Heart of the Billionaire (Taming The Bad Boy Billionaire 7)

“And I am so completely in love with you.”

“Hearing you say that is like a dream come true.”

“What can I say? You are my angel, my life, my entire world,” he said, unaware of the sound of footsteps approaching from down the hall.

“James!” I jumped to my feet and clapped a hand over his mouth, just as the door opened.

No less than twelve sweaty people hurried inside. For the second time that day, James’s eyes snapped shut with intense frustration.

“Holy hell! It is hot under those lights!” said a man who’d been singing lead for the better part of the show. He slumped into a chair, pulled off his wig, and angled his face in front of a fan. “I swear, if they don’t do something to repair the air conditioning, I’ll have to start going commando!”

“It’s not the lights.” The high soprano settled smugly in the chair beside him, gazing at her reflection with a self-satisfied smile. “It’s the audience, love. James Cross is here tonight, along with Nick Hunter.”

I found it ironic that she was talking about James, all while she unknowingly rested her elbows upon the very counter where he’d ripped my panties off just a few minutes earlier. I shot him a secret grin, but he only rolled his eyes and tried to sneak back to find our clothes in a sea of costumed clothing. It was no use. We couldn’t get to our clothes without being caught red handed.

“When Frank told me, I nearly forgot the words to my first song,” the soprano continued, leaning toward the mirror to dab a brush of powder onto her nose. “The things I’d do to that one if I got him alone...or both of them at once even!” She pulled back and looked at her colleague with a smirk on her pretty face. “Why, they wouldn’t be able to walk for weeks.”

James stopped trying to secure his pants and let them fall back around his ankles, staring at her curiously. I covered my mouth to keep from laughing and gave him a silent shove to the chest.

The man shot her a sarcastic smile before turning back to the fan. “He’s with someone tonight, some model in a purple dress.”

Model? They think I’m a model? I thought and had to suppress another laugh.

“He’s always with someone, dear,” the girl said, brushing the remark off with a dismissive wave. “It doesn’t matter to me what the flavor of the week is. I’d just like him to sample me sometime.”

I raised my eyebrows in teasing accusation, but James shook his head and gave me an innocent frown. A second later, he cocked his head toward a tiny bathroom in the back. He took hold of my wrist, and we wound our way silently through the fields of garments.

“Melanie, is this your underwear?” a man’s voice, light with surprise. “I hope so. It’s fucking hot.”

We nearly burst with laughter when a woman divided the clothes apart and gasped when she saw us.

Busted!

We each grabbed one of the thin blankets and covered ourselves.

The woman took a step back, throwing her hand over her mouth. “Oh my gosh! It’s them!!!!! James Cross and the model chick!?

?

“She’s a Victoria Secrets lingerie model!” another shouted.

James took a step back and tripped on a box. As he fell, he accidentally pulled me along with him. But I made sure I had my blanket securely around me. Gasping, they all gathered around us and stared.

“Um, hello,” James said. “I just wanted you to know that this is my favorite show and I come to watch it any chance I get. You are all so talented and deliver such an amazing performance.”

“Just get our clothes!” I whispered in his ear.

“Is that really you, Mr. Cross?” a blonde man with short, spikey hair whispered. “And why aren’t you wearing pants?”

“Honey, isn’t obvious?” another man squealed. “They’re getting it on! Do I need to go over the birds and the bees again?”

“And not watching my performance?!” another said. “The man is never getting his pants back now!”

“Can we sell the undies on eBay?” another asked.

Oh my gosh! This was so embarrassing!

“Can I get a selfie with you?” a man with a high voice asked.