Storm - Michelle Mankin Page 0,66

her hands and drawing her close. “You look great. Your hair looks nice like that.”

“Thank you.” She blushed. “Saber, Lotus, and Cork are inside. Might be easier to go somewhere else.”

“No, that’s fine.” But I was curious. “Why’d you think them being here would bother me?”

“First dates are always kind of awkward.” She shrugged. “Easier without having people who know you around, watching and making you feel more awkward.”

That was sweet and true. Not that I’d ever really dated.

“I don’t feel awkward. What I feel is hungry.” I released her hands and gestured to the stairs. “Shall we?”

“Yes.” She turned and started climbing, and I followed.

At the top, I threw my arm around her shoulders before we went in. I searched the interior as the hostess greeted us, immediately finding who I’d been looking for.

“Two for dinner?” the helpful young employee asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “Somewhere away from the windows.”

“Okay.” The hostess withdrew two long laminated menus and led us toward the booth I’d been in before.

Saber and Lotus were there now. She looked beautiful, as always, still in the same white overalls and green tube top she’d worn earlier, but her hair was unbraided, wavy and loose.

Before I could indulge in a fantasy of what her hair would feel like against my chest, Saber noticed me and his eyes narrowed. Lotus was beside him, but she didn’t see me since she was turned toward Cork. Her brother was talking, his hands moving animatedly, but when he saw me, he went silent and still. Lotus shifted, following the direction of her brother’s gaze.

“Hey,” I said, lifting my chin to my brother while noting the sudden tension that seized Lotus. “You wanted to see me?”

“Yeah, have a seat.” Saber gestured to a spot on his left, the opposite side of the booth from Lotus and her brother.

“Maybe for a minute.” I slid in and drew Tess with me. “We’re on a date.”

“I can see that.” Saber nodded approvingly as I expected he would, but Lotus frowned.

“So, what’s up?” I asked, continuing to play this bullshit game.

“Band business, mainly,” he said. “Ash doesn’t like our single. He wants us to work on it and make it something he can get behind. You have any ideas on how we can do that?”

I nodded. “Actually, I do.”

“Good. He wants something yesterday.”

“We can fix it in a couple of hours.”

Saber shook his head. “Unlikely.”

“Not unlikely,” I said, disagreeing. “I’ve done stuff before in that amount of time.”

“You really want me to believe you cranked out a decent tune that quickly?” Saber asked, and my brows crashed together.

“Don’t care if you believe it or not.” Actually, I did care. He was my brother, and he was disrespecting me. “The bones of the song are good. We just need to reassemble some things.”

“You think so?” He tilted his head.

“I have songwriting credit on ‘Genesis’ with Rogers Band, and ‘Archipelago’ with Sky’s the Limit.”

“Great songs,” Cork said, and Saber gave him a dark look.

He obviously didn’t appreciate the kid’s input. I did, though. Meeting Cork’s eyes across the table, I gave him a chin lift in thanks.

“Decent shit,” Saber said grudgingly, and I returned my attention to him.

“Doable is what I’m saying. You and I sat here the other night talking about priorities and shit. We work hard so we can play hard. Get done what needs doing, so we have the freedom to do what we really want to. Right?”

Or to do who we want to do.

My gaze hit Lotus. She shifted uncomfortably in her seat and glanced away.

“Yeah, that’s right.” Saber nodded reflectively. “Okay. We go to the studio tomorrow. I’ll have a listen to your ideas, and then we’ll see what happens.”

“Not too early. There are other priorities besides making music.” I tipped my head toward Tess.

She met my gaze and smiled. She was sweet and accommodating, but again, it wasn’t from her that I wanted those things.

“Certainly, there are. Lotus is one of mine.” Saber gave me a pointed glare before turning to her. “But I believe I already mentioned that.”

Taking her hand, he lowered his head and brought her hand to his mouth. Over his bowed head, her eyes met mine, which were probably burning red-hot on jealous fumes. If she was mine, she wouldn’t be a priority. She would be the priority.

But she isn’t yours. She’s his.

“Gonna take off with my girl,” Saber said, refocusing on me. “Take her home. Make love to her.”

His gaze was sharper than before, and it sliced like

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