ks around the patio on Saturday

er her perfectly waved blond ha

around the end of a pool that takes me twenty strokes to span. The stone surroun

. There's no pressure here

are lounging in chaises d

hose low-slung black swim trunks show off an

left for Ita

ncle has a pla

we take seriously. The girls are wearing bikinis, the guys in swim trun

probably use the padding from a bikini top. I'm still hoping my boobs make a late sur

sweetly. "I saw you still in the p

isfaction of getting to me, especially

gers with side tables are arranged around the perimeter. A table with a bar and snacks sits discreetly off to one side. Built-in speakers

ing and no coming inside except for Miss Norma, whom he greeted at the d

gh the sliding glass

d the carafe spike with Grey Goose before t

rla shrieks. "Timothy,

him a solo cup, her curves bounc

nsists as he crosses to where we're sta

guys outside. I see him in school clothes as often as not, and I try not to stare a

on his, something say

ame, and I force m

been fucked

es Chris b

close enough to brush her boobs against Timothy's arm as if she has fleas and h

omething I can't make out above the music. "I filled in as a favor to Edd

g you with their eye

p. "The best guitarists aren't guys like Eddie. They're session musicians. They've played on every radio edit you've ever heard

thy looks up. "Fame is only as dangerous as the person who commands it. If you're talented enough to get the world'

flare, a muscle i

ot in this boy the

rn." Carla re

lmost forgot he was here, but Timothy's attention locks on the ar

garbage bag as a

blade even before Carla screeches with lau

a finger absently along my collarbone. It tickles like an inse

ygoing except when he broods, when whatever's below the surface is carefully leashed and dealt with

l standing here when he looks as though t

wallowing gulp after gulp, and by the time I straighten

Emily." Ch

challenge at the boy in front of me

words before

ey're insensitive but a

s cup and lifts it in

u w

tarts back acr

u

oesn't fe

pt I felt cornered and attacked,

deal?" Chr

very girl who'd give her allowance to lick your abs, the

the pool house. I can't hear what she says when she catches up to

ze lingers on Carla and Ti

o reject her

on my

imothy. Sh

e as if he can hear my w

lets her

uldn't

ught that maybe he was over being this peopl

s wr

n Jessy and the minions go to get more

est smile. "It is.

de door of the house to avo

stage tour." I sa

st to avoid being seen. My heart's hammering in my ear

" Chri

"Take your pick. The Grammys live inside because my ste

keep them i

spect for rewards and formality.

like

ks drunk on the surroundings. I know what that's like. People get a hit

earse." Chris shoots me a loaded sm

ave a raging hate-on for me. I'm not holding my breath for poetry and professed love, but I'm also n

nd, and we trip toward the other side

, but its blurring together. Its a grid of

shit-ton

house, but my Dad planted more. He likes

bush and snaps off one of the blooms. My heart kicks as he tosses it into

I inhale, startled, and catch a hit of b

get a few inches between u

en flirting with me

the one who flirting with me." Desperation edges i

bviously. But you're the only person who do

ys for you to use that pretty mouth." Chris' gaze flicks delibera

ning, my body stiffening.

arm but catch my toe on the r

the rose bushes, their thorns scratching at my skin, but I

what the

toward me. A muttered curse says

aughter floods in my ears. Cans litter the patio. I watch i

I can do to change that. My stomach plummets, the

and hit the code for the keypad. After

ow, rough voice splits the darkne

, I'm shoved up against the w

ething.

ale hips dig into my stomach. I'm so t

shine, that keeps me from freaki

anger in his voice, his lips

ou didn't recognize me

eps back,

e him, I'd fall in a heap without his support. So, my fingers close over his

later, I'm deposit

s

stand lamp, switched on has me

hirtless, scowling god. His toned

s of his stomach, lingering on the indentations left by the shadows, the

" His voice is commanding,

othy lifts a dark brow under the thick fall of hair. "Two

ne and liquor. Timothy smells

here because o

refer my tr

king into relief the new position brings. "Ch

through my head, almost as if I'd u

ish from the side of the bed o

y?" Timothy's voice is so

y eyes open to see him braced over me, close e

says flatly. "Yo

ve to sound l

ot trying to be a brat. He doesn't need to pretend when we're

testing Chris, the fuzziness in my head, my own st

e one who sinks onto the bed next to my head, making the

re's a note of worry in his impati

e studies me. We're closer than we've been in months, except

emotions but for marks, for trauma, for s

sh drinking my water. His dark gaze comes back

ing my head and brushing back my hair. His fin

y utters the words as if they're

se bush. It bit h

up on the nightstand, but he

good as I thought it

n't? Tell

bed, my eyes closing

you, T