Page 4 of Extended Bridge (Passionate Beats #2)

Chapter Three

A fter kissing Ma on her cheek, I leave her car outside Angie’s real estate office and walk to mine. At least those damn reporters haven’t returned. I place my hand on the front door handle, but the ocean’s roaring waves call to me.

Ma’s car has long since turned the corner, confirming I’m alone. Fixing my scarf and wrapping my coat around me, I walk toward the boardwalk. I need to clear my head.

Court wants me to go on tour with UC. So does Ma. Both for different reasons. Court thinks Bennett is good for me while Ma does not . What do I want?

I check my cell. It’s already six o’clock. UC must be gearing up to take the stage for their first major concert. How is Bennett feeling? How’s his pulled muscle? Will he be able to perform and cover up his injury?

What do I want?

The top ten cons I described to Court about touring flip over in my mind. What are the pros? Spending more time with Bennett, reconnecting with the rest of UC, seeing the world, being free from Aroostook responsibilities. I come to a stop .

What do I want?

The ocean pulses against the sand, highlighting today’s cold weather. I bet some of the tour stops are at warm places, so that’ll be another pro.

Even though I can’t get to ten, I know which one has more weight. The one with the gorgeous, injured man who’s brought me more pleasure than anyone ever has. I want to help him heal—not only in the PT sense—and I think he might be able to help me, too.

Darren’s face comes rushing to the fore.

Without a doubt, he loved me and I loved him. My time with him was idyllic, a fantasy. Even back then I suspected we had an expiration date. With Bennett, it feels like anything but.

The lead singer’s tortured soul calls out to me. I have an unquenched need to peel away his protective gear and help him correct everything wrong in his life. For a man who appears to have it all—looks, money, fame—he’s so broken. I get it.

How will the rest of UC take it if I join their tour?

The newest member—Tristan—and I don’t have a past, so he should be fine.

Well, except for the whole he-took-Darren’s-place-in-the-band thing.

Correction. He’s their new keyboardist. No one can replace Darren, and based on the movie, it doesn’t look like that’s his ambition.

In truth, it’s Río, Coop, and Pierce—007—I worry about, with the last one raising the most red flags.

He was Darren’s best friend, the first one to discover he had died, and knows I had nothing to do with his overdose.

From the message he left me a week prior to that fateful day, which I haven’t been able to bring myself to delete, Pierce probably knew more than anyone about what was going on with Darren.

He may be surprised, perhaps standoffish, but he’ll come around since he knows the truth that Darren was the only one at fault for his death. I hope .

I continue down the boardwalk, past the summer concession stand, now empty.

A blonde woman walking her dog passes, and she reminds me of Lissa.

Gosh, Bennett’s ex is a real winner! Claiming UC’s songs were about her and he’s been pining for her is unbelievable.

Does she not know he’s been a manwhore for a decade now?

Still, the fact remains I’m going to have to deal with the likes of Lissa for a long time. He was the most promiscuous of the band, for sure. Groupies and fans alike won’t sing my praises for joining the tour—if I do.

I kick a pebble across the wooden boards and turn toward my car.

Can I go on another tour with UC, this time without Darren?

My stomach churns harder than the ocean.

The Bennett I’ve come to know, the man whom I have feelings for and who professes to love me, is so much more multi-faceted than my ex-boyfriend.

Not to disparage Darren in any way, but Bennett’s just. ..well, Bennett.

I’m so lost in my thoughts I don’t hear someone approach until it’s too late. “Fancy meeting the Black Widow herself on the boards of Aroostook.”

Michelle.

Great. Today lacked only her.

I bundle my coat closer. My voice is dull when I ask, “What do you want, Michelle?”

She falls into step next to me. “How’s my tall, dark, and sexy man doing?”

“Bennett’s gone.” I rub my left arm over my right.

“What?” She cackles. “You couldn’t keep him for two full weeks? Must be a new record. You were with my high school boyfriend for a month before Thaine saw the light and came home to me.”

Three months . But who’s counting? “Your point?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” she says brightly. “Your first boyfriend in high school dumped you, another boyfriend died, and this one bolted. Seems you’ve definitely earned your nickname. Black Widow.” She hisses.

As if spiders hiss.

I pick up my pace and don’t bother engaging her. Maybe she’ll take the hint .

Faster footfalls follow me. “I guess you don’t have anything to say to me because you know I’m right.”

“There she is!” A man wielding a massive camera yells at me. He’s followed by five others, each with cameras and their own questions. I can’t make out any of them, thankfully.

I calculate the distance between here and my car. Too far. A diner’s across the street, so I pick up my pace to a jog and beeline for the “Open” sign, uncaring of Michelle’s fate. Let her pose and spew her lies to anyone who’ll listen. Don’t count me as one of them.

Pushing against the door, I almost fall headfirst into the local eatery. The few heads inside turn toward me. A server, barely out of her teens, approaches me, waving her arm. “Sit anywhere you’d like.”

“Thanks.” I glance around and choose a table far away from the windows and sit in the corner. From my vantage point, I see Michelle talking with the reporters. Wonderful.

When the same server approaches, I order a Diet Coke and run through my options. I could walk back to my car, but reporters would be all over me. I could call a car service, but that seems extravagant. I could ask Ma to pick me up, but after our little tea, I don’t think that’s a good idea.

The server drops off my drink, for which I thank her.

There has to be a way out of here. Court’s shining face bubbles in my mind, but she’s busy with patients.

Angie . She’d be excited to help me evade the media, I know it in my bones.

After a quick call, she pulls up outside the diner.

Leaving some money on the table beside my half-empty glass, I prepare for the onslaught.

With fluid motions, I dash out of the diner’s protection and dive into Angie’s car.

“Buckle up!” With this only warning, Angie steps on the gas and we fly away.

“I’m not taking you directly back to my office, as I want to shake these vultures off your tail.

” Her evasive driving rivals Bennett’s. Within ten minutes, she pulls into an apartment building’s quiet parking lot off the main drag.

She puts her car into park. “What happened?”

I reach for my ponytail, only to remember I left my hair loose today, because Bennett prefers it this way. Was our bath and shower only this morning? Resting my head against the headrest, I say, “I was out for a walk checking out the ocean when the paparazzi appeared out of nowhere.”

“They have a knack for doing that.”

“I know. One minute I was enjoying the waves, the next Michelle came up and was harassing me, and then the media showed up.”

“Wow. You’ve had quite the day.”

I roll my head toward her. “You don’t know the half of it.”

“I know we’ve only just met, but I like you, Jenna. I feel what you’re going through. Can I offer you some unsolicited advice?”

Why not? Everyone else has. “Sure.”

She turns to face me, tucking her leg behind her. “Leave. Go out on tour with Untamed Coaster. Get out of this town until some new celebrity diverts the media’s attention. You’ll also get an added bonus.”

I can’t resist wading into the open-ended statement. “What’s that?”

“You’ll be able to control the media from the inside.”

After a sleepless night, I finally come to a decision. I make an early morning stop at the office, confirming I can follow through with it. “Ensure you make an appointment to have the air conditioner checked by early spring.”

“On my list,” Court replies.

“Double-check to see if salt needs to be added to the water softener every month.”

She salutes me. “Aye, aye.”

“And—”

Court raises her hand. “I got this. Stop worrying. ”

“I know you do.” I pace across the floor. “I’ve never left my baby for months.”

“You were smart. You’ve structured At Your Service PT to run without you. I promise you, it will. If something unforeseen happens, I know how to reach you.”

My legs keep moving. “You’ll keep an eye on Felipe at the second location, right?

Based on your astute observations regarding Sylvia, and the way Austin failed on Bennett’s skater jumps, I’ve decided to tap Greyson for the third location like you suggested.

Of course, that won’t happen until I get back, so you don’t have to worry about telling anyone. ”

Court laughs. “You need to get your head out of Aroostook and focus on your one patient about to tour the world. I can’t even imagine touring with my man across the globe.” She fans her face. “If only I had a man. I have to live vicariously through you.”

“Bennett isn’t my man ,” I correct her. “He’s my patient.” This reminder is more for me than for her.

“Whatever. If it were me, I’d be all over that fine man like moss on a tree.” Using the bottom of her shirt, she cleans her glasses.

“Not. Going. To. Happen.” I don’t add in the last word, again. No matter how much he excited me or played my body to perfection, it can’t happen again. “Two words—Professional. Ethics.”

Court waves her hand. “I’d never tell.”

“Ride or die,” I repeat our catchphrase from school, causing us both to laugh.

“Knock, knock.” Austin doesn’t wait for our response and breezes into Court’s office carrying a manilla folder. He stops short. “Oh, Jenna, I didn’t expect to see you here.”