I’m so lost in thought, absently wiping my face with the towel someone handed me, that I don’t see the woman until she’s right in front of me.
“Ross?! It’s really you!” The attractive blond looks familiar but I don’t have time to think about her name because she throws her arms around me and presses her lips to mine.
Chapter Fifteen
Wynter
The shot of white-hot jealousy that courses through my veins in that moment is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced before. It takes every iota of strength I possess not to throw myself at her, tear her away from Ross, and pound the living crap out of her.
Holy shit, who am I?
I shake my head, trying to clear it, even though my heart is racing and I feel like throwing up.
To his credit, Ross steps away from the woman without hesitation, turning his face. “What the hell?” he demands.
She smirks. “Don’t tell me you haven’t been waiting for that for twenty years!”
“Twenty…” He pauses and then recognition seems to dawn. “Patricia Santori. Jesus fucking Christ. Two decades and nothing changes.”
“Everything changes,” she says, laughing. “You’re single now.”
His brows inch up. “No, actually, I’m not.”
“Seriously?” She throws up her hands. “You come out of hiding, and five minutes later you’re taken?”
“I was never in hiding, but I was taken before this.”
That’s a lie, but I’m certainly not going to point that out.
“That’s not what the tabloids are saying.”
“The tabloids?” he scowls. “I’m helping out while Kingston has laryngitis. It’s literally been twenty-four hours.”
“You put on quite the show last night.” She moves closer to him. “And this time, I’m not letting you out of my sight until I get my shot.”
Ross looks over at Pete. “Pete, can you escort Ms. Santori out and rescind her backstage access?”
“Oh, don’t be that way!” Patricia looks surprised. “I can help your career.”
“I don’t need help,” he says, looking around. “In case you haven’t noticed, I have Onyx Knight backing me.”
“They’re just using you until Kingston is better—then they’ll kick you to the curb.”
Obviously, she isn’t aware that Ross works for them.
“Pete, get her out of here.” Ross walks away and comes toward me apologetically. “Sorry about that, babe.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me against his side.
“It’s okay. Though I have to admit, I had a moment of jealous rage.”
He chuckles. “I don’t blame you. I’d be pissed if some random guy walked up and kissed you.”
“You’re the only guy I want kissing me.”
“And you’re the only lady I want kissing me.”
We smile at each other before we head to the dressing room. He guzzles a bottle of water while listening to the chatter on one of the walkie-talkies. I think it’s charming and impressive that even though he’s not working as the band’s tour manager now, he still stays on top of everything as much as he can. It shows his level of commitment to the band as well as an admirable work ethic.
“You already have a groupie!” Z says as he joins us in the dressing room. “Who was she? I didn’t recognize her.”
