Undeniable Temptation (Reckless Beat Book 5)

by Eden Summers

  “Fuck.” Mitch jerked upright from his dozing position on the sofa, while Blake and Sean cringed.

  She’d never been more proud of her lack of vocal talent.

  “Enough.” Sean shoved to his feet and stamped his grumpy ass into the kitchen, stopping in front of her seated position on the counter. “If I’d known payback would come in the form of singing, I would’ve drugged you hours ago.”

  “Oh, sweetie,” she cooed. “Retribution hasn’t even started.”

  Since her first failed attempt at escape, she’d tried to leave two more times. The first was in commando mode and involved a rather embarrassing crawl along numerous feet of hallway carpet before the click of a cell’s recording device encouraged her to stand. The second was when all three men had been dozing in varying positions around the living room. Mitch had sprung to his feet with the opening of the door and proceeded to run straight ahead, tripping over Blake on the floor. He hadn’t braced for impact. At least not with his hands. His face took the brunt of the fall, the resulting blood rushing from his nose enough to kick her conscience into overdrive.

  “Why don’t you get a few hours’ rest?” Sean leaned against the opposite counter, his shoulders slumped, his head drooping. “Please. Daylight is going to break any minute now.”

  “If your career was on the line, would you be able to rest?”

  He raised his chin and met her gaze with determination. “If I were you, I’d have faith in the men who love and adore you.”

  She glanced down at her swaying feet, cursing the effects lack of sleep had on her emotions. “Do you forget how well I know you all?” She shot him a look through her lashes before lowering her focus again. “My position is already perilous, and then Ryan made it worse by kissing me in front of the crew. If Bruce finds out…”

  “He already has.”

  Her gaze shot up.

  “Sean,” Blake warned, the bass guitarist striding into the kitchen. “Let’s keep this quiet until Ryan gets back.”

  “No.” She pushed from the counter. “I deserve to know what’s going on with my own career.”

  “We’ve got your back. That’s all you need to know.” Mitch came up beside Blake, wiping a rough hand over his face. “This won’t end until we’re all happy with the outcome.”

  “We’re all happy?” Incredulity dripped from her lips. “Since when did you claim dictatorship over my life? This is my career. My choice. Not yours.”

  They had the sense to look remorseful. The three of them now struggling to maintain eye contact. This wasn’t a game anymore. It wasn’t fun or comical. It was her future they played with. Her decisions they stole.

  “Do you understand what you’ve done?” She pinned Blake with a stare. “You’re going to be a dad soon. You may have a daughter.”

  He stiffened.

  “When she’s a grown woman—fit and capable to make her own decisions—would you find it acceptable to have the people she works with make choices about her future on her behalf?”

  “It’s not like that,” he grated.

  “Then what is it like?”

  His jaw ticked, the beat of contemplation narrowing his gaze. “Do you remember when we were back in Australia and you found out the infidelity rumors about Julie?”

  Ice water washed through her, along veins, through nerves.

  “It’s like that,” he continued. “You made the choice not to tell Ryan, even though he deserved to know, merely because you thought it was the best thing for him.”

  “It was best for the band,” she clarified.

  Sean inclined his head. “It was a professional decision.” He approached, grabbing her upper arms and staring down at her. “And so was ours. We can’t continue the tour without you. Not even for a day. It’s not something any of us are willing to do. So you can either look at it as if we’re trying to protect you—which we are. Or you can see it as the best career move we’ll make, because both apply.”

  “We’ll make this right, Leah.” Mitch gave a sad smile.

  She sucked in a deep breath and demanded the anger to dissipate as Sean pulled her into his chest.

  “I assume you’ve been in contact with Ryan.” She reluctantly slid her arms around his waist, taking comfort in whatever way she could.

  “We’ve messaged back and forth.”

  “Then tell me—” she retreated and met his eyes, “—what did Bruce say when he found out?”

  His eyes softened, the lack of excitement filling her with dread.

  “In short, he wasn’t happy and refused to negotiate.”

  Translation—her contract remained in place and now her boss had the evidence to send her packing.

  “Don’t give up on us.” Mitch came to her side, wrapped a hand around her neck and kissed her cheek. “You’ve fought for us from day one. It’s our turn to fight for you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “Don’t start regretting it now,” Mason muttered from the other side of the cab. “The damage is already done.”

  “I’m not.” Ryan stared out the window, watching the hotel come into view. He’d been trying to imagine the different ways Leah could respond to the news, and nothing he came up with was favorable. Not to begin with, anyway. She’d either be upset or livid, and the reaction would take hours, if not days, to simmer. “It’s going to take some time for her to forgive us.”

  “We already knew that before we started. But at least you can be with her now. If I would’ve been in the same situation with Sid, I wouldn’t think twice about what we’ve done.”

  “That’s because you’re an asshole.” The cab pulled to a stop and Ryan handed the driver a stack of bills, giving the guy a healthy tip because he hadn’t acknowledged the celebrities in his back seat.

  “True.” Mason opened his door and slid from the car.

  They regrouped in the lobby, ignoring the curious stares of people who were awake at this ungodly hour.

  “So, how are you going to tell her?”

  Ryan threw his arms wide, fucking clueless. “I’m still hoping inspiration hits before I get upstairs.”

  “Want my advice?”

  “No.”

  Mason laughed. “Well, you’re going to get it anyway. I suggest making sure she’s on the other side of a locked door. Or tied to a secure structure.”

  “Thanks for stating the blindingly obvious.” A loud whistle split the lobby and Ryan glanced toward the sound, finding Sean waving them toward the elevators. “Good timing.”

  Mason started forward.

  “Wait a second.” Ryan placed a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Before we get upstairs, I wanted to thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “Supporting me even though my decision is going to fuck with the band.”

  Mason shrugged. “We’ll bounce back. We always do. And besides, it’s not only you I’m supporting. It’s Leah. Reckless never would’ve made it this far without her.”

  “Have you ever told her that?”

  “And ruin the dynamic we’ve got going on?” Mason started for the elevators. “Nah. We’re right where we need to be. If she knew how much I adored her it’d get weird. And I don’t like weird. I prefer the bitter animosity we share.”

  “Right…” It made no sense. But then again, nothing they’d done tonight had.

  “Who’s sharing bitter animosity?” Sean asked, holding open the elevator doors.

  “Leah.” Ryan stepped inside the confined space, Mason following close behind. “How is she?”

  “I convinced her to pass out about an hour ago and I’m not looking forward to seeing what happens when she wakes up.” He pressed the button to the top floor. “I suggest greeting her with a mouth and groin guard.”

  “He doesn’t want suggestions,” Mason announced. “Lover boy thinks he knows best.”

  Sean chuckled. “Then we should have the paramedics on standby.”

  Ryan ignored the banter as they ascended. He appreciated the
distraction technique; really, he did. But he needed to focus. He still hadn’t figured out how to break the news. Inspiration hadn’t even hit once they quietly made their way into the penthouse, Blake and Mitch greeting them in the living room.

  “Hey,” Blake murmured. “How’d you do?”

  “Not as good as we’d hoped.” Mason made for the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge. “We had to settle for Plan B.”

  “So that means…” Mitch let the sentence hang.

  “Yeah.” Mason nodded. “It means more fun times ahead.”

  The resulting silence hit Ryan with a truckload of guilt. This was all on him. He’d been selfish. He’d put himself first. And no matter how much it made his chest ache, he couldn’t regret it.

  “What was Plan B?” Leah’s voice murmured from the other end of the room.

  He swung around, finding her leaning on one shoulder against the hallway wall, her suit crushed, her hair loose and framing her face. Those beautiful eyes blinked in lazy strokes, the blush of sleep darkening her cheeks. “Give me a second.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and turned on her toes, walking out of view.

  “Do you plan on telling her alone?” Mitch asked.

  “Yeah.” He deserved the brunt of her anger. Nobody else. She was independent. Resourceful. Accomplished. It wouldn’t be easy for her to accept what he’d done. He could barely accept it himself.

  “Want me to go in first and remove any loose items she might want to throw?”

  Ryan met Mason’s gaze, hearing the humor but also seeing the concern staring back at him. “I can handle it.”

  Mason nodded. “Do right by her.”

  “I will.”

  Leah sat at the foot of the bed, listening to the mutterings of an ominous conversation in the living room. There was no excitement. No whispers of celebration.

  She heard his footsteps approach, could see his frame through her periphery as he entered the room and closed the door behind him.

  “Leah…” His voice was so soft. So sweet.

  She raised her head and met his gaze.

  “You know I love you, right?”

  Her stomach dropped. “That’s not how you start this conversation, Ryan.”

  “And the guys…” He continued, “They love you, too.”

  Her pulse spiked. Breathing became hard. She wanted to shake this beautiful man. To shake and shake and shake until he divulged the disaster he’d created. “Please, don’t drag this out.”

  His expression faded. There was no warmth, no heat, no sense of hope to cling to.

  “I had a meeting with your boss.”

  She closed her eyes and hung her head. “I know.”

  “I’m sorry, but I had to.” He came to stand before her and crouched at her feet. “I thought I could convince him to change your contract.”

  “But you couldn’t. Could you?”

  He shook his head. “No.”

  A ragged breath escaped her lips. “How much does he know?”

  “Everything. We tried—”

  “And when you failed, he fired me.”

  Ryan winced. It was all the confirmation she needed. “I’m sorry, but please hear me—”

  “You had no right.” She pushed to her feet and slid from reach.

  “Let me explain.” He grabbed her waist, swinging her around, making her compliant with his hard stare. “You need to know how I fixed this.” He backed her into the wall, his weight crushing, his possession maddening. “I found a way for us to be together.”

  She denied him with a jut of her chin. “Bruce never would’ve agreed.”

  “You’re right. He didn’t. But he said I could buy out the clause for two million dollars.”

  “Oh my god.” Her mouth gaped as she struggled in his hold. “You didn’t…”

  “No. I didn’t. But I would’ve. Two million. Three million. Ten.” He got in her face, his nose almost brushing hers. “I don’t give a fuck. I would’ve done it if Mason hadn’t insisted on taking another option first.”

  His harsh tone. His cursing. His hold. It all diminished her anger. Attraction was making her pliable. Infatuation was making her weak. She couldn’t allow his appeal to take over her head. Not when it had already consumed her heart and parts further south.

  “It’s love, not stupidity.” He ground his hips into her, as if he knew the route to acquiescence was through her vagina.

  “From my limited experience,” she snarled, “they seem to be the same thing.”

  “Are you going to let me finish, or do you insist on growling at everything I say?”

  Honestly? She wasn’t sure. She wanted to know the damage. Knowledge was power and all that. But knowing also meant pain. It meant harsh reality and punishing truths.

  “Go on,” she whispered, slumping against the wall. “I won’t interrupt you again.”

  He quirked a brow. “I find that hard to believe.”

  She kept her mouth shut, belying him.

  His responding chuckle was short and breathy, flittering away as quick as it settled. “Plan B involved Scott.”

  Fear of the unknown morphed into terror and she shook her head to fight it away. “No.”

  “You promised.” He settled further against her, his fingers raking down her arms, stopping at her wrists. He gripped her gently and raised her hands to the wall, demanding surrender in a tender and Ryan-esque way.

  “As I said,” he murmured, his lips brushing her cheek, “Plan B had a different strategy. With most of your boss’s clients with Grander, it gives Scott a lot of power. And we asked him to do us a favor.” His mouth painted a distracting trail as he spoke, from her cheek to her neck, up to her ear. Each new breath tempting her to fall victim.

  “Don’t stop.” She wasn’t sure what she was referring to, the affection or the admission. Either way, she needed more.

  “We asked him to play hardball and tell your boss all the upcoming releases from his Grander client list would be placed on hold if he didn’t comply.”

  “What?” She yanked her wrists from his grip. “Are you serious?”

  “Do I look like I’m kidding?”

  No. Unfortunately, he appeared entirely sincere. Each stroke of her gaze back and forth between his eyes didn’t clear the idiocy.

  “So it wasn’t just my life you decided to mess with? It was innumerable artists who are meant to be your allies.” She scoffed. “No wonder Mason suggested this avenue. It reeks of his taint.”

  “We were willing to do whatever necessary.”

  “Then undo it.”

  “Can’t.” His fingers stroked her cheek, his gaze lazily raking her face. “It’s already done. I was in Scott’s home office when the early-morning call was made.”

  “And why would he make that call, Ryan?” She implored him with her eyes, hoping for a different answer to delete the horrific one already running through her mind. “What did you give him in return?”

  He didn’t react, didn’t give her any inclination of remorse.

  “Let me guess, you offered him something he couldn’t refuse.”

  “We did what needed to be done.” He gripped her chin with his thumb and spoke against her lips. “And we would’ve done more if necessary.”

  She wanted to hate every word coming out of his mouth. She wanted to detest them with the same ferocity as her frown. But how could she? How could she despise her men making a deal with the devil in an attempt to save her?

  She closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the wall. “After all we’ve been through with this tour, you still signed another contract.” She couldn’t believe it. They’d worked too hard to escape Grander’s clutches to give up right before the finishing line. “How many albums?”

  “One.”

  She opened her eyes, still not seeing the remorse that must be hidden somewhere.

  “A greatest hits collection,” he continued. “We only need to provide three new tracks.”r />
  “And you agreed?” Her eyes began to burn. “Even though it means going back to Grander and extending the hold they have on Reckless? Those songs will be wasted.”

  “We see it as a good investment.”

  “We?” she murmured.

  He inclined his head. “All the guys, plus Sidney, Alana, Melody, and Gabi. Everyone knew what was at stake.”

  Her vision blurred. “Wait.” She pressed a palm against his chest. “I’m confused. You said I was fired. How does this fix our problems when I’m still legally obligated to comply with a non-compete?”

  “There’s no non-compete. Bruce agreed to a mutual dissolution to the contract. He doesn’t want his company tarnished, and deep down, I think he was content our manipulation gave him a way to do right by you.”

  “I’m a free agent?” She wanted to be happy. The tingling sensation was already igniting behind her ribs, held captive by the reasons her freedom had been achieved. The cost was too high. They’d gone too far.

  “We did good, didn’t we?”

  She leaned forward, brushed her lips against his and then pulled back. “It’s another album. Those three songs could’ve gone toward establishing your own label. I would’ve fled the tour earlier if I knew that’s what you were going to do.”

  “I know.” He nodded. “That’s why I didn’t tell you.” His smile returned, the glimmer of happiness touching every dark part inside her chest. “We know you’ve given up a lot because of your dedication to the band. You put your social and family life on hold for us. You made Reckless your world, and we love you for that. It’s only fair we return the favor.”

  She would’ve forsaken more if there was anything left to give. Existence didn’t seem worthwhile without those five men. One in particular.

  “Forgive me?” He leaned his head against hers, his presence everywhere.

  “You’re crazy, do you know that?” Insane. Unhinged. Reckless. But she loved him. She loved every single thing about him.

  “Yes. But do you forgive me?”

  She gave a defeated laugh. “Give me more than five seconds.”