“What was I supposed to do?” he replied, his voice raised in anger as Henry led us over to introduce me. “You pushed and you pushed, just like you always do, but in the end you got what you wanted, didn’t you?”
The guy looked like he wanted to rip someone’s face off. Not wanting to get caught in the crossfire, I tugged at Henry’s hand but he wouldn’t let go.
“Don’t deny you got what you wanted too, Jake, so fuck you,” she hissed.
“Too late!” he shouted. “You already did.”
Everyone froze, including Henry and I. The sudden silence was thick with tension and everyone looked to Mac, appearing breathless as they waited for her to say something.
“I don’t have time for this. I have work to do.” Spinning on her heel, Mac disappeared up the stairs, her shoes clicking loudly on each step as everyone watched in silence.
“Dammit,” Jake muttered, brushing a hand over his buzzed hair before dropping it to his side in defeat.
Cooper’s grin encompassed the room when Jake angrily flung his set of drum sticks on the couch and disappeared up the stairs after her.
“You all owe me ten bucks,” he crowed with glee.
“So that was Jake,” Henry informed me, pulling his wallet from his back pocket as money began changing hands. The swift transaction was peppered with a few grumbles and two unsavoury threats that alluded to Cooper’s lack of morals.
I raised my brows. “He seems … nice.”
“Sure he is,” Frog agreed and held his bass guitar out towards me. “Here, Grace. You can play my guitar. It’s tuned and ready to go.”
“Bet that’s not all that’s tuned and ready to go,” I heard Cooper mutter as I took hold of the gleaming black and silver guitar, testing the weight in my hands. It was heavier than mine and likely a thousand times more expensive.
“Flip it over,” he told me.
Doing as he said, I turned it over in my hands and saw flowing script on the back that read: Live hard, fuck hard, play hard. I grinned at Frog as I lifted the strap over my shoulder and settled the guitar in my hands. “That’s your motto, is it?”
“Yep.” He returned my grin and reached for the button on his jeans, saying, “I’ve got it tattooed across my lower abs. Wanna see?”
Two hours later and I was confident enough with the song to know I wasn’t going to embarrass both the band and myself. After a quick shower, my hair and makeup was done courtesy of a stylist Mac arranged to come to the duplex. I was given dark smoky eyes, glossy coral lips, and my hair styled in loose, textured waves. Returning to my room in a cotton dressing gown, I noticed my suitcase had been ransacked and an outfit was laid out on the bed—my black leather bustier and a pair of royal blue pants that flared at the hip and tapered at the ankle.
“Jesus, Grace.” Mac said from behind, startling me. She waved her hand towards my things. “Your clothes. Gorgeous. I took the liberty of getting your outfit together and ironing your pants. Hurry up and get dressed because we have to motor. Sing out when you’re ready and I’ll come in and do the zipper up on your bustier, okay?”
“Wait!” I called when she was halfway out the door.
She paused.
“You and Jake. Is everything okay?”
She opened her mouth, ready to say something before snapping it shut. “Everything’s fine,” she told me, and when she left, I wondered if I sounded more convincing when I lied about the same thing to Henry just hours earlier.
Taking off my cotton robe, I pulled on my pants and buckled up the black, diamante stilettos. I was just sliding the bustier down and settling it in place when a tap came at the door.
“Just in time. I’m ready to go. Can you get the zipper?”
My hair was swept gently aside, baring my back. Warm, rough fingertips trailed gently down my spine, making me shiver. “You smell like honey, Slim,” came the hoarse voice in my ear.
I spun around, suddenly breathless. “Casey.” The hasty movement made my unzipped bustier slide down. I grappled with it, holding it in place with my hands, as he stood there and watched. “What are you doing in here?”
Casey gave an unconcerned shrug like he had all the time in the world, which was convenient, because right then I needed all the time in the world just to take him in.
He’d changed from his worn jeans into a suit—navy silk with a crisp white shirt. The fitted cut made it obvious the suit was tailored specifically for him, and the open collar gave a tantalising glimpse of tanned, muscled chest. He was … Good Lord, he was beautiful.
Breathe, Grace, I had to remind myself. This man is not your friend.
“Get out,” I snapped.
“And miss seeing you half dressed? I think not.” He tilted his head, cocky grin in place as I wrestled with the back of the zipper trying to do it up myself. “Can I do that for you?”
Nothing good could come out of him doing anything for me, or to me, for that matter. From the minute I’d set foot on Sydney soil, I’d lost all sense of emotional composure around the man. He was a menace to my mental health. “No.”
“No?” He leaned casually against the wall and folded his arms.
“Grace!” Henry shouted from downstairs. “The limo’s here!”
“Where’s Mac?” I called back.
“She’s already in the car. We’re waiting for you!”
Goddammit.
“Well,” Casey drawled, inspecting his fingernails calmly. “Looks like you’re in a bit of pickle there, Slim. Everyone’s waiting for you, but don’t worry, I’ve got an idea.” A smirk spread slowly across his face, and I felt the urge to slap it off. “How about asking me nicely to do your zipper? I think I’ll like hearing a please and thank you from those pretty lips of yours.”
Anger made my stomach churn, and the fact that I couldn’t remember the last time I ate only made it worse. “I’d rather eat dirt,” I hissed. Holding my bustier in place with one hand, I grabbed my bag with the other. Asshole! I’d just get Henry to do the damn zipper and be done with it. Straightening my shoulders, I made for the door, doing my best to escape with dignity and failing in a spectacular fashion.
Casey’s arm snapped out, grabbing my wrist. “Wait.”
I tugged, but his strength was superhuman, reminding me of his earlier assault at the airport. “Oh, okay. We’re doing this again.” I rolled my eyes as he dragged me unwillingly towards him.
The subtle scent of his aftershave hit me and I recognised the warm, woodsy tone of Bvlgari Man instantly. It suited him perfectly, and I wondered if it was something he’d purchased himself or was bought for him. Then I wondered why the hell I was wondering something like that.
I made a show of looking at my watch. “Make your lecture quick this time. Everyone’s waiting remember?”
Casey’s chuckle came deep from his chest, surprising me. I met his amused eyes, falling in love with the clear, pretty blue colour. “This is funny now?”
“Will you let me speak?”
“Grace!” Henry yelled.
“Be right there!” I yelled back.
“Slim,” Casey murmured, and his thumb started rubbing the inside of my wrist. The touch was both soothing and sensual. I repressed a visible shiver. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry?”
He nodded. “For today. For jumping to conclusions. I have some stuff going on and it’s made me a bit …”
“Of a loose cannon? A Batman wannabe? An irrational vigilante?” I supplied.
Amusement returned to his eyes as his hand started sliding up my arm, the rough callouses of his palm scraping my skin. Reaching halfway, his thumb started rubbing again—this time the inside crease of my elbow. My breathing escalated along with the sensual touch.
“I was going to say a bit stressed.”
“That’s you a bit stressed?” I tugged my arm from his grip and this time he let go. “God help the universe then if you have a major meltdown. Planets will get thrown out of alignment. Stars will collide. Perhaps an
asteroid will change trajectory towards Earth.” A look of mock horror crossed my face. “You would go down in infamy as the sole man responsible for Armageddon.”
Casey laughed and dimples popped on his cheeks, morphing the man from beautiful to adorable. A kitten with a ball of yarn had nothing on Casey when he was laughing. I stood there for a moment staring in wonder.
“I think we should call a ceasefire, don’t you? I shouldn’t have made assumptions about you, and I shouldn’t have lost my temper. I just …” Casey looked away, sliding his hands into his pockets. It was an oddly vulnerable move. I had the urge to reach out and cup his face, forcing him to look at me so I could see into his eyes. I’d never felt that with any other man before—so much irritation along with intrigue and an overwhelming craving to touch.
“You just what?”
He looked at me then, but his eyes were clear, giving me nothing. “A shitty day, Slim. That’s all. I just had a shitty day.” He stepped closer but didn’t get in my face like he had earlier. Instead, he cocked his head, waiting. “So will you accept my apology and let me do your zipper?”
I relaxed a little until I remembered Mitsy and his annihilation of Casey’s car. I had to accept his apology or appear churlish, but damn, when he saw the torn interior—because there was no quick fix for the damage I’d allowed Mitsy to inflict—all bets would be off. The ceasefire would cease.
Travis was right. I was a dead woman walking. My panic must have been obvious because his brows drew together.
“Slim?”
“Grace!” Henry yelled again. It was followed by the sound of feet stomping up the stairs.
“Accept,” I blurted out. “I accept.”
“Good. Turn around.”
I gave him my back. This time he took care not to touch my skin but the time it took for my zipper to slide upwards felt like minutes. I turned back around to Casey grinning.
“Let’s start again.” He held out his hand. I looked at it dumbly before meeting his crinkled eyes. “My name’s Casey Daniels, but you can call me Batman if you like. I’ve been assigned as your personal security for tonight’s proceedings.”
Grace looked at me like I just announced I was here to harvest her kidneys. Did no one mention Jamieson and Valentine Consulting handled all the security for the band? After a brief pause, she took my hand in hers. I closed my fingers around it feeling it disappear in mine.
“Grace Paterson,” she replied, “but you can call me Grace if you like. I’ve been assigned as the bass guitarist for tonight’s proceedings.”
My eyes raked the length of her as I shook her hand. Grace was tall and slender, not curvy like the girls I usually went for, but the black top thing she wore was hot. It drew my eye to the creamy swell that rose out the top in two delicious handfuls.
She cleared her throat and my lips curved as I diverted my attention back to her face. I let go of her hand and nodded towards the bedroom door. “Shall we go?”
“Grace?” Henry arrived at the top of the stairs, his brows drawn impatiently. “You ready?”
“Sure am,” she replied.
“Good. Go wait in the limo, will you?” He shifted out of the way, bringing him further into the room so she could get by. “I just need to speak to Casey for a second.”
“Um, okay.” Grace glanced at me quickly before she left, a question in her eyes.
The minute she was out of earshot, Henry spoke, his eyes turning hard. It didn’t surprise me. There was no way Henry could have missed the way I’d been looking at Grace like I wanted to eat her alive, but looking away proved difficult. Henry’s sister wasn’t just as shock and awe like I originally thought. She was sassy with an underlying hint of sweet and had a backbone that made her nobody’s pushover. I fucking loved that.
“Don’t, Casey. Whatever you’re doing, or thinking of doing, don’t. Grace is my sister, you asshole, and every time some female gets caught up in all your Jamieson and Valentine bullshit, they end up getting maimed or shot. That is not going to happen to Grace. I fucking mean it. Got me?”
I stiffened as he jabbed his finger in my chest, insulted he would think I’d deliberately get Grace caught in the middle of a life-threatening drama. “You need to calm down, mate. I’ve known your sister for mere hours and already you have me getting her shot?”
Knowing we were on a tight schedule, Henry started down the stairs, over his shoulder, saying, “I know you, Casey, just like I know Jared, and just like I know Travis. Mere hours is all it takes.”
“I understand you’re her brother, Henry, and you’re gonna worry no matter what I say,” I told him as I followed behind, “but you can relax. I’m covering her security personally tonight, and I have no intention of letting anything happen to her, okay?”
Reaching the door, I opened it letting Henry step out before locking it behind us. “It’s not everyone else I’m worried about, Casey. It’s you.”
My brows flew up. “You’re kidding, right?” I glanced sideways at him as we walked towards the limousine. It was parked by the kerb, the door open and the driver standing patiently as he waited for us to get in. “Your sister is going to be keeping company with Mac and Evie, and Quinn too, and you’re worried about me?”
Henry paused before reaching the door, and I stopped with him. He rubbed at his brow before his arm fell limply by his side. “I respect you, Casey, and consider you a good mate, but the fact is, your friends have set some kind of dangerous precedent. I don’t want her getting caught up in anything—you included. Grace and I haven’t been close for a long time and I’m trying to rectify that while she’s here, so after tonight I think it’s best if you stay away.”
My hands clenched into fists. While I couldn’t blame him for his words—big brothers were supposed to look out for their siblings—I couldn’t deny the hurt they caused. I also couldn’t deny what the ramifications would be if I allowed myself to feel more for Grace than I should.
“Of course,” I said flatly.
Henry nodded. “Good.”
I jerked my chin at the car. “Let’s go.”
We both climbed in, the door shutting swiftly behind us. Being the security for Grace tonight, the seat beside her was kept free for me to sit next to her. I didn’t look at her as I sat down. Instead, I kept my gaze on the window as the car pulled away from the kerb and headed towards the venue. I felt her yawn beside me, her bare shoulder brushing against the sleeve of my jacket as she exhaled audibly.
“Tired?” I murmured, glancing her way.
“Mmm,” she replied, her lids lowered sleepily. Damn, was that how she looked waking up in the morning? I could already see her hair mussed, the creamy skin of her body folded between the rich navy sheets on my bed. I shifted in my seat, feeling the need to adjust my cock in my pants. “It’s been a rough day.”
I grimaced, knowing I played a part in that. Leaning in so no one would hear, I asked softly, “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
Grace turned her head and because I was already close, we almost bumped noses. Everything else faded as I lingered for a moment, taking in her scent and feeling it stir my blood. All I had to do was tilt my head and my lips would be on hers. I think it’s best if you stay away. Feeling Henry watching, I pulled back, reminding myself that tonight was about work.
“No,” she whispered. “But you did manage to surprise the crap out of me and piss me off at the same time. That’s quite impressive for a first day.”
I chuckled quietly and she gave a long, suffering sigh, rolling her eyes before turning her attention to the passing scenery.
“Slim?”
Her gaze returned to mine.
“Any idea why airport security might think you were carrying drugs?”
I watched her face carefully as I delivered my question. Her blue eyes turned stormy and I felt our tentative truce waver, yet her expression gave me no answers. “No, Casey. No idea.” Her voice was sharp and her brows drew together. “Why? Do you?”
?
??No.” It could only have come from them seeing something in her luggage or someone tipping them off. The fact that she was candid about us checking her bags led me to believe she was being honest, which meant the likelihood that someone had it in for her was high. “But I can find out.”
“You can?”
I shrugged. “I know some people.”
Her lips curved. “Oh you do, do you?”
“It’s Monday tomorrow. I’ll be in the office so I’ll look into it.” My hand started reaching for her leg, ready to slide it down her thigh in a reassuring gesture. Hell. Letting out a pent-up breath, I pulled back, resting my hand on my knee and thrumming my fingers instead.
Grace raised an eyebrow. “What does looking into it involve?”
“Just a couple of phone calls, Slim. That’s all.”
“You know, I really appreciate your offer,” she said, her words seeming heartfelt, “but then I’d owe you one, wouldn’t I?”
I couldn’t help the wicked grin at the thought of Grace owing me one. After tonight, I was supposed to be keeping my distance—meaning the likelihood of collecting was lower than zero—but the thought of teasing her anyway was too delicious to ignore. “You read my mind.” My gaze fell to her lush, glossy lips, and the sudden craving to taste them hit me hard. “I don’t even have to think about how you can repay me. I already know.”
I breathed in the clean scent of soap from her bare shoulders as she leaned towards me. “And?”