Clearing my throat, I slide my hands down his arms. “My friends may be under the impression you and I have… spent more time together than we have. In a romantic sense.”
He balks. “You told them we’re sleeping together?”
“I never said anything about sex,” I insist. The word hasn’t even come up.
He tilts his head to one side with a dubious look. “Has sex been implied?”
I grasp for a way to respond that doesn’t sound bad. “It hasn’t not been implied, but I can’t control what other people assume.” He curses softly and I hiss, “I didn’t mean for this to happen. It just sort of popped out in a moment of weakness and now I’m stuck.” I sigh quietly before asking, “Will you help me?”
He sneers as he puts more distance between us. “You’re a real piece of work, aren’t you?”
My spine snaps straight, and I pull my shoulders back. “I am a work of art, thank you very much. Cultivated with years of conscious practise and effort. I’ll thank you not to belittle my character based on one lapse of judgement.”
He blinks in surprise, then frowns as if he can’t work me out. Good. I’ve never aimed to be simple. “You’re going to owe me for this,” he says. “Big time.”
My heart leaps and I smile up at him. “Yes. Anything you want.”
With a curt nod, he grabs hold of my hand and threads our fingers together. “Don’t think I won’t collect.”
FIVE
______
NED
Toni’s slender fingers slide into place between mine and this is possibly the stupidest idea I’ve ever had. With every word out of his mouth, Toni has proved himself a liar and a fraud. Now he’s got me tangled up in his deception. Is this really the kind of man I want with me when I’m at my most susceptible?
I should have left the second he crooked his finger at me. I would have left if any other man tried it. But for Toni? My knees turned to jelly, and my body pulled towards his as surely as if he’d lassoed me by the throat. For whatever reason, this man has the power to bend me to his will. That’s exactly what I need for the festival weekend, and he’s just handed me the leverage to get it.
Tugging Toni behind me, I slide into the booth where his friends are waiting. The dark-haired one is frowning, while the blond with the freckles gapes at me, all wide eyes and actual bated breath. I should probably introduce myself before he passes out. “Hey, I’m Ned.” I flash him a broad smile. “You must be Rodney.”
He slaps a hand over his chest. “Yes. I’m Rodney.” Reaching out over the table, he bats his lashes at me. “I’m Toni’s best friend. It’s lovely to meet you.”
“Likewise,” I say with a nod.
We shake. Then, shake a little more. I glance down at our joined hands, my eyebrows lifting. He lets go with a flustered laugh.
The man beside him glares pointedly in his direction before holding out his own hand. “I’m Leif.”
Rodney startles, his face flushing. “I’m so sorry. Ned, this is my fiancé.”
Leif’s handshake is brief and perfunctory. “Thank you for the tickets,” he says. “We enjoyed the concert.”
“Oh, yes.” Rodney’s hands get familiar with his fiancé’s bicep while his gaze remains fixed on me. “It was very exciting.”
“I’m glad you had a good time.” Holding back an amused smirk, I glance at Toni who’s gone quiet beside me. “What about you?” I ask. “Did you have fun?”
“Yes,” he admits with a wry smile. “Your status as a rock god has been confirmed.”
“Phew.” I wipe the back of one hand over my forehead. “Good to know.”
“I expected you to be wearing a cap or something,” Rodney says, drawing my attention back to him. “To hide your identity. Aren’t you worried about being mobbed?” He looks around, as though he expects hordes of fans to suddenly descend upon the table.
I shake my head. “We’re not well known enough for that kind of thing.”
“But the tickets sold out in like two days, didn’t they?” he asks. “Soon you’ll have to start booking larger venues.”
“Not bloody likely,” I mutter under my breath. At the surprised looks I receive, my smile tightens. “I prefer smaller venues. Places where I get to see the audience dancing, singing along.” My gaze shifts back to Toni. “I like to appreciate the people who appreciate us.”
