Grip Trilogy Box Set

“I don’t know, Parker.”

I step back and away. This is already out of control. I wanted to just wave Parker around a little so Grip would take that step toward Qwest. Somehow, I ended up sleeping with the guy I’ve avoided for the last decade. I grew up surrounded by people like the man Parker has grown into. Not just overbearing, but willful. Spoiled. Entitled. Combined with unlimited resources and unchecked power, that’s dangerous.

“I fly to India tonight for business.” He presses his hand to my back as we exit Chelle’s. “Can we talk when I get back? About where we go from here?”

I’m so tired. I’m running late, and I don’t feel like fighting with Parker in the street in front of half of Los Angeles.

“Okay, we’ll talk when you get back,” I concede. “But I’m not making any promises.”

He steps closer until I’m pressed into the driver side door of the Audi convertible I treated myself to last year. Before I can object, he leans down to press a hard kiss against my lips. The contact is quick, but I still resent it.

“Fine,” he says when he pulls back. “I’ll make all the promises.”

That doesn’t reassure me. With men like Parker, there’s a fine line between a promise and a threat. I hope I haven’t set myself up for either.

Chapter 11

GRIP

I HAVEN’T SEEN the Prodigy team this relaxed in weeks. We’re all chilling here at Rhyson’s place. It’s the quiet before a very big storm. Grip not only is my solo debut but also it’s Prodigy’s first release. It’s a big deal for us all. We needed this small block of time to blow off steam. It’s been so intense, and it will only intensify the closer we get to release day.

Max and Sarah are talking near the pool table. Neither of them knows how to actually play, so they just hold the cues and lean on the table, trying to look cool. Rhyson’s playing Grand Theft Auto with Simon, one of the sound engineers. Several of the team members went swimming out back. The whole gang is here. Almost.

I check my watch again. I’ve been at Rhyson’s for thirty minutes and still no sign of Bristol.

“She called to say she’d be late,” Kai whispers, taking the spot beside me on the brown leather couch.

“Am I that obvious?”

Until I told Rhyson, no one else really knew about the week we shared. It was ours and no one’s business, but after seeing her with Parker last night, I feel like the butt of an eight-year joke. Like everyone knows how I feel, and I was a fool for holding out hope. For still holding out hope. I’m not prepared to give up yet. I wonder some- times what will convince me to give up on the possibility of us.

“It isn’t that you’re obvious,” Kai says. “I just know how you feel.”

“Our plan isn’t working.” I offer her half a smile.

Kai actually suggested I let Bristol manage me to get closer to her. That if we were around each other all the time, she’d have to acknowledge her feelings, my feelings, whatever. Bristol had been trying to manage me for years, but I didn’t want to just be her job. Apparently, she’s now not only my manager, but also my pimp. It still burns me up that she handed me over to Qwest like some prize at the fair.

“You mean Project Proximity?” Kai grins and reaches for one of the brownies Sarita, their housekeeper, made.

“Yeah.” I shrug with phony carelessness. “Maybe Rhyson’s right. Maybe she wants a guy like Parker, and I should just give up.”

“Rhyson isn’t right. Not this time,” Kai mumbles around her brownie. “He’s biased. He’s so close to you both, he doesn’t want things to go south and become awkward. Not just personally. He’s thinking about the business, too, I’m sure.”

Kai laughs, the husky sound drawing Rhyson’s attention. He grins over at us . . . mostly at Kai, before returning his attention to the game.

“And he’s afraid Bristol would destroy you.” Kai’s eyes meet mine in a careful stare. Maybe she’s afraid of that, too.

“I know.” I grin because I ain’t scared. Not even a little bit. “Most brothers would be protective of their sisters, but I get it. Bristol’s a handful.”

I slant her a sneaky grin and hold my hands up for her inspection.

“But I got big hands.”

“Oh, God.” Kai shakes her head and chuckles. “Rhyson is protective of Bristol in his own way, but he thinks she’s too much like their mother.”

“She’s not.”

Kai pauses chewing to hold my eyes with hers.