“What’s going on here?” Dash had let himself in through the unlocked door and stood in the entry of the room, anger emanating from him, his body vibrating with the emotion.
“Dash. We were coming to see you after we stopped here,” Dean said. “How did you know we were at Ms. Forrester’s?”
Cassidy suppressed an eye roll at his solicitous behavior toward his top client when, seconds before, he’d been insulting her.
“Xander was taking his morning run and saw you two get out of the car. He figured I’d want to know.” Dash folded his muscled arms across his chest.
In faded jeans, Vans on his feet, a tight tee shirt, and a basic pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses, he appeared damned sexy and intimidating as hell.
“What are you up to?” he demanded of his manager.
The man ran a hand through his slick hair. “I was trying to convince Cassidy that this relationship shit is a bad idea.”
“Actually, he insinuated nobody would believe you’d fall for someone like me. He’d prefer an actress or a model.” Cassidy turned to Naomi next. She wasn’t letting either of them off the hook. “And Naomi wanted to take me clothes shopping so I didn’t embarrass you at the awards.”
“What the fuck?” Dash glared at them both.
“I’m just saying all publicity is good publicity. So what if they’re talking about you escaping a baby scare? It keeps the band in the news.” Dean’s face turned red beneath his tan.
“It should be about the music and Axel, our new band member. Naomi’s right. If I’m in a relationship, they’ll find me boring in no time and discuss what matters. Decision made and I don’t want to hear another word about it.” Dash stood up to his manager, and yeah, Cassidy found that hot, too.
“Fine,” Dean muttered.
Cassidy couldn’t let Naomi’s insinuation that she was some girl who couldn’t handle herself in an upscale world stand. “Naomi, would you like to check out the designer clothes in my closet? I did live in LA and I worked for Sasha Keaton. I’ve been to the Oscars. I think I can handle dressing for the music awards.”
The other woman let out a sigh. “I’m sorry. I let this one get to me on the ride here.” She jerked a finger toward Dean.
Dash walked across the room and put an arm around Cassidy, taking her off guard. “I think the question is, why would a woman like this fall for a man like me?” He let his words drop hard before continuing. “Now, if you two are finished sticking your noses where they don’t belong, it’s time for you to leave.”
Cassidy blinked and a lump rose in her throat at his unexpected, protective defense.
“I’ll be right back,” he said, pressing a kiss to her forehead that didn’t appear to be for show.
He walked them out to the car, and through the window, she saw Dash get into it with Dean. Finally, Dash spun away and stomped back to the house, hands clenched in tight fists.
She met him in the front hall. “Is everything okay?”
“No. I’m fucking pissed off. They had no right to come at you like that.”
She sighed. “I handled them.”
“But you shouldn’t have had to. And they had no right to make you feel like you weren’t up to some nonexistent set of standards,” he said, his voice low and still angry.
She bit down on her lower lip. “Actually, they had a point and I need to call Sasha.”
“What are you talking about?” he asked.
“I lied. I never went to the Oscars and I didn’t even think about having the right kind of clothes to be seen on a rock star’s arm. Sasha and I need to go shopping.” She shrugged, doing her best not to show her embarrassment.
His laughter took her off guard and lightened the mood.
“What? I wasn’t going to admit to Naomi or Dean that they had made any kind of point.”
Dash took two steps toward her and braced her face in his hands. “Cassidy Forrester, you are one of a kind. I mean that in the best possible way, so don’t let anyone try and convince you otherwise.”
She tipped her head back, and as he looked into her eyes, his lips came down on hers. With nobody watching, no chance of being photographed, he treated her to the softest, most sensual kiss of her life.
His lips were smooth and took her to another place. One where only they existed. Desire swept through her, and she rubbed her body against his, soaking up his heat and inhaling his scent. His tongue swirled against hers, and she moaned into his mouth, her need ramping up with every brush of his tongue.
With a rumbling groan, he broke the kiss. She’d expected a satisfied grin, but when she opened her eyes, his gaze was hazy, his smile genuine.