Page 25 of Undeniable Temptation

Chapter Six

Washington, DC

Shark week had been a bitch. It had also been a thankful explanation for losing her mind over something she should’ve had under control.

But just to be safe, Leah had kept her distance from Ryan, and the band in general, for eight days. Choosing instead to communicate via email and text message while she focused on online sales reports and securing more promo opportunities.

Apart from poking her head into the dressing room or catching up with Mason, Mitch, Blake, or Sean when they were apart from their rhythm guitarist, she’d spent most of her time sulking in numerous hotel rooms, gorging on chocolate and coffee. Even the crew on the sleeper bus had been smart enough to keep their distance. Nobody dared to poke the bear. Not when her head was always stuck firmly in her laptop or her cell was plastered to her ear.

The alone time had given her a chance to regroup and beat herself into a bloody pulp over her stupidity. Now she was fighting fit and ready for battle.

“Nice of you to join us,” Mason drawled, his unimpressed glower eating up her approach.

“I thought it was time to stop working myself to the bone and see if you guys are actually pulling your weight.” She approached the portable table near the front of the empty stadium, Mitch, Sean, and Blake turning their focus from Ryan on stage to greet her with various non-verbal responses. “Do you have any news for me?”

“Nope. We’re all good.”

She quirked a brow. “That’s not what I’m told.” The end of shark week wasn’t her only reason to come back into the land of the living. “Some of the crew have messaged me with concerns over Ryan’s performance.”

Mason glared. “He’s hitting home runs at every show.”

“I’m told he’s late to every sound check, which would explain why he’s the only one on stage at the moment.”

One message she could ignore. Two was something she took on board and held in consideration. But three, four, and five meant she had to start asking questions.

She chanced a look at the man of the moment and suppressed the pang in her chest with Olympic gold precision. There were heavy bags under his eyes, his usually warm skin pale beneath his beard, his adored guitar almost seeming like an unwanted weight in his hands.

“He’s struggling.” She hadn’t wanted to believe it. If he needed nurturing, she’d have to be the one to give it because the men surrounding her didn’t bear an ounce of emotional intuition.

“Yeah.” Mason snickered. “Struggling to keep up with a healthy sex life.”

She winced, immediately regretting her journey out of hibernation. “I’m not joking.” She turned her back to the stage and crossed her arms over her chest. “Why didn’t you tell me he’s been late to the last three sound checks? Clearly, his mind isn’t on the tour.”

“Maybe because you’ve been MIA.”

She gave a derisive laugh and pinned him with her trademark scowl. Men with smaller egos had withered under that look. “Have you not seen me every day? Have you not received email updates on an ongoing basis? Have I ever rejected any of your calls or made myself unavailable?” She raised her brow, waiting for a lie or an apology.

It wasn’t surprising he gave neither.

“Moving on,” she purred. “Has he spoken to any of you about how he’s handling his private life?”

A myriad of non-committal gestures were made—a shake of a head, a shrug, a mutter.

“Not one of you has had the sense to check up on him? Not even once?” Her stomach dived under the weight of guilt.

“This isn’t happy hour at the shrink society, Leah.” Blake rolled his eyes. “Not all of us like to share the shit that drags us down.”

Mitch whacked his best friend in the arm and then met her gaze with regret. “Alana said he’s spending a lot of time with Felicity and Hannah. They seem to be tight.”

Sean snorted.

“I meant their relationship,” Mitch grated. “Not the women.”

Leah didn’t appreciate the humor. Nor did she enjoy the mental image. “So I guess the fake relationship has inspired polygamy.”

“The media hasn’t latched onto Hannah yet, but they’re certainly eating up his time with Felicity.” Mason grinned at her, the expression taunting. “And that’s all that matters, right?”

“Yep.” She nodded, determined not to bite.

---