Page 35 of Ignacio

“ThisSaturday?”

He nodded.

Her eyes widened. “That’s not very much notice to put together a set.”

“King insisted you don’t need to do much. I got the impression it’ll be a small affair. He just wants to give his mother a nice gift, and that’s hearing you sing.”

“Do you think your movie hinges on my singing at the party?” Her brow wrinkled.

“I can’t say for sure, but it doesn’t matter. If you really don’t want to perform for the Brockwells, you don’t have to. Don’t accept the invitation just to make sure my film deal goes through.”

“Isn’t your film deal the reason we’re doing all this?”

“Yes, but I wouldn’t want you to be in a situation that makes you uncomfortable or goes against what you normally do in business. It’s your career. You make the choice.”

Hearing him say those words seemed to alleviate her concerns, and she visibly relaxed.

“It’s short notice, but I can practice a few songs to be ready by this Saturday. I need to find out which ones are her favorites.” She tapped her chin.

“You’re sure you’re okay with singing at the party? You’re not worried about your father’s reaction?”

“He’ll be fine,” she said dismissively. “He came up with that rule about tarnishing my brand when I was on top of the charts. That’s not exactly the case anymore. I’m in.”

She bit into her sandwich.

Ignacio drained the last of his orange juice and placed the bottle on the counter. “What happened with the security risk?”

Delta’s shoulders tensed, and she shifted in her seat as if she wanted to escape the question. “It was a small group.” She started slowly, hesitantly. “Three men and their wives—and one of the guys got handsy. He’s the son of a hedge fund owner. Because it was a small group, I didn’t have security with me. Just me and the band and Dad. The guy’s wife was furious at his behavior, and eventually, Dad hauled him out of the room. He was obviously drunk and completely out of control. The family ended up paying another twenty-five percent on top of the regular fee for the trouble—and probably to keep the incident quiet.”

If Ignacio had been there, he would have done more than drag the man out of the room. The asshole would have taken a fist to the jaw. “You shouldn’t have had to put up with that.”

“It was nothing.”

“I wouldn’t call it nothing,” Ignacio said.

Eyes downcast, Delta picked up her sandwich and drink. “Compared to other stuff… It was nothing. I’m going to finish my meal upstairs. Congratulations, Ignacio.” Her voice ended on a soft note, her words heartfelt.

“Thank you.”

She walked out of the kitchen, leaving him to stare after her. He got the impression she was running.

Women in the entertainment industry had to put up with so much shit, and as beautiful as Delta was, he suspected she’d dealt with major dickheads. Men who thought women were property, existing solely for their pleasure. He hated to think she had been subjected to that sort of behavior.

But her words stood out to him, forming a knot of unease in his belly.Compared to other stuff.

What other stuff? What the hell had happened?

Chapter Thirteen

You can’t stay in here all night.

Delta stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, trying to work up the courage to go into the bedroom. She had been in the bathroom ever since she heard Ignacio enter the primary suite while she was getting ready.

What was she afraid of? They were getting along better. The animosity she had experienced from him in L.A. and the cool indifference before moving in had diminished.

She was afraid of herself.

Afraid of how she would behave once she was in bed with Ignacio, tempted by his naked body on the mattress next to hers. She hadn’t forgotten the kiss at the Black and Gold Music Experience. On the contrary, she thought about it way more than she should—reliving the teasing tug on her lips and his warm breath fanning her mouth. Each time, a gentle, throbbing ache bloomed between her thighs. Their pleasant conversation yesterday had blurred the lines between them even more, causing her to lower her guard and feel more comfortable around him—to the point where she had almost shared her painful secret.

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