Part 11 (1/2)
Kevan made a gagging noise and laughed. ”Does that ever work?”
”Every time.” He looked directly at her with his chocolate-colored eyes. His rock-star persona dropped again as his face filled with genuine sincerity. ”Promise you'll be careful.”
”I promise.” She winked and smiled, attempting her sa.s.siest grin. ”I promise you don't need to worry about me getting my heart broken again. Especially by some bossy, know-it-all suit. Now let's get on the road to the exciting metropolis of...where are we going next?”
He threw his arm around her and pulled her toward the door. ”Medford, baby, we're going to Medford.”
Chapter 11.
Back in the RV, Mason's blood still boiled. The surprise visit from his vice president had led to a nasty confrontation. He'd promised Kevan a fair fight. How was that possible if Steve Revell was checking up on him? f.u.c.king board of nosy f.u.c.king directors.
And where the f.u.c.k is Kevan anyway? Probably still with Jax.
Mason made a half-a.s.sed attempt to read his emails, but his mind kept drifting back to Revell and the show tonight, then back to Kevan. He should go find her and convince her to jump back into bed with him. The need to drive out his anger and aggression was all consuming. Sitting back, he ran a hand over the top of his head. No, he should do the honorable thing and stick to their hands-off agreement. And not drag her into his dark anger.
Honor blows. Was his frustration over Steve's surprise visit or something else? Someone else?
In his fractious state, he wondered if she had ever spent a night or two in Jax's arms. Not that it was his business, but the thought of her with him, or with any other man, made his stomach turn and his brain hurt.
This must be what jealousy feels like. And, yeah, jealousy sucks too.
He needed to f.u.c.k Kevan Landry again. There was no other way he could justify his behavior. He was p.i.s.sed about work and the board interfering with his deal. But more than that, he craved Kevan with an insatiable hunger. Despite everything going on with Manix and GEM, all he could think about was his primary goal that night: Kevan.
His whole life had been a series of identifying and achieving goals. He discovered something he wanted, determined the value, and then devised a plan to get it. And he had always succeeded. Until now. Now everything was different. When the h.e.l.l had he ever waited for anything? Work. Women. Never.
Frankly, he was already tired of waiting for the band and even more exhausted by his own impatience and constant desire for that d.a.m.n woman. Watching the way she affected other men only made the sting sharper. Silly as it sounded, it was like she walked around with a spotlight s.h.i.+ning over her head. He either needed to move the f.u.c.k on or get her back into his bed. And soon.
While musing on his l.u.s.t for the brunette with the blue streaks, a message with an earlier time stamp caught his attention: Mason, The chairman requested I notify you that he has tasked Steve Revell to act as President of Talent Development. He is overseeing your current responsibilities at the corporate office and abroad while you pursue your current project. In that capacity, he has taken an interest in your activities. He has made arrangements to attend your event this evening and suggests you schedule time to meet with him and formulate your plan for acquiring the contract for Manix Curse.
Best regards, Simone Talley Executive a.s.sistant to Steve Revell So his former VP had been promoted to president of the artist division and was somehow Mason's boss now? What the f.u.c.k was going on? Mason wished he'd read the email before that blowhard had shown up at the club and tried to snow Joe with his smarmy bulls.h.i.+t. He hoped he'd chased him off for good, but when he'd threatened to fire him for interfering with his deal, Revell had laughed. Dared him to give the chairman a call. Frankly, the last thing he needed was Revell's interference. Not with Dan, the h.e.l.lfire event rep, coming to see Manix play the next night in Medford. So Mason had sent him on his way with a threat of censure.
The squeak of the motor home door got his attention, and the real source of his dis...o...b..bulation walked onto the RV and into the kitchenette.
”Ready to go?” she asked with an upbeat lilt to her voice. Was that courtesy of Jax? One more a.s.shole's teeth to kick in.
”Go?”
”Leave for Medford. Ben says any time.”
”Could you go up front and let him know we're ready?”
When she returned, Kevan filled a gla.s.s with water before sitting across from him.
”I'm sorry,” they both started at the same time. Then she laughed, her voice as shaky as the hand gripping her gla.s.s.
He smiled. ”Ladies first.”
”Look, I got a little carried away.” She ran her purple-tipped finger around the top of the gla.s.s, watching like it was the most fascinating thing in the world. ”The music gets me amped up, and I forget how to behave sometimes. It won't happen again.”
He should be relieved, really. Getting involved with her while they were on the road made everything much more complicated. He didn't like complicated. Remember? He liked simple, honest, professional. Or, boring, as Kevan would call it.
”Promise?” he teased.
”Of course,” she snapped. ”I'm sure I can manage to keep my hands off you.”
”Whatever you say,” he said, looking back at his computer screen, closing out GEM's email server. He didn't need Kevan learning his bosses had sent his protege to undermine his progress. No telling how she'd take the news.
”What the h.e.l.l does that mean?” Her glare made him want to smooth the lines on her forehead.
With his mouth.
”It means we made a deal, and I'll keep to it. Unless...”
”Unless what?” She scrunched up her nose and tilted her head.
”Unless, maybe you'd like to break that part of the deal.” He held her gaze, his tone even, not wanting to give away his plan.
”What part? I'm not giving up on my band.” Her face flushed with the telltale sign of a woman ready to do battle. Yeah. He wasn't going there, today. The RV was too small, and maybe her aim had gotten better.
”I just meant...oh, never mind.”
”What? Say it.” Her voice was husky.
”I thought maybe...” He started praying the warmth he felt creeping up his neck didn't show as a blush. Because he didn't blush. Not ever.
”What?” She got up and rinsed her gla.s.s in the sink. As she leaned her fine a.s.s against the counter, the bus stopped short, sending her into Mason's arms with a grunt.
”I got you, darlin'.”
She looked up into his eyes, her face so serious, and said, ”This time you do, don't you?”
He nodded and cleared his throat. ”I'm starting to get used to you landing on me.”
Kevan's lush body perched on his lap like it was custom-made to fit him. On impulse, he almost asked her to dinner on their first day off. Maybe it was best not to.
”I bet you are,” she said. G.o.d, the feel of her in his arms felt so f.u.c.king right as images of their bodies entwined flashed through his mind. He almost moaned when she looked away and struggled back to her feet, her a.s.s wriggling right over his suddenly attentive c.o.c.k. f.u.c.king h.e.l.l.
When she sighed and yawned, Mason reluctantly allowed her out of his hold.
”I need to get to ready for bed.”
Minutes later, she emerged from the small bathroom wearing a faded, holey Reverend Horton Heat T-s.h.i.+rt and sweats cut off at the knees. She'd wrapped her hair up in a knotted handkerchief and removed all her makeup. With the protective layer of paint gone, her skin glowed. Her freckled face looked young and sweet.
He couldn't win. She had stunned him in her tight pinup dresses, but standing there without makeup, she devastated him in her sweats and grubby T-s.h.i.+rt. At that moment, he wanted nothing more than to strip her of her cute pajamas and fill her with his c.o.c.k, brand her with his come, show her what she was doing to him.
Instead, Kevan moved toward the side bunk and said quietly, ”Good night, Mason.” Then she pulled aside the bunk's curtain and ducked inside.