6. Gage
Gage
L ucky for me, Lily kept her focus on the streets of LA for the duration of the ride.
We didn’t have far to go at that point, but it was enough time for me to find my composure and coax my cock to behave.
I thought for sure the spell was broken until I helped her out of the car.
When she glanced up to thank me, I lost myself in her stunning eyes.
There’s no such thing as purple eyes. I know that, but gazing into this woman’s eyes, I’m not so convinced. Her eyes have the same gem-like beauty as amethyst under sunlight.
I swear, God is testing my resolve.
Since I’m so used to walking the red carpet, it felt strange not to be blinded by flashlights or bombarded by questions from the press.
Making our way through the crowd took longer than expected.
Each season, Jam Session hires a fair number of camera people from different film schools for internships, so I’m a recognizable face at the event. Too many handshakes and introductions later, we head towards the bar. I’m about to inquire about her drink of choice, when someone shouts my name.
I turn around.
A smiling woman wearing a red, flowy dress with matching long flowy sleeves, waves. The stunning blonde makes her way towards us, arms outstretched.
“Hey, Dom.” I encircle her in a hug, careful not to press my body against her belly. “I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” I break our embrace.
“Neither did I, but Michaela sent a group text to the sisterhood, telling us all about how you’ll be doubling as a bodyguard tonight. I didn’t bother texting you. I figured I’d run into you.” Dom’s blue eyes shift to the woman standing next to me. “You must be Lily.” She extends a hand.
“Where are my manners? Lily Schuyler, this is Dominika Wolfe, videographer extraordinaire and beautiful wife of the great Hall of Fame drummer turned badass music video production company CEO, Rod Wolfe?—”
“Wife, and soon-to-be baby mama.” She rubs her baby bump with her free hand, a proud grin stretching her lips.
“Congratulations,” Lily says, shaking her hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Dominika.”
“Please call me Dom,” the petite blonde says. “You’re part of the sisterhood now.”
What the fuck?
Lily landed in LA a few hours ago, and Michaela and Dominika have taken her under their wings like big sisters in a blink of an eye?
“Okay.” Lily’s cheeks turn a beautiful shade of pink. “Dom, it is.”
“Good,” Dom says with a firm nod. “You don’t want to upset a pregnant woman.”
“Is that bribery?” Lily’s tone is colored with amusement .
Dom’s eyes shine bright with mischief. “Call it whatever you want, as long as I get my way.”
Lily laughs and I swear my balls do a happy dance.
I focus my attention on Dom. “How’s your little fighter?”
“Baby Wolfe is growing. From the strong kicks, he or she will come out like the heavyweight champion of the world.” She cups her belly. “I’m only four months pregnant, and I’m counting the days to hold my little peanut in my arms.”
“Five more months to go,” Lily says.
“Given the size of my belly”—Dom rubs said belly—“I shouldn’t have that many months to wait.” She lets out a heavy sigh. “The perils of being short.”
“I hear you,” Lily says. “We’re more or less the same height.”
“Fair warning. Your pregnant belly will be huge compared to taller women.”
“I don’t have to worry about that for a long time,” Lily says. “I’m not dating anyone, so babies aren’t in my immediate future.”
“The night is still young.” Dom winks. “There are plenty single men in the house.”
Jealousy and indignation wash over me. No way am I allowing any fucker to make a move on Lily. She came here with me. She’s leaving with me. Not to mention, I’m standing next to Lily, and Dom bypasses me as a candidate?—
It’s because you swore up-and-down you’d remain single for the rest of your natural life after that last dramatic episode with your ex-fling.
I need to change the subject. “Are you here alone, Dom?” My eyes scour the room. “Or is Rod rubbing elbows with industry people?”
“Nope. Hubby and his business partner are wining and dining a record company. The University of Southern California invited me as a special guest speaker to share my experience with Brawn Impulse. I’m incredibly honored.
Joel and his bandmates are floating around somewhere.
They’re also guest speakers and my dates for tonight––with my husband’s blessings, of course. ”
“Got it.” I nod.
“Who are we talking about?”
I glance down at Lily. “Joel Banner.”
Perfectly groomed eyebrows knit together in confusion. “Who?”
When you spend most of your life surrounded by industry people, you forget not everyone is in the know.
“He’s the lead singer of Brawn Impulse—a British rock band that’s been making waves on this side of the pond for a couple years now. Dominika shot ‘Shattered Windows’—an award-winning behind the scenes music documentary, tracing the band’s journey from their humble roots to their rise to fame.”
“I’ve never heard their music.” Lily grimaces. “I’m not that much into rock music. Pop music is my jam.”
“Don’t ever let my husband hear you say that,” Dom says with the upmost seriousness. “He’ll lock you in a room and force you to listen to rock music until you change your mind.”
Lily giggles. “Note to self.”
“Rod is hardcore at everything he does,” I say.
“That could be said of all the guys in your inner circle,” Dom says.
I rub a hand behind my neck. “Good point.”
“Speaking of the inner circle…” Dom turns her attention to Lily, “Michaela told us you’ll be present tomorrow night for Rhys’s birthday.”
My eyebrows hit my forehead. “That’s news to me,” I say, meeting Lily’s gaze .
“Um… Michaela invited me. But if that makes you uncomfortable or if I’m stepping on anyone’s toes, I don’t have to?—”
“Hush. You’re coming,” Dom says.
Great. I don’t have a say in the matter.
I grunt.
“He’s grunting.” There’s a touch of panic in Lily’s voice. “Since I can’t make out his grunts, I’m not sure how upset he is with me.”
“Grunts are tolerable.” Dom brushes it off with a hand wave. “If he growls and shows fangs, that’s when you need to run for your life. After all, paranormal romance is nothing more than a fantasy.”
The two women laugh.
Glad to see someone’s having fun at my expense.
When she finds her composure, Dom laces her hands around my arm. “He’s a big teddy bear.”
My ears burn hot.
I squint my eyes at Dom. “I. Am. Not.”
The two women laugh again.
“You’re going to fit right in with the sisterhood, Lily,” Dom says.
“I appreciate the warm welcome, but that’s too much fussing about for a stranger who isn’t going to be in the city for more than a few days,” Lily says.
Dom readies herself to answer, but a man approaches her.
After a round of introductions, the gentleman pulls Dominika away.
With a wave and a huge smile, she promises she’ll be back.
Lily turns to face me. “I’m sorry about that. I don’t have to come tomorrow night?—”
“Dom made it pretty clear. You’re part of the sisterhood.”
“I’m touched, but these are your friends. I’m passing through town?— ”
“The decision is out of my hands.”
“If you don’t want me there, I won’t go.”
I work my jaw, pondering.
I didn’t plan on spending a minute longer than I had to with Lily.
But the powers that be, aka, the sisterhood, would have my balls on a platter if I showed up tomorrow night without her.
Silence stretches between us, taken up by the laughter, chatter, and commotion of the event around us.
My nostrils flare.
The angel sitting on one shoulder cautions me to tread carefully, but the devil sitting on the other is taunting me.
She’s waiting with bated breath for my verdict, her ridiculously long lashes fluttering.
My fingers twitch to caress those damn lashes.
And my dick twitches to a whole other tune.
I stick my hands inside my pockets. “You’re coming.”