he snaps at my back. “At least I’d get half my salary and be free of your Type A fucking arse. I don’t see the issue. She’s just another fucking bird.”
Red streams through my vision as I turn, and in two strides, land a right squarely on his mouth—knocking him backward, along with the piano bench. Tempted to pounce, I take a few steadying breaths as he sneers up at me, his lip bleeding freely.
Sighing, I grab the towel from atop the piano and squat so we’re eye level as he continues to glare at me. Indecision appears to flit over his features, like he’s deciding whether or not to strike back. I give him ample opportunity to do so before thrusting the towel toward him. “You deserved that, and now I know where we stand, but let’s cut the bullshit. I’m just as observant as you are, Leif, and you know damn well she’s not just another fucking bird. Regardless of what she is or isn’t, it’s not your business to try and figure that out. Your business is to show up and play guitar.”
“Whatever you say, boss,” he snaps in clear condescension before snatching the towel and wiping his mouth. “I don’t give a fuck what you think about me because you know fuck all.”
“Well, by all means, LL, if I’m wrong about you, feel free to fucking surprise me.”
He spits blood into the towel and tosses it back at me before standing. “Whatever, like I give a damn who you stick your prick into.”
“Just keep your shady shit away from me and—”
“The fuck’s going on here?” Dad yells, striding on stage, and I flash LL a warning look.
“Just a misunderstanding,” LL offers quickly, eyes fixed on mine. “Apparently, I mis stepped with Easton’s special bird,” he declares with blood-laced teeth, sealing his fate with me.
Fuck.
I can practically predict the future issues he’s prone to cause, and not just for me personally. At this point, I’m hopeful the band only remembers Natalie’s first name. I wasn’t thinking long-term, or at all, about the future when I picked Natalie up because honestly, she had me convinced we weren’t happening. Long term is what kept me awake the second she passed out in my arms in that hotel room in Dallas.
“What special bird?” Dad asks.
“Just a girl I met on the road,” I lie. “It ended in Dallas.”
LL’s lingering stare and budding smirk tells me he knows I’m lying, and he just gained leverage. Thank God he’s got no real idea of who Natalie is or the damage it could cause. I’d parked a block away from Austin Speak—in front of the coffee shop—but I have no doubt Leif was privy to every word she spoke on the road and caught her mention she was media. It’s too much. The web is already spinning in a direction I don’t want, and we’re not even a week in.
I hate lying—especially to my dad—but I will for her, her future, her happiness, and our relationship. For now.
“If it ended, then what’s the problem?”
“Seriously, Dad?”
Dad, of all people, should understand my need to protect any woman from walking STDs like LL. Just the memory of how turned on she got watching LL get head has my hackles rising. It’s not so much jealousy—though it’s a large part of it—but his reaction to her natural curiosity. I practically saw him licking his wolfish chops as he weighed her reception. I’ve never wanted to physically end another human life like I did when I saw LL’s intent to try and lure her into participating. Even from ten feet away, I could feel his intent.
Shaking those thoughts away, I kick what’s important to the forefront. My priority right now is that Natalie’s identity remains safe. I’m her secret, and sadly, she has to be mine. For the next three months, four tops, it’s doable, but it will be fucking tough with all the media attention starting to focus our way.
LL’s lips curve as he obviously reads my panic—despite my attempt to hide it—hammering another nail into his coffin.