Argh!
She tossed her half drank paper cup if java in the garbage. She was never going to be able to look at coffee the same again.
Cece was going shopping. That was her final decision this morning after finally slipping into another pencil-line dress. A shopping trip was exactly what she needed to spruce up her closet, be prepared for the AJH and add in a spice of...
No. No. No.
“Good morning Cece,” Macy greeted, brushing her blonde bangs away from her face. She looked up from behind the black receptionist desk stretching across the length of the far red wall.
When Riley decorated the label he mashed retro with contemporary for a unique feel that spread across the red walls and black tile floors.
“They’re waiting in board room six for you.” She relayed the message stepping around the long desk, wearing a sexy skin-tight red dress.
Cece had to gather up every last piece of her inner professionalism not to scream.
Macy oozed sexy.
Don’t compare yourself to Macy or anyone else for that matter...that’s what’s responsible for warping your normally focused thoughts.
“Thanks Macy. I’m going to run by my office first and I will be right down.”
I need a moment to myself...again. What is wrong with me? You’re loading onto a bus soon with Avery where you can’t run and hide from him and his beautiful body.
Macy was looking her up and down, analyzing her with those same blue eyes that had done so when Riley had taken off three years earlier when his family died in a car crash. Cece hated that look. She’d hated it back then and she hated it even more now. Why was Macy even analyzing her in the first place?
“What?” Cece didn’t mean to snap, but that’s exactly how it came out, sharp and angry. She was having a crappy morning and now she was taking it out on Macy, who would do anything for her. Cece softened her face as Macy answered.
“You’re late,” she observed, as if Cece wasn’t already fully aware. “You alright?”
“Slept in.”
Liar.
Macy saw right through the feeble excuse, with an arch of her perfectly manicured, filled-in eyebrows, a strong contrast against her light skin and blonde locks of hair. Got lost in my work, would have been way more convincing.
“I’m fine,” Cece promised, squeezing one of Macy’s hands.
Macy was a good friend, not a close friend, Cece didn’t have any of those. She’d pulled away from everyone when Riley left without telling her where he was for almost three years and that was when she’d been forced into his chair, forced into professional clothes and shut down from the people in her life, maintaining professionalism. Period.
Cece wasn’t getting into details right now with Macy about how one run-in...sexy, steamy, run-in...with Avery McAdams and how he’d smashed his way through her brick wall, then left her crushed on the other side. Now, she was having a hard time building that wall back up. Day after day she added another brick in hopes he would stay on the other side. Today was by far the worst day. She was late because of her unsexy wardrobe, her empty suitcase and Avery McAdams’ sexy body...
Ughhh.
“Give me ten.”
I might need another hour!
Cece’s five-inch black stiletto’s echoed down the hall to her office. She confidently considered her shoes sexy. The only sexy things left in her closet. Shoes? Shoes!
Cece slammed her office door shut with a little extra ram than usual, threw her mail on the desk, not even bothering to look through it, and swung open her closet door. Standing in front of the full length mirror she found herself repeating her actions from home: staring at her professional outfit reflection, analyzing it and disappointed in the end result.
Her eyes stopped, and she scolded herself for pulling the door open to start with.
You are a professional. You look professional. You didn’t want this stupid gig and you could skin your brother alive for forcing you into it because it was his girlfriend’s brother.
Avery was getting special treatment and Cece didn’t like it. Unfortunately the bigger problem was that she liked Avery.
Liked Avery? Liked Avery!
There went today’s and yesterday’s bricks. She was going to have to double up tomorrow.
Comprehending that she liked Avery made her stomach turn and suddenly she was fearing that boardroom.
What was the point of the meeting anyway? Did you read your itinerary? Do you have any questions? Let’s go over the outline of the festival. What is expected, what will happen, and what you should be doing at all times. Was any of that really important enough to throw together a meeting?
Avery was going to get excited, she was going to get excited and Cece was going to be reminded of her current position as professional Cruella de Vil, who Avery slept with to up his band. Cece was the ticket to their success. Suddenly the well-known saying, take one for the team came to mind and she felt like a scratched record, used until no longer needed and then thrown away.
Why had Riley chosen Cece to manage Inch Away? Cece could have found her own band. She loved the search. But Cece hadn’t had a choice in Riley’s decision. She also couldn’t say no to her brother after attempting to destroy his relationship with Abby McAdams prior to his offer and admitted it after his offer. Cece was at Riley’s...and Abby’s...mercy after breaking them up. She had come clean after the guilt of watching her brother sulk about had eaten her up inside. Now they were happily in love and when Riley laid the offer out on the table she couldn’t very well say, No Riley I don’t want to manage Inch Away because I slept with Avery and I have no proof but he’s in love with his ex and he slept with me so I would take this exact position, because I am the best artist’s manager you have and he’s trying to win his ex-girlfriend back.
It sounded insane, but it was true.
Cece had been cornered and now she was stuck with Inch Away. That was that and there was no changing it. Worse than that, why wouldn’t Avery evaporate from her thoughts? And why was she letting that four letter word creep back into her thoughts while making a disgusted face at the mirror?
Why? Why? Why?
Cece groaned and covered her face with her hands, kicking the closet door shut at the same time.
She was so embarrassed she’d been roped into Avery’s bed...well more like the top of the pool table and bent over the theater seats and Lord, she couldn’t forget the bowling alley...she was pretty sure some of what they did on that bowling alley would be considered illegal...and oh, how she craved to do it again. She’d been roped into Avery’s arms just like she’d been roped into the exact job Riley hooked her up with. There hadn’t been any need for Avery to have scoped her out and sweet talked her into sleeping together and to top it all off he was in love with Ems!
As usual the thought swirled a pit of sadness in her stomach.
“He loves Ems,” she said out loud and she would do so until it was through her thick head. “And he used you to get further in his career...with Ems.”
Leaving the games room that night, Cece had been under the impression something had sparked between her and Avery. Cece hadn’t been looking for a relationship, or a man, but from the moment she was introduced to Avery McAdams her heart had peeked out of hiding and reminded her it still existed. Cece’s skin had still been tingling from Avery’s touch and her lips warm and soft from his caresses when she left the room. Her body had awakened after three years and excitement had seeped through her once again. But then Abby had stopped her in the hall with her bubbly, non-stop motor mouth on a search for Avery and informing Cece about how Ems had cheated on Avery with his best friend, in turn breaking Avery’s heart.
Breaking his heart? It hit Cece right then and there...she’d been used. For a moment she thought she felt her heart break and it hurt far worse than any relationship she’d been in. That was ridiculous. That was ridiculous...childish. Who felt that way after knowing someone for only a week? Nobody!
Cece shook her head, and the past, away, focusing on the now. “You are professional,” she told herself. She glanced down at her outfit. Her clothes didn’t object.
Taking a deep breath, she grabbed her iPad and headed down the cool, sleek, red painted halls to board room six.
First things first. Get to AHJ without making a fool of myself and get through this meeting without stealing glances in Avery’s direction.
Easy peasy. Tell that to the tornado that went through your closet this morning.
Three out of four of the band members were lounging on red leather chairs in the boardroom playing their single, “Evoked Heartbeat”...and who did Avery write that song about...
Ems Gordon was the first one to catch her attention, laughing and strumming her banjo in tune with the others. She looked like the billboard model of a country advertisement in her denim and floral dress and leather white cowboy boots, rocking up and down in perfect harmony to the tune. Her tattoo sleeve traveled up her arm, and peeked through the openings of the lace across her chest. It gave her a flash of modern...dare Cece think it...sexy.
Maybe Cece’s anger at Avery was conveying this Cruella shadow toward them...or maybe it was her clothes. Emily was unknowingly digging into Cece’s self conscious and dragging unfamiliar feelings into Cece’s chest on a regular basis lately. In all her adult years...in all her life...she had never been self conscious or even cared what other people thought of her...especially not a guy. She remembered a time when she was a little more shy and conscious of her actions, but never had she felt self conscious about herself. Repeatedly asking herself what Ems had that she didn’t was ending...today.
Drew was beside Ems, leg against leg with her, his deep voice bouncing off the four walls as he craned his neck back and closed his hazel eyes, feeling the music, singing the words no doubt intended for the woman beside him, his girlfriend.
Drew was a tall, lanky guy with the same style as the rest of the band, button-ups over denim. Cece liked their style: clean cut. It looked great on stage.
Drew’s fingers were usually hitting the keyboard or piano instead resting on Ems thigh, like the present.
The third member, Sean Warren was strumming his base guitar in perfect harmony, his head bent down and his straw hat hid his black square glasses and round face fitted with full beard and curled mustache.
No Avery.
Cece dropped her iPad on the table and the loud thump caught their attention. They turned, their lit smiles faltering a bit at Cece’s presence.
Fear...they fear me.
They might as well come right out and say, Good morning Cruella.
“Where’s Avery?”
Maybe if you didn’t sound so hard they wouldn’t be scared of you. Maybe if I didn’t feel like I needed to build a solid, hard wall to survive I wouldn’t sound so hard.
A round of shrugs answered her. None of them knew where he was?
“He hasn’t shown up yet,” Ems offered.
“Has anyone texted him or called him?” Cece asked. It was the day and age of technology and if a band member was missing how had none of them located him?
“I called and texted him,” Ems piped up.
Of course you did.
“No reply.” Ems shrugged.
No reply? No reply!
Cece hadn’t wanted to come to this meeting either, but she’d shown up.
That smug little shit. Special treatment came back to mind.
“Meet me back here in a half hour,” she said, turning on her heel and pulling her cell phone out.
He had better be dying.
“Did Abby come in with Riley today?” Cece asked Macy as she walked into the reception area.
“No. Riley’s in his office though,” Macy offered.
Cece didn’t need Riley. “Thanks,” Cece said while she texted Abby, Where’s your brother, with fuming fingers hitting the screen. She should really have approached the text nicer like, Hey Abby, have you seen your brother...no show @ the meeting this morning.
Cece was still walking on egg shells around Abby. She still couldn’t believe her brother had fallen in love. In love! That hadn’t been the brother she’d remembered.
Riley had never loved anyone, expect Cece of course. He had raised her after their parents died in a car crash and their wealthy, but heartless Uncle Jack took them in, but never really accepted them. Until his death, Jack had devoted his every last waking second to work. Uncle Jack might not have loved Riley and Cece, but when he died he’d left them enough money that neither of them ever had to work again.
At the time of his death, Riley had been just like Jack, a workaholic with a dash of rebellion in him. He’d taken his portion of the money and created Torsten Label, named after their father, and Riley had been proud of his creation. That was why, when Riley left, Cece devoted her every waking minute to keeping the thriving business up-to-date, successful and running smoothly, for the day Riley returned. A record label couldn’t fall behind with times changing, and bands coming and going. The CEO always had to be one step ahead. That had consumed most of Cece’s time over the last few years and made her...hard.
Then all of a sudden after years living in Willow Valley, and not telling Cece, Riley had shown up in the early hours of the morning with Abby...claiming to be in love. Cece hadn’t bought it at the time. Now, she saw her brother was in love. At the time she couldn’t think past the fear of losing him again and was convinced a break away from Abby would clear his mind and find his proprieties again. The break had only made Riley miserable missing Abby more. They belonged together. Soul mates.
What was with these McAdams and the pull they had on the Boyds? Seriously.
Cece’s phone vibrated as Abby’s text came through. Last I saw him at home.
At home meant he was at Riley’s house.
K. Thanks. Cece sent the message, and then slipped her phone away. She wasn’t starting this meeting without Avery and if she had to track him down then she very well would and not because she wanted to see him.
The warm September air pelted down on her making her anger heavier. Why couldn’t it be a cool September day and chill her down instead?
Cece drove straight to Riley’s house, used her key to get in the front door, and spotted Avery’s guitar on the couch and his shirt on the floor.
She swallowed hard as she pushed the back glass door open and found Avery swimming in the pool in the backyard. Swimming! His lean arms were slicing through the water as his long body moved gracefully with the sun glistening off his naturally tanned muscles.
Cece was thankful he was distracted so he didn’t witnesses her gaping mouth captivated with his almost naked body. This was exactly the reason she’d made damn sure they’d stayed separated the last two months. This man made her blood boil and her head turn stupid in a way she’d never experienced...but at the same time washed a sadness over her because what she felt for him, he didn’t feel for her.
Avery broke through the surface.
Cece regained her composure.
Lord, he was gorgeous.
“What are you doing?” she demanded, planting her heels on the white marble and staring down at him treading in the center of the pool.
She ignored the extra-pull in her stomach at the sexy, cocky smirk crossing his face. Why did he look at her like that?
“Swimming,” he answered.
That was not what she was referring to and he knew it. “We had a meeting over an hour ago and you’re swimming?”
“It’s a beautiful day.” His voice was so damned sexy. She hated that! And he looked at her like he was only looking at her, blind sighting her with his charm.
“You can’t just miss any meeting you please just because it’s a beautiful day.”
“I already know all about your fancy little meeting.” Fancy little meeting? Was everything a joke to him? “You’re going to go over the requirements of new bands at the festival, make sure we read the itinerary...” He grinned at her.
“...which I did...twice” He was cute too. Sexy, charming, cute...gorgeous...ugh! How did he know all about her fancy little meeting anyway? “Riley told me last night over supper,” Avery supplied, as though she had asked.
Riley? Supper?
Special treatment. This was unacceptable.
“You know the supper you were invited to, but you bailed.”
Yes, because of you!
Cece wasn’t about to tell Avery that. She didn’t trust herself with him and his smirks, his sweet talk, and his abs. His abs. She was watering at the mouth again just thinking about those rock hard abs bobbing under the water and commanding herself to not drop her eyes for a peek.
Cece folded her arms and glared at him. “Don’t you think it’s a little pathetic you live with your sister in her boyfriend’s house?” Glass, three-story, amazing house with a pool in the backyard overlooking the city completely equipped with gym, games room, theater...bowling alley.
It was really more like a free hotel. But Cece hadn’t seen much of it lately while on mission: Avoid Avery.
Avery swam to the edge of the pool.
Cece had to force herself not to step away as he climbed out of the water dripping down his muscular chest...down his abs and making Cece’s tongue want to lick away the droplets.
Lick? What? No!
“I could move in with you.” He’d dropped his carefree tone down to a sexy bedroom tone that strummed all the right strings in her belly like his fingers on his guitar. “I hear your penthouse is spacious, but reserved and...” He grinned, leaning in a bit closer. Cece had to clench her fists to keep from struggling to find the air she’d stopped inhaling while he spoke. “...there’s only one bedroom.” There really was only one bedroom. How did he know that? “I don’t mind sharing.” She wouldn’t mind sharing either...not with this man.
Cece! He does this to all the women and he only means it with one and it’s not you.
She could feel herself getting lost with him again. It had been like this since the first day they met. Even with her thoughts focused on Riley’s return, her body demanded she pay attention to Avery.
Lakeshore Lyrics: The McAdams Sisters (By The Lake Series Book 5) Page 2
