Page 91 of Tortured Tones

“You are, and you know it.”

“No. I’m not.” I held up palms. “We got whatever was in our systems out last night. It won’t happen again.”

“Again?” His eyebrows shot upward as he grabbed two fresh cups off the shelf. “So it happened?” An oh-do-tell smile curled one corner of his mouth.

“Dad.” I blushed.

“Ava?”

“I won’t risk my job or Josh—you know that.”

“Sometimes your head and heart don’t play on the same team.”

“Luther killed my heart, so I’m only using my head. Cole is my client. He’s nothing more than that.”

“Okay then.”

“There is nothing more to discuss.”

“If you say so.”

“Good.” Oh, Dad didn’t believe me, but he had to. I had to. I shot to my feet, stormed into the kitchen, and yanked the fridge open. It was full of food but I couldn’t remember what I’d said I’d make for lunch. Images of Cole in his suit, dancing, smiling, drinking, and taking me to bed filled my head. I could still feel his hands on my body, his lips on my skin, his breath on my face. I could still smell his heavenly cologne. Shit.

He was in my head.

He’d been in my bed.

Between my legs ached to be touched again.

No. No. Not by him.

We’d had some fun, but we were done.

The walls around my heart were impenetrable. Luther had made sure of that.

The sooner this three-month tour gig ended the better.

Three months and counting.

I could put up with Cole Tanner for that long.

Bring on the tour.

Chapter 21

COLE

Cradling Charlotte against my chest, her head tucked into the side of my neck, I stepped out of the van at our hotel in Inglewood. Hannah and Ava followed. From behind the barricades on the sidewalk, the shouts, cheers, and screams from the fans pummeled my ears and hummed through my veins. Paparazzi camera flashes flickered in my eyes. The guys and I had never had so many people gather outside our hotel to see us before. And this was just the beginning of the tour. The crowds would only get bigger and better. This shit rocks!

But Charlotte didn’t share my high. She whimpered and hid her face, curling into my T-shirt. Her little body trembled in my arms.

“Hey?” I rubbed the back of her head. “It’s okay. They won’t hurt you.”

Ava flanked us as we aimed for the hotel lobby. Slip and Lewis were ahead of us. Flint came in behind me.

“It’s loud.” Charlotte covered her ears with Barney and her eyes with her hand. “The lights hurt.”

That’s a first. She loved music and lights.

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