Grip Trilogy Box Set - Kennedy Ryan Page 0,130

The flight home was a disaster. I didn't want to have sex with her, so I didn’t, which definitely raised her suspicions. We shared a room in Dubai, but nothing happened. I told her I was tired and that my body was off because of the trip. Lame excuses. My dick would be ready in an outer space time zone if the need arose. It’s not that she isn’t beautiful. She’s fine as hell.

It’s that she isn’t Bristol.

And as much as I wanted to try with someone hoping to get over Bristol, it isn’t working. And it isn’t fair. Not to Qwest. Hell, not to me. This isn’t about convincing Bristol to be with me. I’m done with that shit, too. If she wants me, wants to dump Parker, she knows where to find me. That doesn’t mean my feelings have changed for her. Bringing Qwest into this only made a bigger mess. One I have to clean up tonight.

“Sarah, hey,” I say when we reach her table.

“Hey.” She hugs me and smiles politely at Hector. “Is this Mr. Abrentes?”

I already gave her a heads-up that she would be the contact for anything Hector needs. I’ll let Rhyson and Bristol determine when she finds out she’ll be handling a lot of things for me until I find a new manager.

I give her and Hector a moment to talk through a few details before asking her the question that’s been on my mind since I arrived.

“Sarah, have you heard from Bristol?” I ask. “Seen her?”

She’s always at venues well ahead of her artists, and I’ve been here for more than an hour with no sign of her.

“She told me she’d be here by the time the show starts,” Sarah says.

“Why so late?” The frown feels heavy on my face, so I can only imagine what it looks like. “She’s usually here hours ahead.”

“Oh.” Sarah bites her lip and blinks a few times too many, betraying her nerves. “She said this would be a good training opportunity for me. Is that not okay?”

“No, no, it’s fine.” I squeeze her hand and reassure her with an easy smile. “I was just curious.”

I ignore Hector’s knowing grin. He’s got my number now. But that’s okay. Hector may be a dog, but he knows not to shit where his friends eat, to be crass about it. And even though Bristol and I aren’t together, in his mind, that’s where I eat. Nasty code, but it works.

I notice Sarah keeps looking back to all the nipples and ass onstage. I’m betting this is her first time in a strip club.

“Don’t get any ideas, Sarah,” I tease her. “Prodigy pays you well.

Don’t be working that pole tonight.”

She gasps her shock but laughs when she realizes I’m playing with her.

“I think I . . . no, that wouldn’t . . .” Her cheeks burn pink. “I mean, I won’t.”

I’m halfway through spinning the first set when I spot Bristol at one of the bars. Damn, she looks good. The dress shouldn’t look good. It has no shape. It just hangs off one shoulder, but every time she moves, it molds to the curves and lines of her body beneath the blue silk. The hem doesn’t even hit mid-thigh, and her long, toned legs go on forever, the high heels emphasizing the cut of her calves. My mind goes blank of every image except those legs wrapped around me as I pound into her. I don’t need this hard-on within fucking distance of Bristol.

The blonde beside her makes me set aside my reservations about going over. If it weren’t for her, me and my hard dick would run in the opposite direction.

“If it isn’t my favorite rock star,” I say from behind Jimmi. She turns, squealing and hurling herself into my arms.

“I won’t tell Rhyson I’m your fave if you don’t.” She lets out that rich, husky laugh that hints at her top-charting singing voice. “How the hell are you, Grip? I mean, besides having the number one album!”

“I definitely can’t complain.” I press a kiss into her soft blonde hair, which is flying all over the place. “Missed you, girl.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t make it to the release celebration.” A grimace crosses Jimmi’s pretty face. “I think I was in London that night. Great show, but I would rather have been here.”

She links her arm through mine, and we lean against the bar. I don’t speak to Bristol, who’s sitting on a barstool with her legs crossed, and