Page 53 of Extended Bridge

The band finishes their set and rushes backstage, stripping off their clothes. Bennett searches for me, his face beaming when he finds me in the corner. Naked from the waist up, he stalks toward me.

Preventing a disgusting, wet hug, I hold up a towel between us that Nese gave to me and shove it against his glistening chest. For good measure, I rub my palms over his pecs. Can’t deny the excitement that pulses from his body, deep into mine.

“A guy could get used to this treatment.” He steps back and rubs the towel over his back, all the while grinning at me.

I notice his smile reaches his eyes, which appear softer. This is the true Bennett—he’s dropped the mask. I reach over and trace my fingers over his necklace, stopping at the UC pendant. “Your good omen.”

“You’re my lucky charm.”

His words embrace me.

“Guys, guys,” Luke calls for the band’s attention. “Once you finish up the encore, you have your meet and greet, and then the afterparty at a local club. Be on notice that the radio station that’s hosting the party invited twenty of your fans to be in the VIP area, so I need you to be on your best behavior.” Luke’s gaze spears Río.

The drummer holds up his drumsticks in the sign of the cross. “What? I’m always good. You must be talking about Tris.”

We all crack up. Mr. Polite is the furthest thing from the troublemaker of the band.

Nese passes Bennett a new shirt and whispers something in his ear. He takes the shirt and offers her a blinding smile. Then he comes over to me and grabs a lock of my hair. “See you at the meet and greet?”

“I’ll be there,” I confirm. “Then I’m going to bed. Have fun at the after party.”

He yanks on the end of my hair. “I’ll see what I can do to change your mind.” He steals a quick kiss, slips his new shirt over his torso,and follows the rest of the band onto the stage, much to the delight of the audience.

After dealing with their dirty clothes, Nese joins me backstage, smiling like the Cheshire cat. After a minute, I can’t control my nosiness. “What did you say to Bennett back there?”

“Wondered how long it would take you to ask.” She focuses on UC’s encore. “I dared him to get you to come out with us tonight.”

“You didn’t!” I think about our kiss, my fingers flying in front of my lips. “No wonder he didn’t seem surprised when I told him I was going to bail.”

“That man has it bad for you. Almost as much as you have fallen for him. I, for one, am looking forward to the fireworks.”

Facing the stage, I square my shoulders. “No fireworks.” When I turn my head, Nese waves at me as she walks away.

Alone watching the end of the encore, I think about everything Nese told me. Bennett’s easy to fall for, but am I ready for this lifestyle? Onstage, he strips off his shirt and tosses it in my direction. I watch it land ten feet in front of me and, of their own accord, my feet take me toward it. Picking up the wet material from the floor, I scrunch it into a ball. He gives me a naughty grin, causing hearts to flick at him from my eyes. Yes, too easy.

Following the meet and greet consisting of about one hundred women with a sprinkling of men, the band congregates in The Closet to prepare for the next outing. Within seconds, Cooper and Río stand in their skivvies. Spinning on my heel, my overheated face points toward the door. Time for me to leave.

I take one step when a large hand lands on my shoulder. “What can I do to change your mind?”

Without turning, I reply, “Bennett, I can’t go out tonight. Enjoy yourself.” I slip through the door, half-expecting him to follow me. When he doesn’t, I tamp down flutters of disappointment and use my all-access pass to gain entrance into the back parking lot and enter my bus.

The one I’m sharing with other crew members. Where I belong.

I make my way to my bunk. Leaving my shoes in the narrow hallway, I climb into my bed and curl into the fetal position. The truth is I like Bennett way too much for my own good. He represents everything I’m not—undisciplined, chaotic, and free.No he’s not. He may be the first two, but free? No way. He’s bound by his own demons.

I guess we all are.

Not wanting to be stuck in my own head, I text Court. After a quick catch-up, I dive in:

Bennett’s amazing onstage, but he’s a different man from the one I’m getting to know with PT.

How so?

He wears a mask...whenever he’s performing, in meet and greets, at afterparties, in interviews, photo shoots, or music videos. Not the same person at all. There, he’s more flirty and arrogant. Not with me.

Well, are you the same amazing and warm woman you are with me when dealing with your other managers? Or construction teams? Bank officers?

No, of course not.

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