Dangerous Crush (Dangerous Noise 2)

"I meant in the studio."

She holds out her hand please don't go on. "His last fuck buddy started crying when he ended things, going on about how she knew it was no strings attached but she had these feelings, and he had to have them too, and how could he not love her if the first thing he wanted to do when he tied her up was—" She cringes as she air quotes- "eat her out until she came so many times she was begging him to stop."

"Damn, if women knew that." I chuckle. "Mal already has to beat them away with sticks."

"Well, Strongs are very attractive and we have charming personalities." She frowns. "Except for Mal being bossy and annoying and demanding his way."

"Seems like a Strong trait."

She sticks her tongue out at me. "Maybe. I guess women like it."

"Sometimes."

"You're like that too."

"I'm like Mal?"

She nods. "Sometimes."

"Not going to help my case if I remind you that you can't let this fight with Mal get in the way of acting."

"It's not."

"You can't let your fight with Mal get in the way of acting."

"I know you mean well, Kit, but I want to make this decision on my own." She stares back at me, picking me apart. "I can never tell what you're thinking."

"Must be why you keep asking."

She lets out a nervous laugh. "Yeah, but you're very intense. It can be intimidating."

I cock a brow.

"I know we're more than friends. Is there a word for this?"

"I like more."

"Okay. More. I'll tell... well, there's nobody I really want to tell." She laughs. "I could call Rory and rub it in her face. Show her that poster, remind her how hot you are."

"Land the rumor on TMZ?"

"She's too lazy to do anything about it. And who really follows the bassist of a mid-tier rock band?" She smiles.

"That hurts."

"Upper-mid tier?"

"I know we aren't the Stones, but, geez."

Her laugh lights up her eyes. It lights up her entire face.

It does something to me.

I want to keep her smiling like that.

"Don't I get points for being hot?" I tease.

"Definitely. Most musicians are much less hot than you." She gives me a long once over. "I can do upper-tier. You guys are good. But then I sing along to Britney Spears, so I'm not helping your case." Piper's expression gets serious. "I guess you're right. If I tell someone and they tell Ethan or Mal... for now, this is between us. Eventually..."