Page 24 of Finding Emotion

Skylar slurped some type of chocolate smoothie. “Well, it turns out he’s delicious.”

Jimmy choked. “I’m ignoring that. But, from our side, there’s no rush to end it if you’re cool with that, Skylar.”

She shrugged. “Whatever is best for him.”

Mandy nodded. “Even Skylar’s fans thought Damon’s defense of her was, and I quote, ‘pretty rocking.’ They should be fine from here on out. They might even show some interest.”

The earlier gift from his fan rose in Damon’s mind. “I’m not sure about dragging it out.”

“Had enough already?” Skylar asked.

Damon met her eyes, not finding them smiling like her teasing tone had indicated. “It’s not that.”

“Uh-huh.” She lowered her smoothie as she studied him. Her hazel eyes flashed with more blue than they had under the gym’s fluorescent lights. “Then what?”

Damon hesitated to bring up his stalker. “The attention you’ve been getting has been pretty…harsh,” he hedged, only remembering after the words that Skylar hadn’t scoffed when she’d realized the rumor about his stalker was true.

“People say whatever on social media.” Skylar waved his concern away. “I don’t let that shit bother me.”

Damon couldn’t help but picture the way she had huddled into herself in the hotel gym. “It’s not just social media. Hell, Skylar, you had some pretty hateful texts on your phone. I picked it up from the floor earlier and saw one when the screen lit up.” He gestured toward where he’d placed her phone on the bar.

Skylar’s lips pressed together as she stared at it.

He turned to her manager. “Can’t you block people like that? I think Jimmy—”

“It’s been taken care of, okay?” Skylar snapped. Her hand roughed up her already messy hair. “Don’t act like you know what’s best for me after one fuck. If I said I’m fine with it, then I am.”

Damon leaned forward, his hands clenching together where they dangled between his legs. “Well, I’m not. I never asked to fake-date you, Skylar. It’s best if we put together an exit strategy.”

“Oh, I see.” Skylar started nodding as she set her smoothie down on the bar with a smack. “I was too much for you to handle.”

He shook his head. “This honestly isn’t a reflection of you. You heard Jimmy.” He waved his hand at his manager, who tensed up next to him. “You’re awesome for my reputation. Hell, Skylar, you’ve got much better rock vibes than me. I’m just not much of a faker.”

She snorted, but her stiffness eased. “That’s for sure.”

He flushed as he remembered both orgasms she’d given him. They’d made everything he’d thought he’d known about arousal before pale in comparison.

“May I offer a suggestion?” Mandy asked, her expression almost too calm. “The whole thing will look like a stunt if it’s done too quickly. You’re here for a couple of weeks before your next tour, correct?”

Damon nodded.

“Skylar’s timeline is about the same,” Mandy said.

“Yeah, I took some time between to hang out with Jami.” Skylar grimaced. “Shit, I still haven’t gone to see her.” She scrubbed her hands over her face before reaching for the smoothie again. It was as if all her earlier irritation was gone.

“So you’re thinking they should solidify the publicity of it, act all lovey-dovey, and then, hell, we go back on tour?” Jimmy asked.

“Skylar has a commitment as well,” Mandy agreed. “While touring separately, the relationship can naturally fizzle.”

“Hey, I don’t fizzle,” Skylar protested. She frowned into her drink. “We should at least have some sort of fight. At the airport, maybe.” Skylar stared into her smoothie with a hint of a smile. “So we can’t kiss and make up.”

It was only a couple of weeks, Damon reminded himself even as he remembered her overwhelming kisses. Losing himself had been easy, but he could handle her for that long. “Sounds like a plan.”

“And you two want to continue sharing the suite?” Mandy asked. Even though she addressed them both, those calm eyes were on him.

Skylar nodded toward the room Damon had been using. “It’s not like we have to sleep together.” Her smirk finally appeared genuine. “Actual sleeping, that is.”

Damon had a feeling she would avoid talking about what had happened, but staying would afford him more of an opportunity to discuss it. “It’s working for now.” He even doubted his secret admirer would get in another gift with the suite’s security.

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