Page 207 of Redeemed

I do so silently. When he glances at me, he chuckles to himself.

“What?” I ask.

“Didn’t I say you’d be overwhelmed? And the show hasn’t even started yet.” Shaking his head, he smiles at the sound board while messing with some dials.

“I’m not overwhelmed!”

He snorts. “You know, I’m beginning to get why Luc calls you his little fawn. You get all doe-eyed and jumpy whenever you encounter something new.”

“I’ve been to concerts before!”

He laughs. “Not like this one, doll.”

Brad crosses the room toward the sound booth. He’s got a few cords in his hands. “Hey, Xander, everything working okay up there?”

“All good so far. We’ll find out more once we get started.” Xander scans the room. “It looks like we’re missing two people?”

“Smoke break.” Brad rolls his eyes. “What is it with musicians and not having any sense of time?”

Xander shrugs. “Beats me.”

Adjusting his beanie, Brad jerks his head in my direction. “Who’s this pretty little thing?”

“Mine.” Xander’s voice is low and threatening. “And if you spend more than three seconds looking at her, I’ll gouge your eyes out.”

Brad raises his hands in mock surrender. “Chill, bro. I was just saying hi.”

“Say hi to someone else.”

Brad doesn’t seem to take it too personally. He just chuckles and walks away before waving at someone who just walked in. It makes me wonder if he’s used to it from Xander.

“Do you take a lot of girls here?” I ask before I can stop myself.

“I don’t take any girls anywhere,” he answers without looking up from the soundboard.

“Then why am I here?”

“You’re special,” he deadpans.

I roll my eyes.Dumbass.

“It’s what you wanted to hear, wasn’t it?”

“No,” I say defensively.

“Liar.” He leans in, expression triumphant. “You were jealous there for a second. Don’t deny it.”

“Oh, shut—”

He presses his lips against mine. I expect him to pull away quickly, but he fists the hair at the base of my neck and deepens the kiss. My body melts into his as he slips his tongue into my mouth, but then I remember where we are and jump back.

“Xander, we’re in publ—”

“You are special, actually,” he says quietly. All teasing has disappeared from his tone, and his expression is so sincere it makes my heart skip a beat. “You’re the only girl Luc and I have ever been hung up on. Colt, too.”

Someone on the stage calls Xander’s name, and he places something in my hands before turning away. I’m left speechless and with my mouth hanging open. It’s not until a horrible, loud sound comes through the speakers that I snap out of it.

“Bro,” Xander yells. “I told you towaitbefore plugging it in.”

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