Page 8 of The Publicity Stunt

Screams and cheers vibrate in Kace's ears as the band slowly starts playing a few low notes. Her drummer hits the snare with quick, quiet taps, and the anticipation builds.

Bri walks closer to the edge of the stage, her hips swaying with the beat. "Many people have talked about the songs that should've been singles but never were. And not all of them get played at concerts because we only have so much time to play. With this reorg of the set list, it opens up time to play some of those fan favorites. Would you like to hear them performed live for the first time?"

Everyone loses their goddamned minds, and the band plays a loud, almost heavy metal beat. The first few songs were more pop-heavy, and one had a touch of country. Now, she's playing a rock style song. She has range. A range not many people have, and he almost laughs when she sings about setting someone's pickup on fire. Somehow, she doesn’t look like the type capable of it.

Even if Kace had come with Sasha tonight, he wouldn't have been able to propose to her favorite song because Bri Waters isn't playing any love songs. What are the odds of that?

Suddenly, flashes in his face blind him and Brett, and they both look at each other in confusion. A few people around them seem to notice who they are, and they freak out. Neither expected seeing two NHL players at a concert would generate this much attention.

Their security teams help tamper the intrusion, and Kace sits in his seat to listen to the music that now oddly comforts him. It's like the universe played a part in keeping Two Lovers off the roster of songs. He's almost thankful to Easton Duffy for his terrible life decisions.

Chapter Four

Bri

Walking into the restaurant in California after her fifth concert in less than two weeks, Bri puts on a happy face even though she's exhausted. She finally has a break, and Nia insisted they meet for lunch. She hasn't had much time to pay any attention to the media between traveling and performing, but it wouldn't surprise her if there's yet another development they need to strategize about to get ahead of. There's also a chance she just simply combed her hair wrong or made some fashion-don't list.

The hostess smiles at her and leads her back to a private room with only a handful of tables, all empty except for the one Nia sits at. One of the perks of going out in the Los Angeles area is how unfazed people are with celebrities. They're just a dime a dozen nowadays.

Food sits on a plate at the table, and she knows Nia already ordered for her. Which means whatever is about to happen can't be good. In fact, it's probably very, very bad considering she ordered Bri's favorite pasta. Her mind starts wandering, but she doesn't miss the two extra plates at the table.

"What's going on, Nia?" Bri asks, her stomach knotting.

The last time she came to a dinner like this, her parents tried to force their way back into her life, and with it, convince her to give up her money. They worked with her former manager who believed he was reuniting an estranged family for good reasons, and he made it happen. With everyone on her team, Bri has been explicitly clear on the no contact with her family rule. Her trust issues run deep, and for good reason, and it was the last time she ever spoke to her manager.

"I want to talk to you about the media frenzy," Nia says as the server brings out another martini and sets it in front of her. "Eat up. I know it's your favorite, and I'm sure you're starving. You always need extra carbs at the start of your tours."

Even though she feels like a teenager going through a growth spurt, she can't sit down and eat until she knows what she's walking into. It feels like a trap. "Who's coming, Nia?"

Her eyebrows raise as the martini freezes halfway to her mouth. "Oh, sweetie, I know better than to even mention those creatures some would call your parents. That's the furthest thing from what this is, and I'm so sorry. I didn't even think..."

Feeling at ease, she sits down and grabs a fork to start with the salad. "So, who's coming?"

"Are we late?" a male voice asks, and she turns around to see a handsome man in a navy, well-fitted suit. Behind him walks what Bri can only describe as a literal giant.

Her eyes bulge out of her head as she watches the largest man she's ever seen in person walk up and pause. The mammoth of a man has the broadest shoulders she's ever seen. He makes the first man look almost child-sized.

"Hello, Neo. Not at all. Please, sit," Nia says with a wide smile.

She's slept with this man. Bri can always tell when Nia's engaging with a man she's taken to bed. And a few women, too.

"What is this?" the giant asks.

At least she isn't the only one walking into a plan of sorts. "You're not sure what you're being conned into, either?" Bri asks and takes another bite of her salad. "I have to say, it's kind of a relief knowing it's not just me."

They sit, and knowing without a doubt her family won't make a surprise appearance, she moves to the pasta. She doesn't care if she looks like a pig scarfing down whatever slop the farmer set in front of her. She's starving.

"It's nice to meet you, Brianna. I'm Neo Pratt, and this is Kace Lyons. You may recognize him from the Bootleggers. I’m his PR rep working for a competing firm from Nia."

"Bootleggers?"

Nia giggles and pats her hand. "Excuse her. It's been an exciting few weeks. The NHL team, sweetie."

Hockey? Bri's never watched a game a day in her life. "Uh, yeah, sure. Sorry, I'm a bit distracted. I thought I recognized you."

"You have no idea who I am, do you?" Kace asks as a different server brings out a giant steak the size of the plate, and a separate plate of mashed potatoes and gravy. He watches the food as it's placed in front of him and grabs his silverware.

He's handsome. Really handsome. And she can’t deny she's intrigued to be in the presence of someone so large. If they walked into the middle of traffic, she has no doubt he could almost stop a bus coming right for them like a superhero.

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