Dangerous Kiss (Dangerous Noise 1)

"He was watching the Sinful Serenade set. Haven't seen him since they finished." Violet's eyes flare with frustration. "Joel, I'm sorry. I was just looking at numbers. I didn't want something like this to happen."

"Not your fault, sweetheart." Joel's eyes flare with frustration. "Really, Violet, it's nice that you're around. I'm glad Ethan's happy for once. You're not the reason I'm about to get on a fucking train." He shakes off his frustration to shoot her a playful look. "Even with all that loud sex you two are having on the couch."

Violet blushes. "Who told you?"

"Fuck, I knew it!" Joel claps his hands together. "You should never fall for an accusation unless there's evidence. That's a tip for you. Though I'm sure you prefer a tip from Ethan."

She laughs. "Where's the train station?"

"Have to ask Google that," he says.

"How about I walk you? Or take a cab with you?" She looks to me for my blessing. Once I nod, she turns back to Joel. "Just the two of us. You can fill me in on all the gossip."

"Yeah. Okay." He nods. "But uh, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. I know I'm all kinds of sexy. And Valentine, if you weren't Ethan's girl, I'd already have your panties off."

"Is that your technique?" she asks.

"I don't have a technique, Valentine. I read body language. Do what feels right in the moment. But you're my bandmate's girl. I'm not gonna fraternize with you. Loyalty means something to me."

She laughs, trying to keep it light. "Damn, I was hoping for a threesome."

He laughs but it doesn't wipe the frustration from his eyes. "I figured. I get that a lot."

She pushes herself off the couch and wraps her arms around me. "Is this going to ruin your surprise?"

"No. We'll be okay." I run my fingers through her short hair. "Thanks."

"For what?"

"Talking to Joel. It's sweet you want to help him."

She shrugs. "He's a friend." She presses her lips to mine. "Besides, I don't think Kit took the money either."

"Yeah?"

She nods. "But that's above my paygrade." She plants another soft, slow kiss on my lips. "Meet you back here?"

"At the hotel."

"Done."

Back at the hotel, I go straight to Kit's room and knock on his door. I haven't got a clue what the guy does for fun. He's always kept to himself but since rehab, he's doubled down on that trait.

He answers right away. He says nothing, just peers out at me from behind his mass of curly hair.

Fuck, no sense beating around the bush.

I stare back at him. "You know all this shit Mal's been saying about the stolen money?"

"You here to accuse me?"

"No. I don't think you took it."

He holds a poker face. "I didn't."

"You know anything about it?"

"From what Joel said, I figured it was that asshole manager we fired, Aiden. He's gone, the money's back. What's it matter?"