Page 12 of Reckless

He’d back off. Until he got to know her more and could poke around without fear of hurting her feelings or making her feel uncomfortable.

“This is a very nice bus,” she said shortly after that, to underline the subject was closed.

“We don’t do overnights in it, but we’ll be using it to drive from show to show. There’ll be a few dates where we’ll end up flying and the bus will meet us at the next stop just because of distance.”

“I can’t sleep in a moving vehicle without terrible nausea. Affects my performance,” Omar said, reminding Miles that just because they were all involved in multiple conversations, they were still listening to what everyone else was saying.

And he for sure caught Silas’s narrow eyed stare when Miles had leaned close to Harlow. His friend wouldn’t be silent about it forever. But right then Miles didn’t really have any answers to give about it anyway. He just knew he wanted more of her.

Harlow got up to go sit next to Omar and tell him about a medication she took for her nausea while traveling but then came back to Miles so he didn’t have to manufacture a reason to follow her.

“Miles Brown is hot for you,” Nora said once they’d checked in to the hotel later that afternoon.

“He flirts with everyone. It’s not personal.” Harlow rolled her eyes, heart thundering.

Nora scoffed. “You’re a liarpants! Yes, he’s friendly and has that charming flirty energy with everyone. But he didn’t corner anyone else on that bus. Just you. And then he watches you like he’s starving and thinks no one notices.”

Harlow growled. “Okay so there’s some attraction.”

“He’s a lot. I searched online. His dick is pierced. Did you know that?” Nora asked.

Harlow clapped a hand over her mouth for a moment. “How did you know? Did you search for that very thing? Hussy.”

“Some ex of his apparently got very chatty after they broke up a few years back. Told the gossip sites about their sex life and stuff. It’s a Prince Albert.” Nora picked up a pen and pointed to the underside of the cap at the top, indicating the position of the piercing.

“Were there pictures?” Harlow whispered.

“Not that I saw, and Brian already frowned at me for googling him anyway. He thinks I should back off and let you make your own choices. I think he’s acting like we just met yesterday. Of course, I’m going to get in your business.”

“We’ve got over two months to go so at this point, my choice is just to enjoy whatever it is. Flirting is fun. He kissed my ear,” she confessed, telling Nora about that moment earlier that day when they’d left San Francisco.

“Just don’t overthink,” Nora warned, pointing at Harlow.

“I don’t overthink.”

Nora just stared at her.

“Okay so I do. But I like Miles. As long as this stays private and casual, things will be fine.”

“He’s one of the biggest rock stars out there right now. He’s in commercials and has had movie parts already. Everyone is curious about him. How do you think this will stay private?” Nora demanded. “Don’t go destroying this thing before it’s even truly started.”

“You and I both know if the gossip sites get hold of this it’ll inevitably be twisted into me using him to get this gig for our band.” Harlow could deal with most criticism, but the way women in the industry were so often accused of fucking someone to get ahead really pushed her buttons.

She worked hard to be successful. Gave up a lot. Invested time and energy and every spare penny to make this career happen. That anyone questioned that because she was considered pretty was a thing she absolutely dreaded. It always seemed to be the voice she heard, even though it was rarer than other voices that lifted her up and saw her talent.

“It’s ridiculous that no one would think he was blowing me to get ahead.”

“To be fair, he’s way more famous than we are. But I get it. And I know you enough to know you’ll let this get to you. So please, give yourself a break. Have fun and remember who the fuck you are, Harlow.”

“Your soulmate?” she teased as there was a knock on the door.

“Obviously!” Nora tossed back as Harlow checked the peep hole to see who was knocking.

It was Miles.

“Hi there,” Harlow said as she opened up.

“I just wanted to let you know we’ll meet you here in the elevator lobby at four to head over to the venue,” Miles told her.

---