Dangerous Rock (Dangerous Noise 3)

Another hour.

We take a coffee break.

Another hour.

I'm exhausted just watching them, but Mal and Joel are ready to go all fucking night. Never mind that it's Christmas Eve. Hell, by now it might be Christmas.

As far as I can tell, the sound guy would rather be here than anywhere else.

He doesn't say anything about his personal life. I fill in the blanks. He could be a recent widower. Or perpetually single. Or someone with no interest in love or dating.

Or maybe he's freshly divorced and his heart is about to break and he has to fill every moment with work.

I lose my ability to take even breaths.

In a week, that may be me.

Not even a week.

Our settlement conference is three days away.

In three days, I might be a divorcée.

I might not get Joel anymore.

25

Joel

I nearly tumble out of the booth. I think I'm seeing stars. My arms are aching. My head is aching. My entire body is stiff and strained. And I never fucking want to see Mal again.

Really, the only thing I want is Bella in my bed right away.

But she's not here.

I say my goodbyes to Mal and to our sound guy, and I look for her. She's not in the hall or in any of the other suites.

But she is in the lobby.

With Alessandra.

What the hell is our tour manager doing here?

Alessandra's gaze catches mine. She waves hello and motions for me to join their conversation.

Bella turns to me, holding up a coffee cup. "I was bribed."

"Is it working?" I ask.

Bella shakes her head. "Not yet. Maybe if this was loose leaf."

Alessandra laughs. "Your wife tells me the song is going well, yes?"

I nod.

"Good. The label is annoyed, but that isn't my problem. Hearing about it… that is a problem." She shoots me a knowing look. "I know it's Malcolm who's the diva, sweetheart, but he's pretty enough to pull it off."

"And I'm not?" I tease her back.