Page 99 of Undeniable Temptation

He backtracked, leaving her mouth agape and her heart threatening to throw a tantrum while Sean wrestled the suitcase handle from her grip.

“We’ll accompany you outside, m’lady.” Mitch came to her free side and placed a hand at the low of her back. “But you might have to arrange a car. I’d have no idea who to call.”

She scowled at him, the little confidence she’d had slingshotting from the room with their lack of foresight. “Do any of you know what you’re doing?”

“I’m sure one of us does.” Sean squeezed past her, suitcase in tow.

“Come on.” Blake tried to shoo her forward. “Let’s get going.”

She couldn’t. Her feet refused to move. They were going to do something senseless. Reckless, as their world-famous name suggested. “Ryan…” she implored.

“I’ll see you soon.” There was no kiss goodbye. No sweet farewell. He strode for the door, pausing inside the frame. “Remember, I love you.”

Jesus Christ. She parted her lips, poised to protest his departure, but Blake wrapped a hand around her mouth, silencing her call. He held her hostage as she wriggled, the fight soon leaving her body while the sound of Ryan and Mason’s footsteps disappeared down the hall.

“Relax,” Blake whispered in her ear and slowly slid his hand from her face. “Let him do what he needs to do.”

“And if my career gets shot down in flames?”

He gave a sad smile. “Then we all go down with you.”

After grabbingtheir overnight bags from the tour bus, Mitch, Sean, and Blake dragged her to a nearby hotel and booked the penthouse suite. Since then, she’d sat on a corner of the plush sofa, arms crossed, glaring at the muted television playing a movie none of them were paying attention to.

Blake was on the floor doing sit ups. Sean was staring straight ahead, eyes unblinking in a daze. And Mitch was on his phone, probably messaging Alana, who should be on the crew bus to Houston.

“I’m going to have to leave in ten minutes.”

“Sure thing.” Blake didn’t pause in his exercise count. “As long as we hear from Ryan by then.”

“And if we don’t?” The so-called plan had already taken an hour.

“Then you stay.” Sean mumbled, practically asleep with his eyes open.

“That doesn’t work for me.” She pushed to her feet. “The jet would already be waiting at the airport.” She’d already delayed the flight as long as possible and the sixty minutes of clock-stalking hadn’t been fun. Yes, she wanted this to work. She’d silently prayed Ryan’s plan fell into a neat little package of happily-ever-after, but time was running out.

“Not going to happen.” Sean still hadn’t blinked.

“Ithasto happen. Bruce expects to meet me first thing in the morning and I’m supposed to message him when I touch down.”

“Sweetie…” Blake sat up straight, his shoulders slumped as he panted. “We’ll let you walk out of here once Ryan gets back, but until then, calm your tits and get used to it.”

“Nope.” She cocked a hip. “I’m leaving.”

Sean finally blinked to consciousness and met her gaze. “We’ll see.”

“Yeah.” She gave him a sinister smile. She wasn’t scared of his bulk or the buzz cut hiding his teddy bear center. “Wewillsee.”

She sauntered for her suitcase at the start of the open plan kitchen, grabbed the trolley handle, and then made her way to the front door. Muttered curses followed, and then the padded footsteps of a rushed stride.

“Get your ass back to the sofa.” Sean’s voice was tired, the on-stage adrenaline long gone, now leaving him in a defeated withdrawal.

No way. She continued walking and spoke over her shoulder. “I know dealing with a different manager is going to be painful, but it’s only temporary.” She reached the door handle and twisted. Her chest expanded with the relief of freedom and then constricted with the reminder of her lonely future. “I’ll be in contact all the time.”

Sean’s palm hit the door, slamming it shut in her face.

“Get. Your ass. On the. Sofa.” Each word was enunciated in a terrifying growl.

“Sean—” Her reply was cut off by a scream.Herscream as he lifted her off the ground and threw her over his shoulder like a sack of wheat.

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