Page 58 of Undeniable Temptation

“You might also like to know this saucy lady has worked more stick than a NASCAR racer.” Mason chuckled. “Ain’t that right, honey?”

Shit. Ryan’s pulse tanked, the excitement of his dick evaporating under the humiliation Mason was dishing out. He’d kill the bastard. He’d fucking slay him.

He reached for his own mic, determined to retaliate when a hand came around his shoulder. He turned to Mitch standing at his side and pulled out the ear monitor that was making it impossible to hear what was being said through the guy’s moving lips.

“—your shit together. You’re making your feelings pretty obvious by the look on your face.”

Ryan turned his back to the microphone and glared. “He’s making a fool of her in front of thousands of people.”

“She can take it.”

“She shouldn’thave to take it,” he growled, the harsh sound unfamiliar to his own ears. “This is bullshit.”

“Thanks for the warm introduction, Mason,” Leah commanded the attention of everyone in the stadium, her voice too damn confident and sexy to be broadcasted in public. “I’m not going to hold up the performance any longer than necessary. All I wanted to do was thank those who made their way to the special table we had set up near the main doors to the building. Your participation is appreciated.”

Mason picked up the box off the floor and leaned into the microphone. “Blake, get your ass over here.”

Ryan turned to the tattooed bass guitarist, focusing anywhere other than the man who was provoking the need for bloodshed. Blake eyed Leah skeptically as he took steps toward the front of the stage.

“As you know,” she continued, “the first Reckless baby is due to enter the world in mere weeks, and all of us couldn’t be happier.” She held out a hand, wordlessly asking for Blake’s guitar so Mason could hand over the package.

“What are you guys up to?” Blake handed over his instrument and took the box. “I don’t like surprises.”

“This is a present from our Chicago fans to congratulate you on your upcoming parenthood.”

The man with harsh spiked hair and heavily inked skin seemed to fracture before everyone’s eyes, his face crumpling like tissue paper. He bent over, tore the wrapping from the box and opened the cardboard to peer inside. A smile tweaked his lips as he pulled out a large teddy bear, the material of its body adorned in permanent markers of all colors.

“Wow.” He glanced from Leah to Mason. “You guys are unbelievable.” He placed the bear under one arm and pulled out another item from the box—a large, soft, green blanket.

“Fans had the choice to either sign their name on the teddy or have it embroidered on the blanket. A local seamstress has been working non-stop since the start of the show to get as many names as possible on there.”

Blake shook his head, eying both the items in awe. “Fucking hell, guys.” He sniffed. “You need to pre-warn me about this shit so I don’t ruin my bad boy image.”

Leah leaned close and pressed a kiss to his cheek. Whispered words were shared that no one else could hear while Mason reclaimed the microphone stand.

“Come on, Leah, his stick is already taken. And you don’t want to make your Las Vegas lover jealous, do you?” Mason chuckled as he turned to the crowd. “A piece of Reckless trivia for you all—Did you know our saucy band manager had her clit pierced as a dare during Mitch’s wife’s bachelorette party?”

Leah stiffened, her spine jerking ramrod straight. Her gaze met Ryan’s, a glimpse of regret hitting him head on as she began walking toward him. He didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know if he should show his cards and defend her. Or laugh it off. Or even encourage the humor to draw attention away from his cloying feelings.

Play along, she’d said. Was this what she meant?

She got within feet of him and Mitch, her eyes stark as she grabbed his microphone. “Mason, I’m sure the crowd doesn’t want to hear about my past.” She glanced over her shoulder hitting the lead singer with a lethal smile. “But maybe you could tell them about the time you fell for a cross dresser and almost became a bi-sexual without your knowledge.”

The mic drop wasn’t literal, but figuratively she threw the device to the ground and gave a checkmate smirk before stalking from the stage.

He watched her leave, the sound of his heavily pounding chest unheard over the hysteria from the crowd.

“She’s OK.” Mitch’s voice barely carried over the insanity. “Focus on getting through the next two songs. You can kill him later.”

Focus? He wasn’t sure he knew how anymore. Leah seemed to strip the ability from him, making thought and sense impossible.

Ryan gave a jerky nod and placed his in-ear monitor back in place.

“I think that’s my cue to get this show back on the road.” Mason lifted his chin in Sean’s direction, signaling the drummer to lead them into the next song.

“You sure you don’t want to share the story?” Sean asked. “It sounds like they’d love to hear it.”

“Start the fucking song,” Mason growled, cupping the stand in front of him.

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