Page 71 of Undeniable Temptation

“Poor thing. Let me know if you need anything. I’m going to get some work done while there’s peace and quiet.”

“No problem.” He nudged his earphones back in place and focused on the traffic as she made her way to the compact kitchen to switch on the drip machine. While she waited for liquid goodness, she checked social media, scanning the usual blogs and headlines to make sure the Reckless world was stable. Apart from an increase in questions regarding Mason’s sexuality, everything was quiet on the band-front. Slicker were still a major topic of discussion, with Ryan’s involvement highlighting most tweets and posts.

Once her coffee was ready, she slid into the booth and started brainstorming. Ryan was doing well to keep his relationship in the spotlight, but there needed to be more. More hype, more publicity, more sales. She no longer wanted to sit on the sidelines and watch him manipulate the media. She needed to take charge. To grab the promo stunt by the horns sooner rather than later to get the rabid Grander monkey off their back.

Ideas came to her in quick succession and she ended up having to scavenge through cupboards for a notebook because her typing fingers couldn’t keep up. Page after page of garbled notes were scribbled. All they needed was a chart topper. One measly chart which would’ve been a cinch for Reckless and would end up being a miracle for the lesser-known Slicker.

She was preparing to make a second coffee when the bus slowed and turned into the stadium entrance.

“It looks like security are already here and waiting.” Pat pulled the bus to a stop and cut the ignition. “I’m going to stretch my legs and have a smoke. You good?”

“Yep.”

“I’ll close the door once I’m out, so y’all can have some privacy and catch some more sleep.” He descended the stairs, the doors closing seconds later.

Someone groaned from the bunks, followed by the rustle of sheets, then silence. The guys wouldn’t wake for hours, giving her more time to concoct one of the many necessary plans. And with the planning came excitement. She was pumped to speak to her boss. Figuring out a way to gain her wildest dreams was making her giddy… Or maybe that was the caffeine.

Either way, she was optimistic for a future with Ryan. The pleasure in her chest couldn’t be denied. If she could make this work, she’d have everything she’d ever wanted—the career, the future, the love.

But…

If…

How…

When…

She shook away the confronting questions and took another gulp of coffee. Her cell began to move, the vibrations signaling an incoming call.Bruce. She wondered if her thoughts had been loud enough to wake her boss.

“Hey,” she whispered. “You’ve hit the grindstone early.”

“Not by choice.”

“And why is that?”

“I just got off the phone from some no-name blogger who warned me of a podcast she uploaded last night. Apparently, it’s starting to gain traction and local radio stations are airing snippets in their gossip news—”

“Hold up. What blogger? What snippets? I’ve already scanned social media this morning and nothing triggered my radar.”

Another ring tone sounded from the bunks, followed by the clearing of a throat and Ryan’s gravelly voice.

“I can’t remember the name but I’ve got the details in an email along with a link to the podcast. She wants you to contact her about an opportunity to respond to the claims.”

When the third ringtone sounded she stood, her stomach flipping at the sudden influx of communication. One call at this hour was understandable. Two was a coincidence. But three signaled trouble.

Big trouble.

“What claims?”

“I haven’t listened to the interview yet. I wanted to contact you first, but she said there’s some controversial stuff in there about Reckless.”

“Who did the blogger interview?” Felicity better not have opened her damn mouth. Or Hannah. Fuck, if it was Scott she’d kill him.

“It’s the disgruntled wife of your guitarist. Apparently, she’s flinging accusations at her husband, the band, and you.”

Fuck.

“Can you forward me the information?”

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