Page 25 of Before the Encore

“Excellent.” A polished smile crossed Nikita’s lips. “So, Madison, are you single?”

“Why?” Madison asked, her tone suggestive. “Are you interested?”

Oh, sweet Jesus. Bonnie held her breath.

Nikita let out a soft laugh. “I think you’re too young for me.”

Madison shrugged. “Age is just a number.”

Bonnie knocked her knee into Madison’s, hoping she’d take the hint to shut up. Of course, her default response would be to flirt out of trouble. Carmen would have a stroke.

“Lipstick Fever are known for your heavy guitar riffs and broody vocals.” Nikita sat a little straighter, her skirt clinging to her thigh. “Would you say you’re a fan of pop music?”

“I like all kinds of music.”

“Including Bonnie’s?” Nikita pressed.

Bonnie’s fingers twitched in her lap.

But Madison didn’t falter. “Like I said, I like all kinds of music.”

“So, on that retro iPod of yours…” Nikita nodded to the silver device constantly clipped to Madison’s belt. “I’d find Bonnie’s albums, yes? And why do you carry that with you?”

Madison’s words had bite. “It’s sentimental.”

Bonnie glanced at her, wanting to offer some support for Nikita’s line of questioning, even though, she too had been curious about the presence of the iPod. She pressed her thigh into Madison’s, denim scraping her bare skin, hoping the gesture would be enough.

Nikita caught the movement and reached for her tablet on the glass table. A cunning smile pulled at her red-lipstick mouth. It slipped like a warning down Bonnie’s spine.

Oh god. What now?

“Interesting.” Nikita tapped at the screen with her talons before glancing up with barely contained smugness. She read from her tablet:

“Anyone else bored? Heard one pop song, heard them all. Especially where Bonnie Bloom is concerned. Yawn.”

The comment heated her neck, and she bit the inside of her cheek. Fuck. Of course, Nikita dug up the archives to find Madison’s old tweet about the Grammys. They’d been rumbled before they’d barely begun. Her pulse jumped in her neck, headlines flashing before her eyes.

‘BONNIE BLOOM EXPOSED’

‘BLOOMIN’ JOKE OF A POP STAR’

“It doesn’t sound like you’re a fan of Bonnie there, Madison,” Nikita continued, eyes glinting. “In fact, it sounds quite the opposite.”

Bonnie’s stomach dropped, nausea crawling up her throat. She glanced at her publicist, the feeling intensifying at the look of horror on Carmen’s face too. Bonnie should have mentioned this. She should’ve said something, but damn it, pride had her in a chokehold. Admitting she’d seen the post embarrassed her, but at least they would have had been prepared. Now it all hinged on Madison and her unpredictable mouth.

I’m doomed.

“Oh, that?” Madison laughed, far too loud for the room. Bonnie failed to hide the surprise on her face. “That’s just foreplay.”

“Foreplay?” Nikita’s sharp eyebrows raised too. “What do you mean?”

“Come on, Nikita. A lovely woman such as yourself must be familiar with the concept.” Madison grinned. “And as we already told you, we’re good friends, enjoying spending time together.”

Nikita straightened, mouth open.

Thankfully, Bonnie’s publicist stepped in, clapping her hands. “Right, I think that’s enough for today. Time to wrap it up.”

Nikita clenched her jaw but didn’t argue. Finally, Bonnie released a breath, sharing a relieved glance with Carmen. Who knew Madison could step up and deliver?