Page 11 of Undeniable Temptation

Yeah, she knew, but like Blake, joking away the uncomfortable squeeze in her chest was a crutch. She still couldn’t shake the feeling that this situation was all wrong when it should’ve been all right.

“Yes.” She shuffled the pages together and closed them inside the folder. “If we’re successful in boosting Slicker’s popularity, it should be enough to placate Grander.”

“And if it isn’t?” Blake asked.

“I honestly don’t know.” Scott had made thinly-veiled threats over the past two days. Threats that couldn’t be ignored when Reckless wasn’t in a position of power. “Your current contract states the number of tour dates should be determined by buyer demand, not band availability. Even though Grander signed off on this tour being shorter than previous years because of the baby, it doesn’t mean they can’t change their mind. And we all know they only agreed because they were hoping to sweeten you up for another contract.”

“If only there was another way to go about it.” Blake stared at the closed folder, a hint of humor in his tone. “We need to boost this chick’s reputation and sex appeal, but we’re relying on a dude who hasn’t used his dick in ten years.”

“Don’t worry about my dick,” Ryan muttered. “Gabi seems to think it works fine.”

“Whoa.” Blake choked on a laugh. “When did you turn into a smart ass?”

Leah pressed her lips tight to fight a grin.

“I guess your taint has finally rubbed off on me.” Ryan turned his gaze to her, freezing her heart with those soulful eyes. “And now that I don’t have an ungrateful wife nagging me about my image, I can finally relax and not give a damn.”

“At least once this charade is over, anyway.” He shouldn’t have to wait. He deserved the world and everything in it after putting up with Julie for so long.

“I know.” He inclined his head. “It’s only a matter of time before I get what I want.”

She stiffened, inside and out. There was a warning in his tone. A threat.Fuck.Maybe it was a promise.No.She shook off the stupidity and pulled her professionalism back into place. Clearly, she was hallucinating. Blake hadn’t even noticed the tension she seemed to think was clogging the air. He was still smiling at Ryan’s comeback, oblivious to her skip down Daydream Lane.

The last awaited knock sounded at the door, breaking the silence and tearing a pathetic gasp from her throat.Motherfucker.She needed to stop being a temperamental Nancy around him. One kiss shouldn’t have the power to shake foundations. Not when she’d successfully ignored the topic for this long.

“Let’s do this.” She shoved back in her chair, more aggressive than necessary. “And please, for the love of god, think before you speak.”

She made for the entrance, trudging her grumpy ass forward, feeling Ryan’s stare follow her for the duration. With a heavy yank of the knob, she swung the door wide and glanced at the unwanted guests in turn.

“Scott…”

The Grander representative gave a smug grin.

“Felicity…” The woman, on the other hand, was subdued. Her smile was in place, yet her eyes were filled with scrutiny. Judgement. For someone who had been given the golden goose to skyrocket her career, she definitely wasn’t showing a worthy dose of excitement. “Come in. Take a seat.”

Leah hung back as her guests shared nauseatingly merry greetings and made themselves comfortable around the dining table. This was it, the moment where Ryan jumped from one bad decision to another. One unworthy woman to the next. All for the sake of the Reckless Beat family.

“I gather you’ve informed Felicity on the publicity stunt.” She pulled out the chair at the head of the table and took a seat.

“Yes.” The woman nodded. “But please, call me Flick. Only my mother calls me by my real name.”

“Sure.” How cute. She focused on Scott, ignoring the way Ryan and Blake eyeballed the singer. “So, what’s the plan?”

“You tell me. As far as Grander is concerned, we have nothing to do with this. It’s all on you.”

“Right… So you’re demanding this publicity stunt take place but refuse to be a part of it?”Yippee fucking ki-yay. She couldn’t wait to add Fake Relationship Facilitator to her resume.

“I don’t think we need our hands held,” Ryan said to Felicity. “Do you?”

The woman cringed. “God, I hope not. I feel embarrassed enough already.”

“I’ll try to make it as painless as possible.”

Ryan grinned at his future conquest, fucking grinned. It was such a sweet, gentlemanly gesture that made nausea and discomfort tag-team in Leah’s chest. He didn’t even know her, couldn’t trust her, and yet, here he was, diving in head first. If he wasn’t careful, this would be another divorce waiting to happen.

“We’ll be in Atlanta tomorrow,” he continued. “After the show we can hit a nightclub and let the paparazzi take it from there.”

Felicity turned a lighter shade of pale as she nodded. “OK.”

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