Page 18 of Devil In The Details

Candace’s laugh is husky and low. Girl doesn’t miss a trick. “He is. And you’re not his type. Not even a little, so this—” She waves her finger between me and the stage. “Has my attention.”

I suck in breath, needing to change the topic before this charade is ousted before its even began. “How long have you and Ian been together?”

She huffs, like she knows what I’m doing. “Long enough to know it’s not easy.”

“What’s not easy?”

“Being the girlfriend of a rising rock God.”

“A rock God?” I snort. “That’s a stretch.”

She cocks her head to the side, leaning into thetable and dropping her chin in her hand as she studies me. “Devils Heartbreak is going places, babe. No, not places. They’re gonna climb the ladder all the way to the top, and not a single one of them gives a shit who they have to stomp on during the climb. They aren’t soft and cuddly guys. They’re rough and mean and selfish as fuck. If you’re here for a ride, cool. Ride him and get off. If you’re clinging for a free meal ticket, know they don’t hand out scraps for long and strays never stick.” She licks her dark violet painted lips. “But if you’re real enough to be here forhim, I’m your girl. I’ll help you hide your tears behind concealer when he fucks up, because he will. I’ll give you a lesson or two in clipping the claws of all the pussycats who will give it their all to sink every nail deep into your man. Just know this life, being the woman on their arm, it isn’t worth the money. The heart, however—” Her eyes land on the bass player. “If you can fight your way to that—ignoring all the rest—that’s where the real gold is.”

I can’t look away from her. This woman said a lot, and the picture she paints isn’t a pretty one. If I were really here for the man, I might heed her warning and ditch. But this isn’t real, and my delicate heart isn’t fighting for anything when it comes to Cash Jagger, so I force a smile to my face and say what I’d say if I really were falling head over heels for the lead singer of Devils Heartbreak.

“We’re going to be friends.”

She sits back in the seat. “You have my back, I’ll have yours.” She pushes her hand toward me with three quick snaps of her black painted nails. “Phone.”

I hand her my phone and she does her thing before she hands it back to me. Then she pulls her phone from her purse and saves my contact from the text she sent herself on my phone.

And that’s how a sister-club is formed. Even though this thing between me and Cash is fake as the nails Candace taps against the table, I have a feeling my unlikely friendship with Candace will be the opposite.

Candace slides from the table without a word, returning with two gin and tonics. “I need this after the week I had.”

“Work?” I ask as she slides one to me and I grin in thanks.

“Class.” She takes a big swallow from her glass. “I’ll be an ER Nurse—eventually.”

“Cool.”

“Yep.” She gives a nod, her eyes on the stage. “These guys are gonna hit it big. That means tours. Figure I’ll go on the road sometimes, but we don’t want kids, so I’ll need something to occupy my time while Ian’s off dominating the night.”

I nod, but say nothing as I sit and sip and watch my fake boyfriend dominate the crowd.

seven

Cash

By the time I jump down from the stage to collect my fake girlfriend, she’s wasted. Her and Candace are giggling about fuck knows what when I move in close, dropping my mouth next to her ear and biting back a grin when she shivers.

I murmur, “You’re drunk.”

Her hand comes up to cover her mouth and her eyes get saucer wide. She thinks she’s whispering, but she’s not. Everyone hears her gasp. “Oh no! I am, aren’t I?”

Cute.“Yeah, Kitten, you are.”

She glances down at theglasses on the table, blinking fast. “I don’t know how that happened. I only had—”

Her slur is cut off as she begins to count the cups.

Candace hoots a laugh. “Like your girl, Cash.”

“Seems she likes you, too.”

Candace twists her lips to the side, sassing, “She’s not the usual.”

Wrenlee forgets her count and her eyes drift up, full lips pouting. “There’s a usual?”

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