Page 54 of Unleashed By Eden

“Well, I didn’t exactly have a choice, did I?” He finally tucks his phone into his pocket and uses his other hand to smooth a palm down his jacket-covered arm.

“No,” I agree. “But you got your revenge. Well played.” I dip my head.

He lifts an eyebrow, assessing me, waiting to see where I’m going with this.

I’ve spent most of my life going in hard. Threats, sharp words, and a promise of violence. I could go that route with him. Tell him to stop sabotaging my sex life or I’ll rearrange his teeth.

Instead, I take a breath and try something new. Honey instead of vinegar.

“I would,” I say, tone almost pleasant, “really appreciate it if you’d stop cock-blocking me, though.”

That gets his attention.

“I’m missing out on some epic dicking here,” I continue. “I’m one grumpy bitch when I don’t get a regular dose of vitamin D. Especially after finally getting a taste and then being shoved straight back into the shade. I’ve been missing this particular sun since I was a teenager.”

His lips twitch.

“You have my word.” I hold his gaze. “I won’t be a distraction to him. I won’t get in the way of the band. And I won’t pull a Yoko Ono. Truce?”

His eyes are pitch black; they’re almost reptilian in the way they watch you. Chris is annoyingly handsome, but he’s way too pretty for me. I like men who’ve lived a little, not ones who’d flinch at the idea of a scuff on their shoes.

He purses his lips as he studies me, and I feel my old strategy—anger, threats, blades—bubbling just under my skin, waiting for an excuse. My fingers itch for the Swiss Army knife in my boot.

He inhales and exhales heavily, rolling his eyes. “I’m sure I can arrange some gaps in his schedule,” he says finally. “Who am I to deny someone vitamin D? It keeps my skin flawless.” He points at his face, dead serious.

A slow smile climbs onto my mouth and refuses to leave.

“But consider yourself warned,” he adds. “You fuck this up, cause any drama, and I’m coming after you.”

“Deal.” I hold out my fist.

He bumps it without hesitation.

I open the door and hop into the SUV. As the car pulls away from the curb, I catch a glimpse of him in the side mirror, already back on his phone.

My smile stays.

Maybe you do catch more flies with honey than vinegar.

Apparently, twenty-seven isn’t too old to learn a new trick.

***

As soon as I’m through the door of my hotel room, I drop my backpack and suitcase and leave them where they land. Camera and phone come with me to the couch.

I dump both on the coffee table, flop down, and grab my phone first. Liam’s name sits at the top of my favorites. I hit it and put the call on speaker, then pick up my camera and wake it up, scrolling through the Lisbon shots on the tiny screen.

Stage lights. Sweat. Carter’s profile half in shadow. A fan in the front row crying, mascara streaked and beautiful. I really need to run another backup tonight—this is gold.

“Hey, how’s it going?” Liam answers on the third ring.

“Good. How’re Anne and the baby?”

“They’re doing well. Both of them,” he says, and I can hear his grin down the line.

“You got a name yet?” I ask while I zoom in on a shot of Xander’s guitar solo. They’ve certainly taken their sweet ass time announcing one.

“Indigo.”