Page 76 of Finding Emotion

Jimmy didn’t follow them.

Having Skylar defend him wasn’t a bad thing, but there was a dose of guilt and shame thrown in. He needed to set Jimmy straight himself. “I’m sorry,” Damon said. “I still haven’t had time to talk to him about everything. It’s not that—”

“Mandy thinks your manager is a prick and you should fire him.” Skylar’s hand moved to his back, rubbing gently before she pulled away. “Not in those words, but that’s what she meant. And that’s unusual for her.”

“He’s definitely been an ass lately. He wasn’t always that way.” Only Damon was struggling to recall a time recently when he wasn’t.

“You’re not responsible for his shit. Just think about it, okay?” Skylar’s eyes found her own manager. “You deserve someone always in your corner, like Mandy is for me. Speaking of, let me go give her my guitar.”

As Damon watched her, making sure she didn’t leave his sight, he had the thought that he might already have someone like that. Too bad being around him wasn’t safe for her.

Chapter 28

Skylar studied Damon while the limo took them back to the hotel. The police said they’d contact him with any news and promised they’d have a detail set up at the hotel to increase security. The rest of the charity event had been fun, but Damon had tried to follow her to the bathroom. He was that worried about what he saw as a threat.

She only wished she could convince him the stalker didn’t care all that much about her. It was all about hurting him; she was sure of it. She had her own suspicions about who it was, but didn’t think Damon would be willing to accept it just yet.

Night had fallen. Each streetlight they passed illuminated the tension in his face.

“You said you wanted to talk. So talk.” Of course he’d used that cliché.

It was just too damn bad that his melody was still playing in her head.

Damon sat forward and reached for her hand, but she crossed her arms and sat back against the leather seat of the limo. He sighed. “I know you said you’re not worried, but I am. Skylar, if anything were to happen to you…”

She snorted. “Plenty has happened to me. Shit you don’t even know.”

The next pass of fluorescent lights showed the hard angle of his jaw. “Exactly. You’ve been through enough, and I only want to protect you.”

“I protect me.”

“And if it’s outside your control?” Damon asked.

Her stomach clenched. “It’s not. Nothing is, not really. It all comes down to my choices.” And she’d made some stupid ones before she’d ended up held down and violated. “I mean—” Her throat felt so tight that even air couldn’t get through. She tried to clear it, forcing out the words. “I chose to get all jacked up that one time. If it hadn’t been for the drugs, I would have fought better. I can fight this stalker if it comes to it.”

“I don’t want you to have to.” His lips pressed together as the limo stopped under the lighting of the hotel. The glow highlighted his sweet face, even through the tint. “Skylar, I think—”

“I know what you think without you saying it.” She shoved open the door, the tight material of the dress she’d bought because it matched his eyes riding up as she pulled herself out of the limo. Cameras flashed. After their little love song performance, the paparazzi were out in droves. It was perfect to do what she’d promised she would do. She wished her stomach didn’t writhe at the reality of it.

Damon climbed out behind her, shutting the door and reaching for her hand.

Skylar shoved him hard in the chest, making him stumble back into the side of the limo.

She cocked her hand on her hip. “I warned you before. I don’t do all that exclusive shit.” She moved closer, running a finger down his chest and letting her lips spread into a smirk. “You come up tonight, and I’ll rock your world one last time. Don’t worry, I’ll send you off on your tour smiling, sweet face.” She moved in, finding his lips soft but unmoving as she planted one on him. “You definitely deserve it,” she said, loud enough for the cameras. “You’re amazing.” She stepped back with a shrug. “You shouldn’t have let someone like me so close. I’ll eat you up.” She turned, holding her hard smile for the cameras as she stalked inside the hotel. Her damn eyes burned, but letting them see actual tears wouldn’t do at all.

Damon stared after Skylar, where she’d disappeared inside, his chest feeling like a huge hole had been carved out of it. She’d done what he was going to suggest, but without the confirmation that it would be only for the public eye, her words sounded much too real.

The cameras continued to flash, and he wondered how many times he’d have to see his stunned expression after this. The breakup was for the best. Picture after picture had been seared into his memory, ripped images of the woman he loved.

Her hazel eyes had shimmered more blue than any other color as she’d broken up with him. She’d done what she promised, making him look good to the media while she took all the blame.

Questions flew at him in a jumbled haze as he pushed through the crowd and into the hotel. More security was inside, and they kept the paparazzi out of the lobby as Damon made it to the elevator. He had to wait for it to return. The hum of his ride up to the suite started to drift in through the fog of his mind, and the final ding sounded downright loud.

Skylar paced the width of the suite. She’d already kicked off her black heels, and the skin of her bare feet looked pale and vulnerable. She didn’t look at him as he stepped off the elevator, and the doors whispered shut behind him.

“I think that was pretty good,” she said. “I’ll have Mandy check, but your image should—”

“Skylar.” She paused at her name, and Damon crossed to her. He stopped right in front of her, searching her eyes and finding those same shimmering nerves he’d seen outside. “I love you. You’re still mine, aren’t you?”

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