Page 25 of Extended Bridge

Nese appears at my side. “Some patient you have there.”

“Yeah.” As soon as I realize my tone is wistful, I correct myself. “He’s a handful.”

“My guess is more like two.” She pauses a beat, then lets out a huge guffaw, drawing the attention of some of the band members still at the threshold.

“Nese,” I chide. “I’m his physical therapist.”

After the rest of the guys leave, she says, “Fine. Then you won’t mind if I’m his bed warmer for the night.” My brows pull together, earning another loud laugh from her. “Just kidding you, Jenna. I wouldn’t touch any of the band members with a ten-foot pole.”

“Why?” My thought leaps from my mind into the air. “I mean, they’re all talented and good-looking.”

“Toohandsome, if you get my meaning. Men like that are too high maintenance for me.”

“Says their stylist.”

“Which gives me all the insight needed.”

“Well, these high maintenance guys are hitting a club in thirty minutes.” Nese could provide the buffer I need. I crook my elbow at her. “Want to join us?”

“Us?” Her pierced eyebrow lifts.

“Bennett invited me. Since we haven’t had time to discuss the show and how it affected his injury, I agreed. I don’t plan on staying longer than an hour.”

Her short brown hair bobs. “If I agree, will you let me style you?”

I glance down at my leggings. “Guess I’m not dressed for a club, huh?”

For the third time, she laughs. “C’mon. I’ll make us both so hot the band will be panting. Then we can turn them away in favor of some normal guys. These boys need to be brought down to earth.”

I giggle. “I like how you think.” We walk toward The Closet, her domain. In here, there’s a surprising amount of women’s clothing, considering the band’s all men.

At my question, Nese replies, “Back-up singers.”

“All three of them?”

She shrugs. “They have to look good too, you know.” After flipping through some hangars, she plucks a little black dress off the rack and holds it up to my body. “This should be good for you. I’ve got killer boots to match.”

I take the garment from her. It’s like an oversized scarf, much flashier than the one Court gave me. “I don’t know about this. It’s so...skimpy.”

“All the better to taunt Bennett with.” She holds up a deep purple fringe dress to her own body. “What do you think?”

“Looks like a cross between Donna Summer and a flapper.”

“Then my work here is done.” Another one of her hearty laughs ensues.

Now wearing her selected dress, I zip up the boots and stand. She exclaims, “Girl, you look fine.”

Self-consciously, I skim my hands over my body. “This is,” I search for the right description. “A lot.”

Nese smirks. “Or not enough.”

My hands race to the zipper on my back. “I don’t think I can wear this.”

Her hands cover mine. “Of course you can. You have a beautiful body, so show it off. Make the band pant with want. Then dance with someone in the crowd.”

She makes it all sound so simple. I suppose it would be, but for Bennett. At the thought of him in those black leather pants, my mind seizes. “I guess I can wear this. I’m only going to be out for an hour anyway.”

“That’s the spirit.” She fluffs her pixie cut and passes me red lipstick. “Here. I think this shade will look perfect on you.”

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