Chapter 10
MADDY
Waking up to no scathing headlines on Friday had been a win. Slip and I had arrived twenty minutes late to the awards ceremony last night thanks to our hot little quickie in my home office. Jodie, my publicist, and my fellow castmates hadn’t been happy. But one thing I could not fault Slip on was when we’d rushed along the red carpet and sped through interviews and photographs, he’d remained professional and always a gentleman. It was my night, so he’d let me shine. But that hadn’t stopped him politely excusing us from any reporter who’d tried to drill us about our marriage and moved us on to the next.
We’d had fun. Laughed. Stolen kisses as we’d made our way into the venue. We’d whispered dirty jokes to each other throughout the ceremony. We didn’t stay long at the after-party.
This morning, the entertainment sites had reported we looked happy, in love, smitten. Finally. We made the best dressed list. Eat that one, Mom! After a few hellish weeks, some good news was what we needed. I prayed it stayed that way.
Slip and I spent most of the day in bed. Perfect.
On Saturday, following a long day of taking Mom to physical therapy and massage appointments, shopping, and picking up her new oxygen machine, Slip and I headed to Cole’s house for the evening.
The whole band had come home during the break in their tour schedule so Cole and Flint could catch up with Ava and Sutton, and everyone could be there to celebrate Ava’s birthday.
But as I turned Britney, my Audi, onto Cole’s street, my stomach twisted into a pile of nerves and nausea. I looked forward to seeing everyone...but I wasn’t excited about meeting Harper. The strain embedding grooves into Slip’s forehead and forming creases around his closed eyes didn’t help.
I reached over the center console and patted his thigh. “Hey? Is everything okay?”
“Uh-huh.” He grabbed the handle above the door, using it to hoist himself up, turn on the seat, and lean toward me. Agony hovered in his low murmur. “Just needing my pain-killers to kick in. Dancing around at the after-party must have aggravated my hip.”
“We didn’t dance that much and most of it was slow, dirty, and hot.”
“I’ll never complain about you gyrating against me.”
“Good thing I’m happy to do that.” I pulled into Cole’s driveway, checked in with security, and parked next to Flint’s Ferrari. After killing the engine, I let out a slow breath. Time to meet Harper. I was being stupid, right? Surely I had nothing to worry about.
I grabbed the present bag for Ava off the back seat and hopped out of the car. Slip came around to my side and took my trembling hand. At the top of the steps, concern flashed in his eyes. He drew me to a halt outside the front door. “Why are you shaking? You know the guys.”
“I’m not worried about them. I’m not looking forward to meeting your ex.”
He half-grinned, shook his head, and kissed my forehead. “You have nothing to worry about. Trust me.”
I tugged on the center of his sweatshirt. “Don’t leave my side for a second.”
“I won’t.”
Slip rang the doorbell. He waited a few seconds before he entered his access code and opened the door. Taking my hand, he drew me inside Cole’s enormous home and into the living room with its towering double-story windows, open-plan kitchen, and long dining room table that overlooked the garden and pool. I didn’t miss the small limp in Slip’s stride. I hated he was in pain. If he rested it might get better. But Slip and rest didn’t go together. I’d just have to give him a good massage when we got home.
As we headed over to the band and their girlfriends, sitting and standing around the kitchen island with drinks in hand, the aroma of roasting meat filled the air, making my mouth water. Pity I didn’t eat red meat. It smelled so damn good.
I placed Ava’s gift of a Gucci purse on the bar next to some flowers and joined our friends.
“You finally made it,” Flint hollered and waved his beer toward us.
“Yep.” Slip nodded. “We had a busy day, and lost track of time.”
“Is that why you’re limping?” Lewis chuckled as he grabbed a beer from the fridge and handed it to Slip. “Was Mads too rough with you?”
“He likes it when I am.” I winked at Lewis as I took the glass of champagne Tia had poured me.
Lewis and Tia lived with Slip at present. His home was so big, I doubted they heard anything from down the other end of the house. I’d never heard them.
“Babe.” Slip’s eyes glinted as he kissed my cheek. “I like it hard, fast, slow, sweet, hot, kinky...just any sex with you really.” We’d made love every one of those ways and more. Compatibility in the bedroom wasn’t one of our issues. Not seeing each other often enough was. But time apart made our catch-ups super-hot. He turned and raised his beer toward Ava. “Happy birthday, Ava.”
I gave her a big hug. “Congratulations. You made it to twenty-seven.”
“Thank you.” She rested her head against Cole’s shoulder and patted his stomach. “Some days, I don’t know how I’ve survived.”
Cole hooked his arm around Ava’s back. “Good thing I’m keeping you in line now—not the other way around.”
“Don’t be delusional.” She smiled and jabbed him in the ribs. “The kids and I will always keep you in check.”
“I hope so.” A new contentment I’d never seen before shimmered in Cole’s soft gaze. “It’s life-changing and worth it.”
“So is getting married, right?” Sutton hugged me extra tight. God . I’d missed her.
“Yeah. I’ll keep you posted on that one.” I giggled and glided back to Slip’s side. With so little time together, I didn’t want to waste a second being apart.
“Daddy?” Charlotte, Cole’s daughter, called out from the top of the staircase. “I’m ready.”
Dressed in a frilly pink dress, she scooted down the stairs holding her teddy bear, Barney, in one hand and clutching the railing with the other. She reached the floor and charged across the room to Cole and crashed into his legs. “Up.”
Cole lifted her into his arms. “Hey, sweetie. Did you leave Josh and Harper behind?”
“Yes. I’m too fast.”
Josh, Ava’s son, clambered down the stairs, charged across the glossy tiles, and climbed onto the stool beside Sutton. He leaned toward Ava standing on the other side of the counter. “ Mom, is dinner ready? I’m so hungry I could eat a dinosaur.”
I’d only met Josh and Charlotte a couple of times. They were adorable kids. But I didn’t possess a maternal gene in my body. Babies weren’t on my agenda for a very long time—possibly not ever. That was another thing Slip and I agreed on. We were too young and had too much going on in our lives to even contemplate children.
“Dinner will be in five minutes.” Ava ruffled his hair, then headed over to the stovetop and stirred something steaming in a saucepan. She’d insisted on cooking for us. If that was what she wanted to do for her birthday, I was there. A relaxing night at home with friends rather than being out at some restaurant or club getting followed by the paparazzi was heaven.
But as I took a sip of my champagne, a shiver slithered down my spine. I glanced toward the stairs. I swallowed my mouthful of drink so hard it burned my throat. The hairs on my arms stood on end. A stunning blonde in a miniskirt and crop top headed toward us.
Fuck!
Harper.
Slip had told me she had dreads and dressed like a hippy—not that she looked like someone who could grace the pages of a fashion magazine. The Tanner gene pool wasn’t shy of human perfection. She was just as attractive as Tia and Cole.
With legs as long as Route 66, she crossed the room in floating strides and stopped beside Slip. He tightened his hold on my waist and tugged me closer. “Maddy, this is Harper.”
I held out my hand. Despite my twisting insides and for wishing I had a blade ready to knife her in the ribs if she so much as glanced at Slip, I wasn’t going to be intimidated by her. “Hi, nice to meet you.”
“Likewise.” She dipped her chin, but the wary vibe coming off her was even more prickly than mine. “Congrats on getting married.”
“Thank you.” I wasn’t into childish games, but I cuddled in closer to Slip, claiming my territory. “It was a crazy, fun night.”
“I wish you all the best.” Harper’s lips twitched, then pulled into something that resembled an innocent smile. But I was no fool. Harper may have everyone else believing she was happy for us, but the shards of jealousy in her green eyes told a very different story. “I look forward to getting to know you. But please excuse me. I’ll get the kids ready for dinner.”
She stepped around to Cole, took Charlotte from him, and carried her over to the table.
Oh.. .Harper wanted nothing to do with me. I didn’t think we’d ever be friends. But Slip and this band had become my extended family too. I was part of their world—just not as often as I’d like. So somehow I had to get along with Harper...and trust she wouldn’t fuck my husband when I turned my back.
The timer on the oven beeped.
“Dinner’s ready.” Ava grabbed the potholders, opened the oven door, and pulled out a huge sizzling roast beef, followed by a chicken. “Let’s eat.”
While the boys carved the roasts, us girls set the table. Ava had prepared the most incredible home-cooked meal I’d ever seen. Platters and dishes were filled with tender juicy beef, chicken, grilled vegetables, and mashed potatoes. The air was loaded with the most delicious scent. My God. I wanted to marry Ava. Slip and I weren’t cooks. I lived on takeout, home-delivered ready-to-eat meals, and restaurant cuisine. I’d spent more time having sex in my kitchen than preparing food. And considering I only saw Slip every couple of weeks and our steamy catchups were rarely in the kitchen, it was clear how little I cooked.
Over dinner and drinks, we fell into fits of laughter as the guys told stories about their shows, fans trying to sneak into their hotels, meeting ticket-holders before they went onstage, and the fun they had hanging out together after performing. Sutton relayed tales of her fellow castmates and onset relationship dramas between two of the girls, and I delved into some shenanigans my crew and I got up to when filming on location near Cypress Mountain. Many of them involved drinking games, toboggan races, and snowboarding.
“Damn, I wish I’d been there.” Slip nudged his knee against mine. “Maybe not snowboarding at present...but there with you.”
“You’re welcome anytime.” I ran my hand over his thigh.
“Next winter, I will be. I promise.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek.
“I’d like that.”
But a chill shot down my arms, prickling my skin. I stole a sideways glance across the table at Harper. Her avid gaze was set on Slip as she toyed with her tongue ring. What the...? If she’d stop staring at him like she’d lost the love of her life, everything would be fine.
But it wasn’t.
The knots in my stomach tightened. My head throbbed. I played with a small amount of vegetables on my plate, unable to eat much. Nausea had killed my appetite.
After everyone else had polished off almost every crumb on the table, we cleaned up, washed the dishes, and headed into the games room to play pool. The kids ran around, dancing and playing with their toys. As Slip and I waited for our turn at pool and sipped fresh drinks, he didn’t let go of my hand or stop stealing as many kisses from my lips as he could.
I didn’t know if he was sending Harper a clear message that he was mine, or if he was being an angel and staying true to his word about not leaving my side .
Didn’t matter—I liked it.
As the night wore on, music filled the air. Flint and Sutton made out on the sofa. They were just as inseparable as Slip and me. Lewis and Tia were whipping everybody’s butts at pool. Ava and Cole kept challenging them to new games. Just after ten-thirty, Harper took the kids to bed. The air was suddenly lighter and easier to breathe with her gone. Slip drew me into his embrace and swung me around to dance. The warmth of his arms around me, the love blazing in his eyes, and the taste of his lips were pure heaven. I wished it could be like this...just him and me...all the time.
Together every day.
One day.
“Hey.” I placed my hand on his steadily beating heart. “I’ve gotta use the restroom. I’ll be back in a sec.”
“Want me to come?” He raised a sexy eyebrow.
“No.” I wrinkled my nose. “I really just need to pee.”
“Okay.” He brushed his lips against mine. “Hurry back.”
I dashed down the hallway to the bathroom next to Cole’s gym. I did my business, then washed and dried my hands. But when I opened the door, Harper stood leaning against the wall, blocking my path.
Shit! “Sorry.” Flustered, I took a step sideways to let her pass, but she didn’t move. “I thought you’d gone upstairs with the kids.”
“I did. They’re asleep now. I was coming back to join in the games. Needed the restroom first.”
“Cool.” I nodded and waved for her to enter the bathroom. “It’s all yours.”
But she didn’t budge.
She tipped her head to the side, not hiding the anguish in her eyes. “So...you and Slip, huh? Married? I never thought I’d see the day he’d get hitched.”
I drew in a steady breath and placed my hand on my stomach to settle the sway. Be nice. Be sensitive. Be understanding . I always tried to put myself in other people’s shoes and not say anything that would offend or upset them. But Harper had made it clear with her suggestive comments and longing looks she wanted to get her claws into Slip. She was gorgeous and sexy. It made it difficult to believe that Slip could resist her. But I refused to let her see my weaknesses.
I drew my shoulders back and switched on a fun laugh, trying to make light of the situation. “I know, right? We never expected to fall for each other, but we did.” Then I softened my tone, infusing it with a mix of warm compassion and not-so-subtle bluntness. “I understand you have a history with Slip, and I’ve seen the way you look at him. I’m sorry if you still have feelings for him, but I hope you respect the fact that we’re married.”
“Slip and I have known each other for a long time.” She smirked and arched a catty eyebrow. “Just how much has he told you about our relationship?”
“I don’t need the finer details.” I folded my arms and leaned against the doorjamb. “We’ve all had previous partners.”
“Yes. But the thing is...” She ran her tongue ring across her teeth with too much sexiness and seductiveness. “He always comes back to me. That has never failed.”
I jerked my chin back. “What do you mean ‘ always come back?’ He was with you in his senior year. That was a long time ago.”
“Yes, he was.” Defiance flared in her eyes. “Then again after he broke up with Kim, Greta, Courtney, and every other girlfriend he’s ever had. We’ve hooked up at Christmas parties and other get-togethers. He fell into my bed after Phil died. I’ve always been there for him. And I’m always down for some fun.”
Alarms went off in my head. Fear seized my lungs. What the fuck? Slip hadn’t told me those things. Did they have some lingering connection I couldn’t sever? Like Slip and I’d had since we’d met? Shit. If it was as strong as the tie we had, how could I compete?
Wait . . . he married me.
Slip hadn’t given her a second glance since we’d arrived. He’d only had eyes for me. I had to believe that.
But the fissure in my heart cracked. Noah had left me for Jocelyn. They’d evolved from friends to lovers. I’d been too blind to see how they’d felt for each other. Was this thing between Slip and Harper the same? Something that kept simmering away, waiting to reignite?
Fuck.
She was around him all the time. I wasn’t.
Reining in my frantic pulse, I summoned a sweet smile. I could fucking act. I wouldn’t let my doubts bubble to the surface. Not in front of her. “Harper, that’s all in the past. Slip and I are together now.”
“I know.” Smugness skipped through her small smile. “I’m not a home-wrecker, but I’m not going anywhere either.”
I dug my fingernails into my palms. I didn’t know whether I wanted to slap her, bitch fight her, or shake the shit out of her. Anything that said back the fuck off would work.
“Ladies?” Slip’s smooth voice drifted down the hallway. He headed toward us with his hands held wide. “You talking about me? My ears are burning.”
“Always.” I slid past Harper and curled into his embrace. Tucking under his arm, I yanked him against me. “Harper was just giving me a history lesson.”
The color drained from Slip’s face. “Yeah? What about?”
“Your time together.” I smacked him on the ass, hard.
“Hmmm. Spank me later, baby. But whatever she said, the past is the past.” He swiped his thumb down the side of my cheek, then kissed my lips. “I’m with the woman I want for the rest of my days. You’re it, Mads. Got it? ”
“Yeah. Love you.” But my heart twisted. Slip hadn’t been honest about Harper. And that had hurt. But I hadn’t been entirely honest about Noah either. Shit.
“Happy for now, right?” Mischief flashed in Harper’s vivid green eyes.
“Stay the fuck out of this, Harper.” Slip stabbed a finger toward her face. “You promised.”
“I did. I won’t interfere.” She held up her hands, but then she pinned me with a challenging gaze. “Seems like your wife can’t handle a bit of shit stirring.”
I could. But she hadn’t been. Had she? No.
“Mads doesn’t know you or your games, Harps.” Slip ripped his fingers through his hair and held it back off his face. “So be nice. I don’t want Mads to get upset. So no more. Got it?”
“Where’s the fun in that?” Harper flicked her tongue ring at him. She veered into the bathroom, bumping hard into my arm as she passed.
Oh, the nerve of the women.
Fire licked through my veins. I burned Slip with my gaze. “This isn’t over. Can we talk? Somewhere private?”
He slouched his shoulders and sighed. “Do we have to?”
“Yes.”
He winced, then nodded. “Okay.”
“Good. Let’s go. Outside. Now.