Six
ANDRé
What in the ever-loving hell had Mallory been doing in the front row with my sister? Was she friends with someone in the band or one of the other bands in the lineup? Had she somehow figured out who I was and shown up to see me?
And how did I feel if she had, after the way she’d kicked me to the curb?
I’d been distracted all day but I’d performed. I always pulled through––I was a team player and I loved playing drums. My gut told me that if I’d seen Mallory before the show, I probably would have choked, simply out of sheer disbelief. I believed I would never see her again.
I hesitated at Ben’s front door. Please let the party be small. I wasn’t in the mood for crowds. Hell, I wasn’t in the mood for a party.
But tonight marked the official end of our almost eighteen month world tour and despite being wiped out after last night, I would celebrate the milestone. At least for a few hours before I retreated to my place––which fortunately was close by––to lick my wounds.
“Awesome job, man. That was a blast.” Ben appeared, handed me a chilled bottle of my favorite amber lager, and quirked a brow. “You doing okay?”
“It was a great show but, yeah, maybe a little tired. Didn’t get much sleep last night.” Understatement of the century. I twisted off the cap and downed a mouthful.
Ben waggled his eyebrows. “Anybody interesting?”
Only the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met and…she only wanted to get laid. The irony wasn’t lost on me. Heat flared on the back of my neck and I elbowed him. “You’ve got a one track mind.”
“Two tracks. I think about music a lot, too.” Ben cracked up. He glanced up and waved. “Mallory, over here.”
I froze, every muscle in my body bracing for impact. Mallory was not a common name. It couldn’t be…
And it was.
Threading through the guests filling Ben’s great room, she strolled in our direction like she was walking a Paris runway. Damn, she was stunning.
A stab of possessiveness filled me. How did she know Ben?
Ben dragged her into a bear hug. “I’ve missed you. You’ve got no idea how much it means to me that you made it back for the show.”
Was she dating Ben? He was my age. What the hell? I ground my molars together.
Mallory stepped back. “Me too. You guys were incredible.” She lifted her gaze to mine, a glint in her green-gold eyes, a flush coloring her high cheekbones.
Ben beamed and turned to me. “André, this is Mallory. Mallory, André our kickass new drummer.”
“We’ve met.” My heart was racing but I kept my voice level.
Her glossy pink lips parted and she clasped her hands in front of her.
Ben swung his gaze between us. “Really? When did you meet my big sister?”
Sister? “I’m sorry, what?” A shot of adrenaline coursed through me.
“Mallory’s my sister. Remember, I told you she’s been out of the country? When did you guys meet?” A crease etched between his brows.
She gave a nervous laugh. “It’s kind of a wild, but I met André last night at the library.”
“Wait, you were with my sister? Last night?” Ben turned to me, his frown deepening.
I held up both hands. “I didn’t know she was your sister, okay?”
Realization dawned and his jaw tightened. “Hold on, you two hooked up? You hooked up with my sister? That’s why you’re tired? What the hell?”
Ben’s voice carried over the revelers and people paused and stared in our direction.
Mallory placed one hand on Ben’s arm. “Keep your voice down. Look, we didn’t make the connection to the band. I didn’t realize until I saw you guys on stage. It’s just a coincidence. That’s all.”
“Seriously? This is a pretty frickin’ big coincidence. Did you know, man?”
“Just found out when you told me.” How is this even happening right now?
Mallory bit her lower lip. “Ben, this is something André and I need to discuss. In private.” Her gaze found mine. “Okay?”
“You two better figure this out. You can use the study, it’s empty.” Ben stomped away, muttering under his breath.
Tension coiled in the air. “André, will you let me explain about this morning?”
I sighed and pivoted toward a wide, high-ceilinged hallway. “The study’s on the other side of the house.”