Love Resolution - By Michelle Mankin Page 0,19
You know just as well as I do. She makes her own decisions. I just helped her accessorize.”
“If she turns the wrong way, someone’s gonna get an eyeful, Sam.” Marcus resumed fastening buttons. Avery put her hand over his when he got to the one between her breasts. “I think that’s good enough, Marcus.”
“Mary’s in the Ocean room at the end of the hall,” Sam told him. “She wants you to see you.”
Marcus closed his eyes briefly. “Ok.” He kissed the side of Avery’s mouth and then pulled his thumb across her bottom lip, parting it. “No leaning over,” he warned.
Watching him walk away, Avery’s frown transformed into a distracted smile. He looked really good in those low pocketed jeans.
“Avery,” Sam called pulling on her arm.
“Huh?”
“The necklace looks much better when it actually lies against your skin.” She pointed at Avery’s chest.
“Yeah, I know.”
“He’s a little controlling, huh?”
“You could say that,” Avery admitted. “He went ballistic this morning about some innocent pictures of me and Ty from Cold Snake.” She shook her head, the large hoop earrings she wore brushing against her jaw. “And all we did was jam together.”
“I saw those pics.” She raised a shaped brow. “I can see how he might have thought otherwise.”
“The media is becoming like a third person in our relationship.” Avery blew out a breath. “I guess I better get used to it.”
Sam nodded and took a step back looking Avery over, hand under her chin. “The brown leather pants look great with the green silk. And those suede ankle boots! Are they Michael Kors?”
“Yeah. I got ‘em yesterday.”
“Love, love them,” Sam drew out.
“You’re a bad influence,” Avery said with a half-smile. “Marcus says I’m going to need my own closet soon.”
“Fashion’s fun though, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, I guess. I never gave much thought to what I wore before, but Mary wants me to work harder on my image. So, I might as well pick things out I like.” She tugged at the low waistband of the hip hugging pants. “These are so tight, though, I couldn’t even fit my cell in the pocket.”
“I don’t think you would hear it in here anyway. It’s pretty loud down between all the guests and the BS tunes piping in through the sound system.” She shrugged and pulled on Avery’s hand. “Come on. I’ll take you around and introduce you to some people.”
“Thanks, Sam. Avery sighed. “I looked through the packet of stuff you sent over and tried to learn all of their names but there were just too many.”
“No worries. That’s what friends and good PR women are for.”
Avery gave Samantha’s hand a squeeze. “How are things with you and JR?” she asked as they strode down the empty basement corridor side by side.
“Good. Real good.” Sam’s face lit up with a beautiful smile. “He’s a bit stressed out about being apart for three weeks though.”
“Duh,” Avery remarked. “Marcus has definitely been stressed about the tour. And we’re going together. JR’s gonna really miss you.” Avery stopped. “And so will I.”
Sam got a funny look on her face that Avery couldn’t decipher. “Me, too,” she eventually said.
After working their way around the Atlantic Room with its blue glass sculptured ceiling and exposed red brick walls, Avery’s face hurt from smiling so much. She never realized how many people had a hand in a big road tour, but she had just shaken about every one of them tonight.
Sam pulled her toward another room that was similarly appointed. Noticing the look on Avery’s face, she whispered, “Only one more after this. Mary has some announcements for the top sponsors, then dinner, and then you’ll be done.”
“Great,” Avery sighed.
Forty-five minutes later, Sam and Avery finally entered the Ocean Room. It was the largest of the private rooms, holding about eighty, with smoky sphere chandeliers hanging down from the exposed brown duct work and a kitchen and bar of its own.
Avery spotted Marcus across the room and gave him a weary look. One side of his mouth crooked up into a lopsided smile. Her heart ached in her chest. It was strange how the smallest things about him made her love him so much.
Next to him, Mary was decked out in a beaded black cocktail dress. Marcus leaned over and whispered something in her ear. She glanced across the room at Avery and nodded. “Ok, everyone,” she announced in a commanding voice, tapping a knife against a crystal wine glass. “Can I have the members of Brutal Strength up here