Page 1 of Timeless: Encore

PROLOGUE

ZANE

Here We Go Again

Tryingtoquietmymind is fucking useless.

Nothing works right now. Not music. Not Krav Maga. Not therapy. Not even hot, dirty, fuck-until-my-dick-falls-off marathon sex.

Not that you have much sex anymore, son.

“Twenty minutes to landing, Mr. Rocks.” Evvie, the tall, angular flight attendant with unusual golden eyes brushes her fingers across my bicep like feathers. “Would you like a refill? Or, if you’re done, I can take your glass.”

Christ.

I can’t remember what life was like before my group, Less Than Zero, became the most successful band of the past decade. Sadly, I’ve grown used to being recognized. Coveted. People are not subtle. The “accidental” touches. The breathy laughs. Flirty winks. Suggestive comments. Outright attempts at seduction.

Case in point? When we reached altitude, Evvie set up our catering while yammering on about the “phenomenal” oversized bedroom in the back with “fresh sheets.” Jesus, she even twirled a lock of her hair around her finger as she spoke.

As if.

I mean, my daughter, Mia, is right next to me. Thank God she’s oblivious—buried in a game on her iPad. The new Miley Cyrus is likely blaring away in her headphones. Still.

Rude. Rude. Rude.

God, it fucking bugs me. Who does she think she is? So fucking inappropriate.

Clearly, Evvie didn’t pay attention to my preference sheet. Otherwise, she’d know propositioning me is a guaranteed way to never be in my presence again. It’s the one thing I’ve made abundantly clear to anyone who provides services to me or my band.

When it comes to interacting with me, no one is to ever disrespect—or give the appearance of disrespecting—my wife Fiona.

Fee and I are each other’s destiny. Our other halves. She is and has always been the single most important person in my life. Our relationship is precious. Sacred. Our love is so deep, she’s embedded in every cell of my body. Last year, we got married for real. It was, hands down, the best day of my entire damn life.

A wonderful, magical ritual where, in addition to all of the usual marital vows, we promised to leave our past mistakes behind us. To forgive, forget, and move on together. When I put the ring on Fee’s finger, I felt it cleansed us of nearly three decades of family drama. Free of the shackles of addiction. Separation. Mental abuse. Custody wars. Death.

Free of the Godforsaken love hack that nearly drove us apart forever.

I looked into Fiona’s sapphire eyes and knew we were both finally where we belonged. Together. With our daughter, Mia. Forever. Never to be separated again.

It was as true a moment as I’ve ever had.

Willever have.

Mia’s the reason I don’t say something mean or snarky to Evvie. Being touched by strangers will never be normal, but I’m well capable of deftly evading advances of women like her. Or men. Non-gender-conforming people too.

The thing is, I’m not a cruel person. It’s not in my nature. There’s no reason for me to be an asshole in my daughter’s presence. I’ll handle the Evvie situation with my travel concierge after the jet lands.

I reach for my glass and set it on her tray, deftly avoiding her wandering fingers. “No, I’m fine. Take it. It’s yours.”

“Of course.” She winks before sauntering off, swaying her hips as she disappears behind the curtain into the service area.

I glance down at Mia, who wears a green Pat’s Pub sweatshirt over black leggings. She’s oblivious. Absolutely entranced withAnimal Jam, her latest game obsession. I lean over and kiss the top of her head to get her attention. Her blue eyes blink up at me and she flashes me a gap-toothed grin. I can’t believe she lost her first tooth on our short trip to Baltimore. She’s growing up so fast.

Needing to snuggle my precious little girl, I tap my knee. She climbs over the seat, nestles into my lap. I wrap my arm around her and she’s back to ignoring me in favor of her game. I can’t help but chuckle to myself. Kids. They push the envelope when you let them. At least this little girl does—she’s as sassy as her mom was at this age.

I don’t bother taking the device away. Ordinarily, Fee’s fairly strict about limiting Mia’s screen time. I can admit it though, a lot of parenting practice has gone out the window. Well, at least since our lives exploded in spectacular fashion a couple of months ago.

Our lives changed in the blink of an eye. Fee and I are trying to pick up the pieces. Neither of us is doing a great job. At least she’s focused on reopening her restaurant. I’m flailing. If I thought a year of hiatus nearly killed me, nothing could have prepared me for the night when my band imploded.

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