Page 97 of Undeniable Temptation

Ryan responded with a shove of his elbow and a free-spirited grin. His elation was clear while she was steadfast in hiding her misery.

“Is it time to celebrate across the board?” Sean asked. “With the delay in getting your ass on stage, we assumed the two of you were sorting your shit out and doing some genital reconnaissance.”

“Soon.” Ryan met her gaze, his confidence taunting her need to argue. “We hit a slight detour when Julie showed up.” He shoved from Mason’s hold and walked toward her. “But we’re even more on track now than we were before.”

She shook her head and wandered behind the sofa, placing the furniture between them. “No. Not this time. All we’ve done is make a bigger mess.”

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He strolled after her. Unfazed. Unhurried. “Felicity and I can quit this charade tomorrow, and Julie and I will never see each other again.”

“What about the kid?” Sean asked.

“It isn’t mine.”

Ryan spoke without emotion, as if he hadn’t dropped a fifty-pound bombshell. She tried to read him, to determine if the fortitude in his eyes was born from his need for her, or the necessity to remain distracted from the new changes to his future.

“The divorce is going ahead without fault, and it’ll be just the two of us. You and me.”

His tone held a promise she wanted to grasp. Instead, she remained true to herself and her career, and stopped at the far end of the sofa, her shoe covered toes brushing the suitcase hidden from sight.

“Nothing is going to stop this now,” he continued. “We can hide if you want. Or we can ditch the theatrics and demand what we’ve always wanted.”

“You can demand all you want, Ryan, but all it will do is drive us apart when I lose my job.” She leaned over and gripped the trolley handle of her luggage, extending it to the full height. “And we can’t hide, either. Even if I could trust Julie to remain quiet, you made the option impossible with your side-stage kiss.”

He stopped approaching, his gaze lowering to the handle in her fist.

“What’s with the suitcase?” Blake pinned her with the question but it was the stiffening of Ryan’s posture that put her on edge.

“You’re running again?” Mason snarled.

“No. Not running.” She shook her head. “This time I’m following orders. Bruce has demanded I take a temporary vacation. Otherwise, he’ll make it a permanent one.”

“You told him,” Ryan murmured.

She raised her chin, deflecting the disappointment in his tone. “I had to get on the front foot and inform him more drama might be coming our way from Julie.”

“Then take it back. Tell him you were mistaken.” He started approaching again, making her heart stutter with harsh beats. “Julie won’t talk. I promise you that.”

He kept promising. This time she didn’t believe him. She wouldn’t let herself. “I can’t. We all know I haven’t had the band’s best interests in mind. So I need a break. Dylan will meet you in Houston to take over my role for the rest of the tour.”

“Like hell he will.” Mason scowled. “Put your bag back on the bus. You’re not ditching us.”

She took his judgmental arrogance head on, not caring that it increased her defeat. She hadn’t anticipated the lead singer would act any differently. He couldn’t say, “Stay, I need you here.” Or, “Come on, Leah, we’ll stick by you, no matter what.” It wasn’t his style. But she heard the sentiment through his anger nonetheless.

“This is temporary.” She cut her gaze to Ryan, hoping he’d be kinder. What looked back at her was more punishing. He wasn’t angry or resentful, his eyes were filled with forgiveness and painful understanding.

He slowly nodded, his response subdued. “Do what you have to do. And I’ll do the same.”

The underlying threat slid down her back like molasses, the delicate authority ringing in her ears. She ignored it. She ignored everything—Blake’s heartbroken smile, Sean’s disapproving frown, Mitch’s wide, concerned eyes. “I’ll still be available to talk if you need me. Please call whenever…”

Her words drifted as Ryan turned his back to her, wordlessly gaining the attention of his friends.

“It’s time to get Plan A underway.” He gripped the back of the sofa and scrutinized his audience. “Are you guys still on board?”

Blake nodded. “Let’s do it.”

“I’m all for it,” Sean added.

“You know I’m in,” came from Mason.

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