Better than Sexy (The Sexy 3)

She gritted her teeth. “None taken,” she lied, accepting that she’d forever be tainted by her brother’s actions. And it sucked. “Now if you’re finished expressing your disapproval, I have a recording session to get to.” Leaning down, she picked up her bag, then straightened, meeting Tanner’s gaze.

A flash of regret flickered across his features. “None of us created this situation,” he said in a softer voice.

“Except my brother. I. Know.” She hefted her bag over her shoulder and walked away, head and heart hurting.

Vivi spent the rest of the day with people she loved, she and her band finally getting an opportunity to record their music. Together they created magic, and she was extremely happy with the way things were coming together for her professionally.

On a personal level, her body still hummed from her time with Landon. He’d been a thorough lover, showing her all she’d been missing with other men. He played her body as well as he played the piano, pressing all the right keys to make her sing beneath his hands. Alone, just the two of them, things were perfect. Unfortunately life wasn’t about two people living in a bubble. And though she’d tried to put Tanner’s words out of her mind, whenever she took a break, his disapproval returned, ruining what happiness and satisfaction she found in her work and with Landon.

Two things she’d come to realize after today. If nothing else came of this summer at Club Ten29, she’d leave with a full set of recordings for big labels to consider, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d also end up with a broken heart.

* * *

Landon stepped out of the elevator in time to see Vivi grab her bag and rush away from Tanner, and a knot formed in his stomach. Heading over to the bar, he slammed a hand onto the counter to catch his friend’s attention.

“Hey. Did you say something to upset her?” Landon gestured to the door that Vivi had walked out of.

“Looks like I’m getting no work done this morning,” Tanner said with a groan and pushed aside the iPad he’d been looking at. “I didn’t say anything other than the truth.”

“Which is?” Landon pulled up a stool and sat down, leaning an arm on the counter.

Obviously resigned to a conversation, Tanner grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge, sliding one across the counter to Landon. “That she’s Vic’s sister and she comes with bad memories and baggage.” Opening the cap, he took a long sip, not meeting Landon’s gaze.

“What else?” Because Landon knew his friend inside and out, and the man wasn’t being one hundred percent honest.

Tanner clenched and unclenched his jaw. “I might have mentioned that if she were smart she’d back off on her own. Fuck, man, you can do better than that bastard’s sister.”

Hands curling into fists at his sides, Landon glared. “Did I tell you to stay away from Scarlett? That a DA had no place in the life of someone once arrested for assault? Or did I back you the fuck up when you wanted to run?”

Tanner shook his head. “It’s not the same thing.”

“No, it isn’t. In that case, you were the one who’d done something shitty. But Vivi wasn’t in that basement. She didn’t kill my brother.” He paused and drew a deep breath. “And she doesn’t have a relationship with the man who did. She isn’t making excuses for him. Hell, she doesn’t even want anything to do with Vic.” Defending Vivi seemed right to him, a necessity or else he’d lose something precious.

Tanner frowned. “But–”

“No buts. Either you’re on my side or you aren’t. I’m not walking away from her, so make your choice.” Landon’s breath came out in harsh rasps as he went up against one of the men who’d saved him from losing his mind at a fragile time in his life.

His friend lowered his head for a moment before looking up. “I’m looking out for you. She’s Vic’s sister!”

“But she’s not Vic!” Landon yelled back. “If Jason or I disapproved of Scarlett, would you have walked away?”

With a groan, Tanner shook his head and leaned against the bar. “But you just met her and… Fuck.” His voice trailed off as his memory of his time with Scarlett obviously kicked in.

He’d laid eyes on her at the bar, taken her upstairs, and hadn’t wanted to let her go. Too bad for him, she’d taken off when he got called away on business, but luckily she’d left a bracelet in his bed and returned for it later the next day.

“Jason reacted the same way when he ran into Faith. Hell, he moved her in with him almost immediately when she was in danger. He knew quickly. So did you.”

“Shit. I made her feel bad.” Tanner slammed his hand down on the counter, his guilty expression enough for Landon to forgive him.