Page 18 of Extended Bridge (Passionate Beats #2)

I wave my hand. “He’s a cocky flirt. Thinks he’s God’s gift.”

Her pierced eyebrow lifts. “Do you agree?”

“What? No! I’m his physical therapist, remember?”

The band runs onstage, with Bennett bringing up the rear. Which works, considering he’s the lead singer and naturally would receive final billing. He greets the crowd again, “Hey there, New York City! You’re still here?”

The audience laughs and cheers.

“Since that’s the case, think we should play another song or two? What do you say Río? ”

From behind the drums, Río’s response is a drum roll punctuated by three cymbal crashes.

Bennett throws his head back and laughs. “What Río wants, he gets, right ladies and gentlemen?”

In the middle of the stage, Bennett points to the guitarist. “Do you agree, Coop?” The guitar riff is prompt, echoed by Pierce’s bass.

“Nice way to answer my unasked question, 007!”

Bennett strides over to the keys. “My new man here, Tris, are you up for playing a little bit more?”

The new keyboardist, who sports more than a five o’clock shadow, smiles. “Sure am!”

Bennett executes a three-sixty, causing me to inhale. When he takes a steady step, I exhale. “Then I guess we have no option but for you all to Take a Ride with Us !” UC launches into their recent number one, a hard ballad about love and longing and wishes for the future.

“I like how he did that,” Nese remarks.

My brain short-circuited when Bennett executed his controlled spin. “Did what?”

“Introduce the entire band without making it so obvious. It seemed rather natural.” Her loud laugh would be heard across the room but for the fact the music drowns it out. “As intimate as a conversation among twenty thousand people can be.”

The number boggles the mind. “You definitely have a point. There’s no way on earth I could get in front of that many people.”

“You and me both, sister. It takes a special person.”

Bennett makes it all seem so easy. He crisscrosses the stage, trying to reach every single concertgoer.

Even with his groin pull, he puts on a physical show.

Unlike Tristan and Río, who are stuck behind their instruments, Bennett’s out front.

Coop and Pierce move more freely—and they do, sometimes back-to-back with each other.

Other times, like now, Bennett strolls over to Coop as he wails on the guitar.

I note, “They make it look so easy. ”

Nese stays by me until the end of the song. “Well, I better go take care of these wet clothes. Are you coming out with us tonight?”

It’s been a long day, filled with too many confessions. I need to regroup, rejigger my anti-Bennett armor, and prepare for tomorrow’s trip down to Philadelphia. “Not tonight. I’m beat.”

“You know where to find me if you change your mind.” Nese disappears behind the black curtains.

Within minutes, the concert draws to a close. From the ceiling, balloons fall. Bennett’s silky voice attacks the last notes. His fist raises into the air while the rest of the band hits their final notes.

Bennett’s wild out there. Uncontrollable. His entire frame lowers as if he’s about to jump high in the air. “Don’t do it.”

Time stands still.

So does my breath.

I will him to keep both feet on the stage.

At the last moment, he punches the air and the song ends.

My entire body sags in relief. His muscle isn’t ready for such a leap, even if he’s feeling no pain at the moment. Adrenaline and all.

I watch as the guys come together in the middle of the stage and bow. The audience is wild, screaming and clapping for their idols. I don’t blame them. The band was next level tonight.

Following more waves, they exit and return backstage.

Once again, a wall of amped-up testosterone precedes their actual bodies.

They’re laughing and fist-bumping. Río and Bennett seem to be in deep conversation, which I observe from afar.

The way Río leans in toward Bennett, punches his shoulder, and throws his head back speaks louder than words.

Without a doubt, Río believes they’re friends. If not good friends.

This interaction, plus my conversation with Luke earlier, leads me to believe Bennett’s absolutely wrong. The band is a tight-knit group of friends.

I’m drawn to watch Coop, Tristan, and Pierce. As with Río and Bennett, they also high-five. Tristan even puts Pierce in a headlock, which surprises me. If they can accept the quote-unquote new guy— especially Darren’s best friend—my belief in their friendship with Bennett is cemented.

I trail UC into The Closet, where Nese stands at the ready to hand out after-party attire. Eyes shining, Bennett approaches me. “Come out with us.”

“Not tonight. We have a big day tomorrow, between therapy and traveling to Philly. I need to get some rest.”

“Sleep is overrated.”

He strips off his second wet T-shirt. Trying to maintain some degree of propriety, I turn my head.

Only to see Río across the room in only his underwear.

Next to him, Coop’s stripping off his shirt while Tristan’s pulling a clean one over his head.

Are all these men exhibitionists? I spin in Bennett’s direction.

His hand is at the fly of his leather pants.

My eyes climb to the ceiling. “Geez. Are all of you not shy?”

Bennett laughs. “It’s usually only us guys getting changed, and we’ve seen it all.

” His hands drop to his thighs. “With you and Nese around, though, perhaps we should be more careful.” He walks away from me.

From the center of the room, he announces, “Guys. There are ladies in here. Maybe we shouldn’t strip? ”

Río’s “Yeah, right!” comes hard on the heels of Luke’s, “Good luck with that.”

Bennett raises his hands. “Only a suggestion.”

Damn if the man doesn’t lower his zipper. My cheeks become hot, and I spin to offer him my back.

In my ear, a tenor whispers, “Nothing you haven’t seen before.”

“Mistake,” I strangle out. “Never again.” I manage to say this over my body’s begging to turn around and wrestle him to the floor. His deep chuckle flies through every bone in my body.

After a minute, Bennett announces, “You can turn around. I’m decent again.”

I suck in air and turn toward him. His long legs are now covered in a pair of dark jeans with holes strategically placed. This man could make a garbage bag look good .

“Do I meet with your approval?”

My eyelids close.

“You sure do meet mine. Did anyone tell you how sexy you look in that outfit?”

Hardly. I’m in a pair of black jeans and simple top. My hand skims my hips. With my gaze locked on the floor, I reply, “Ma gave me these for my birthday.”

Because I’m staring at the floor, I can see his boots take a step closer. “I like them. But I like you more.”

My chest rises and falls. “You can’t keep saying this stuff to me.” I count the scuffs on the tile floor.

“I’m only saying the truth.” When I don’t move, he shuffles closer. “Another truth is I’d prefer to see those jeans on my bedroom floor. And then I’d like to take off your panties with my teeth. Caress your?—”

I raise my hand. “Stop.” My head pops up, only to realize he’s less than a foot away. “You can’t do this. We can’t do this.”

“Maybe it’s exactly what we should do. No one has ever made me feel like you do, Jenna. You hear me, and not only the notes I sing in front of thousands. No one knows about my mother. How she treats me. No. One. Else. And you don’t judge me on it.”

This poor, beautiful man who’s only known hardness and abandonment is being vulnerable to me in a sea of humanity. He’s so loved, if only he could accept it. From Luke. Río. The other guys as well.

“I’m impressed by what you’ve overcome.”

Big green eyes blink, masking his embarrassment and pain.

No matter how many times I tell him—and myself—we’re in a strictly professional relationship, this moment feels different.

My entire being calls out for him. It’s a physical yearning.

It doesn’t matter that all of UC is right around us. I can’t stop myself.

I launch my body at him, wrapping him in a big embrace and kissing his hurts away .

With no hesitation, his arms close around my waist.

I’m lost in the battles he’s fought and lost and won and is still fighting. Our mouths meld. Our tongues duel. He’s offering me the same sort of comfort that I’m giving him. It’s intoxicating.

A flash goes off behind my eyelids.

Noise intrudes from outside my bubble where only Bennett and I exist.

Luke’s angry voice yells.

Bennett breaks our kiss. Forehead to mine, he murmurs, “I still didn’t hug you first.”