Page 31 of Save Your Breath

The label would want to be sure that first single was a hit.

When the show was over, I waited with some of Mia’s team for her to join us on the bottom floor again, and then it was time to face the crowd. This time, though, it wasn’t as intense. There must have been something else going on that called to the paparazzi because there was only a handful of cameras now and a small gathering of fans.

When the elevator doors opened, Mia, Rina, Glo, and Isabella filed out mid-laugh before saying goodbye to the show runner. Mia’s eyes found mine, and she smiled.

She was all dolled up now — lashes dark and long, lips stained red, hair styled in silky waves. She still wore the black, bedazzled dress from her performance. The neckline plunged so low it nearly hit her belly button, the slight swells of her cleavage just a tease where that fabric split. And as distracting as that was, it was nothing compared to her long, lean legs — legs carved by years of dancing.

I smirked as she made her way toward me, sliding my hands in my pockets.

“Hello again,” she said. “Enjoy the show?”

“Of course. You know what a big fan I am.”

She cocked a brow.

“Palma McLaughlin?” I shot a thumb over my shoulder as if I was pointing to the stage. Palma had been another guest star on the show tonight. “I’ve had a crush on her foryears.When she starred as that bad ass undercover cop inShoot Out…”

I let out a low whistle that was cut short by Mia playfully punching me in the gut. She did so with a roll of her eyes, but when she tried to pull away, I grabbed her wrist and tugged her into me, instead.

“You were phenomenal,” I said, making sure her blue eyes were locked on mine before the words left my mouth. “I had no doubts you would be.”

She smiled, but pressed her hand into my chest at the same time. “Whatever.”

“I’m serious. I like the new song. Can I hear the rest of the album?”

“On August third with the rest of the world,” Isabella answered for her, and then she was shoving us toward the door. “Come on. Let’s get you two to the hotel.”

Putting one arm around Mia’s shoulder, I leaned in to whisper where only she could hear. “You’ll give me a sneak peek, right?”

“We’ll see.”

“Oh, is it dependent on good behavior?”

“If it was, you’ddefinitelystand no chance.”

“I can be a good boy.”

“Sure, and I can be a gourmet chef.”

“So funny,” I teased, digging my fingers into her ribs just as security opened the doors.

Mia laughed just as the flurry of camera flashes assaulted us, and I told myself I was acting when I pulled her into my side and pressed a kiss against her hair.

“You sounded like the real you.”

Mia stalled a bit, looking up at me as the fans screamed around us and cameras flashed like mad. Her red lips parted, like she wanted to say something but wasn’t sure what.

I was just about to usher her toward the car when a man broke through the line of security, jumping over them and nearly crashing into Mia.

But he didn’t get the chance because my hand caught him hard in the chest.

“Keep your filthy music away from the ears of our children, you whore!”

He barely got the words out before I was slamming him back, holding Mia behind me and serving as a human barrier.

“Aleks,” she warned. “Don’t.”

I didn’t realize I had the guy’s shirt fisted in my hand and was snarling at him like a rabid dog until I felt Mia’s hand calmly wrap around my shoulder.