Rock Me Faster (Licks of Leather #4) - Jenna Jacob Page 0,13
my sidelong stare linger on Harmony, I pondered Quinn’s propensity for matchmaking. When I leveled him with a fierce glare, he replied with a nonchalant shrug.
A blast of white-hot fury erupted inside me.
“Whatever shit you’re cooking up, the answer is no. Hell no,” I barked.
“Calm down, Ross.” Quinn held up his hands as if to placate me.
“No, I’m not going to calm down, and I’m not going to let you play me like you did them,” I said, nodding toward Burk and Ozzy.
“I’m not trying to play you, Ross,” Quinn assured, waving off the waitress heading toward our table. “I’m trying to save you from the tabloids.”
“Give me a break. Those cocksuckers print shit about us all the time. You think I care what lies they’re spreading? I don’t. I don’t give a fat fuck!” I barked, slamming my fist on the table.
Harmony jolted and sucked in a sharp gasp.
Son of a bitch. I’ve already scared her and haven’t even spoken to her yet.
She was skittish and shy. Whatever Quinn had hired her for was never going to work. Not in this eat-you-up-and-spit-you-out industry.
Hired her. He’d fucking hired her. Hell yes! That was my get-out-of-jail-free card.
Swiveling in my seat, I turned toward Harmony. Lifting her thick lashes, Harmony’s sliver-blue eyes, teeming with kindness and trust, all but eviscerated me. Shit, I didn’t know those two things existed anymore.
Are you sure you want to do this? the voice in my head cautioned.
Yes. No. Maybe.
Sure, I would love the luxury of properly meeting her, talking to her, and maybe even getting to know her a little, but I had to put an end to Quinn’s insanity. Now. Because just looking at her was a risk I couldn’t afford.
“Whatever Quinn is paying you, I’ll double it. All you have to do is stand up and walk away.”
Her unique blue eyes and flawless face clouded in sympathy. She lifted her hand and gently placed it over mine, sending a surge of electricity streaking up my arm. I jerked it out from under her fingers, but the burn still lingered, sinking deep and wending through my system.
Gasping, Harmony blinked down at her palm as if she’d felt the surge, too. And when she turned her startled stare my way, I was drowning in her pools shimmering with virtue.
“Wow. That’s…never happened before,” she murmured, then blanched as if she hadn’t meant to say the words out loud. Harmony drew in a deep breath, causing her breasts to lift and taunt me. Then she parted her lips and glided her wet pink tongue over the plump top bow. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that. I’ve already signed a contract with Quinn.”
Fuck. I’m too late.
“To do what?”
She darted a nervous glance at our manager.
“I know you don’t want to hear this,” Quinn began. “But you have an image problem.”
“No shit,” I scoffed.
“It’s not doing you any favors. Sadly, it’s not doing any for the band, either. The press and fans have pegged you the bad boy.”
“Which I’m fine with, by the way.”
“I’m not. We need to start redeeming your persona now.”
“We don’t have to do shit. My persona hasn’t affected concert or record sales, so butt the fuck out of my life.”
“I’m afraid I can’t. We don’t have the luxury of waiting. We”—he glanced at Harmony—“have to improve the public’s opinion of you, and get the tabloids off your back now.”
“So, you hired her to fix the public’s opinion of me?” I chortled dryly. “And just how is this shy, timid woman supposed to do that?”
“By posing as your girlfriend for the duration of the tour.”
Quinn was not only out of his fucking mind but had just crossed a line he couldn’t erase. Glancing down at the wide-eyed beauty beside me, I held her anxious gaze for several long seconds as a roiling, blistering rage consumed every cell in my body.
“I’m not asking you to fall in love with her, just make the press believe she’s the best thing in your life since sliced bread.”
Clenching my jaw and fists in tandem, I stood and skimmed a stare over the faces of my shocked and worried band brothers. A melancholy pang stabbed deep. We’d been together, through thick and thin, for over thirteen bad, good, and glorious years. They were family…the only family that claimed my heart. It killed me to think that my fucked-up life and shitty attitude might drag them into the cesspool with me. I couldn’t do that to them.