Rock-a-Bye, Baby

Drew rolled his eyes, and a crooked smile tipped up one side of his lips. He reached out to shake my hand. “She’s right. Excellent show, Griff.”

Autumn suddenly waved at someone behind my back. I turned to see who she was beckoning forward, but I got distracted when she spoke. “Aurora, Belle, Ariel! Come meet Griffith Thorne.”

My eyebrows hit my hairline at the names she called out. Seriously? I almost laughed but didn’t want to be rude. I didn’t pay them much attention as they walked up because they were with Knox Dawson, the head of security for The Lennox. Maybe I could pull him aside after I said hi the girls.

Knox and I shook hands, then he gestured to the trio beside him. “Griffith Thorne, these are my sisters.” His face, which was usually unreadable, was full of warning. I wasn’t sure if he was telling me to be nice to them or stay the fuck away.

I slid my most charming fan smile on my face and turned fully to greet the girls. My eyes scanned their faces until I got to the last one. It looked like I wouldn’t have to talk to Knox later, after all. My heart rate skyrocketed, and the entire world faded away. The only thing I could see was my future standing right in front of me.

Chapter 2

Belle

It shouldn’t have been possible, but Griffith Thorne was even more panty-melting in person than he was on stage. My fingers itched to touch the scruff of his short beard and trace the diamonds sparkling on both ends of his black barbell eyebrow piercing. Ripped, black jeans, a black T-shirt with thin white stripes, and a black leather jacket did amazing things for his tall, sinewy body. His entire look screamed bad boy, and it only caught my interest even more.

The front of his blond fauxhawk flopped over his forehead, but it didn’t block my view of his purpley-blue eyes—which were locked on my face. Unfortunately, my brother noticed where his attention was and ruined the moment by stepping in between us. “You heard me say ‘sisters,’ right?”

Knox’s warning didn’t stop Griffith from offering his hand to each of us. He kept his distance and flashed a grin at Aurora and Ariel before quickly dropping their hands, but he stepped around Knox to get closer to me when it was my turn. “That must mean you’re Belle?”

I felt my cheeks heat in embarrassment as I nodded. “Yeah, my mom has a thing about fairy tale princesses. Since our dad pretty much lives to indulge her, us girls ended up with names that sound like we should be starring in the next Disney movie.”

His thumb slid against my palm, sending shivers down my spine. “If she’s as beautiful as you, I can understand why your father likes to give her what she wants.”

With his deep voice, it sounded incredibly dirty. My cheeks felt like they were on fire as I imagined him giving me what I’d want if we were naked and alone. As if he knew what I was thinking, his eyes flared with masculine interest.

“Do I need to repeat myself? A-fucking-gain?” my brother muttered. “Keep your grubby hands off my sisters.”

Griffith glanced down to where his fingers were still wrapped around mine and reluctantly let go. “Grubby? I have a million-dollar insurance policy on these hands.”

I appreciated Griffith’s attempt to use humor to diffuse the situation with Knox, but my big brother wasn’t one to let go of things when it came to his baby sisters. “Yeah, and it’d be a damn shame for your insurance company if I had to break your fingers because you can’t keep them to yourself.”

“Knox, stop. Please.”

Understanding how embarrassed I was, Aurora elbowed him in the side to emphasize my whispered plea. Then Ariel backed me up by adding, “You’re being way uncool, Bro. Even more than usual. How about you bring the macho level down a few notches before you ruin our night out?”

“I’m not trying to ruin anything,” Knox huffed.

“Maybe we all need to cut him some slack,” Griffith suggested. The four of us turned to him in surprise. “I bet he’s just jealous of his sisters since your mom didn’t love him enough to give him a princely name.”

“Holy crap! You’re right,” Aurora gasped, narrowing her eyes at Knox. “It explains so much.”

“Yeah, like the big ole stick he’s got shoved up his butt when it comes to us,” Ariel added with a giggle.

With his focus on them instead of Griffith and me, my sisters each took one of Knox’s arms and practically dragged him away to go meet the drummer, Bex. After they were out of earshot, I turned to Griffith. “I’m so so so sorry. Knox can be a little over the top when it comes to guys hitting on his sisters.” His lips curved up at the edges, and I realized exactly what I’d just said. “I mean, not that you were hitting on me or anything. Just that my brother seems to think that you are.”