Page 29 of Blind Attraction

“Are you still happy to have a coffee downstairs by yourself?”

“Yes. I’ll be fine.” Alana refused to be a distraction, stating she would remain in the car if need be. The compromise, suggested by Tony, was for her to wait in the coffee shop on the ground floor until the fifteen minute interview had concluded.

Mitchell, and even Blake, had protested, but Alana wouldn’t agree to come otherwise. She could sit by herself, drink a coffee, and listen to the chatter of mingling people for the short amount of time. If she encountered a problem, she’d ask a waitress for help.

“I’ll get out first,” Tony’s deep voice startled her, kicking her heart rate back into unwelcomed territory.

“No arguments here,” Blake replied. “When it comes to fans, I’d much prefer to have them groping you than me.”

“Do they really grope?” Alana murmured into Mitchell’s shoulder.

He chuckled. “Unfortunately they grab anything they can get their hands on.”

She cringed. “Maybe I’ll stay in the car until Tony can come back and get me.”

He released her hand and ran it over her shoulders, pulling her closer into his body. “I won’t let anything happen to you...again.” The regret in his voice was palpable.

“OK, here we go.” The car came to a stop and Tony climbed out, letting in a wave of screams before he slammed the door shut.

“There’s nothing to worry about, sugar,” Blake reassured her. “We’re at the back entrance to the building, and there are only a few people at the doors. Security already has it under control.”

A few people? She wasn’t deaf. Instead of alerting him to the fact she heard half of Richmond releasing their siren calls at the car, she nodded and swallowed the bile rising in her throat. “All right.”

Blake’s door opened, then Mitchell’s. “I’ve got you.” He gripped her hand and led her from the car. “Once we get inside and meet the rest of the guys, Tony will get you settled in the coffee shop.”

She tripped up the curb, once again along the path, and sighed in relief once they passed the wailing crowd and entered the relative safety of the building.

“Easy as groupies on a gig night, wasn’t it, Al.”

She cringed at the analogy, but couldn’t help smiling. “Yeah. As easy as I assume groupies are on those types of occasions, I would have to agree.”

“Mitch?” A female voice called, and Alana swallowed involuntarily. “Are you guys ready to head upstairs?”

“Yeah, but first I want you to meet someone. Leah, this is Alana. Allie, this is our awesomely talented band manager, Leah.”

“Nice to meet you.” Alana raised her hand to the shadow in front of her and hoped for the best. There was an uncomfortable pause that caused the hair on the back of her neck to rise and a soft hand gripped hers in a firm shake. They were communicating behind her back…well probably right in front of her eyes, she sensed it.

“You...too, Alana.” Leah’s words were stilted.

“There was a problem last night with the ass cake you fired. He threw a glass vase that shattered in Alana’s face. At the moment, she can’t see.”

“What?” Leah gasped. “Why wasn’t I told? I need to be informed of these things, Mitch.”

“It’s fine. Settle down. She’s here so I can keep an eye on her. I’ve been taking care of her to make up for the position I put her in.”

Alana hid her disappointment behind a smile as the two of them spoke. His words ripped the happiness from her lungs. Was that what he’d been doing? Taking care of her to make up for what happened? If that was the case, he needn’t have worried.

“I’ve gotta go.” Mitchell kissed her temple.

She pressed her lips together to contain her emotion even though her wounded pride urged her to jerk away. “Bye.” She gave a half-hearted wave.

His heat continued to surround her moments later when the blur of shadows around them faded into the background. Tight hands gripped her shoulders and the darkened haze of his face filled her vision. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head, not wanting to open her mouth. If she spoke she would tell him to drop the knight in shining armor act and call Kate to pick her up.

“We met less than twenty-four hours ago, and yet, I can already sense when something is wrong. Please tell me, otherwise I won’t be able to concentrate in the interview and I’ll make a dick of myself.”

For a second her lips twitched in humor, but then she remembered why she’d been upset. “Has everything between us been about obligation? The sex, the clothes, the shower? Were you doing it because you thought you needed to?” Her voice broke on the final word and she scrunched her nose, fighting back the unwelcomed emotions determined to break free.

---