Page 159 of Dirty Rock

“Listen, Halo,” Rhett started, “You and I are gonna sing a song together, that okay?”

Halo scoffed at the ridiculousness of the question before he agreed into his microphone like a little school kid, losing all his cool.

“You knowLovesong?”

“By The Cure? They’re one of my favourite bands.”

“Good taste, brother. We’re gonna slow it down. I’ll lead.”

“Fuck, yeah!”

Halo looked pleased with himself, and I watched as Rhett let him go and began to walk to me. “First, I’ve got something I need to do.”

The crowd’s screams were crazy, and my stomach flipped over and over as Rhett sauntered to the edge of the stage like he owned it. He owned them all.

He looked up to the lighting guys again and pointed at me as he spoke into his mic. “Any chance we can get a nice little glow of happiness shining down on this lady right here?”

Three seconds later, I was under the heat of a thousand suns, feeling my whole body flush as I leaned back in my chair and pressed my hands to my cheeks.

“Rhett!” I growled, knowing he couldn’t really hear me. “What the hell are you doing?”

His responding grin was bright white and lit up my life. “Berlin, have you guys had the pleasure of meeting my woman?”

The crowds cheered, for the most part, with a few grumblings and quizzical murmurs as people strained to get a look at me.

“Actually, I hope you haven’t,” Rhett hit back. His voice was with them, but his eyes were on me. “I wanted, for so long, to keep her my little secret. See, this woman here saved me when I didn’t even know I was lost. You know who she is, of course. You’ve seen the fucking media speak her name when they don’t have the right to. You’ve seen her face next to mine on E!News and all those other bullshit gossip sites.” Rhett bent his knees and crouched down, so he was balancing on his toes. He gave me his bedroom eyes, the ones reserved for me that turned me to jelly, and he held out his hand to me. “Now, I’m here to do something she’s probably going to kill me for. Come over here, my Jules.”

The two guys next to me stood at once, and I glanced up between them, realising they’d been placed there by Rhett to protect me all along. They each held out their arms for me to take like true gentlemen. On shaky feet, with my heart threatening to burst out of its cage, I took them and let them guide me forward.

Rhett’s eyes never left mine. When I got to him, I had to take a few steps up before I could hold his hand. I stopped on those stairs, not wanting to mount the stage.

“What’s going on?” I asked cautiously.

Rhett dropped the mic down by his side, brought his lips to my ears and whispered, “I’m taking control. Trust me.”

He left me with a kiss I felt everywhere.

Bringing the back of my hand to his lips, he held it there for a moment before he brought the mic to his mouth.

“Berlin, you might want to get your phones out for this one. Hit that record button and mark this moment in history because some of you could make a bit of money off this. Fleece those media arseholes for everything you can get.” He wiggled his brows while mine creased together. “Everyone knows it’s no secret that I love this woman. When you find someone who brings out sides of you that you never knew existed, you keep that person close. Even letting her come on this leg of the tour with Front Row Frogs killed me. I didn’t want to let her go. Letting her live her life without demanding I take control kills me, but I do it for her. I do it for her…andI do it for our baby.”

Everything within me froze.

My lips parted as a chill ran over my skin.

Rhett glowed under those bright lights. His eyes sparkled, and his jaw ticked as he watched my reaction and leaned in with only the microphone between us for him to speak into.

“So, here you go, world. Another exclusive. Julia Speed, the love of my life, is having my baby.” He looked up at the crowd, his timing perfect. “And I’m the happiest guy alive because of it.”

My smile was ridiculous as a happy tear fell down my cheek.

Rhett turned back to me just in time to catch it with his thumb. He brushed it away and then pulled the mic away so the roaring crowds couldn’t hear us anymore.

“You can leave me to go to work, baby, but I never said I wouldn’t follow.”

“You’re an idiot.” I laughed as I ran one hand through his hair and another over my belly.

Rhett’s eyes fell to the bump between us, and he placed his hand over mine. “Can’t blame a guy for being excited to do life with you.”

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