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“After the success of the first album and your growing popularity, the record company and I think it’s time to hire personal security,” she stated.

“Bodyguards?” Jonny cursed under his breath and rolled his eyes.

Sam laughed.

Boomer’s lips thinned.

“What did you expect?” Talia went on. “You’re an award-winning band with a critically acclaimed album under your belt.

The buzz around the new tracks is crazy, and you’re adored by millions.

It was only a matter of time until we had to look ino protection.

Regardless of whether this happened to Saint or not, it’s something we would’ve had to think about eventually anyway.

You’re followed by paparazzi everywhere you go, and things have gotten dicey for all of you at some point with over-enthused fans. ”

“Okay, so hire them,” Boomer acquiesced. “Just make sure we get the ones from Proximity. Those guys are cool.”

“We’ve already approached them,” Talia confirmed. “They can do it, but they’re booked up for the next three months. How do you feel about hiring the boys from Covershield while we wait for Proximity to start their contract?”

“Those dudes are uptight,” Jonny pointed out. “Plus, one of ‘em tried to get up close and personal with Saint last time we used ‘em. It took all three of us to get him outta her house, and even then, Sam ended up with a black eye.”

Tally held her hands up defensively. “I know, I know.”

“He belonged on a fucking psych ward,” Boomer continued. “They obviously don’t vet their guys that well. I say we use Noah Hart’s dudes. The time we used ‘em, one of their boys saved Saint from that handsy fan at the Festival of Rock.”

“SDSS?” Tally’s eyes slid to me, and she murmured, “They’re pretty new to the game.”

I could’ve kissed her for trying to make excuses to put me at ease, but there was no need.

Years had passed, and I was over what Jacob did.

Personal feelings didn’t come into it anyway.

I wanted my boys to be comfortable with the guys we used because having twenty-four-hour security was a big deal, and we needed to gel with them because they’d be around us constantly.

Anyway, what were the chances of Jacob being part of the team they sent?

Their club was big and these days, even took on government jobs (yes I had looked them up).

Jacob was an officer. I doubted they could spare him for three months to run around after a rock band.

I sat back and sighed resignedly.

God, I hated this. It was almost embarrassing.

All this fuss about something that wasn’t even likely to happen.

Whoever was sending the weird stuff to me had stayed in the shadows for months, and like most cowards, they wouldn’t come out to hold their head above the parapet because that would mean they’d have to own up to their bullshit.

“I vote we go for SDSS,” Sam announced.

“Ditto,” Boomer agreed.

“Anyone’s better than those uptight Covershield assholes,” Jonny murmured.

I filled my lungs with air, trying to center my nerves before declaring, “I’ll go with the majority. We’re only having to do this because of me, so I want you guys to feel as comfortable as possible.”

Nothing was likely to happen; I mean, we were hardly the Beatles circa nineteen-sixty-five, but the gifts were getting weird. I’d almost had a fucking aneurysm when I opened my front door to be confronted with a huge bouquet of flowers alongside a diamond-encrusted butt plug.

“Still. I’m sure there’s nothing to stress about, right?” I said brightly in an attempt to buy my own line. “It’s probably just a harmless freak with too much free time on their hands.”

Boomer eyed the photographs and grunted.

“I wouldn’t mind takin’ that butt plug off your hands.” Sam grinned, waggling his eyebrows.

Everybody groaned.

“What?” he demanded. “Got Jolie Fontaine coming for dinner later.”

Boomer’s head reared back. “The supermodel?”

“Yeah, the supermodel,” Sam replied sarcastically. “You know any other women called Jolie Fontaine?”

“Alright, smartass,” Boomer retorted. “It’s just weird that you walk into rehearsals and announce you're having dinner with one of the most desirable and beautiful women in the world as if it’s nothing. When the fuck did you meet her?”

“She was walking her dog on the beach earlier. I came outta the surf with my board and ran into her. I recognized her, she recognized me, and boom, next thing I know, she’s accepting my offer of dinner at my place.”

“And you think she’ll let you use a diamond-encrusted butt plug on her on the first date?” Jonny drawled.

“Not banking on it,” Sam admitted. “But it’d be good to be prepared just in case.”

“I think you’re livin’ in goddamned Narnia,” Boomer muttered. “You better go looking for an old wardrobe, dude, ‘cause you’ve got as much chance of ass fucking Jolie Fontaine on the first date as you have of meeting a talking lion.”

“Speak for yourself, asshole,” Sam responded, leaning forward until his elbows hit his knees. “She’s seen my abs. There’s no stopping me.” He straightened and lifted his Metallica tee, showing off his washboard stomach. “Once the ladies get sight of all this, they can’t help themselves.”

“Spoken like a true narcissist,” Jonny muttered, his lips twitching. “Your dad probably bought them for ya like he did everything else.”

Sam raised a hand to his mouth and coughed out the words, “Broke ass.”

Boomer looked at me and rolled his eyes.

I smiled back at him and shrugged.

The boys’ banter was usually the highlight of my day. I’d never had any of this growing up. The house I grew up in wasn’t filled with family jokes and laughter. My dad was a pastor and my mom his assistant, and they laid down the law, especially when it came to my friends.

I was only allowed to go to school, church, and home.

There was no dating or movies, or hanging out at the diner.

There was only bible study, prayer, and services.

It was no wonder I escaped the day I turned eighteen, and apart from a few phone calls home to my mom, I had nothing to do with the church or my dad.

It wasn’t that I hated him; I didn’t. My dad never treated me badly or beat me. He was just overstrict. He disowned me the first time he saw me singing with the band on TV. It seemed having a rock singer for a daughter didn’t fit in with his religious aesthetic.

Talia swiped her cell phone from the table and began to scroll through it.

When she found her target, she clicked and put it to her ear.

After a few seconds, she said, “Noah? It’s Talia Fields.

I’m trying to hire personal security for Saint’s Rapture.

Do you think SDSS would be interested? The contract will be for a few months until Proximity Security frees up some guys.

” She nodded. “Cool. Can you ping that over to me?” Another pause, then, “We’re just being cautious.

Saint’s got a fan who’s getting a bit too close for comfort, and we want to cover our bases.

” She glanced at me and rolled her eyes.

“Yeah. One minute, I’ll put her on.” She handed the cell to me and gave me big eyes.

Taking the cell, I held it to my ear. “Hey, stranger.”

“You okay, babe?” Noah asked gently.

I smiled at the concern in his tone.

Noah Hart used to be a biker. Maybe he still was.

Who knew? He was also the frontman of a band called Dischordium, who’d recently broken out onto the scene.

Their first album had done really well, and like us, they were working on their second.

Me and Boomer had seen them play at a bar over in Wyoming years before and had asked them to support us on a ten-gig tour we were putting together.

They started gathering a following, and the rest was history.

“I’m good, thanks, honey,” I murmured. “Like Tally said, it’s just an over-zealous fan sending shit to my house. But it’s made us realize we need to step up security.”

“Honestly, babe. Surprised it took you this long to get it,” he rumbled. “You’re talented, and you’re fine as hell. It was only a matter of time.”

“It’s come from left field. I stay out the spotlight unless I’m out with Hunter, and even then, it’s usually industry shit, so it’s security controlled.”

“You still with that guy?” he asked.

“On and off,” I admitted, “You know how it is.”

Noah laughed. “Yeah. I do.” He paused before declaring. “Tell Tally to hold off calling Hendrix. I’ll do it now and get him to call her. I’ll ask him for a special favor. I’ll get you sorted, Saint. Don’t worry.”

My heart melted at Noah’s kindness. “You’re a good friend.”

“Only payin’ it forward, sweetheart. You guys have done a lot for us. Feels good that I can help you out for a change. Tell Talia I’ll speak to Drix now and to look out for his call. In the meantime, you watch your back and call me if you need me, okay?”

“’Kay,” I breathed. “Thanks again, Noah.”

The line clicked, and I handed the cell back to Talia. “Noah said to hang fire. He’ll call Hendrix and ask him to contact you.”

Her head tipped to one side, “Thanks, babe. He always did have a soft spot for you.”

“For all of us,” I corrected. “We got Dischordium the supporting gig, remember?”

A slight smirk curved her lips. “Oh, my sweet summer child. Noah Hart wants to fuck you into next Wednesday. Make no mistake about it.”

“We’re just friends,” I argued.

Boomer let out a snort. “You are, but he still wants to fuck you into next Wednesday.”

“Bullshit,” I snapped.

My friend turned to the other two guys. “It’s like she doesn’t look in the mirror. She’s got sass, great tits and ass, a tiny waist, curvy legs, fantastic hair, and eyes so blue that they remind me of a beautiful white walker, and she still can’t believe men want to fuck her.”

“I know, right?” Jonny concurred. “She bagged the biggest action-hero star on the fucking planet, and she can’t see how.”

I waved a nonchalant hand. “You know my relationship with Hunter isn’t serious.”

“He still fucks you though, right?”

My eyes lowered.

If only they knew.

“Stop embarrassing her,” Talia scolded. “Us girls aren’t like you silly boys who boast about their conquests.

We’ve got more class.” She checked her watch.

“Right, you’ve got an hour’s break, then back to work.

I’ve ordered pizza and salad. I’ve arranged for someone to replenish the fridge with beer, too.

I know I always say you shouldn’t drink on the job, but I think it’s been a weird day, and you all need to unwind. ”

“We write better full of beer anyway,” Jonny muttered, getting to his feet.

“You also trash hotel rooms,” Talia bit back.

“Nah.” Jonny grinned. “That’s the cocaine and tequila.”

“Jesus help me,” Tally murmured. “It’s like wrangling toddlers.”

Boomer and Sam got to their feet and followed Jonny out of the recording studio. “Thanks, Tal,” Boom called back.

“What for?” she asked.

He craned his neck, looking back at us. “For looking out for our girl.” He sent her a little wink. “You’re the best.”

Talia’s face pinked up. “Go eat,” she ordered.

He gave her a loose salute and disappeared through the door.

My gaze followed him. “They’re assholes,” I murmured to Talia. “But they’re our assholes. I know the boys are hard work, but they mean well. I always feel as if they’ve got my best interests at heart.”

“I know.” She leaned forward and lowered her voice to a whisper. “You haven’t told them about Hunter?”

“What am I supposed to say? Oh, by the way, you know that action-hero boyfriend of mine? Well, he’s actually gay and in love with his manager.

His career’s at its peak, and he doesn’t want it getting out in case it hurts his macho image, so I agreed to be his beard to raise the band’s profile.

” My eyes bugged out at her. “They’ll think I’m a sell-out. ”

“That’s not why you did it?” she argued gently. “You agreed to it for Hunter.”

I shrugged. “It’s still a showmance. ”

“One that you’re doing for the right reasons,” Talia pointed out. “Stop being hard on yourself.”

“Maybe it’s time me and Hunter broke up,” I stated.

“Do what you want,” she told me. “Just make sure you give me plenty of notice so I can get the publicists ahead of it.”

My mouth twisted. “It’s time to do that now; I don’t want Hunter involved in all this stalker business. It’s too dangerous.”

Her chin dipped, and her eyes held mine. “Or maybe you want to be officially single for when you get your new bodyguard.”

My stomach tightened at the idea of seeing Jacob again.

We’d only spent one night together, but to my mind, it had gone down in history as one of the best nights of my life. I really thought we had something special, but he turned out to be just like all the other assholes, and that knowledge had always cut me deep.

For a long time, he was my muse. The entire first album was about Jake, and the lyrics of the song I wrote when I first laid eyes on him had won me countless awards.

That night, something about him had inspired my soul, but then it all crashed and burned, and he turned into just another disappointment in a long line of disappointments.

But hey, they always said the best songs come from a place of pain, and the Grammy above my fireplace proved they were right, so how could I be mad about it?

Everything happened for a reason, and maybe I had to meet Jake to bring those songs out of me, even if he did turn out to be a cheating asshole.

“I don’t want to be single for my new bodyguard,” I denied. “I’m happy with my life the way it is. Uncomplicated and simple. ”

“Also boring, uninspired, and colorless,” she added.

“I’m good,” I assured her.

“I know, Saint, but you’re also stagnating.

You need some excitement in your life.” As Tally spoke, her cell rang in her hand.

She glanced at the screen, tapped it, then held the phone to her ear.

“Talia Fields.” She paused while the person on the other line introduced themselves, then smiled.

“Hendrix! Good to hear from you. Thanks for calling so soon.” Her eyes came to me, and her smile widened to a grin before she declared, “I’ve got a proposition for you. ”