Page 34 of Hard Rock Deceit
I likeyou, came the unbiddenthought.
I'd never liked anyone. Not in that way. August was thefirst.
The feelings I had for him were scary, and intimate, and hard to wrap my headaround.
He examined me closely, ducking his head slightly to look into my eyes. He was so tall I had to tip myheadback.
I wondered if my thoughts were written all over my face. I couldn't hold his gaze. I loweredmyeyes.
He took a step back. "It's getting late. The guys will probably be getting up soon." He smirked. "I should probably sneak out before they see me leave your bedroom and start getting ideasaboutus."
I let out a nervous bark of a laugh. I didn't want to imagine the kind of teasing we'd endure if the guys got the wrong idea about us. Cameron would no doubt love to make life hellforus.
That thought gave mepause.
Would it be thewrongidea?
Were August and Itogether?
We'd shared intimate moments. He seemed to like flirting with me just enough to set me off balance. But he'd said nothing about an actual relationship. Besides, even if he did bring up the subject, I wasn't sure I was ready for that the kind of conversation.Notyet.
But I did know onething.
I wouldn't say no if August wanted to kiss meagain.
ChapterEleven
Sittingin the tour bus office chair, hunched over my laptop, I was undisturbed by the commotion in the front. Noise-cancelling headphones over my ears muffled the distractingsounds.
August, Damon, and the other guys were playing a game. Each band member had a turn on the guitar in an attempt to create the most horrendous noise possible. Taking the opportunity to get some work done, I holed myself up in the office area and tunedthemout.
I hadn't had a chance to sort through the photos yet. I needed to narrow them down from thousands to dozens, choosing only the best shots. Then I needed to edit them and re-touch them, making handfuls of small changes. Changes no one else would notice, but as the photographer, Iwould.
I caught a glimpse of blond hair out of the corner of my eye. I was so focused on my work, I took only vague notice of it. Either the game was done or August had enough of it. The image in front of me still needed my attention, so I put it out ofmymind.
I felt a warm presence behind me, my only warning before a firm chest pressed against my back. Two hands lifted my headphones off my head, careful not to tug and pull onmyhair.
"How's the work coming?" August murmured inmyear.
I smiled. "It would go faster if someone didn't keepdistractingme."
August swung my swivel chair around until I was facing him. He looked as gorgeous today as ever, longish-hair falling over his jaw, blue eyes peering into mine. He brushed my hair frommyface.
August had been doing this lately. Coming up behind me, murmuring in my ear, giving me small, innocent touches here and there. At first, every husky word made my insides quake, every touch of his skin made my heart beat a smallthrill.
I was getting used to it now. I took note of the feelings, then brushed them aside, compartmentalizing. I was learning to focus and speak in full sentences even as he touched me. I was becoming desensitized to it, no longeroverwhelmed.
Maybe that washisplan.
"Is that all I am? A distraction? Harsh." His tone was light andamused.
"If you want these photos, you need to let meeditthem."
He leaned over my shoulder to peer at myscreen.
"That one'snotbad."
I wondered wherenot badfell on the awful-to-amazing scale in August-speak. From his approving tone, I took it as highpraise.
