Problems? What problems?Ryker was eager to ask, not really clear on how T fit into Angel Fire’s tour plans.
Whatever Forest was about to say was cut off by a high-pitched female squeal shooting through the hangar. “Tia!”
T turned toward the sound, and her hands flew to her cheeks. “Skye? Oh my God, you did come.” T’s comment placed a frown on Forest’s face, confusing Ryker.
T met the lithe beauty, who separated from an escort consisting of the medical group commander and chief. Angel Fire was a band who came with more than a little bit of clout, it seemed. All the base commanders had come out to support them.
He felt more than a little overwhelmed, surrounded not only by his favorite band, but also the big brass of the medical operations command. He grew silent as the brunette jogged up to greet T. The women hugged and squealed and jumped up and down. It was the first time he’d seen T act in such a feminine manner. The women looked like sorority girls reuniting and were completely oblivious to the score of men who watched in enraptured silence.
“You,” Forest said with a huff, “were supposed to be a surprise for Tia.”
“I,” Skye said firmly, “know how much Tia hates surprises.” She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Did you really think I wouldn’t email her?”
Forest turned the gravity of his gaze on T. “You knew?”
She flapped a hand at him. “Of course I did, but you were having too much fun, thinking you had something on me.”
T pulled Skye to the side, and the rest of their conversation was lost to Ryker and the others. The women put their heads together and caught up on each other’s lives. After a moment, Skye pulled T over to the medical group commander where she made introductions.
Ryker turned his attention back to Ash, whose brows pinched together, a brooding expression filling his face.
Forest jabbed Ash in the ribs. “If you think you can stop her, go ahead and try, but with Tia doing what she does, you’re going to be hard-pressed to say no to Skye.”
Ash frowned. “Saying no to Skye is impossible. Once she has it in her mind to do something, she’s unstoppable. I just wish you didn’t encourage her.”
“Lover boy,” Forest said, “I am well aware of what Skye is capable of. She needs no encouragement. You forget, I grew up with her.”
“I know.” With a deep sigh, Ash turned his attention back to Ryker. “So, you up for playing with us?”
“I am,” Ryker said, surprised he sounded so calm. Thank fuck he hadn’t stammered like a damn fool.
Like Ash, his attention followed the path of the women. T’s hungry perusal of the band members hadn’t escaped his attention. She was smart, and as stupid as her getting-laid plan was, he realized she’d already thought and decided on a path that would limit her risk.
There was no way he would let her sleep with any of the airmen on base. Add Angel Fire into the mix, and he was in full-on protect mode. She’d regret that decision for the rest of her life, and sleeping with a man she didn’t care about wasn’t going to ease the heartache of her breakup with douche-bag Scott.
He’d protected her from bullets and sheltered her with his body. This would be no different.
Ash rocked back on his heels. “We’d love to have you play with us.”
He glanced at Bent. “Thanks. I’d be honored to stand with you for even one song.”
Bent gave a shake of his head. “Hey, dude, you don’t get it. It’s our honor to share the stage with you.” When Ryker arched a brow, Bent asserted his statement. “I’m living my dream, but it’s because of people like you that I get that chance at all. Now, what do you say we take some guitars and jam for a bit?”
“I don’t have a guitar of my own.”
Forest laughed loud and hard. “Seriously, lover boy? We travel with extras. As hard as Bent is with his gear, I’ve got twenty bass guitars sitting in crates.”
“I’m not that hard on them,” Bent said with a growl.
“You don’t see the receipts,” Forest countered.
“I don’t have to see the receipts,” Bent said. “That’s why we have you.”
Ash rubbed his neck, his hand gliding over the spiderweb tattoo with the dragon clutching a black bird. “Hey, guys, I’ll catch you later.” He took off after T and Skye, jogging to catch up, as the girls exited the hangar with the medical group commander.
TEN
The Ritz
