Page 35 of Snared

But would it really be fine, considering what had gotten us to this moment? For my well-being, I had to believe him, so I stepped into the elevator and tamped down my need to put some space between Josh and me as he pressed against my side.

It wasn’t fair that he smelled so good. I hated every bit of attraction I’d ever had for him. I was going to be a joke no matter what path we took on this. I sucked in a breath, my irritation trying to get the better of me and currently succeeding.

A hand gripped mine. Warm. Reassuring.

I looked down as Josh twisted his fingers with mine, and I felt a split second of peace before I shook my head and tried to pull from his grasp.

“Don’t,” he murmured.

I glared up at him.

“We have to be convincing, remember?”

I choked back my anger, hating that he was right.

“Fine, but don’t touch me on the bus.”

“No problem,” he growled.

Oh yeah, this was going to go ever so well.

“Here we go.” Tristan sounded resigned as the elevator dinged and the doors opened.

I took in another deep breath, trying to grasp an ounce of calm, and stepped into the lobby, immediately turning my face away as flashbulbs went off and mics were shoved in our faces.

“Fucking hell,” Bash muttered. “Why didn’t we go out the back?”

“Move, move,” Glen said as we were rushed through the lobby while reporters tossed questions at our passing figures.

“It’s the newlyweds!” “Quickie in Vegas! Need to tell us something?” “Charlie, people are saying you’re sleeping your way through the band. Truth?” “How long has this affair been going on, Josh?” “Is this going to mess up the tour?”

I wanted to both shrink down to nothing and fly off to anywhere else on the planet. This was everything I had feared and it slammed into me from every direction. Josh held me firmly to his side, his body shielding mine, but I refused to acknowledge the effect his warmth was having on me.

I couldn’t help but turn my face into his chest though. His warm, solid chest. Could he hear my heart pounding? It sounded so loud in my ears that I was surprised everyone couldn’t hear it.

“Fucking hell! This is madness,” Jax yelled as I kept my steps steady with everyone else’s.

I had this.

“No comment,” Bash yelled, shielding Cassie as we made our way to the limo waiting to take us back to the bus.

We all scrambled inside, the final person shutting the door quickly behind us. I sat down once Josh released me and he took the seat across from me.

His intense gaze made me stop for a second and I had to look away. I dropped my head back against the seat and tried to block out everything around me.

“That was ridiculous,” Cassie said from beside me, and I let out a sound that was part laugh, part cry.

She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “Oh, Charlie, it’ll be okay. While this plan to stay married isn’t what I expected, the reasoning behind it does make sense. Let the craziness die down. It will, I can attest to that. It’s going to be rough for a bit, yes, but the only feelings you should worry about are your own. The guys are lucky to have you in the band and they all know it. Never doubt that.”

“Thanks. I’m glad you were here this weekend,” I said. Cassie had always welcomed me, and while I’d always been thankful for her friendship, my appreciation had grown exponentially in the last twenty-four hours. She had every right to resent me because my position in the band was an ever-present reminder that her brother was gone, but she’d only been kind and welcoming.

“Anytime,” Cassie said.

“We should’ve gone out the back,” Bash reiterated as our car finally pulled away from the hotel.

Josh shook his head. “What?”

“You knew it was going to be a circus going out the front. Why wouldn’t you set up a quick escape out the back?” Bash accused. At his words, I straightened. Now that I thought it over, it was a valid question.

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