Page 55 of Animal Beats

“Of course.” She puts her cell on the table. “I already post random pictures of UC on your socials. I have been thinking of making Luke a proposal for a photo journal of UC on tour. I bet your fans would eat it up.”

I look directly into her eyes. “I’m sure we’d pay you well for this service.”

She takes in my suggestion and the next thing I know, she’s hugging me. Perhaps tighter than her sister did. “You like my idea?”

“I think it’s what UC has been missing.”

“Thank you!” She kisses my lips.

Not one to let this opportunity slip by, I wrap my arms around her and tug her tight into my body. Her closed-lip kiss turns into an open-mouth frenzy, where I want nothing more than to climb inside her and soothe all her hurts.

The loss of her parents.

The dependence of her sister.

The toll all this has taken on her.

The need to let her live—really live—hits me out of nowhere. Hayden deserves to fly free, because I’m sure she’ll leave a beautiful mark on society. Whether it be PR or photography—or something else altogether—she’ll shine.

No one has ever affected me like Hayden. All I want to do is bottle her up and carry her with me forever.

With a touch on the side of her boob, our kiss explodes.

Hayden breaks away. “Wait!”

16

HAYDEN

The feelings rushing through my body are overwhelming. I catch my breath and try to put them in order, my last demand hovering above us like a black cloud.

“Talk to me.” Río says, his lips on my ear.

I inhale, a musky cedarwood lingering in my nose. Not without regret, I separate our bodies. “I’m not a silly groupie, wanting to sleep with any rock star.”

“Thank God.” He moves closer.

My hand shoots out to his pecs and stops him. Beneath my fingers, though, his heart beats faster than the fake drums he put together for Mila. “I’m not looking for sympathy.”

“Sympathy?” His mouth sounds around the word. “Hayden, if anything, you’ve got it all ass-backwards. You’re rich with the only thing that matters.” He addresses me head-on. “Love.”

“Love can’t pay the rent or tuition.”

“Money can’t buy love.”

Okay. He has a point. This gorgeous, hardworking, misunderstood man has shown how much he wants to be with me. He was wonderful with Mila. Mom’s words come back to me: Follow your heart, and everything else will sort itself out.

Does my heart want to be with Río?

Given all I’ve learned about him, I see how he isn’t the entitled drummer I believed him to be. Río’s much more complicated. He earned his money playing drums and can spend it however he likes. But having this freedom does not mean he is surrounded by the love I have in my life. I can’t imagine living without Mila, who brings me unconditional joy. Río’s had none of that. Except for his bandmates.

This isn’t in my job description. I shove thoughts about working for UC to the side. I need to show him what money can’t buy. “You’re right.”

His lips quirk. “Aren’t I always?”

He leans in and I don’t stop him. Our mouths greet one another like old friends—or new ones excited to get acquainted. This time, my tongue reaches out to his first, earning an elongated moan from him.

This sexy sound makes my brain short-circuit.