Daphne wrapped her arms around his neck, crawling all over him, and then began to press quick kisses on his cheeks. Cade looked embarrassed at the show, and his gaze flicked to Kylie.
Yeah, well, Kylie should have seen this coming. Squashing down her feelings of irritation, she headed toward the makeup chair and started unpacking her things. Daphne would want her face refreshed before she went out to face the media. But she couldn’t help but peer over at Cade and Daphne as they hugged.
Okay, so she was being a little prying and a lot jealous. So what? She could be a little possessive of a guy if she’d had a one-night stand with him, right? It didn’t mean anything, but she also wasn’t able to just turn things off just like that.
She watched as Daphne bounced, still in her shiny leotard with the black tutu, and grabbed Cade’s hands. “I’m so excited you’re here!”
His smile was warm. “I’m glad.”
“You didn’t answer my texts!”
“I was busy. You never answer mine,” he chided.
“I’m busy, too,” Daphne said coyly. “So what made you stop by?”
He glanced up and his gaze met Kylie’s. “Kylie, actually—”
“Oh?” Now Daphne turned, and she beamed at Kylie. “You got him for me, Fat Marilyn? You’re so sweet!”
“I—” Kylie began, then clamped her mouth shut. What could she possibly say?
“Fat Marilyn?” Cade asked, a frown on his face.
“Well, come sit with me,” Daphne said, grabbing Cade’s hand and ignoring his question. “We can catch up.”
“You have press duties,” Snoopy reminded Daphne.
“Don’t fucking snap at me,” Daphne snarled, and Snoopy’s eyes went wide. So did Kylie’s. Daphne had been volatile for the last few days but her reaction to Snoopy’s mild comment was alarming.
The room got quiet. “Maybe I should go,” Cade said.
“No!” Daphne cried, and she clung to Cade’s chest. To Kylie’s horror, Daphne began to cry. “I need you here with me, Cade. I don’t have anyone to lean on. Please don’t go.” Big, racking sobs shook her thin frame. “You don’t know how hard it’s been for me—”
“Shhh,” Cade said, voice soothing. “Let’s sit down. You need to relax, Daphne. You’re under a lot of stress.” He gently steered her toward one of the comfortable sofas and set her down. She didn’t let him go, instead clinging so that he had no choice but to sit next to her. As he did, she buried her face in his shirt and huddled against him like a sad puppy.
“Please don’t leave me, Cade,” she repeated.
“I’m here,” he said, glancing over at Kylie. The look in his eyes was a mixture of sadness and resignation, and she gave him a smile to try and encourage him, to let him know it was all right. Daphne needed him tonight, and if it hurt Kylie to see Daphne crawling all over him, well, it wasn’t like Kylie owned him, was it?
“I’m so glad you’re here,” Daphne murmured against Cade’s chest, not raising her head.
He stroked her hair. “Why don’t we get you some water to drink and then we’ll see about getting you ready for the press meet and greet, okay?”
“But you’ll stay?”
“I’ll stay,” he said softly.
—
After that, things fell into a blur of activity. Daphne eventually calmed down enough for Kylie to wipe off her old makeup and set her up with fresh new makeup. Daphne was twitching and kept scratching at her skin, so Kylie had to do the best she could.
Cade remained nearby, and when Daphne did her press interviews, she insisted that he stay. So he did, and late into the night, the fans left and only the hard-partying types remained. The backup dancers broke out the alcohol, and a few people in the crew started to pass around drugs.
Kylie packed up her things and glanced over at Cade and Daphne again. Daphne wasn’t shooting up in the bathrooms, so that was progress. Instead, she had splashed herself across Cade’s lap and was sipping on a beer while talking to someone else.
And instead of Cade looking content at having Daphne’s attention, he kept looking over at Kylie.
She should have guessed this would happen.
It didn’t matter how wonderful he was, or how they’d connected over dinner. Of course Cade was great. And of course Daphne wanted him.
Kylie was just a momentary distraction. A drunken hookup, just like she’d suspected.
And really, that was okay. At least Cade wasn’t being an ass about it. He wanted Daphne, and his one-night stand was staring at him with big moony eyes. He probably felt awkward that both Daphne and Kylie were in the room together. Heck, he probably felt bad for Kylie because she was clearly second fiddle.
“I’m heading out,” Ginger said. “You coming?”
“Coming,” Kylie said. Leaving was the best thing she could do for all parties involved. She grabbed her purse and slung it over her shoulder, heading out with the rest of the staff.
—
Cade watched Kylie leave with the crew, and tried to squash his annoyance at Daphne as she clung to his chest and seated herself in his lap. She’d done that a million times in the past and he knew it didn’t mean anything.
But Kylie didn’t know that.
And now that his interest had moved squarely to Kylie? It felt wrong for Daphne to drape herself all over him.
Funny how his mind had changed so quickly. A week ago, he would have been beside himself with joy if Daphne had paid half the attention she was giving him tonight. But a week ago, he hadn’t realized Daphne still hadn’t changed. That she was still the same messed-up girl she ever was. A week ago, he’d still had hope that she was clean after her latest round of rehab.
And a week ago, he hadn’t met Kylie. Hadn’t realized how pure and good and right just having someone normal in your life could be.
“Get me another beer, Cade,” Daphne said in her coy, flirty voice. “I’m so thirsty after all that sexy performing I did.” She fluttered her lashes at him, trying to be cute.
But instead, all he could think about was how hard Kylie had worked to make Daphne look good, the thoughtful look on her face as she had carefully pressed the fake lashes onto Daphne’s eyelids, the way she’d leaned in to blow gently on Daphne’s eyeliner.
Makeup had never been so erotic.
He couldn’t think about that now, though. Not with Daphne being a stage-five clinger. The last thing he wanted was an erection right now. So he pushed Daphne off his lap as gently as possible. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough beer?”
“No such thing,” laughed the girl sitting on the couch next to them. One of Daphne’s dancers, maybe. He’d seen her disappearing into the bathroom repeatedly tonight, which could only mean food poisoning or lines of coke. He’d bet his money on the latter.
“She’s had plenty of beer for someone that’s trying to get clean,” Cade chided in his mildest voice, even though he secretly wanted to give the girl a verbal dressing down for encouraging Daphne’s bad behavior.
Daphne pouted. “Water, then. If my man wants me to drink water, I will.” And she put her hand on Cade’s chest possessively.
He removed it just as quickly again. “We’re not together, Daphne.”
Her eyes—so enormous in her lean face—looked hurt. “What do you mean?”
The dancer chose that moment to get up from the couch and head for the bathroom again, and it was just him all alone with Daphne.
“I mean that I was here two nights ago to see you after we’d talked about it, remember? You told me to come to your concert. We’d spend time together and catch up. Instead, I spent all night nursing a drink on the sofa while you threw yourself on anyone moving.”
“Jealous?”
Surprisingly, no. “Disappointed. You were more interested in getting drugs than seeing me. And you were out of your mind on something all night. I want nothing to do with that woman I saw. Not friendship, not anything.”
“Someone gave me some bad stuff that night. I
shouldn’t have been acting like that—”
“No, you shouldn’t have.”
“But sometimes I need something to keep me going because I’m tired.” She blinked repeatedly, as if she was going to cry. “I’m trying to stay clean, but it’s hard.”
He really didn’t think she was trying to stay clean. But he didn’t want to punch her while she was down. “I know, Daph. But for your sake, you’ve got to stop with the drugs. They’re not good for you.”
“I know.” Her lower lip trembled. “I haven’t had anything in two days. Not since they told me you were here and I didn’t even realize it.”
“That’s good,” he told her. “That’s a start.” Mentally, he wanted to wring her neck. Two whole days and she was acting like it was something impressive? “Keep going in that direction.”
“And you’ll help me?”
“As a friend? Of course.”
She laughed as if he’d said something funny. “Oh, Cade. We’ve always been more than friends.”
Maybe once. Not anymore. So he simply gave her a faint smile and repeated himself. “As a friend.”
NINE
Thursday
Cade: I feel like we should talk about last night.
Kylie: What’s there to talk about?
Cade: Daphne confessed to me that she’s been clean for two days now. Two days . . . isn’t much. Can you keep an eye on her? Let me know if she starts making lots of emergency trips to the bathroom or hiding out in corners with the wrong kind of people?
Kylie: Of course.
Cade: She’s a really old friend and I’m worried about her.
Kylie: You don’t have to explain anything to me.
Cade: Don’t I? I’m pretty sure you weren’t happy with me when you left.
Kylie: Why would you say that? I am neither happy nor unhappy with you. I don’t have a claim on you.
Cade: Don’t you?
Kylie: Not in the slightest. You’re free to do as you choose.
Cade: I thought it was pretty obvious who I choose. Someone with a warm smile, a great laugh, and the softest skin I’ve ever experienced.
Kylie: Are you flirting with me?
Cade: Possibly? Is it working?
Kylie: Cade . . . I really like you. Really really like you. But I can’t fight with Daphne over you.
Cade: No one’s fighting. We’re just talking, right? Friends talk. We can be friends, right?
Kylie: . . . I suppose so. Do you tell all your friends they have soft skin?
Cade: Only the ones I’ve slept with.
Kylie: Why am I laughing at that?
Cade: I don’t know, but it’s clear I’ll have to make you laugh more so you don’t avoid my texts.
Kylie: I have to go.
Friday
Cade: So how was the concert tonight?
Kylie: Good! Daph got a standing ovation. Little surprised to come into the greenroom and not see you here.
Cade: Couldn’t make it today. Will try to be at the next one, promise. Will you be there if I am?
Kylie: Duh.
Cade: Duh? Ouch.
Kylie: But not because of you. Because I, yanno, work for Daphne.
Cade: Double ouch. How is Daph?
Kylie: I think she’s clean. But it’s hard to say. Sometimes she’s in a great mood, and sometimes she’s . . . not.
Cade: Well, I’m glad.
Kylie: I’m glad for you two also.
Cade: What about us?
Kylie: There is no us.
Cade: I think there should be.
Kylie: I think I should be a size four, but we don’t always get what we want.
Cade: I don’t know why you’d want to be a size four. I think you’re gorgeous.
Kylie: You’re just blinded by my soft skin and enormous tracts of land.
Cade: God, yes I am. Now I’m picturing you in my mind and it’s getting a little hard to concentrate.
Kylie: You’re welcome.
Cade: You’re flirting with me. I’m breaking down your barriers.
Kylie: Good night, Cade.
Cade: It is now.
Kylie: It is what?
Cade: A good night.
Saturday 1 A.M.
Daphne: Hey Cade!! Missed u tonight, bb. U coming to see me? Will save u spot in greenroom 4 my favorite man. Xoxoxo
Cade: Can’t tonight, Daph. Busy. We’ll talk soon ok?
Daphne: K
Cade: Stay clean for me?
Daphne: Fine fine. Quit acting like my mom.
Saturday night
Cade: Hey.
Kylie: Hi there.
Cade: Where are you at tonight?
Kylie: Concert in Louisville, KY. You coming in to say hello?
Cade: Wish I was. I am currently in Botswana.
Kylie: I . . . don’t even know where that is? Why are you in Botswana?
Cade: It’s north of South Africa. Very pretty country. One of my organizations is opening a new HIV clinic and I wanted to be here. It’s a good cause.
Kylie: Wow . . . that’s noble of you.
Cade: Eh. I just like to help out where I can. I don’t like to sit on all my money like Scrooge McDuck.
Kylie: Did you just compare yourself to a cartoon duck?
Cade: Depends. Are you laughing?
Kylie: Yes!
Cade: Then yes, yes I did.
Kylie: You’re so noble. Seriously, a clinic. Wow. I don’t even know what to say.
Cade: I’m not all that noble. I keep thinking about kissing you again. How your lips felt against mine. How the . . . rest of you felt against me. I’m obsessing.
Kylie: You shouldn’t.
Cade: Why not? You’re an adult and I’m an adult. Do you want me to leave you alone?
Kylie: Not really . . . but the whole Daphne thing. It makes it awkward. You know she wants you. And I want my job.
Cade: But I don’t want her.
Kylie: Really? Didn’t seem that way the other night when she was sitting in your lap.
Cade: First of all, she dropped herself there, and second of all, is that jealousy I hear in your sweet voice?
Kylie: Text. The correct term you are looking for is “sweet text.”
Cade: Don’t avoid the question.
Kylie: I’m not.
Cade: You just did again. And as for Daphne, I’m just trying to be a friend to her. She desperately needs a few that aren’t ready to push drugs her way.
Kylie: . . . which is why we shouldn’t get together. It’s hard for me to be her friend when I want to pull her hair out for sitting in your lap.
Cade: So it was jealousy.
Kylie: I shall plead the fifth.
Cade: I miss you. I wish you were here in Botswana with me.
Kylie: Why, do you know someone there in need of a makeup artist?
Cade: Me! But not for obvious reasons. I just need to make a certain one scream with pleasure again.
Kylie: Oh my lord, why are you texting me dirty things??
Cade: Because it makes me smile and I’ve been stuck traveling for the last eighteen hours. And because I’m picturing how pink your cheeks are right now. When did you say I could see you again?
Kylie: I didn’t. Busy busy busy.
Cade: I’m looking at Daphne’s schedule online and she doesn’t have a concert scheduled for this upcoming Wednesday. Tuesday in Vegas but Wednesday is free. I can fly in and see you.
Kylie: Cade, we shouldn’t.
Cade: Just a meeting between friends. She doesn’t have to know.
Kylie: I’ll . . . think about it.
Sunday
Daphne: U coming 2 visit me tonight?
Cade: Overseas on business, sorry.
Daphne: Fine. Fuck u. I thought we were friends.
Cade: You know I have to work, Daph. You work, too. Doesn’t have anything to do with our friendship.
Cade: Hello?
Cade: Sigh. Daph, I hope you’re staying clean. Not for my sake, but
for yours.
Monday
Cade: Still thinking about it?
Kylie: It’s a long, involved thought process. Truly.
Cade: What can I do to persuade you?
Kylie: Promise me that Daphne will not lose her shit if she finds out about it? Actually, just promise me she won’t find out at all?
Cade: She won’t find out.
Kylie: Uh-huh.
Cade: But we’re still discussing it, which must mean that you want to go with me after all.
Kylie: It’s not a question of want. It’s a question of practicality. Like, is it practical for me to date the man that my rich and famous boss wants? Risk my job? I consulted my Magic 8 Ball this morning and all signs point to no.
Cade: Those things are liars. Mine told me that you would say yes.
Kylie: They ARE full of lies!
Cade: What if I offered to buy an orphanage in some third world country?
Kylie: Now you’re not playing fair.
Cade: I don’t have to. I have money.
Kylie: Fine, fine, we’ll go out. If we must.
Cade: Excellent. I will see you Wednesday night.
Kylie: Just . . . I’ll send you my hotel info, okay? Let’s keep this out of Daphne’s eye. I don’t want her to even know you’re in town.
Cade: That makes two of us. I won’t say a thing. Looking forward to seeing you, then.
Kylie: Just FYI we’re not sleeping together.
Cade: I’m fine with that. I just want to see you. Maybe kiss you.
Kylie: Maybe?
Cade: Well, I thought it might frighten you if I said that I intend to kiss every inch of you at least twice.
Kylie: Not frightened here.
Tuesday
Daphne: U coming 2 the show tonight?
Cade: Can’t. Busy schedule. How goes keeping clean?
Cade: Hello?
—
Kylie was humming to herself as she mixed the foundation colors for Daphne’s skin. It was ridiculous to be in such a good mood, but she was. She was going to see Cade tomorrow night, and they were going to talk for hours and have a wonderful time.
She wasn’t even going to sleep with him. Just to prove to herself that she didn’t have to. But she was definitely looking forward to those kisses.
And she might wear some sexy lingerie because, well, just because.