Rock Wedding (Rock Kiss #4) - Nalini Singh Page 0,98

trouble with you.”

The sound of the crowd outside poured into the car as the limo driver opened the back passenger-side door. Sarah felt a sudden clutch of nerves in her stomach as she watched Fox step out, then extend a hand to help Molly out. The other woman’s movements were sexily graceful. Meanwhile, Sarah was suddenly feeling less Amazonian goddess and more fat pregnant lady.

“Can we go last?” she whispered to Abe when he shifted down the seats to face her on the other side. “So everyone’s occupied with the others in case I fall flat on my face?”

“You’re too elegant to fall,” Abe said. “And even if there was a risk, I’d never let it happen.”

Nerves continued to do the samba in her gut.

Lines forming on his forehead, Abe turned to Thea while Noah and Kit were making their exit. “You two go ahead. Sarah and I will be the rear guard.”

Thea patted Sarah on the hand. “You’ll own this. I happen to know for a fact that an entire busload of Abra fans camped out for an entire day so they’d have primo seats to watch the red-carpet arrivals, and you two are their number one couple to see.”

“You’re making that up,” Sarah said huskily.

Thea crossed her heart. “No lies. Your people are out there.”

Oddly, that did make her feel a touch better. It was nice to know there were people waiting beyond who had nothing but happiness in their hearts for Abe and Sarah.

“As for the paps,” Thea continued, “remember, they want your photograph, not the other way around.” A steely tone “You don’t need the publicity to succeed—so in your head, you can tell them to go screw themselves. But don’t forget to smile while you’re doing that—under no circumstances do I want to see anything but a kickass woman with confidence blazing off her. Got it?”

Nodding, Sarah stared wide-eyed at Abe as David got out, Thea following.

“Yes,” Abe said, “she’s a little scary, but that’s why we love her.”

“I heard that,” Thea said as she exited, her hand in David’s.

Abe reached over to lift Sarah’s hand to his lips, the kiss tender. “I’ve got you, Sarah. Trust me.”

CHAPTER 33

SARAH NODDED JERKILY AND FORCED herself to shift to the other side of the limo after he got out so that she’d be ready when he extended his hand to her. Then he did, and she was moving. One leg, two, lift her body out without hitting her head or tangling her heels in the dress, and wow, she was standing on two feet with Abe’s hand locked to hers and she hadn’t tripped or fallen or embarrassed herself.

That was when it hit her, the roar of shouts and the storm of lightning flashes from the media camped on either side of the red carpet. Sarah wanted to crawl back into the limo, but then Abe squeezed her hand and Thea’s words reverberated in her head. She didn’t need this publicity—these people couldn’t hurt her with what they chose to write about her or any unflattering pictures they chose to print.

Tonight it was about supporting and celebrating the man she loved.

That was what was important.

Looking up at him with open pride, she said, “I love you in black. Did the four of you decide together to wear suits?” She’d looked up footage from previous awards events out of curiosity, knew that while David was known for his designer suits and Abe for his slick sense of style, Noah and Fox often turned up in jeans and band T-shirts.

Today, however, all four men were wearing flawlessly cut suits, and they looked incredibly hot together as a group. They’d be changing for the performance but would get back into the suits for the rest of the night.

“Yep.” Abe kept his hand possessively around hers. “My idea.” He held her gaze. “I told them we should do it because it was Fox’s first big public thing with Molly after they got hitched. But it was really because this is my first time out with you at a formal deal now that you’re not totally pissed at me anymore.”

Sarah’s stomach flipped. The intensity of his expression… Breathless, she whispered, “You’re a wonderful man.”

Abe’s smile was that heartbreaker one against which her remaining defenses stood no chance. He broke their handclasp, but only so he could place his fingers on her lower back, warm and heavy, and they moved on down the red carpet behind Thea and David. Sarah wasn’t actually expecting