Love Resolution

Marcus took another swig of his Coke, wishing it was Crown instead. A whole lot of Crown.

Something to take the edge off.

Something to help him forget.

It had been a near thing on the plane today. He’d been about a heartbeat away from taking what she had offered. He no longer trusted himself to do the right thing where she was concerned. He had no freaking willpower when it came to her. He was going to have to do something drastic to get her to move on with her life. Something to make her hate him.

His gaze flicked over to her again. He’d been pathetic, stalking her all night with his eyes.

It didn’t help that she looked so devastatingly beautiful.

She was wearing some clingy thing that gathered around her wrists and was tied at the chest. His fingers itched to loosen the ribbon so he could watch the black and white dress slip off her shoulders and puddle to the floor. No doubt underneath there’d be some sexy lingerie. Maybe he’d even talk her into keeping those high heels on when…

Shit.

He pulled the collar of his t-shirt away from his hot neck. He barely refrained from audibly growling at the jackals salivating all over her, including that effing Tempest guitarist. His hands tightened on the glass tumbler in his hand. He and that guy had some unfinished business that needed to be resolved. He took a step toward him, anticipating an outlet for the tension coiled inside him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Avery throw her arms around some handsome Latino guy he didn’t recognize. The impeccably groomed man ran a familiar hand through Avery’s hair and down her arm before he kissed her hand.

Who the hell was this?

“Benito!” Trevor exclaimed. “I didn’t think you were going to make it.”

Oh, so this was the guy responsible for Avery’s gender bending transformation. She’d mentioned him before, but she’d never said anything about how good looking or touchy feely he was. His eyes narrowed.

“Hey, little brother,” Dwight said, moving to stand close beside him. He followed the direction of Marcus’ gaze. “Who’s that guy with Avery?”

“Ricardo Benito,” he muttered.

“The celebrity stylist?”

“Apparently,” he bit out, feeling pissed as he watched Benito flirt with her.

“They look pretty cozy.”

His sentiments exactly. Marcus closed his eyes, shuttering his emotions from view. When he opened them Dwight was still there. “Do you need something bro, or are you just hanging around to torment me?”

“Marcus, it’s obvious you’re still in love with her.”

Marcus thought it pointless to deny it.

“So why don’t you try to work things out with her?”

“There’s nothing to work out.”

“Doesn’t appear that way to me.”

“Leave it, Dwight,” Marcus growled. “Things don’t always end up the way we want them to.”

“Strange talk coming from a control freak like you.” Dwight’s brows rose. “Haven’t you always just taken what you wanted?”

Marcus glared at him.

“I don’t understand you, little brother. Why do you torture yourself? It seems like you want to be miserable. Actually I’m too tired to argue with you tonight. I need to call Lisa before I turn in.” He glanced at Avery and then back at Marcus. He shook his head as he walked off muttering, “You know where to find me if you need me.”

Absently, Marcus nodded, searching the room for Avery. Locating her again, he moved in closer, not happy to see Jackson had joined her now. Maybe he couldn’t have her, but he definitely didn’t want that douche to be his replacement.

“Hey, Marcus. Old buddy.” A tall, slim man with shaggy blond hair and a crooked nose came up, slapped him on the back and unwittingly blocked his view of Avery. “Long time no see. How the heck are you?” His brow rose curiously as Marcus strained to see around him.

“Owen,” Marcus replied distractedly. “How are you?”

“Good. Just got back from Hawaii. You remember Wendy Wilcox don’t you?” Owen drew a statuesque tanned blonde into view.

“Hello, Marcus,” she purred, her lips lingering an uncomfortably long time on his cheek. Oh, yeah. He remembered her. Remembered that they had nothing in common except what they had shared in the bedroom.

“Wendy,” Marcus returned and took a step back, totally disinterested in what she was selling. A quick glance at Avery revealed that her attention was riveted in their direction. Her brows were lowered and her posture stiff.

“Avery,” Marcus heard Jackson say as he tugged on her arm.

She blinked and her attention shifted back to her small entourage.

And that’s when Marcus knew exactly what he would have to do. It would hurt her temporarily, but after he did it, they would be done. Permanently. There would be no more pleas from her to get back together.

And he knew just the right woman for the job.

Adrienne Tate.

Groupie extraordinaire.

The only thing Adrienne loved more than sleeping with someone famous was telling everyone else about it.

“Wendy tells me you guys dated back when you lived out here in LA,” Owen mentioned.

“Dating? Is that what you called it?” Marcus commented drily. “I’d use a different word,” he concluded, leaving Owen perplexed and Wendy smirking before making his way toward Avery.

He saw Avery’s chin dip. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Will you all please excuse me? I need to… I need to…” Words seemed to fail her as she hurried away.

“Avery,” Marcus called out and caught her by the elbow before she made it out the door.

“What do you want?” she hissed under her breath, tugging her arm free.

“You were right. Earlier on the plane. We do need to sit down. Hash this out.”

Her expression softened.

“There are things that need to be cleared up. Let’s get together tomorrow in San Diego.”

“What time?” she asked after a short pause.

“You have the Opus thing in the morning?”

“Yes.”

“Well, unfortunately I’ve got shit booked up through the afternoon. Why don’t we meet after the concert? My room. So we can talk privately.”

“Alright,” she agreed.

The hope that he saw blossom in her eyes drove a spike of dread straight through his heart.