“Sounds ready.”
“I know. Amazing, huh?”
She didn’t require a reply, and he didn’t give her one. He scanned the room, noting the Palmerston security guards positioned at the exits and around the stage, skipping his eyes over Katie in the booth next to Judah’s manager, Paul.
Sean was trying not to look at her. She’d worn this black dress that was just … He was trying not to look at her.
A gruff bulldog of a man, Paul had put himself at Sean and Katie’s disposal as soon as they showed up at the High Hat. Judah had sent a message that he didn’t have time to meet them before the show after all, so could they talk afterward?
It would be late by then, eleven thirty at least, and no doubt Pratt would find another excuse to beg off. Bunch of celebrity bullshit.
Onstage, he finished his song, and the audience went crazy. Sean’s gaze got stuck on Katie, who was beaming as she leaned toward Paul to shout something over the applause.
He wanted that smile directed at him, and there was absolutely no way that was going to happen. He’d walked out on her like a coward, and now whenever she looked in his direction, she shot laser beams at him with her eyes.
The drive to the High Hat from the hotel had simmered with hostility.
Judah finished his song, announced a ten-minute break, and disappeared offstage. As half the crowd headed toward the bar, Sean moved in the opposite direction, navigating the press of bodies to make his way to Katie.
She was talking to Paul when he reached the booth, but she saw him and stood. Sean gestured toward the door by the stage, raising his eyebrows, and she inclined her head in agreement.
“You guys can’t get back to see him right now,” Paul said. “He’s busy. He’ll talk to you after the show.”
Sean looked at Katie and shook his head slightly. They were going to see Judah. It was time.
“Sorry,” Katie said to Paul. There was no hint of apology in her voice. “We’ll make it quick.”
She whirled around, her dress fanning out to give Sean a brief, mouth-watering glimpse of thigh, and led the way backstage.
He’d never known anyone quite so kinetic as Katie. She moved with such purpose. Her arms swung, and he watched the muscles shift along the bare length of back exposed by her dress, hypnotized.
Pratt broke the spell. As soon as he caught sight of Katie from down the length of the narrow hallway behind the stage, he was on his feet, striding toward them with a big, smarmy smile lighting up his face.
“Katie! Where have you been, baby? You look hot enough to melt glass.”
He folded her into a hug. Katie beamed. “Right back at you. And you sound amazing! The new songs are incredible.”
Judah let go of her to run one hand up the back of his neck, and even Sean noticed the way his sweat-damp T-shirt stuck to his muscular chest. Jesus.
“Thanks,” Judah said. “So what have you been up to? You hit town this afternoon, right?”
“Mmm-hmm,” Katie said. “We’ve been chilling out, mostly.”
Chilling out. For the love of—
“This is my partner, Sean Owens.”
She didn’t take her eyes off Pratt when she said it, but she did at least wave her hand toward where he stood, close behind her and to the right.
“Nice to meet you, man.” Judah extended his hand so Sean had no choice but to take it.
He had a firm shake, but Sean made sure his was firmer. He didn’t crush the guy’s fingers or anything. That would be childish. He simply ensured Pratt knew which of them had the advantage of twenty additional pounds of muscle. And yeah, he stepped close enough to make sure Pratt registered the discrepancy in their heights, too.
Katie brought out the caveman in him.
When Sean released Judah’s hand, the singer placed his palm against the wall and leaned in toward her, a relaxed move that said he owned this crowded hallway, with its bustling techs and musicians, and he owned her, too.
Was it naive of Sean to think Katie might step away, making it clear her relationship with Pratt was a professional one, at least in public? To hope she would ask him some questions before she started flirting?