Chapter 23
BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE
Phoenix
Three nominations. Three wins. And one hell of an after-party. Phoenix knew the music industry went all-out for the award after-party, but this was beyond anything he’d pictured in his head.
The two-story converted warehouse throbbed with a musical pulse, the tones from the in-house DJ reverberating off the vaulted ceiling to rain down onto the dance floor.
Four massive screens, alight with high-definition pictures, flickered to the beat and added color to the otherwise dim space, and costumed people danced on high, vaulted mini-stages.
People packed the place from wall to wall and yet it somehow felt less stuffy than the award show itself.
Hand braced against the small of Addie’s back where it had been since they arrived, Phoenix hovered his mouth over her ear. “It’s a lot less crowded upstairs so we’re heading up there.”
“Well damn, and here I was enjoying the sardine-can atmosphere,” she quipped.
He chuckled and led the way to the spiraling staircase that would take them to the second floor’s VIP area. The muscular security guards gave them a once-over before allowing them through.
The Lounge was a club within a club, the second story open and airy enough to people-watch from over the heavy iron railing.
Plush couches and overstuffed chairs replaced the smaller conversation tables downstairs, and a miniature version of the main bar took up the far back corner.
There was room to breathe and move without worry of colliding with someone—unless on purpose.
“So much better than downstairs.” Naiomi looped an arm through Addie’s as she shot Phoenix a warning look. “I’m stealing your girl for a second and we’re getting drinks. Your job—because you have no choice but to accept it—is to keep the rock bunnies from climbing onto my fiancé’s lap.”
“Or Addie and I could go get everyone drinks, and you can guard your fiancé’s crotch yourself,” Phoenix quipped.
Nai rolled her eyes and dragged a highly amused Addie away.
Phoenix stared at the magical view of Addie’s ass until she disappeared into the three-people-deep border surrounding the bar.
“They’ll be fine.” East steered him to one of the empty leather sofas. “But you, my friend, I’m not so sure about.”
“Me? Why?” Phoenix commandeered one end of the long couch, and East took the other as they purposefully man-spread to leave room for the girls’ return. “I’m fine—unless one of these stage bunnies somehow manages a sneak lap attack and Nai kicks my ass.”
East studied him before smirking. “I’m not sure if you’re just in denial, or you’re just a really good actor. You don’t want to talk about it yet? Fine. Just know that you’re playing with fire, my friend, and I’m not sure there are enough fire extinguishers to put it out when things explode.”
“Oh my goddess, you really are Naughty Nix and Easton Knox.” Two women stood in front of them, both looking as if they’d stepped off a Victoria’s Secret runway. The brunette batted her heavily mascara’d eyes. “The guy over there said you’d be happy to take pictures with us.”
Phoenix’s gaze shifted in the direction she’d indicated and met Marcus’s palpable glare from across the room.
East, seeing the silent ultimatum, too, sighed. “Yeah, we can take a picture.”
With ear-piercing squeals, the girls immediately dove ass-first onto his and Easton’s laps.
Phoenix burst into laughter at his friend’s horrified expression until his own horror took over and the brunette on his lap threw her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek. A third groupie came from out of nowhere and snapped a pic.
It all happened so fast. A lap dive, kiss, and pic all in the span of an eyeblink.
Unfortunately, not quickly enough that the only woman Phoenix wouldn’t mind on his lap didn’t witness it. And then there was Naiomi, whose look contrasted Addie’s curiosity with one of polite murder.
“Thank you for keeping my fiancé and brother entertained, girls, but we’ve got it from here.” Nai’s sweet tone barely contained her underlying meaning: Move or I will move you. “Now shoo. Photo ops are done for the night.”
They jumped up immediately, giggling as they skipped away.
Nai took her rightful spot on East’s lap. “Freaking groupies are like cockroaches. The second you step out of the room, they swarm. Not that I don’t trust you completely, babe,” she added quickly, dropping a kiss on his cheek. “My shy, gentle, gargoyle giant.”
Nai’s eyes twinkled as she glanced toward Addie. “Did I ever tell you that it took this man months to work up the courage to kiss me the first time … and that’s after we basically grew up together?”
A small, wistful smile melted over her face. “But boy, what a kiss. It was a good thing I was sitting down or my knees would’ve given out.”
Addie leaned against Phoenix’s end of the couch. “That romantic, huh? Were there rose petals involved? Soft music in the background?”
“Nope. High, itchy grass that gave me a rash that took two weeks to go away. Sweat stains. And the only music around was the loud thrum of about a million crickets—one of which got tangled up in my hair and East had to go spelunking to get it out. It was the best.”
Addie let out a genuine laugh, her eyes twinkling in the dim lighting. “What? High, itchy grass, bugs, and sweat stains?”
“Without a doubt. Summer days at Emilio’s farm weren’t just an escape from the city, but from everything.
I swear even to this day that that place is magical.
You could have the weight of the world resting on your shoulders, and the second I stepped into that barn and climbed into the loft, it all melted away. ”
Addie’s gaze caught Phoenix’s and they shared a knowing look.
“That does sound magical,” Addie admitted slyly.
Naiomi snuggled deeper into East’s hold and the two lovebirds quickly lost themselves in each other, whispering and sneaking kisses.
A little devil took a seat on Phoenix’s shoulder. He patted his lap and flashed Addie an inviting grin. “I saved the best seat in the house for you, love. VIPs only.”
“So the pretty brunette was a VIP?” Addie kicked up a teasing eyebrow.
“No, she was a lap crasher.” He amped up the Naughty Nix charm. “This seat has been reserved for you and only you since the day I opened my apartment door to a very incessant knocker.”
“You know I’ve been sitting in my own seat for years now without problems.”
“Suit yourself. Just know that it’s an open invitation. Anytime you want it, the spot’s yours.” He grinned coyly. “And just so you know, in this lighting, your gorgeous eyes almost sparkle.”
Fewer than six feet away, a small group of friends, hearing their exchange, giggled and whispered amongst themselves before the tallest of them broke away with a seductive smile. “I’d love to claim the best seat in the house if she isn’t taking it.”
“Sorry. You heard the man.” Addie lowered herself sideways onto Phoenix’s lap and wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “This seat is reserved for me.”
“Fuck yeah it is, love.” Phoenix guided her fully into his embrace and tucked his face into the curve of her neck.
“Now who’s sniffing who?” Addie whispered with amusement.
“I fully admit it and don’t care in the least because you smell fucking amazing.” Phoenix drifted his mouth closer to her ear. “And did it just get hot in here, or is that your possessiveness warming up the joint?”
She turned her gaze on him and …
It was a good thing he was sitting down because damn …
The mixture of heat and mischief dancing in her green eyes stirred something other than his dick—although that was definitely waking up, the longer she sat on his lap.
The corners of Addie’s lips lifted as she used the damp napkin around her drink to wipe at what must have been remnants of the groupie’s unwanted kiss.
“It wouldn’t look like a fauxmance if I let some other woman sit on your lap—again. Would it?” Addie said coyly.
That fucking word.
Phoenix could kick himself in the ass for ever coming up with it.
Addie
Just saying fauxmance left an ashy taste in the back of Addie’s throat, and she didn’t need many guesses to figure out why. But what she did need was a bit of air and to be somewhere—even for a few minutes—that didn’t assault her eardrums.
“I’m going to make a quick run to the bathroom.” She regretfully climbed off Phoenix’s lap and he moved to stand. “I think I can handle the bathroom alone, rock star.”
Phoenix didn’t look thrilled, but Addie leaned down, giving him a spectacular view of her cleavage. She was probably flashing someone behind him, too, but she couldn’t bring herself to care as she tilted Phoenix’s chin up and kissed him.
His hand slid to the back of her head and held her close, making what she’d planned to be a quick peck into something a hell of a lot more. It physically pained her to pull back.
“Try not to let anyone else sit in my seat while I’m gone, okay?” Addie teased.
“Oh, bathroom break!” Naiomi stood at her side. “I pregamed way too much water and now I’m paying for it. I’ll go with you.”
“Be careful. You both have your phones?”
Nai rolled her eyes. “Yes, Dad. We do. Let’s go before he decides to follow us.”
They asked one of the servers to point them toward the restrooms and got directions to a more private one a little farther away. When it came to women’s bathroom lines and Naiomi’s overfilled bladder, shorter was paramount.
There was no line at the door, and Naiomi immediately ran into the closest stall while Addie waited by the sinks, just needing a little quiet time.
Nai emerged a minute later looking much more comfortable until she glanced in the mirror. “Well hell. Why did no one tell me I looked like a hot mess?”
“Uh, because you don’t. You’re stunning. As always.”
Nai scoffed and started pulling makeup from her little clutch. “You have to say that because you’re faux fauxmancing my older brother.”
Addie’s mouth opened and closed as she struggled to form words.