Uncomfortable from his stare and their screwing conversation, my eyes hit the floor. I pick up my bag and sling it on my shoulder. I’m more than ready to leave this room and these two sex maniacs.
“Sorry, Shan, no can do,” Tom utters.
What?
That lifts my gaze just in time to see a flicker of confusion cross over Shannon’s face.
“Okay…well, how about tomorrow?”
Tom shakes his head.
Did he just…turn her down? Did Tom Carter just refuse sex from a woman?
My God, am I seeing stars?
“Oh, you’re seeing someone.” She nods with certainty.
Is he?
That possibility doesn’t sit right with me.
Shannon doesn’t seem upset or embarrassed by his blow off. If it were me, I would be mortified. But then again, I’d never proposition a man for sex like she just did.
“Well, will wonders never cease?” She laughs. “Tom Carter has settled down!” She claps her hands together.
Tom doesn’t respond to her in any way. Actually, all he’s doing is staring straight at me.
Why is he looking at me like that?
And why does his eye keep twitching?
What the hell is wrong with him?
Shannon turns and follows his eyes to me. Her eyebrow lifts. She looks back at Tom and then to me again. She grins.
Why is she grinning? Am I missing something here?
“You’re seeing Lyla!” she exclaims. “Jesus, Tom! Why didn’t you say before?”
One Second Later—Backstage at a Club, Seattle
My body jerks in shock like I’ve been shot.
What?
What the hell?
“No!” I yell. “He’s not seeing me! I mean, he sees me here, of course, but he’s not seeing me, seeing me. We’re not sleeping together. Jesus Christ!” I drag my hand through my hair. “Tom and I are not together! The end!” I jab a finger in Tom’s direction. “Tell her.”
He says nothing. He’s completely blank. There’s nothing but a sly smile on his smug face that I’m more than ready to wipe off.
What the hell is he playing at?
Shannon looks between us again. “Okay…” she drawls out, a bemused look on her face. “I get it.” She winks at me and lowers her voice as she says, “Don’t you worry, Lyla. I’m awesome at keeping secrets.”
Secrets! What secrets? There are no secrets to keep!
Jesus, I feel like I’ve just stepped into a parallel universe.
“Um…there’s no secret to keep because nothing is going on between Tom and me.” My voice is rising an octave higher with each word I speak.
I throw an expectant look at Tom, desperate for him to say something, to tell her the truth. But he’s just standing there, smirking and not saying shit. So, basically, he’s as much use to me as a chocolate fire suit.
“Ugh!” I throw my hands up in the air, more angry than anything.
I realize that if I stay here a moment longer, I’m going to pummel Tom Carter to death.
“I have no clue what the hell is going on here! Especially with you!” I point at Tom. “I don’t have time for this bizarre crap, so I’ll leave you to your craziness. I’m going to go onstage and do my job. Nice to meet you, Shannon. Tom, I’ll hopefully see you…never!”
I stomp past them, and I’m out the door in a flash, my face burning like a furnace.
What the hell was that about? Why did Tom let Shannon think we were together?
Fucking Tom Carter!
Maybe he’s gone crazy. He has seemed different from the guy I met before. And he has gone all hobo with the hair and beard.
Men! See? This is why I stay clear of them. They’re all crazy bastards.
“So, we’re not together then?” Tom’s lush deep voice comes from behind me.
Shivers prickle the hairs on the nape of my neck at the baritone of his voice.
I ignore the sensation and spin around, my anger unleashed to rain hell all over him.
“What the hell are you talking about? Have you lost your goddamn mind?” I’m yelling at him, and he totally deserves it. “Why did you let Shannon think that you and I are together?”
His brow furrows. Being this close to him, I notice a little cute line that has appeared from his frown.
Cute? Jesus, Lyla. Get your head back in the game.
“I didn’t make Shannon think anything,” he replies evenly.
“Um…yes, you did. She assumed you were seeing someone, and you looked directly at me! I mean, what the hell, Tom? We don’t even like each other.”
His lips curl. “Well, that’s not entirely true.” His eyes give my body a lazy perusal.
I hate that my body lights up like the Fourth of fucking July under his heated gaze.
“I definitely like your tight, little body, that flat stomach just begging me to lick it, and your rack—fuck, Firecracker,” he says, his voice gruff, and so completely hot.
I can practically feel his words on my body, like he’s touching me with each one.
He steps closer. He’s a breath away from me, and now, I’m finding that I can’t seem to catch my own.
“And your face…gorgeous, really gorgeous.” His minty hot breath blows over my face. “I can honestly say, the only thing I don’t like about you…is your no-filter, ball-busting mouth!”