Page 51 of Knot Their Opening Act

“Hey, Jez, we’re going for lunch if you want to join us?” Murray calls out as he walks closer.

But Caylee turns to me. “Ah, sorry, can’t do that. Ash said there’s a press event that’s just come up. You need to be there in an hour. Makeup’s not needed, it’s a radio interview, Radio Verve. It’s live, and you’ll need to get ready pretty quickly. Why don’t you go get ready on the bus and I’ll bring some food back from the hotel bar? We’ll be driven to the studio in one of the minibuses. Sound good?”

My heart sinks. I knew stuff like this would pop up—Ash warned me, and Viv did, too. But I’m barely awake. And there’s no sign of Fable. They disappeared quick. A shiver runs through me. No doubt they’re off to discuss what Thomas and Holden have been up to in my hotel rooms.

I grit my teeth and a familiar panicky heart-flop dries my mouth out in an instant. Kai will soon know. And God only knows what he’ll say during tonight’s show now. Or what he’ll say to me.

I know Ash won’t let him get away with much but he can’t cut Kai’s mic dead in the middle of a set. He can’t run out there with tape to cover up his mouth.

Basically, Kai Hartley can’t be controlled. But then, neither can I.

CHAPTER24

Kai

BeforeI even raise a hand to wave, I can tell that I’m the absolute last bastard on earth Jesamine Jacobs wants to see right now. She stops dead where she is, as we both approach the studio at the same time. Her ride parked a few spaces over from mine.

She stays where she is, head slightly bent forward in anAre you absolutely kidding me right now?way. I’m with Steve, who drove the bus, and she’s flanked by Caylee and Ferny, who drove hers. Apparently we weren’t expected to ride together.

“I gather you weren’t told we were doing this as a group project,” I say in a neutral tone. Then I raise my hand to wave. I think my lips are smiling but my heart feels like a dog’s shat in it.

I don’t think I’ve ever had a woman give me this exact look before.

She turns to Caylee and covers her face with a hand she uses to tuck hair behind her ears. They have a whispered and short-lived conversation, then she mutters, “Let’s get this over with,” and begins walking toward the door. I wait until her little party of three enters, and then Steve and I follow. Ferny’s just ahead of us. He turns and shrugs.

“You can only do so much. And please, don’t do any more,” he says.

After about ten minutes and handshakes and greetings with the program manager and the DJ, we’re ushered into the booth—me, Jez, and Stan the DJ. Outside the window, Caylee and our managers sit on stools, arms crossed, like a jury watching the two sides about to go head-to-head.

Jez hasn’t looked at me once since we sat down in the booth, but she has an open, pleasant smile for Stan, who’s wittering on about how much his daughter loves her and can’t wait for tonight, and how he’s been a big fan of Fable for years now. It feels more like he rigged this so he could get a meet and greet, but I don’t mind. I’m more of the all-press-is-good-press mindset.

Though that might be about to change.

“So is this tour the first time you two have met?” Stan asks, the second we’re introduced on the mic. I lean back in my seat and hold a hand up to Jez. She still hasn’t looked at me but leans into the mic. I wonder how many interviews she’s given. She seems like a pro.

“Actually, no. There’s a little-known story—well, it’s not little-known among our oldest fans, I suppose. Would you say that’s true, Kai?”

She looks at me pointedly at last, and I nod, then belatedly realize there’s no camera. I pull down the collar of my shirt and undo the first button, fumbling for a reply. “I’d say so. But I don’t think the average listener is aware. It’s not really relevant to this tour, but it was three years ago, which is less than half the time Jez has been on the scene.”

“Ah, well, I think fans that are just getting to know either one of you would love to hear about what connects you. It’s quite an interesting pairing, and I think one that’s garnered a great deal of discussion.” Stan is grinning and I know what he’s fucking thinking. And he’s thinking it because of what I said last night. But I won’t give in and let him get his fucking rocks off on that.

I nod at Jez again, and she leans forward, her lips nearly touching the mic. God. Dammit, her heat is lurking. But most powerful of all is the simple awareness of her scent. She is our match. She’s honeysuckle and jasmine in full bloom—like a garden coming to life after winter’s sleep. I want to dive into that scent, into a garden full ofher.

Fuck, this is insane. My cock presses against my jeans as all the blood in my body seems to rush there.

Jez is answering Stan’s comment aboutwhat connects us. “It was a simple interaction, really. I was a contestant in a talent competition which featured ten musical acts. Fable on Fire were one of the ‘anonymous’ sets of judges, though behind-the-scenes, we all knew who they were. It was more for show than anything.” She shrugs, but those full lips still kiss the air around the mic like I wish they’d do to me.

I lean forward at the sudden pain. Not being on suppressants around my scent match is bringing my rut forward, and the pain is growing. I cross my legs at the ankles and know I look like a twat but I lean forward on the desk with the mic to appear more casual.

I can’t hold this back for the length of this entire tour.

Fuck me. I run a hand through my hair and am horrified at how fucking sweaty it comes back. I would give anything to be able to take suppressants. Not taking them was how I knew Nyah wasn’t ours. But she was such a heartbreaker, such a go-getter, and it felt like pain enough—surely I couldn’t withstand the pain of scenting our match and actually knotting her. It’s like my entire body is on fire and lightning is striking my dick over and over. That’s all I can think of when Jez turns to me.

“Wouldn’t you say that’s the gist?”

My eyes fly wide and I glance through the window at Ferny and Steve, the latter of whom is waving his hands in aget on with itmanner. Caylee is smirking.

“I absolutely would say there’s more to it than just meeting there. Jez gave the most outstanding audition, and was an immediate yes. But there were some, ah, administrative issues that meant having to replace her. Which was sadly one of the hardest things we’ve ever had to do. But honestly, the way she’s forged and navigated her career since that unfortunate incident has proven what a force of nature she is. And I just really hope fans will come out to the tour and see what we’ve properly kissed and made up, and that harkening back to that event doesn’t even begin to touch on the collective excitement me and the guys have at her presence among us.”

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