Page 24 of Big & Burly Rockstar

She glances at me, her bright smile souring slightly. “Hi, Elli.”

I greet her, trying to keep my smile from slipping. Cow. After introductions to the cameraman and his assistant, we sit down. My hand still clasping Dev’s becomes sweaty, and I try to pull it away, not wanting him to be disgusted by me. But he refuses to let go.

“No need to be nervous, princess. It’ll be fine,” he says quietly.

I give him a shaky nod, my stomach in knots. God, I hope I don’t embarrass myself for the world to see. If I do, my sister will never let me hear the end of it.

“Ready?” Miranda asks, sitting down across from us.

Dev looks at me and raises an eyebrow, and I nod. And then the questions begin. For the most part, I just sit there and smile, as Miranda aims most of her questions at Dev.

“So, how did you meet?” she asks, looking at me for the first time.

I lick my lips and take in a deep breath, hoping my voice won’t come out squeaky. I’m not a great liar, so Dev and I decided to stick to the truth as much as possible. “Through my cousin. She’s a friend of Dev’s.”

Miranda stares at me, obviously not satisfied with my answer. Then she shifts her attention back to Dev.

“And was it love at first sight?” Maybe I’m imagining the ghost of a sneer on her face. She reminds me of my sister. A self-absorbed pretty girl who’s used to men fawning over her. I bite back my anger. After today, I’ll never have to see her again.

“Yes,” Dev says confidently. When he turns his head to look at me, his eyes are shining with affection, and I forget all about Miranda and her condescending looks.

“I knew she was special the moment I saw her,” Dev says, still looking at me. “She was confident and beautiful and refused to put up with my shit. And she’s the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

Miranda coughs delicately, but I ignore her. Her mean girl bullshit can’t pierce the wave of happiness washing over me.

“So, you’re a changed man?” Miranda asks.

“Yes. My whole life I was searching for something without knowing what it was. And now,” he says, lifting out entwined hands and brushing a kiss against my knuckles, “I’ve finally found it.”

How does this man manage to turn my insides so damn gooey? God, I can’t wait until we’re alone.

Miranda looks like she just bit into a lemon. “So you’re over the drugs and strippers?”

Dev clenches his jaw. “Yes.”

“How wonderful,” she says. “How do you feel about Devon’s past, Elli? Doesn’t it bother you?”

Bitch. I do my best to keep my expression relaxed and shrug. “People make mistakes, Miranda. And they can change. I trust Dev more than anyone. He’s a wonderful person with a heart of gold. So, no. It doesn’t bother me. It never will, because I love him. All of him. The good and the bad.”

Devon

Throughout the rest of the interview, Elli’s words play on a loop in my head. I love him. All of him. I stop caring about how rude Miranda is to Elli, stop caring that Pete has us parade around like circus animals for the press. Elli loves me. And I love her.

Once the interview is finally over, I tug Elli toward the door. I need to be alone with her. But a hand on my arm stops me. “Good job, you two,” Pete says. “I’ll take you downstairs now.”

I glower at him, but his smile doesn’t slip. With a sigh, I follow him downstairs, Elli at my side.

“So, you love me?” I murmur, smiling down at her.

She blushes a pretty shade of pink. “Yup.”

“Good. Because I love you too.”

Her smile takes my breath away. Then she looks around, sighing. “I wish we could just leave.”

“I know.” I kiss the top of her head, breathing in the sweet scent of her vanilla shampoo. “Soon, princess. Soon.”

Of course, it doesn’t work out like that. As soon as we arrive at the party, I’m surrounded by rich men in suits. I hate the way their eyes rove over Elli’s body, hate the way they linger on her breasts. Motherfuckers. I want to knock their teeth out.

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