Page 8 of Dirty Fantasy

Tana’s throat was bone-dry. How did this happen? And so damn fast?

Bill snapped his fingers in her face. “Earth to Tana. Guitar. Now. Jimmy’s riding on here with me so we can formalize the deal and sign it up.”

“Wha-what?”

“Tana. Fucking go. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, kid. Don’t waste it.”

Tana felt her body move, but she didn’t feel like she was in charge of it.

Alone with Mick? Sing a duet with Mick?

She remembered what he had said to her last night.

“I don’t see a ring on your finger, Tana Zephyr. Which means, as far as I’m concerned, you’re fair game.”

Tana sucked in a breath.

What in the world is that man up to? A fake relationship? For the whole tour? No. This cannot be real. Can it?

And yet Tana found herself carrying her guitar, Loretta Lynn, off the bus and passing Mick’s manager, Jimmy, as he jogged toward her.

“You won’t regret this, Tana. And who knows? You might even enjoy it.”

She wanted to say something like, Are you both insane?

But instead, she nodded and walked toward the open bus door ahead of her.

Managers. She’d only had one for all of a few months, and she wasn’t sold on the concept.

She climbed on the other bus and said a quick, “Hey,” to the driver, who smiled back.

She half expected there to be a dozen scantily clad women on board, but instead, there was just Mick in what was the nicest tour bus she’d ever seen.

“Damn.”

“You like it?” Mick asked from his giant leather chair.

The interior was smoky black wood with a copper trim, done up with rich brown leather.

“Fancy digs, Romeo.”

“Romeo?” he asked.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing? Trying to corral me into a corner with this fake relationship BS?”

The glimmer grew in his piercing blue eyes. “If you think it’s BS, why’d you say yes?”

“I didn’t. Not really. My manager called yours, saying I did when I was just saying, ‘Okay,’ as in, Okay, the man’s obviously fucking crazy.”

Mick’s expression was unreadable. “You backing out then? No duet?”

“I have a boyfriend. I told you.”

“And why didn’t he put a ring on your finger before sending you off on tour if he was hoping to keep you? He stupid?”

“No, just … not ready to settle down and get married yet.”

“Well, I am.”