Page 48 of I Need You Tonight
Aaron snorted. “Try six times.” To me he added, “We had to change the password after that.” He tilted his chin at the list in my hand. “So guard it with your life.”
“Will do.” I’d stuff it down my bra if I had to.
By the time Nolan and Jared were on the bus, the rest of the guys had given me an idea of what their day-to-day life was like, and showed me their jam-packed schedule for the next month. It was no wonder Mason had needed a few days off to chill before they resumed touring again.
I checked my emails, to see if Heidi had contacted me. She had, and we spent the next few minutes chatting on the phone about the renovations to the store. It would still be two more weeks before the construction company could get started. And before they could do that, Heidi needed to discuss with them what she and I wanted done. But first we had to wait for the insurance company to tell us exactly how much money we would get from the fire claim.
I signed on to the store’s social media sites, gave everyone an update, and responded to the comments on the Facebook page. Then I signed on to the band’s accounts and sent out updates as to where they were now and where their next show was located. Next I answered the fans’ comments, trying not to blush too much at what some of them said.
But those comments were nothing compared to the video one fan sent Nolan. Of her dancing. Naked.
And then there were the fan emails. A few were suggestive beyond reason. I quickly deleted them and scrolled through page after page of messages…all unread. God, when was the last time the guys had checked their email?
An hour later, just when I figured I’d be scarred for life, Mason pulled up the spare chair and sat next to me. “How’s it going?”
“Did you know some of your fans send you porn?”
I expected Mason to get excited—because what guy wouldn’t?—but he just shrugged. “I don’t bother with the email. That was all Aaron and Jared. Sorry. Hope there wasn’t anything too bad.”
I was vaguely aware of him speaking, but he had leaned closer to me and his amazing man scent—a combination of spice, testosterone, and pheromones—had turned my brain fuzzy.
He rested his hand on the back of my chair and his fingers lightly brushed against my shoulder blade. At his touch, the neurons in my brain went berserk, and I had to do everything in my power not to lean in and kiss him.
“Nicole?”
I blinked. “Huh?”Real smooth, Nicole. I mentally collected myself and logged out of the account.
“So how does everything look?” He gave the standard chin nod, directed at the computer, which I took to mean the social media sites and not the porn.
“You’ve got some very interesting fans.” But none of them seemed too crazy, from what I could tell. I remembered hearing last year that one country music singer had had to get a restraining order against a fan. It didn’t stop her from showing up in his hotel room one night…where he found her on his bed, naked. The last I heard, she was spending quality time in a psychiatric unit.
“I came to see if you want to join us,” he said. “We can discuss this afternoon’s interview and your role with that.”
“My role?”
“Our handler is sick, so we need you to keep the radio personalities in line.”
“Not sure what you mean by that.” I’d always figured a handler was someone big and intimidating, and I was neither of those.
“You tell them what topics they’re allowed to ask about and which are off-limits. If they venture into the off-limits zone, you give them a warning or end the interview.”
“And how exactly do I do that? Charge into the room and make a scene?” Now that would be amusing.
Apparently Mason thought so too, because he laughed. “No, you just do this.” He demonstrated a cutting motion of his hand across his throat.
“That seems easy enough.”
The guys were lounging on the couches in the middle of the bus when Mason and I joined them. Aaron, Nolan, and Jared were sitting on one couch. Kirk was sitting on the one opposite them.
“What time’s the interview?” I asked as Mason and I sat down in the only spot available—next to each other, our hips practically touching. Which meant Mason’s scent was still invading my space. I did my best not to inhale it too obviously. I also did my best not to lean into him.
My best was clearly not enough, and I quickly shifted away from him, trying to look casual about it.
“Four-thirty. It’s scheduled for half an hour. Then we’ll head to the arena for sound check, and the show’s pretty much after that.”
“What topics are allowed?” I asked, my gaze scanning the guys—anything to keep me from noticing Mason’s scent and how close we were still sitting.
“Anything to do with our music, our recent releases, and our upcoming one.”
