Page 35 of Extended Bridge (Passionate Beats #2)

Chapter Nineteen

A fter we finished our therapy session, Bennett took a shower and headed to sound check. I stayed behind to work on a press release about the graffiti. In my heart, I know Michelle did it—but how to prove it?

Sitting back from my tablet, I reread my work.

I’m no marketing expert, but I think this will do the trick.

It addresses the situation head-on as well as makes an oblique reference to my nemesis.

She’ll get the subtle references, even if no one else does.

Yes. Gets my point across without stating it for all to see. I email it to Court.

My phone rings ten minutes later. “Hey, Court. What did you think?”

“That you missed your calling. You should be in PR! I love it.”

Her words put a smile on my face. “Think it will do the trick?”

“I can’t go that far, Jenna. She’ll definitely know you’re on to her. I hope this ends now, but we shouldn’t be too certain of ourselves.”

I sigh. “I know you’re right. Do you think I should come home? Call it a day with UC and chalk this whole experience up to wild days?” Even as the words fall from my mouth, I know—in my heart—I don’t want to play into Bennett’s insecurities. Nor do I want to leave him.

“Don’t go jumping to conclusions here. I didn’t say that. Excuse me.” She obviously pulls the phone away as I overhear her talking with someone, I think another therapist, about a course of treatment. “Sorry about that. Austin asked me a question.”

Austin. A person I haven’t thought about since I left. Time for me to get my head back into the business. “How’s he doing?”

“Austin? Oh, he’s doing well. Still needs some guidance with his patients, but he’s a go-getter. Sometimes a bit too much for his own good.”

“Yeah. I hear you.” I giggle. “Bennett can’t stand him.”

“Can’t imagine why not.” Court full on laughs. I bet she and Nese would be good buds. “It’s not like he’s trying to get in your panties or anything.”

“Hey! He might be into cougars, you never know.” Despite what I told Bennett, I suspect he may be onto something.

“More like he’s trying to seduce you into giving him his own clinic.”

Court’s probably on the money about him. I tap the table. “You’re definitely right there. He told me flat out he wants to manage a new clinic. I keep putting him off.”

“He’ll get there. Just not today. Or tomorrow.”

“So,” I bring us back to the issue at hand. “Think I should come home now that Bennett’s down to one therapy session a day?”

“No, I don’t. You’re handling most of the fallout from the tour. This press release is brilliant. Twisting it around and starting a contest for slogans for T-shirts involving our eight-legged friends is next level.”

I blow on my fingers. “I wanted to turn this nightmare into something positive.” My positivity deflates. “Still, it feels wrong to be gallivanting with UC while everything’s spinning out of control.”

“I know Michelle’s not the only piece of this puzzle. Lissa’s article sparked a lot of media attention. ”

“Yeah. I guess I should be happy it pulled attention away from the graffiti incident. That didn’t even make the national media.

” I glance around the empty hotel suite and my heart rate spikes.

“Court, Bennett’s been gone for hours. The band had a sound check, and he was going to talk with them.

About the speech tonight about Lissa. And me. ”

“Everything will work out. I believe that.”

“I wish I had your confidence. You know I never meant to put any strain between the band members, but I am. Pierce can barely stand to look at me.”

“He was Darren’s best friend, right?”

“Yes.”

“Give him more time to come around. Bennett has. Tristan, Darren’s replacement has. Seems to me the others, Coop and Río, have as well. Pierce will too.”

“That’s what Bennett said. It’s so hard for me. I want to press a button and have everything normal, you know?”

“You mean, you want to control the situation? Nah. I wouldn’t have imagined!” She adds a snort-laugh to punctuate her sentence.

“What’s so bad about liking control?”

“Nothing, in small doses. Not the oversized helpings that you thrive on.” She pulls the phone away to talk with someone else. “Listen, I have to run. Send out the press release as is. I’ve got it from here.”

Before I can reply, she clicks off. Fine. After one final read-through, I email it to the list I’ve curated entitled “Press Release Contacts.” I can only hope a couple of reporters call me to ask for additional color. I’d love to color outside the lines on Michelle’s face.

After checking in with Felipe about my other clinic, and my contractor about the third one under renovation, I sit in silence.

Better get ready for tonight’s concert. I go to my suitcase and check out my clothes.

Leggings, jeans, and the dress Court gave me won’t do.

Especially tonight. I need something that says I’m not the Black Widow .

I strum my fingers on the table. What can I wear?

Nese.

The stylist might be able to help a girl out. I text her:

Concert clothes SOS

STOP BY MY OFFICE!

I should try to channel her lightness and sunshine. Lord knows, I could use some of that. In spades. More importantly than anything, though, I want to be this woman for Bennett. After the Lissa article and everything he’s had to deal with—on his own—he deserves this treat.

Clad in jeans and sneakers, I make my way to the conference room she took over as The Closet for the concerts in Kentucky.

While not as spacious as the one in Madison Square Garden, it overflows with options.

Five racks of male clothing are the centerpiece, one for each of the guys in the band.

I gravitate to the one with a few pairs of black leather pants and run my palm over one of them.

Bennett’s going to fill these out tonight, making every woman drool.

Heck, I need to swallow my own saliva thinking about him in them.

“You’re here! Great.” Nese floats toward me, obviously in her element. “The band’s not expected for a while, so we have plenty of girl time. What look are you going for tonight?”

“Anything not related to spiders.”

Her head tilts as her eyebrow raises. “Alright. We’ll stay away from all my outfits with more than two arms.”

I emit a giggle. Her crazy humor gets me out of my own head for the first time in a while. I need to trust things will work out for the best—Court has the fort well in hand at home, Luke’s wrangling the band here. The least I can do is not look anything like a bug needing to be squashed.

“How about I go for rocker chick?”

Her nose scrunches up. “Nah. Not your vibe. I’m thinking sexy schoolgirl. A short plaid miniskirt, white button-down. Yes, I think that will make all the guys cream their pants.”

“Nese, I’ve never been a private school student in my life.”

“All the more reason to walk the walk now.” She physically turns my body toward some more racks near the back part of the room. I thank the gods for this trove of women’s clothing. She flips through several pieces, pulling a few into her hands, while I check out a different spot.

I hold up a black vest. “What do you think of this?”

She purses her lips, then nods. “It might work. I’ll have to see it on you.” Moving at light speed toward a shelving unit, she asks my bra size and throws a black bra and panty set at me. Next, she asks, “You’re a size seven shoe, right?”

“Yes.”

“Great.” She pulls out some shoes, from ballerina flats to stilettos and even another pair of sneakers. “Now, go try everything on.” She shoos me toward a curtained area.

I stand in front of it. “I’m surprised you even have this here. The guys strip out in the open.”

“Hey, a girl’s gotta get some eye candy somehow.” She motions for me to try on her treasures. She winks. “This is special reserve.”

I shuck my clothes and try on the panty set, which does enhance my average attributes. The skirt goes on next, then the button-down. I try it on tucked in but think it looks better untucked. The last thing I put on is the black vest. Do I look like some overaged wannabe?

“Let me see you!”

Nese spurs me to slide open the curtain. I blurt, “I don’t think this really is me. I’m like a grandma pretending to be in nursery school.”

Her face rises to the ceiling and she laughs. “It’s absolutely fab that you’re hooking up with Bennett, Mr. Leather Pants himself. How can’t you see how positively gorgeous you are? Come here.”

I close the distance between us in bare feet. She walks around me, ties the bottom of the shirt. Tilting her head, she asks me to tuck it in.

“Better. Now take off the vest.” I do. “Nah, put it back on.” Her finger taps her lips. “Unbutton the top three buttons of your shirt.” When I comply, she nods. “Two more.”

“Two,” I yelp. “My bra will be hanging out.”

“Not hanging out, but I want to give it more airtime. Humor me.”

I do, then resist the urge to keep my hands in front of my chest.

“Perfect. Now, which shoes?” I don’t answer her, simply let her circle the options I left on the floor. “None of these will do. Wait here.” She scampers away.

I stand in front of the full-length mirror. The black bra, which was barely visible before all the unbuttoning, is now on full display. Not in a raunchy way. It actually makes me feel sort of hot. In a Jenna way, of course.

“Here. Try these on.”

A clunky pair of combat boots bang on the floor, and my gaze flies up to hers. “You do see what I’m wearing, right?”

“Oh yes. I do, and so will everyone else when I’m done with you. Now put them on.”

Putting on a pair of socklets, I walk over to a chair and slide my feet into the boots. Wiggling my ankles, I’m shocked at how comfortable they feel.

“Stand up. I need the full effect.”

I get to my feet, then do a slow twirl at her direction. Nese claps. “Girl, no one’s going to call you anything other than motherfucking hot when they see you tonight.”