Say You're Mine - Layla Hagen Page 0,82

one is. We all got used to it, and you will too in time.”

I knew I would. I was adaptable. It still felt surreal to see Rick in a corner and know he’d be on my heels if I moved around too much. But all that slid to the back of my mind when Brayden started speaking to the crowd.

“Good evening, Miami! I have a special surprise for you tonight. The guys and I wrote a new song, and this is the first time we’re performing it. It’s called ‘Say You’re Mine.’ Clap your hands while we’re singing, okay?”

The crowd immediately started to clap, and so did I. Goose bumps broke out on my skin. The stage vibrated between our feet. The air seemed to vibrate too. I couldn’t sit down any longer, so I went as near as possible to the stage so I could see the band but no one could see me, not even Brayden. The last thing I wanted to do was distract him.

Brayden was sitting at the piano, as usual. A microphone was mounted right in front of him. He was positioned so they could see his side from the arena and he could still watch the fans as he sang.

Watching him perform live was like seeing him again for the first time. His whole body transformed right before my eyes. I couldn’t explain how it was different from watching him in the rehearsal room, but it was spellbinding. I couldn’t look away.

I had no idea how long I stood rooted to the spot like that, but several songs later, the guys hurried backstage.

“We need more water,” Lars barked. I’d seen several assistants discreetly replacing the empty water bottles with full ones on the stage, but no wonder they needed more. The night was hot and humid, and somehow it seemed even warmer under the neon lights. To my astonishment, the moment they were handed bottles of waters, they poured it on them.

Brayden laughed at my expression. “It helps cooling off. And it’ll dry up as soon as we get out there. It’s crazy hot tonight.”

I made a “come here” motion with my forefinger. “I’ll let you in on a secret. You’re crazy hot too.”

He walked up to me, tilting forward until his lips were level with mine.

“I wrote that first song for you, Isabelle.”

“For me?” I whispered, completely stunned.

“I couldn’t get you out of my mind after I came to your office, so I started writing music. It’s your song.”

“Wow.”

“Think I deserve another good luck kiss?” He looked at my mouth as if he planned to claim it no matter what I said.

Clearing my throat, I made a big show of looking around at his bandmates. I had a plan, and it better work out.

“I promised him a kiss if he charmed everyone out there. What’s the verdict?” I playfully glanced from him to the guys. “Does he deserve it?”

Lars whistled. “I’m tempted to see what he does if I say no.”

Brayden growled.

Harvey clapped his hands, chuckling. “Now so am I.”

Thomas just nodded.

“Band, scatter around. We’ll regroup on stage,” Brayden said in a deliciously low baritone.

I wasn’t surprised when the band followed that order without any comment. His bossy allure worked wonders.

He trained his gaze on me once the guys left. We were by no means alone, but at least there wasn’t someone within a few feet of us.

“You make me do crazy things, Isabelle.”

“Ah, this was actually planned,” I whispered. “I knew you’d want to send them away if I got you too riled up.”

“Did you now?”

“You did say good luck kisses had to be dirty,” I reminded him, playing my fingers on his shoulder. “I needed some space for that.”

I kissed his jaw before brushing my lips against his. I teased him only for a few seconds before he took control of the kiss. Bossy man!

I thought he was running on adrenaline back at the hotel, but it was nothing compared to now. His whole body thrummed. The way he kissed me turned my legs weak. My panties felt on fire.

I tugged at his T-shirt, demanding more, needing more. Did he really have to go back on stage? I kind of didn’t want to give him back.

“Hey! Don’t forget to breathe,” Lars called from somewhere nearby, breaking the spell.

Brayden grumbled, looking over his shoulder. “I thought I told you to go away.”

Lars grinned. “Your exact words were ‘scatter around.’”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Harvey and Thomas weren’t with Lars, so he’d clearly