Songbird (29 page)

As feet came closer I lifted a brow and he
hissed and ran. I waited for him to be clearly gone before
holstering the Ruger and crawling under the bus for the
Berretta.

The blacktop felt greasy and gritty under my
hands and the heat off the still cooling bus intensified the Texas
temperature. For not even being noon yet, the asphalt was hot and I
didn’t even want to think about what was transferring to
my—Nicholas’s—clothes.

When I turned to shimmy back out, the boots
crossed at the ankle made me want to stay under the bus and
possibly die there. What the hell was he doing out of bed? With
great reluctance I slid out and pushed up to my knees.

Instead of looking up at him, I checked the
gun, clicked the safety back into place, and re-holstered it. I
accepted the silent hand offering assistance off my knees. Since
wishing didn’t change fact I pushed a smile to my lips and looked
up at Nicholas.

Cold fury wasn’t the emotion I expected but
it was clear as day in his eyes. “Why the fuck did you come out
here alone?”

“I saw someone snooping around the
buses.”

“That have security systems and men rotating
patrols.” Nicholas crossed his arms. “Try again.”

I sighed and looked to where Benjamin had run
off to. “Benjamin was here.”

“I heard.”

I swallowed and couldn’t bear to look at him.
“How much did you hear?”

“It started with the hotel room door closing
and since you weren’t in bed, it was obvious who was roaming the
halls. Since some maniac dropped you into hysterical panic a little
over twenty four hours ago, I climbed out of bed and followed.”

“So then you know.” I braced and waited for
the judgment. For the hate and disdain. For the disgust that he had
ever touched me. My heart began cracking at the thought.

“My father is in jail for Fraud, Conspiracy,
Drug Trafficking, and I think he got Forgery too.”

Shocked, I jerked and faced him. His face was
blank but he nodded.

“For a while there he slid out of the crime
and never got more than a few months here and there. I was relieved
when they finally convicted him on something substantial. Every
time he got out he’d come looking for me and asking for money. Just
because he’s family he thought he had a right to make demands.”

“They’re not blood related.” I forced the
words over my dried tongue. “My mother’s second husband and his
son.”

Nicholas nodded. “Doesn’t make it right.”

I closed my eyes and hugged myself tight.
“No. It really doesn’t.”

When Nicholas’s arms came around me I
shuddered and pressed my face into his chest. “Do you want to talk
about it?”

“Not yet.”

“Then we won’t. Come on. You need to change
and I want bed.”

“Nicholas, I’m not good for you.”

“Neither is all that chocolate I eat. Go
figure.”

The laughter startled me. “God. What am I
going to do with you?”

“Hopefully, tuck me into bed.”

“We can start there.”

Outside the conference room I brushed down
Nicholas. After the interview we would go to the venue for sound
check and lunch. Today was busy but not crammed.

“Remember—“

“I know, Songbird. Don’t lose my temper.
Smile. I get chocolate when we’re done.” Nicholas rolled his
eyes.

Close enough, so I nodded. “And no flirting
with me.”

“That’s a shame.” His eyes traveled down my
lipstick red suit. “You look very classy in that suit. Are you
wearing the same color underneath?”

I lifted a brow and tried hard not to smile
though he could probably hear it in my voice. “Maybe.”

He groaned softly and looked away. “Can I see
later?”

“Maybe.” I pushed him through the door and
followed.

Cameras flashed the moment Nicholas stepped
into the room. With an awkward smile and wave, he passed through
the sea of people to the podium. Some murmuring occurred as I
trailed behind, a few shutters clicking as I was caught pictures.
My hands shook a little but I ignored it. There was no way to take
back any of the other pictures, so these ones shouldn’t bother
me.

Nicholas waited for me to stand beside him
before speaking. “Thanks for coming everyone. I really appreciate
you being here today. I have a busy day today so this is going to
be quick. Y’all know whom I am, which makes this easy. Raise your
hand with your question ready and I’ll call on you. Let’s get
started.”

Nicholas called on a man in a blue suit.
“There’s a rumor that you’ve recently changed production managers
in the middle of the tour. You’ve cut more than half of your tour
dates. What problems are you having because of the change?”

“I’m not having any problems. My previous
production manager was adequate at his job but now I have someone
who excels. Gracing Productions is the best in the industry. My
tour dates have been cut in half at my request because I’d like to
get home as soon as possible.”

This time another suit guy was called on.
“Are you worried that your tour manager has other agendas besides
running your tour?”

My blood dropped in temperature and
Nicholas’s back stiffened. “What?”

“A source has revealed that Miss Sheridan
isn’t just a tour director and provides other
services
to
you and other members of your entourage. Is this true?” The
rephrased question wasn’t any better.

I wanted to reach out and squeeze his
shoulder as a reminder not to lose his temper but couldn’t feel my
fingers. Every part of me had turned to ice.
Other
services?

Nicholas’s laughter was amused evil. “Other
services? Well, Bianca does compose and play music. As far as I’m
aware being multi-talented isn’t a crime. You,” he pointed at
random.

“Is it true that you’ve engaged in an illicit
affair with your tour manager, including your band members in on
the fun?”

“Polyandry isn’t illegal.” Nicholas’s voice
was tight. “However, I don’t share. If I was having an affair, I
certainly wouldn’t be wasting my time with you. A woman is
infinitely more fun than an interview.”

Nervous laughter echoed a moment before
Nicholas called on the next one.

“Are you comfortable having people with
dubious pasts as members of your staff?”

Nicholas’s fingers drummed on the table a
moment. “We all have things we regret in our past. Why should I
judge someone on their past when I’m working with them now? And I
by no means have a stellar track record.” He pointed again.

“There has been a report that Miss Percival
illegally fired a gun recently at a family member who was
attempting to reconcile their differences. How do you feel having
such a violent person as part of your staff?”

My breath caught and the room spun a little.
This was out of hand—this attack was aimed at me, not Nicholas. If
I got my hands on my little shit of a brother he would be a dead
man. How dare he do this to Nicholas.

“Really?” Nicholas’s tone was cool amusement.
“Many members of my staff have pistol permits and conceal carry
licenses. I don’t keep track who. More than the security people
around me offer protection. There was a gun fired due to an
attempted break in of one of the buses. That was handled by my
security staff directly. I was in bed so I don’t know any more than
that. If Bianca has the same temper I do…” Nicholas shrugged but it
lacked any form of casualness. “Then we’d be peas in a pod wouldn’t
we?”

Nicholas pointed to a woman in pinstripe.
“Does it bother you that Miss Bianca Sheridan is less than
qualified to run a tour?”

Bile rose in my throat and I forced it down.
Throwing up would only make this worse. A lot worse. My stomach
churned, and I was so glad I hadn’t eaten before coming in.

Everyone heard the deep calming breath
Nicholas took and I wanted to hug him for trying to control his
temper. “
Mrs. Belladonna Gracing
is one of the most skilled
I’ve ever worked with. Anyone who refuses to acknowledge the hard
work she’s put into my tour is not only an ignorant sap but a
fucking asshole as well.”

Nicholas stood abruptly. “None of this is
about me. Since no one has any questions actually for me, I’m
done.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his side before dropping
his over my shoulders drawing me out before I could apologize for
his sudden rudeness.

Ignoring the questions hurled at us as we
passed through the room I was forced to trot to keep up with
Nicholas’s long stride. Abruptly Nicholas pulled us into a secluded
cubby hole and dragged me into a tight hug

Nicholas’s arms tightened enough that
breathing became difficult. “I want my chocolate.”

With a shaky sigh I nodded. “In the
Suburban.”

He let me go and we walked out to where Henry
already had the vehicle parked at the curb. Nicholas held the door
and followed me inside.

Nicholas reclined the best he could next to
me, munching happily on a Snickers I Henry passed back before
heading the car back to the concert hall. Keeping the bag of
chocolate in the car kept Nicholas from eating it all during his
interviews.

As my fear subsided, rage began to boil.
Wisely, or ignorantly depending on his mood, he didn’t interrupt my
bubbling anger. Not until he finished his chocolate bar anyway.

“That went well.” His eyes shifted to me.

A furious huff exploded from me and he lifted
a brow.

“It did. I don’t think I could have handled
it any better. Thanks, Songbird for the praise,” he continued.

“It fucking wasn’t about you, which is the
whole damn point of this fucking tour.” I would have liked to beat
my head against the seat.

“Come now, you knew he was going to try
something. I wasn’t expecting it but considering the source I
should have. Mending fences was a little over the top I think, but
I suppose sympathy for an abuser wouldn’t have worked as well.”

No sympathy for an abuser wouldn’t have
worked well but to tip off the reporters with this shit had me
ready to hunt Benjamin down and feed him to sharks. If I wasn’t
careful Benjamin could turn Nicholas’s tour into a circus. Like
hell I would allow that.

I rubbed my hands over my face. “You
shouldn’t have cursed at them.”

“You’re not going to revisit the dubious past
question?” He nibbled on my finger.

I tugged on my hand but Nicholas held it
firmly. “Walker, let go.”

“No, not yet.” He tugged a lot harder than I
did pulling me across his lap.

“Walker, dammit.” I shifted and tried to pull
my skirt back into place.

“This would be easier if you straddled me.”
He into my ear.

“Dammit, Henry is right there.” I pushed my
free hand against his chest and fought desire when his eyes turned
molten. “No. Not in the car. Not right now. I’m too pissed for
this.”

“SUV.” He nuzzled my neck. “Angry sex is
often better than normal sex. Henry turn the radio up.”

“No.” Panic and laughter both bubbled up
churning my stomach. “No. Control yourself, Walker.”

Nicholas let go of my hand and with both
hands firmly gripping my ass, twisted in his seat taking me with
him so we were half reclined in the backseat.

“Walker, we’re both too tall for this.” I
pushed both hands against his chest again but he didn’t release
me.

He pulled me down and rubbed all our best
places together. “I want you.” His voice dropped to a husky
whisper. “I need you, Bianca.”

Despite my best intentions my blood began to
heat. I could see desire etched into his face. Along with something
else I wasn’t willing to explore.

“Henry.” Someone needed to be the voice of
reason, and it appeared it was going to have to be me, even though
my voice shook.

“He’ll give us a minute, won’t you, Henry?
You can park the car and step out can’t you?”

“Yes, Mr. Walker.” Humor laced the guard’s
words. “If you can wait five minutes we’ll be parked at the concert
hall.”

“See,” Nicholas’s attention returned to me.
“Please, Songbird.” His mouth brushed the side of my face and he
lifted his hips pressing firmly into me once more.

“Sex doesn’t fix the problem.” I shifted away
again.

“I have a problem it can fix.”

“So will a cold shower.” I pushed again.
“Really, Walker. I’m not in the mood.”

A hand skimmed up my side. “Where is… Oh.”
His fingers brushed over the corset holding the guns. “Good to know
where they are. Maybe you could keep just these on this time?”

His hand continued up and wrapped in my
braid—there was no point in doing anything else with my hair in
Texas climate—and tugged. My lips curved.

“You love to pull my hair.” I leaned in and
pressed our mouths together for a brief kiss. “Why is that?”

His eyes lit with mischief and he
shrugged.

When the SUV stopped I reached for the door
behind Nicholas and we tumbled out. Nicholas landed on his back on
the asphalt with me on top.