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Pike put his hand up, halting any more questions. “Hey, guys, why don’t we get going? We were just wrapping up, and Oakley’s got this covered.”
But right at that moment the music ended and Reagan’s voice rang through the speakers. “Mr. Pike, how was that?”
Oakley forced her expression into neutrality, all the safety guards she’d put in place crashing around her.
Pike hit a button and leaned over a microphone. “Beautiful, sweetheart. I think we got it on the first take. Why don’t y’all start getting your stuff together? We can finish this up tomorrow.”
Liam spun around at that as if noticing there were children in the other room for the first time. He narrowed his eyes at the scene. “That was a kid singing?”
Pike stepped in front of the window, subtly blocking the view of Rae. His jaw twitched. “Yeah, just a little charity project thing.”
Liam peered through the window with far too much scrutiny. “That girl’s got a voice on her. She have an agent?”
Murder flashed across through Pike’s eyes, and she got the feeling he was about to pounce on the guy.
Oakley surged forward at that. “Hey, Pike, I’m going to get them gathered up. I can lock up behind you.”
Liam put a hand on her arm as she tried to pass. “Hey, you should come with us. We can catch up.”
His grip was too firm, too familiar. She pasted on a smile. “Sorry, I’ve got a prior commitment.”
“I’ll be in town for a few days.”
“All booked up, I’m afraid.” She tugged her arm free and headed toward the door.
But Pike caught her hand on the way and guided her to him. He leaned down and kissed her, brief but not chaste. “I’ll call you later, baby. Keys are in my office for you to lock up.”
The move startled her at first, but then she realized what he was doing. He was trying to help. Trying to let Liam know in no uncertain terms that she was not available. When she caught sight of Liam’s face, his eyes were calculating, sizing things up, but his pleasant smile was stiffly in place.
Oakley gave Pike’s hand a quick thank-you squeeze. “Looking forward to it.”
Then she hurried into the other room, her only mission to get her daughter as far away from the man in the other room as possible. But her hands didn’t stop shaking until she saw the men leave and the door shut behind them.
Not until she was on the bus back to Bluebonnet did she let herself breathe a little.
A few minutes later her phone buzzed with a text from Pike.
Pike: U ok?
No. Not at all.
Oakley: Yes
Pike: I’m so sorry. I had no idea it was him.
Oakley: How could u?
Pike: I want to knock his fucking teeth in. The way he put his hands on you …
Oakley: Don’t mess up your chance for the tour. He’s an asshole but not worth giving up Darkfall’s spot. Just do what you need to do and get him the hell out of town.
Pike: Let me come over tonight after I’m done with this.
She was so tempted to say yes. She knew her mind would be whirling all night, but they were going to see each other tomorrow night and Rae was home.
Oakley: School night. Let’s just get together like planned tomorrow.
There was a long pause.
