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He was disappointed. And pissed at himself. Why did he give a fuck if she showed up or not? He sank onto one of the couches and grabbed a beer. This was so not his style. If Oakley wasn’t interested, then that was her prerogative. He didn’t chase women. They chased him. He could have two back at his place before he finished this beer if he put the barest amount of effort into it.
This whole thing had been ridiculous from the start anyway. He had no business messing around with some soccer-mom type—even if she did have an X-rated job at night. What the hell had he been thinking? He leaned back and rubbed his hands over his face.
“This seat taken?”
His eyelids snapped open. He’d know that voice anywhere. He lifted his head to find Oakley staring down at him, looking altogether uncomfortable … and altogether lickable. She’d donned a pink tank top, a white pair of shorts, and her hair was pulled high into a ponytail. The glisten of sweat and the rosy glow from a day outdoors clung to her. No sign of the buttoned-up work outfits or oversized T-shirts. Just lovely, luscious curves and sure-to-be-salty skin.
“I was saving it for you,” he said, forcing the flirt out past his suddenly dry throat and patting the couch cushion.
“Liar.” She sat on the chair catty-corner to the couch instead of taking the spot by him.
“I didn’t think you were coming. Where’s Reagan?”
“I sent her home with my brother. She had a great time, but I wasn’t sure if backstage would be kid-friendly.”
He shrugged. “Things will be pretty tame back here since it’s a daytime all-ages show. A few guys brought their kids. Any debauchery will happen in the buses or hotel rooms.”
She glanced toward the rows of tour buses parked behind the tent then back to him, her eyes briefly dipping down to his naked chest. “Is that where your harem awaits?”
He smirked. “Nah, I waited too long to gather them up. Most have already found their prince for the day.”
She frowned, something flashing in her eyes. “Right. If candidate A isn’t readily available, they’ll find candidate B.”
He rubbed the back of his damp hair, her comment landing squarely. Wasn’t that the truth. People came backstage to fuck a band member. As long as the guy was halfway decent looking and willing, in the end, it didn’t matter who they ended up with. The sentiment was the same from the other side, too, though. Pretty groupies were just as mix and match. “It is what it is.”
Her expression was wry but grim. “I’m aware.”
That’s when he realized he shouldn’t have invited her back here. Even if he wasn’t partaking of anything, it highlighted exactly how different their worlds were. Sometimes he forgot this wasn’t normal. He could see her opinion in the vague disgust on her face.
“So how’d you like the show?” he asked, pulling her focus away from the scene around them. He hated that he felt the urge to ask, probably sounded like he was fishing for compliments. But for some reason, her opinion mattered to him.
She leaned back in the chair, considering him. “Your guitarist is crazy good. Crazy good. And hot.”
He sniffed. “Is that why you’re back here? Want me to get his phone number for you?”
“That’d be great. Is he single?” she asked, all wide-eyed eagerness.
He gave her a stony look.
Her mouth tilted into a pleased smile. “You’re kind of cute when your ego is bruised.”
“Wonderful. You know, I don’t really need another sadist in my life. I’ve got enough of them.”
She leaned forward, bracing her forearms on her thighs, unintentionally giving him a nice view of her cleavage. “Oh, get over yourself. You know you’re a phenomenal drummer. Watching you is like falling into some voodoo spell. Arms and sweat and sticks flying. Even I had to fight the urge to throw my granny panties at you.”
He laughed. “Granny panties?”
She patted the waistband of her shorts. “I’m all about the comfort, my friend.”
A lightness filled his chest, his mood buoying. “So what you’re saying is, watching me drum turned you on and now you must have my sweaty, dumbly tattooed body or you’ll just die of lust.”
She gave him a droll look. “What I’m saying is that I came back here to be honest with you. You have a thing for honesty, so it’s only fair I give you some of mine.”
His eyebrows lifted. “All right.”
“Yes, I’m attracted to you. In truth, I couldn’t tell you what your guitarist looked like because I never took my eyes off of you.”
Pike leaned forward, his blood stirring.
