Love Resolution - By Michelle Mankin Page 0,18

straight and clutched the sheet to her chest. A worried frown thinned her full rose tinted lips. “What’s going on?”

“You tell me.” Marcus tossed his cell on the bed next to her and stood. She picked it up. “What,” she started and then stopped as she saw the picture on the display. She flipped through the rest. She glanced up at him with her auburn brows drawn down into a v. “Who sent you these?”

“Beth. Apparently we have a bit of a PR issue on our hands.” He looked at her, blue eyes narrowed. “You wanna tell me what that’s all about, Avery? His voice rose. “What exactly were you doing in Ty’s hotel room?”

She swung her legs off the bed and stood wrapping the sheet around her like a sarong. “It was nothing, Marcus. I can’t believe you’d buy into that crap. Especially considering we made love after I got home last night.”

“Those pictures certainly lend a different impression.” He stood, spine stiff, arms crossed over his chest. “Looks like you were flirting with Ty at the Venue. You had your lips less than an inch away from his neck.” His expression turned dark.

She shook her head vehemently.

“Avery. You were photographed going into a hotel room with that man whore. Are you saying you didn’t?” he asked, his voice rough with emotion.

“I did!” she shouted, hands fisted tight. “But I was with Justin and the rest of the band the whole time. We just wanted to jam out with them.” She gave him a steady level stare. “You should know better than anyone how the media likes to misconstrue things.” She closed her eyes briefly and then opened them, her voice no longer defensive. “I guess I should have thought about that before I agreed to go.” She took a hesitant step closer to him. “I’m sorry. I’m still not used to being followed around by the press.”

He studied her beautiful face for a moment. Her emerald eyes were wide and shining with emotion. He snaked out an arm and crushed her hard against his chest.

Her breath blew out in a rush.

“I believe you. I’m sorry I got so mad. It was just a real sucker punch in the gut to get those pictures from Beth first thing this morning. And,” he swallowed, “just the thought of you with another guy makes me crazy.”

She snorted and leaned back to run her fingers down the defined line of his jaw. “Like another guy could compete.” She took a step back, arched an auburn brow, and unfastened the sheet from around her breasts.

Marcus watched it billow to the floor before his eyes returned to her body, taking in each and every sensual curve and contour of her naked form. His lips tilted into a slow smile. He reached for her but was surprised when she took another step backward further out of his reach.

She gave him a mischievous grin just before she darted past him. “Meet you in the shower.”

Avery felt the heat of Marcus’ hand on the small of her back as they descended the short row of stairs into the private entrance of Blue Water Grill. Word had gotten out where the private dinner for the sponsors of the tour would take place. The front entrance of the upscale restaurant in Yaletown was swamped with paparazzi and fans. It seemed as though everything she or Marcus did somehow became public knowledge.

He held the door open for her. The warmth flooding from inside the basement was a welcome contrast to the nip of the late night air. He helped her shrug out of the car length coat she wore, handing it over to the hat check girl.

“Thanks,” she returned, turning around to face him.

“Hell no, Avery!” Marcus exclaimed as he took in her outfit.

“What’s wrong?” She feigned an innocent expression, understanding full well his objections.

He raised a dark brow and leaned in close, trailing his index finger underneath the braided silver chain and following its path over her bare skin down to where it ended just below her breasts. “You’re a little exposed here.” He began to fasten the buttons of the silk blouse she was wearing underneath the black mohair vest.

“Marcus Anthony,” Samantha Daniels admonished walking up with her hand on her hips. “Leave her alone. She looks fantastic.”

“I take it you’re the one responsible for talking her into wearing this.” Marcus turned to glare at Black Cat’s PR intern.

The petite woman shook her head. “Avery picked it out.