Page 108 of Hard Rock Tease

“No corrupting the intern,” Deena said.

“Not unless they like it.” Jayce’s eyes glinted with wicked humor.

“It’s time to get going,” Deena said, glancing at the time on her phone. “There’s a journalist from a local music mag here to interview you before the show.”

As the band members got up to leave, Kell reached out and ruffled my hair, messing up the strands. I ducked and scrunched up my face as he sauntered out with a laugh.

Jayce held my gaze for long moments, until I could practically feel the simmering heat rising between us.

“A music reviewer, hm? I suppose I should be happy you liked our new song.”

“It was really good.”

“Seductive, I think you said.”

My whole body tingled with remnants of desire. An almost lascivious smirk crossed his face. He knewexactlywhat he was doing to me.

“Yeah, seductive. Kell’s voice is pretty sexy, after all,” I said, aiming for a nonchalant tone.

Jayce appeared startled for a brief moment, then laughed. “Somehow I don’t think it’s our lead singer who’s got you so worked up.” His eyes flashed with a dark, wicked heat, striking me to my very core. He gave me one last smirk before strolling out with an easy stride, leaving me alone.

Swallowing heavily, I clasped my hands together, recoiling from the intensity of that look.

Jayce didn’t want me following him around all summer, but the way he’d looked at me, those flashes of interest…

I shivered, anticipation rising in my chest.

Had we gotten off to a bad start or a good one?

Chapter Three

BUZZ.

I fumbled on the nightstand for my phone. It was the night before I officially started my job, and I wanted to get a good night’s sleep. I should have set my phone to silent mode, but I was always worried I’d miss an important message.

My friends and family called it a smartphone addiction; I simply called it being perpetually connected.

Even though it was late, I needed to know what the notification was. I pressed at the screen and squinted through the bright light.

A message from Neil.

I tapped my phone against my lips as I thought about it. Neil was interested in me, and I in him, but I just couldn’t stop thinking about those few moments with Jayce. There was clearly an attraction there, at least on my end. It wasn’t just a fangirl fascination, either. Jayce had ignited a desire in me that I’d rarely felt before.

Wouldn’t it be unfair to continue talking to Neil when I was so attracted to someone else?

No, I decided finally. Jayce had given me a few heated stares, but it didn’t mean anything. He did it to all the girls.

Besides, Neil and I hadn’t even met in person yet. Our future date was months away. I hadn’t made him any promises, just an offer to buy me a drink.

Neil was a good friend. We had been talking online for months. It wouldn’t be right to just ignore him. He was also a few years older than I was and already working in the film industry. He’d paid his dues in the lowly internship circuit. It would be nice to commiserate with someone who had been there and had intimate knowledge of the stress that came along with it.

I read Neil’s message.

Hey there, Ms. Fancy Intern. How goes the job?

My first official day is tomorrow, but today went well. There were a few bumpy patches, but I haven’t bombed spectacularly yet.

Oh yeah? Like what?