Page 10 of Dirty Fantasy

They’d played and sung together the whole time. He hadn’t said another word about the whole publicity stunt relationship. Nothing about Ronnie. Nothing about … any of it.

That deep, smooth, amazing voice of his had just sung the most beautiful love song to her over and over again as he taught it to her. He’d stared into her eyes while he did it.

Like he meant those lyrics he had written.

And Tana knew she was well and truly fucked.

“So, want me to tell Jimmy it’s off?”

“When did you write that song?” she finally asked him.

Mick smiled that devastating trademark smile of his. “Right after your interview. I wrote it through your whole performance. It was done in less than ten minutes. Second-fastest song of my life. My lips to God’s ears, that’s the truth.”

“Why?” she whispered.

“I wrote it to sing with you.”

The lyrics were burned into her mind.

You weren’t my first. But you’ll be my last.

I’ve been around. I’ve run fast.

But with you, girl, I want slow now.

Forever in your arms won’t be long enough.

But I’ll try, girl. Won’t make you cry, girl.

You’ll be forever in my arms, and I won’t lie, girl.

It’s our time, girl.

Forever won’t be long enough, but we’ll try, girl.

“Because of one thing I said in a late-night TV interview?”

“Because I saw what I needed to see, and God is writing the rest of this story as we speak.” He laid his beautiful guitar in its case. “So, you in or you out?”

Tana dropped her head back against the plush quilted leather couch that was more comfortable than any bed she’d ever slept on.

“In for what? Help me understand what the fuck is going on here, Mick. My head is spinning. My life … I don’t recognize it anymore. It’s like this is all happening to someone else.”

She slumped down and stared up at the shiny wood ceiling above her.

The couch depressed beside her.

“Hey. Look at me.”

Tana’s gaze found his stunning baby blues as they looked down at her.

“I get what you’re going through. More than damn near anyone else in the world does. Okay? It happens like that. One day, you’re living the life you’ve always known. And then a moment later, you’re on a rocket-ship ride, living your dreams as they come true right in front of your face.”

“Yeah.”

“I get you, Tana. I get your life. I get the parts that still feel scary and foreign. You’re living in a world I know well. I can help you navigate this—even protect you and keep you on a path to avoid the traps and the detours—but only if you let me.”

“By fake dating you.” It wasn’t a question.