Loretta laughed and only stepped closer, her arms tight against my neck. “I’ll help.”
And then somehow, we were moving together. Her body tightened against mine and she rubbed her chest next to me, our two bodies swaying to the music even though we were not following any form of rhythm either. We matched the surrounding chaos in only that we did our own thing. I closed my eyes and allowed myself to feel every delicate place where our bodies touched.
I’d never danced before, not this way. By the time I reached New York after law school, the lure of going to loud clubs had lost its appeal. Now I cursed myself for what I missed except Loretta made it magical not the music.
The sounds coming from the stage were a steel brash screaming ball of anger. The lead singer was obviously trying to work through childhood trauma with a microphone. That or one hell of a breakup.
Loretta twisted around so her back was to my front and her body continued to caress mine. Her hands ran over my sides, mere inches from where I longed to have her touch. My cock grew hard, but both of us ignored it.
It became only the two of us and the music. She grabbed my hands and wrapped them around her middle, allowing me to hold on to her stomach, and then her movements slowed and we danced together as if they played a slow ballet on the stage. She laid her head against my shoulder and smiled at me. “See, you’ll get the hang of this, Reggie.”
Her words scattered across my skin like tiny pin pricks of sunshine. “Only because I have you,” I said and placed a soft sweet delicate kiss on the tip of her earlobe.
It was so casual I wasn’t sure she noticed what I’d done, but I pulled back, forcing myself to maintain our dancing position and not let things go any further.
I had a duty not only to Pierce but Loretta’s brother as well. She needed someone her own age who wasn’t stuffy with their suits and steaks. Someone who danced in the middle of a field with her without hesitation. Loretta deserved so much and none of it was me.
The band played on and we continue to dance until the set ended and then Loretta pulled away. She twisted her fingers in mine, and as the group of dancers dissipated and the air cooled once again, the two of us headed back to Main Street. Neither of us talked, as if our worlds hadn’t collided during the last two hours.
Before Loretta my world made sense, but as I let the blue-haired beauty lead me back to town, my world tipped on its axis. Something inside me recognized life would never be the same.
5
Twilight worked hard to settle into the evening, but our band members were just getting ready to start their first set on the outdoor stage. For being a no-name band out of Maine, Pierce secured them an amazing premium time slot. The city came alive as the evening hours grew closer and more bands filled the stages. I slacked off during the day and spent time with Loretta, but now we were both working.
She helped her brother and the members of his band prepare for their set and I ran into Beatrice Blackhouse, one of the best music agents in the country. I only had this knowledge because Roxie sent me a document with the top agents—as well as their pictures—who Pierce wanted to talk to while at the festival. I reviewed the file that morning, not hopeful I would find any of them.
Guess I had luck on my side.
I’d been leisurely making my way along the grass walk to find Loretta when I saw Bea standing in the same area yelling at one of her band members to get their shit together. At first I almost passed by, but the harsh way she demanded he fix his fucking life made me pause. Bea had a reputation for being… blunt and nonapologetic.
Without thinking I stopped to get a second look before approaching her. She eyed me skeptically for the first part of our conversation, but as time wore on, she thawed.
“I’ve been working with bands for the last ten years,” I lied trying to give myself more authority. “AndScorpion’s Houseis one of the best ones out there.”
It was an absolute horror that they used Loretta as their band manager. Not only that she didn’t have experience, but Loretta didn’t have the industry connectionsScorpion’s Houseneeded to succeed in the business. She’d gotten them gigs playing at The Loft in Pelican Bay and a few other local venues, but they’d only been welcomed at the music festival when Pierce stepped in.
It wasn’t Loretta’s lack of trying that hurt the band, but if they wanted to get somewhere big, they were going to need professional help.
“And you said Pierce Kensington has personally backed the band?” Bea asked. She leaned into me, getting closer to make room for someone tugging a large speaker in the grass walkway.
We both knew she didn’t have a clue who Pierce Kensington was, but I slipped his name into the conversation and hoped she’d decide he was someone important.
“He’s sponsoring them personally and Pierce has never been wrong about a band.” I left out the part on how this was the first band Pierce had put his money behind. Technically he had a 100 percent track record.
She didn’t need to waste her time with the minor details. Bea ran her tongue across her teeth and stared at me, trying to decide if I dared attempt to lie. “Trust me when I say that every band thinks they’re going to be the next superstars, but rarely is it true. It’s hard to be more than even a one-hit wonder these days.”
“These guys are it. You’d be a fool to overlook Pierce’s backing.” I was so close. She only needed one more little push over the edge and I’d have her. “In fact don’t tell him I said this, but he isn’t even looking for an acting manager for the band. He said he wants to go this one alone.”
Everyone had a fear of missing out and from the way Bea’s eyes gleamed from the stage lights I had her interest.
“I’ll give you my business card and when you get back to Maine, talk to the band. We can set up a meeting,” she said. Then she pulled out a small silver case from the back pocket of her tight-fitting jeans, flipped it open, and pulled out a business card, handing it over to me with a simple flick of her wrist.
The moment it touched my fingers I spotted my blue-haired temptress blazing her way our direction. “Who is this, darling?” She smiled, staring at the woman. Her words were sweet, but her fisted hands and aggressive posture told a different story. One where she ripped Bea’s head off and continued on her way without a second glance. The possessive nature was hot... and made me worry about my balls and how long she’d let them stay attached to my body.
Then she turned her attention my way. I might not have known Loretta long, but her expression definitely said she’d rather kill than kiss me. My grin widened and her angry growl caused my eyebrow to tick up. Her possessiveness turned me on to the point I wanted to push her into a tent and leave a sock on the ground while I took my time tracing her rose tattoo with my tongue.
I wrapped my arm around her back and pulled her close to me with my fingers tightly against her waist. She snuggled into my shoulder as the two of us played up the ruse.
