Total pages in book: 155
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 144435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 722(@200wpm)___ 578(@250wpm)___ 481(@300wpm)
"We'll see how well you remember Cavill's name when you're screaming mine, Éire," he growls, his voice pitched so only I hear him. And then he places a sweet kiss beside my ear and pulls back.
"I'm not ashamed of you," I say quietly. "I just don't want you to be gossip again."
"It's all good, baby. I was teasing."
"Are you joining us?" Shelby asks him.
"Nah. I'm heading to the arena. I've got some stuff I want to work on before sound check. Need my guitar." He tips my chin up. "Come find me when you're done here. I'll give you the grand tour."
"Oh, of the buses?" I ask, excited.
"You want to see the buses, baby?"
Resa and Dani groan as if they're tired of the buses. I guess they probably are after having spent so much time on them lately, but they're still new and exciting to me.
"Yes! I've never seen a tour bus before." I practically dance in my seat at the prospect. "Oh, can I take pictures for my blog?"
"Sure. But nothing with the license plates or anything that would make it easy for anyone to figure out what bus is ours," he says. "I don't want you on a bus if a bunch of screaming fans descend. It's not safe."
"You want me on the bus with you?"
"You're wearing my ring, Éire. You'll be sleeping where I sleep while we're on tour," he says, pinning me with one of those bossy I'm-in-charge looks.
"We'll see," I say, just to mess with him.
He growls playfully and then presses his lips to my forehead. "Yeah, we will. When you're in my bed where you belong. Come find me after breakfast."
"Maybe."
He narrows his eyes at me and then shakes his head, smiling. "Ladies, enjoy breakfast."
"Bye, Crue," Shelby says.
"Bye!" Resa waves.
Chastity and Dani both wave to him as well.
"Good job on the jeweler!" Brielle calls after him.
He turns his head toward us, winking.
Our entire table devolves into a fit of laughter.
"You lost?"
"Um, maybe?" I frown up at the massive bodyguard stationed outside of the bus Shelby pointed me toward when we got to the arena a few minutes ago. "I'm looking for Crue. Shelby told me he was on this bus."
"You're Ireland?"
"That's me."
He jerks his chin in a nod and then grins. "I'm Havoc, his bodyguard. He's on the bus."
"Havoc?" I gape at him. "No offense, but you're a giant. You could probably squash people with your bare hands. Havoc is probably overkill."
He laughs loudly. "The name is Ambrose Havoc."
"Oh, okay then. I guess Havoc it is," I say, making him laugh again. "Got it."
"You're funny."
"Thanks." I scrunch up my nose at him. "I think."
"Go on in. He's waiting for you."
I bounce up the steps, not sure if I'm more excited about seeing him or the bus. The bus. Just kidding. Definitely him. It's only been an hour, and I already miss him. I'm such a mess for this man; it's ridiculous. It's all his fault, too.
I hear his voice and what sounds like a guitar before I pull the door open, and remember he said he wanted to come and work on something. I open the door carefully, not wanting to disturb him.
As soon as I step inside, the mournful notes of his song wash over me. I stop in my tracks, listening to his powerful voice.
"I don't want to sleep, don't even want to dream. Every time I close my eyes, I see you walking out the door. I thought I was strong. Convinced myself I could handle letting you leave. It was just a lie I told to keep myself breathing. But baby, I'm not breathing. I'm not breathing. Until you come back to me."
He trails off, setting the guitar aside to jot something in a notebook.
I don't want to interrupt, but my heart is in my throat, and I think I have to say something. I think…holy crap. I think he's writing about me and our conversation this morning. Is that what inspired this song? The thought of me leaving?
"Crue," I whisper, taking a step toward him.
He lifts his head from his notebook, his hazel eyes meeting mine.
"I…"
"There you are." A big grin overtakes his expression. He drops his pen, rising to his feet, his song forgotten as he strides toward me. In three steps, I'm in his arms, and his lips are slanting down over mine.
Everything I was going to say, the questions I meant to ask, get swept away in the maelstrom as he slides his hand into my hair and kisses the breath from my lungs. I forget about his song. I forget everything but the taste of him on my lips, the feel of his hard body pressed to mine, and the unshakable certainty that I'm falling in love with this man, not fan to idol but woman to man.