“You love me,” I reply, looking in my handbag for my apartment key. After a while he gets frustrated and takes my bag from me, grabbing the key out himself.
“Impatient!” I growl.
He grins back at me. “I have to get back to work woman. Come on I’ll make sure you get in safe.”
“You’re so good to me Tag,” I say dramatically, batting my eyelashes at him.
“I was good to you that one night,” he says as he helps me to my front door.
“You had to bring that up, didn’t you?” I say to him on a sigh. Tag and I may have slept together. Once. It was years ago when I was in my first year of law school. We had a one-night stand and somehow became friends after that. He likes to irritate me and bring up ‘the time we fucked’ every now and again. Once, when we were arguing at the bar, he used it as a comeback.
“Tag why is your shirt on backwards?” I’d said, laughing and pointing. “Did you make a trip to the back office?”
“Remember the time I took you to the back office?” he replied.
Everyone around us gasped at the information, and I punched him in the stomach.
Good times.
He gets me in safely and then heads back to work. In a moment of weakness, I pull out my phone and text Saxon:
Tee- Hi.
I hit send.
He replies instantly.
Saxon- Hi? What are you doing up so late?
Tee- Went to the bar. How’s the tour going?
I check four times to make sure I spelt everything properly, then I put my phone down and have a quick shower then fall asleep in my bed.
Naked.
Chapter Eight
Saxon
When Tee didn’t message back last night, I assumed she fell asleep. I wonder who she went out with. At least she made it home safely.
Alone.
I fucking hope so anyway.
“Sax, we gotta head to the photo shoot,” Ryder yells from somewhere on the bus.
“Yeah, give me a minute!” I call out, patting my jeans to make sure I had my phone and wallet. I walk out, the other three standing there ready to go. “Let’s go.”
Kidd looks like he hasn’t slept, with a pale face and bags under his eyes. “What’s going on with you?”
He glances at me and scrubs a hand down his face. “Nothing bro, just tired.”
I call bullshit.
Kidd and I have a weird relationship. I wouldn’t exactly say that we are close, but at the same time we always have each other’s backs. He’s the only family I have, and that means something to me.
“How’s things with my baby cousin?” Ryder asks me on the way to the shoot.
“You’re a fucking gossip, you know that?” I reply in a dry tone.
He grins crookedly. “We have a nosy family, you should probably get used to that.”
To have Tee, I would put up with her overbearing family plus more.
Jet whistles. “Good luck with that.”
Kidd decides to add his input. “I remember when we were playing at Steele one night, and she threw her drink on that guy. That was fucking funny.”
My head spins to him. “What?”
I don’t remember that.
He chuckles. “Yeah. I don’t know what he said to her, but she was pissed. She threw her drink on him then picked up a pool cue and waved it around, threatening him.”
Ryder groans and scrubs a hand down his face. “Yeah, that sounds like her.”
It definitely does sound like her. My lip twitches.
Jet laughs, shaking his head. “You find it cute that she’s crazy? You have it bad, man.”
There was no point in trying to deny it.
Ryder stares at me, a thoughtful, almost searching look on his face. “Maybe you will be good for her after all.”
Looks like I get Ryder’s approval. Although not completely necessary, it definitely makes life easier. I wouldn’t want to jeopardise the band or cause any more drama.
Even though she would be worth it.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and send her a message.
Saxon- What are you wearing?
Tee- Granny underwear and a giraffe onesie.
Her reply makes me grin.
Saxon- Sounds sexy.
Tee- There is something seriously wrong with you.
Saxon- I miss you.
Tee- Groupies not keeping you busy?
Saxon- No groupies. Saving myself for a feisty lawyer with the body of a goddess.
Tee- My body is pretty damn phenomenal.
I shake my head in amusement at that. The phone beeps with another message from her.
Tee- But so is yours….
Saxon- Are you flirting with me?
Tee- If I was flirting with you, you’d know it.
“Saxon, we’re here,” Ryder says. I reluctantly pull my gaze away from my phone and slide it back in my pocket.
Time to do this photo shoot.
*****
Ryder tells me Tenielle doesn’t like flowers because they die. So I send her an edible bouquet of chocolates and strawberries. I think food is a safe bet with her.
“Saxon! Can I have your autograph?” a woman asks as I’m standing outside the front of my hotel.
“Sure,” I tell her, pulling my hat down over my head before taking the pen from her. She holds out some kind of diary, and I guess that was just what she had on her.
“I’ll be at your show tonight,” she says, smiling at me and batting her eyelashes. “I love Morning Alliance so much! You’re my favourite band right now.”
“Thank you,” I tell her politely. “I hope you enjoy the show tonight.”
“Could I take a photo with you?” she asks, pulling out her phone and using the front camera.
We take one photo.
“Thank you! Maybe we could meet up after the show? Or I could come back to your hotel room,” she suggests.
Wow. I guess she’s not shy at all.
“Thanks for the offer but I’m kind of with someone right now,” I tell her, smiling, trying to be gentle.
“Oh,” she says, frowning. “I didn’t hear that about you.”
What do I say to that?
“It’s kind of private right now,” I try and explain. “I gotta head up but it was nice meeting you.”
I walk into the hotel lobby and get into the elevator. I don’t like being noticed on the street. I’m one person when I’m on stage, but off it, I’m just Saxon. I know recognition comes with fame, so there’s no point complaining about it, but I really wish I could keep some things private. My phone vibrates.
Tee- Thank you for the bouquet! It was almost too pretty to eat. Almost.
Saxon- Glad you liked it
Tee- Do you send all your friends delicious, fancily presented treats?
Back to that again.
Friends—nice try.
Saxon- Did you read my note?
Tee- I did.
Saxon- And?
Tee- And you’re making it really hard for me to resist you.
Saxon- Resistance is futile.
Tee- Don’t underestimate me.
Saxon- Never. I miss you. Gotta head out to rehearsal. TTYL.
I realise I’d gotten off the elevator and was standing there like an idiot in front of it messaging her. I walk to Ryder’s room where the rest of the band is, and then we all head out together. It feels good to be off the bus. We get to spend two nights at this posh hotel in Sydney before we drive to our next city. I love everything about touring, but I find myself looking forward to getting my ass back home.
I have a girl to win over after all.
Chapter Nine
Tenielle
I walk into work feeling good—dressed in one of my favourite outfits. White tailored pants with a matching fitted blazer, a mixture of professional and sexy. I stop at the reception desk and ask Taryn if there were any messages for me. Taryn is a bitch, but I tend to find her amusing.
“No messages,” she says, looking up at me from behind her reading glasses. “You’re not important enough for message.”
I chuckle. “Keep telling yourself whatever makes you feel better sweetie.”
“By the way, how come you’re allowed to wear that piercing?” she asks.
My finger touches the hoop through my nose. “Because it’s for religious reasons,” I lie.
“What religion is that?” she asks.
I really have no idea.
“I’m Sri Lankan, if you don’t know then I can’t be bothered explaining it to you. My piercing represents my heritage,” I tell her, making up every word. I snigger to myself, knowing that this woman really has it in for me.
She’s a hater, but I could care less.
Have you ever met a hater who’s doing better than you?
Nope—because they don’t exist.
I walk off and head into my office, leaving her staring at me. I look over my workload for the day and sigh. Definitely going to be working overtime. As the youngest criminal lawyer at my firm, I generally do the research for the cases and go into court as a junior council. I work for a defence attorney, and the hours and the workload aren’t always kind.
By six thirty pm I’m finally done.
I’m about to leave work when my phone beeps with a message.
Saxon- I miss you.
He’s really making his hard on me, isn’t he?
I type back I miss you too, but then delete it and shove my phone in my handbag.
Then I mentally recite why Saxon and I would be a bad idea. When I still feel like calling him just to hear his voice, I pull out a pen and a piece of paper and start to write.
Reasons for not falling in love with Saxon Tate.
He’s cheated before.
He’s my best friend’s ex.
He hurt my best friend.
He’s Ryder’s band mate.
All perfectly good reasons.
I can restrain myself, right?
“Fuck!” I growl when I realise that I don’t actually care much about any of those reasons anymore. They’re in the past, and even though I’m trying with everything I have to hold onto them, they don’t really matter anymore. Everyone has forgiven him, and they all seem to want us to get together. Still, for some reason, I don’t think I’m ready to go there with him. Why am I being so hesitant? When the reason hits me, I bang my head on my desktop table.
I guess it’s finally time I was honest with myself.
Saxon Tate may be the only man in the world with the power to hurt me.
He’s my weakness. My Achilles’ heel.
Now I can do two things with this information.
I can give in, hand him power over me, and hope that he doesn’t hurt me, or I can run. I can push him away, and with him the possibility of love and happiness.
I can be brave, and put myself out there, or I can be a coward, and continue on as I am.
The same image hits me, of Saxon with some groupie on his lap.
God, I hate that imaginary bitch.
I pull out my phone again and reply to him.
Tee- Where do you buy those donuts from?
It beeps instantly.
Saxon- You will have to wait until I come back.
I bang my head on the table once more.
Giving in to him feels like losing and winning at the same time.
I don’t like to lose.
But winning would mean I get him. I know it’s probably not the best idea, wanting a relationship with a rock star. Ryder and Lexi make it work, but like she said—even she has doubts now and again. I guess it really comes down to whether or not I’m willing to take a chance on him. I’ve had men pursue me before but none so thoroughly. Saxon notices every little detail about me, quirks and all.
I like that.
My mind roams back to the first time he asked me out. I was sitting at Steele, my brother-in-law’s bar where Morning Alliance used to play.
“Hello,” he said, sitting down next to me. “Can I buy you a drink?”
I wave my beer at him. “I already have one but thank you.”
“So you’re Ryder’s cousin,” he says, peering down on me.
“I am. And you’re Lexi’s ex,” I said, narrowing my eyes. “Cheating is kind of a douchebag move, you know?”
He looks down and plays with the label on his beer. “Wow, didn’t expect you to call me out on that.”
I shrug. “I’m kind of inappropriate.”
His lip twitches. “So I’ve heard. Listen, I fucked up with Lexi but that’s not me, I mean… It’s something I’ll always regret, but it’s in the past.”
I nod my head. “The first step is admitting it.”
He laughs, tilting his head to the side in an adorable way. “What are you doing right now? Do you want to go and get something to eat, talk a little?”
I stand up and glance at my wrist, which is bare. “Oh look at the time. My pet mouse is waiting for me at home and needs to be exercised. Nice meeting you Saxon.”
He had laughed at my lame ass excuse, like he found my rambling endearing.
He clearly has something wrong with him.
He also seems to find my reactions and behaviours amusing, which is definitely a good thing. I can be a lot to handle.
One question lingers in my mind.
Is this just the chase to him?
If he catches me, then what?
Game over or just the beginning?
*****
I step into the kitchen of my family home and cringe when my mother calls out my name.
“Yes Mum?” I reply, reaching for one of the cookies my sister Layla baked.
She slaps my hand away. “How come you haven’t come to see us in a while? Are you dating someone? You should be married by now! I think you’ve put on weight.”
Annnnddd this was why I hardly ever come home.
“I’ve been busy with work. No boyfriend and no plan to marry anytime soon,” I tell her. I choose to ignore the weight comment because there is no point addressing that. “It also takes me a while to drive here, I can’t just drop by every time.”
“Why not? See your sister is already married to a great man and has a baby…”
I block her out after that and retreat to a happy place in my mind.
I hate that I see Saxon’s face as I opened the door and he was holding jam donuts in his hands.
Hmmmmm jam donuts.
I could really go for one right now.
That sweet gooey centre…
“Are you listening to me Tenielle?” she snaps.
I turn to her. “Of course I am.”
“Are you staying for dinner?” she asks. She cooked a typical Sri Lankan meal, so hell yeah I was staying for dinner.
“Yes I am. Where’s Dad?” I ask. He’s probably hiding out in the back because that’s what I’d be doing if I lived with her too.
“He’s out back working on his car,” she replies.
Bingo.
“Okay, I’m going to go say hello. Let me know when Layla gets here,” I tell her, walking out of that kitchen like it was on fire.
Seriously, that woman is going to be the death of me.
Chapter Ten
Saxon
I walk up to her apartment and knock on the door. After arriving home this morning, I unpacked, took a shower, and then came straight here. She was the first person I wanted to see. I haven’t even eaten yet, so I’m hoping she will feed me.
Fuck I have it bad.
The door opens and her head pops out. “Welcome back.”
“Thanks,” I tell her, my gaze greedily taking her in as she opens the door wider. “Have you got any plans today?”
It’s a Saturday, so I’m counting on her being free. I step inside her apartment, brushing my body against hers as I pass. I put my hands on her hips, holding her so she can’t move away.
“I missed you,” I admit to her, lifting my hand and tenderly
cupping her cheek. My hand drops and gently grips her nape. “So fucking much.”
She raises her chin and stares into my eyes. “Why do you have to be so fucking hot and sweet?”
My face breaks out in a smile. “I’m glad you think so.”
“And to answer your question, I do have something planned today,” she says.
I can’t help the disappointment I feel at that.
“But…” she continues. “You’re more than welcome to come with me.”
My smile returns. “Sounds good to me. What are we doing?”
“It’s a surprise,” she replies. I let go of her neck and follow her into the kitchen. “I cooked lunch if you’re hungry.”
My stomach chooses that moment to rumble. Yep- I’m starving.
She smirks. “It’s in the oven, help yourself. I’m just going to get dressed.”
“You cooked again?” I ask, giving her a pointed look.
She rolls her eyes. “I was hungry and sick of takeout.”
I open the oven and see a delicious looking lasagne. “Well I for one am very thankful for that.”
She smiles but says nothing before exiting the room. I serve myself an extra-large piece, smother it in tomato sauce, and get to work. Tee walks out of her room a few minutes later dressed in ripped, worn jeans, a tight black t-shirt, and sneakers.
“We’re going somewhere casual then?” I ask as I finish my last bite.
“Yup,” she replies. “You ready to go?”
I rinse my plate and put it in the dishwasher, grab a drink out of her fridge, and nod my head. “I’m ready. And thanks for lunch, the food was delicious.”
She smiles at me. “Don’t get used to it.”
“I won’t,” I tell her, amused. “Next time I’ll cook, how about that?”
“Sounds good to me, now let’s get going or we’re going to be late.”
We both get into her car and head to an unknown destination.
*****
I look around at the screaming kids and shake my head. I wasn’t expecting this, that’s for sure. I laugh as Tee runs by, pointing her laser gun at one of her baby cousins and shoots.
“Got you, you little devil!” she calls out to the kid, then commences with her victory dance, which consists of her waving her arms in the air and doing some weird thing with her legs. She looks adorable in the camouflage t-shirt she put on when we got here, and she has on a hat with the laser counter and sound effects. I laugh at her, until one of her other cousins runs up behind me and jumps on my back, distracting me. Tenielle has a huge-ass family, and apparently it was her turn to chaperone a day out for the kids. She chose laser tag, because she’s just awesome like that.
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