Page 12 of Love Loathe Devotion (Tightrope #3)

I’m stretched out on my bed, the door open so I can listen out for Laney, staring at the ceiling, trying not to let the exhaustion pull me under.

The last few days have been intense; I’ve hardly slept a wink as I watched over Laney to ensure her breaths continued to softly make her chest rise and fall.

Never before have I been consumed by a woman like I am her.

It feels like fate keeps thrusting her in front of me, and I’m too weak to resist the pull she has on me.

I know I need to call Lucas and have a tough conversation with him, but I’ve put it off until I can decipher how Laney feels about me.

Maybe the attraction is one-sided? I shake my head, rejecting the thought instantly.

I saw the way she looked at me—the way her irises disappeared as desire bled through, turning her gaze black.

She wants me but is just getting out of an awful situation.

Her ex-boyfriend is a piece of shit. I had Nico run his background and there’s so much more than him cheating on her to make me hate his guts.

Gambling, sexual assault claims his parents paid to hide, and then there’s the fact he’s just a lazy fucking asshole who let her work her fingers to the bone while he fucked around.

When my phone vibrates on the nightstand, I grunt, rubbing a hand over my face before grabbing it and, seeing Reggie’s name, I stifle a groan.

“Yeah?” I answer, already irritated.

“Eddie, my man,” my agent, Reggie, greets me, his voice far too chipper for my current mood. “Have you had time to think about our little… predicament?”

I exhale sharply. “If by predicament, you mean the ridiculous idea of me getting a fake live-in girlfriend to pacify the label, then no. Because I did nothing wrong.”

Reggie sighs like he’s dealing with a petulant child. “Listen, man, it’s not about what’s right or wrong. It’s about perception. The label is still pissed about the last PR mess. They want stability. They want a love story, something to soften your image.”

I grit my teeth. “And they think hiring some random woman to pretend to love me is gonna fix that?”

“Yes.” Reggie’s tone is flat. “That’s exactly what they think.”

I push myself up, swinging my legs off the bed, already feeling the tension crawl up my spine. “I’m not picking some girl off a damn résumé, Reggie.”

“Then who?”

I don’t even hesitate. “Laney.”

Silence. Then, “Wait… you mean the girl from the arena? The one who got attacked?”

“That’s the one.” My tone is clipped, my shoulders tense, waiting for the pushback I know is coming.

I regret telling him what happened, but too many people were around for it not to get back to him, and I needed him to make sure the media didn’t get wind of it and go digging into Laney.

Fucking vultures.

Reggie swears under his breath. “Eddie, come on. You can’t seriously think this is a good idea. You don’t know anything about her. What if she’s working an angle?”

My blood runs hot. “She’s not.”

“You don’t know that.”

I stand, pacing the room, my grip tightening on the phone.

“Yeah, I do. She didn’t ask to be drugged.

She didn’t ask to wake up in my bed, half out of it for two days.

And she sure as hell didn’t ask for me to be the one taking care of her.

That girl has been through enough. She’s not after me, Reggie. ”

Reggie exhales slowly. “I’m just looking out for you, man. You’ve been burned before.”

“This isn’t like before,” I snap. “And I don’t need you questioning every decision I make.”

Reggie hesitates, then relents. “If that’s what you want, I’ll inform the label.”

“Good.” My jaw clenches. “And while you’re at it, send me a copy of my damn contract.”

There’s another beat of silence. “Eddie—”

“I’m not asking, Reg. Send it. Or forget about me going on tour.”

He grumbles, but I hear the shift in his tone—he knows I mean it. “Fine. I’ll send it over.”

“Good.” I end the call with a frustrated sigh and toss my phone onto the bed before rubbing my hands over my face.

This should have been simple. The label wants a fake girlfriend? Fine. But I don’t do fake. And I sure as hell don’t let people dictate my life.

Now, I just have to convince Laney to go along with this. And I can’t push her. She’s vulnerable. The last thing I want is to scare her off.

I push off the bed and walk to her room, knocking lightly.

After a moment, the door opens, and there she stands looking so much better.

A little pale, but steady. Dressed in leggings and one of my old hoodies, which I included in the bag her friend packed, her damp hair brushed back from her face.

Seeing her in my clothes makes a rush of need race to my cock.

She’s beautiful in a way that’s raw and unintentional, and it throws me for a second.

Fuck. Me.

I clear my throat, forcing myself to focus. “Hey. Feeling any better?”

She gives me a small smile. “Yeah. Still a little wobbly, but better.”

“That’s to be expected.” I nod toward the hall. “Want to take a walk? Get some fresh air?”

She hesitates, then nods. “Yeah. That sounds nice.”

I step back, letting her move past me, and we walk through the house in comfortable silence, her gaze moving around as she takes in my home.

I never much cared what anyone thought of my home, but I want to hear what she thinks.

As if she can read my mind, she voices her thoughts, a smile gracing her lips.

“Wow, Eddie, your home is beautiful. I love how the modern lines blend with the soft furnishings. It makes it feel elegant but inviting.”

A smile tips my lips; hearing that gives me a warm feel in my chest, and I fight the urge to pull her into my arms.

“Thank you, I love it here. It’s my sanctuary.”

Laney tilts her head to look at me, a soft lilt on her lips that makes me want to bend and taste the words on the edge of her tongue. Fuck, I’m in so deep with this woman, and I’m not sure she has any clue. Her innocence is part of her beauty, but a part of me wants to be the one to corrupt her.

“Thank you for sharing it with me.”

And there goes my heart.

Reaching for her hand, because fighting the urge to touch her is impossible, I link our fingers together and smile at her. “Come on, let me show you outside. It’s my favorite part.”

When we step outside, the evening air is cool, the sky painted in streaks of orange and pink. I watch her as she tips her head back, her eyes closing as she takes a deep breath, letting the fresh air fill her lungs.

“This place is… huge,” she says, glancing around.

I smile. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

She shakes her head, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “I mean, I knew you were successful, but this is next level.”

I chuckle. “Comes with the job, I guess.”

She studies me for a moment. “It must be exhausting.”

I pause, caught off guard by her insight. “Yeah. Sometimes.”

She nods, looking out at the property, then turns back to me. “Thank you.”

I frown. “For what?”

“For taking care of me. For letting me stay here. For… being you, I guess.”

Something tightens in my chest. I step a little closer, looking down at her. “You don’t have to thank me, Laney.”

She searches my face like she’s trying to figure me out. “Not many people would do what you’ve done for me.”

I huff out a breath. “Then they’re idiots.”

She laughs softly, shaking her head. “You’re something else, Eddie.”

I grin. “Get used to it.”

She meets my gaze and, for a moment, the world stills. Then she looks away, clearing her throat. “So, what now?”

Now, I tell her the truth. But not yet. “For now,” I say, leading her further onto the path, “we walk.”

And for the first time in a long time, I feel something I haven’t felt in years.

Peace.

I lead Laney out of the house and across the yard toward the barn, the crunch of gravel under our feet the only sound for a moment.

The air is fresh, carrying the scent of hay and leather, and the distant sound of birds settling in for the evening.

She walks beside me, still a little unsteady, but stronger than before.

I steal a glance at her—she looks better, there’s some color in her cheeks now, but I don’t miss the way she keeps rubbing her arms like she’s cold or uncertain.

The barn doors are already open when we step inside, warm light spilling over the stalls, casting long shadows against the wooden walls.

The familiar scent of horses and hay fills the space, comforting in its own way and filling me with a sense of home.

Laney hesitates at the entrance, her eyes widening as she takes it all in.

“You have horses?” she asks, surprise lacing her voice.

“Seven of them,” I say, motioning for her to follow. “Come on, I’ll introduce you.”

As we walk down the row of stalls, I point them out one by one. “That’s Daisy, she’s a sweetheart. Then there’s Titan, he’s a bit of a troublemaker. Over there is Belle, and next to her is Gunner. The last two aren’t mine, I just board them here.”

Laney looks at me with curiosity. “How do you manage all this with your career?”

“I have someone who looks after them when I’m away,” I explain. “They get the best care. But when I’m home, I like to spend time with them. Helps keep me grounded.”

She seems to take that in, watching as a large, dark horse pokes his head over the last stall. I grin. “And this here is Blaze.”

Blaze snorts softly, his ears pricking forward as I step closer.

He nudges my arm, and I chuckle, reaching into my pocket.

“Alright, alright, I know what you want.” I pull out a sugar cube, letting him take it from my palm.

He crunches happily, rubbing his velvety muzzle against my arm in thanks.

I stroke down his neck, my touch firm but gentle.

Laney watches, a soft smile tugging at her lips. “You’re really good with him.”

I glance at her. “He’s my boy. Had him for years now. He’s been with me through a lot.”

She doesn’t press for details, just nods, and I lead her over to a hay bale near the back of the barn. I sit first, giving her space and, after a moment, she follows, perching on the edge like she’s still not sure how long she belongs here.

I exhale, rubbing the back of my neck. “There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

She frowns slightly. “That sounds serious.”

“It is.” I glance down at my hands, then back up at her. “My label is… forcing me to clean up my image.”

Laney tilts her head. “Forcing you?”

“They think I need to be more settled. More stable. Their solution? A fake girlfriend.”

She blinks, then scoffs. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Tell me about it.” I huff out a dry laugh. “But it’s either that or deal with them breathing down my neck for the foreseeable future.”

She shakes her head. “So, have you picked someone?”

I watch her, letting a slow, amused smile tug at my lips. “I have someone in mind.”

Laney nods encouragingly. “Then go for it.”

My grin widens. “You sure?”

“Of course.” She nudges me lightly. “You should pick someone you can at least stand to be around, though.”

I chuckle. “I think I’ve got that covered.”

She gives me an approving look. “Good.”

I pause, then say it. “It’s you.”

Laney freezes, her breath catching. “What?”

I lean forward, elbows resting on my knees. “I want you to be my fake girlfriend.”

She stares at me, processing. “Eddie, I—”

“I’ll pay you,” I add quickly, sensing her hesitation. “I don’t expect you to do it for nothing.”

She shakes her head, flustered. “It’s not about the money. It’s just… I don’t know. I mean, me?”

I meet her gaze, serious now. “Yeah. You.”

Silence stretches between us, the only sound the faint shuffle of the horses in their stalls. I watch her closely, waiting for her reaction, knowing this might be the moment everything changes.