Page 11 of Lance

“I imagine,” shesays.

“Just remember to take time to have fun with it,” Paige says. “Don’t get so caught up in all the work that it stops being fun.” She nudges Reed. “Or you’ll end up grumpy like thisguy.”

“Well, we definitely have some hard work in our future,” James says. “We’re hoping to get into the studiosoon.”

“On top of all this promo?” Cash asks. “I would think they’d want to get you out on the roadsoon.”

“Our album is already way too old,” James says. “I just can’t imagine touring again without newmaterial.”

“Yeah, man, that’s tough,” Reed says. And then we’re back on safe ground, talking about recording and producers instead ofbabies.

Until the girls, tired of all the shop talk, decide to go and get drink refills. Left without supervision, Cash and Reed quickly bring the subject back to baby Rose and just like that, Cash has his phone out, trying to prove that she really was smiling at him and notReed.

“See, Dylan?” Cash asks, practically shoving the phone in his face. “You can see she’s smiling,right?”

Okay, so I know it’s probably breaking bro code to leave him and James alone right now, but really, who can blame me? This is excruciating. “Excuse me, guys. But there’s a lovely blonde over there without a drink. I think I better go and rectify that forher.”

“Sure, sure,” Cash says, waving vaguely, most of his attention still firmly on his phone. Dylan shakes his head at me, his eyes imploring me not to go. I slap his shoulder and murmur, “Sorry, buddy. I owe you one,” as I passby.

The blonde in question seems quite happy to see me when I appear at her side. “I couldn’t help but notice your empty glass,” I say by way of greeting, handing her a glass ofwine.

Her eyebrows go up as she takes the glass. “And how did you know I was drinkingred?”

“I may have noticed you earlier.” I tap my beer bottle against her glass. “Let’s just say you’re difficult toignore.”

She grins. “I’ve been watching you too. I was wondering if you were going to get the hint.” She giggles a little as she flutters her eyelashes up atme.

“I’m just glad you were still here by the time I could getaway.”

She takes a step closer so that her chest just barely brushes against my arm. “I get the feeling you’re the type of guy who’s worth waitingfor.”

Well. This certainly has the potential to get interesting. Much better than looking at pictures of the Ransome boys’ niece, that’s forsure.

As we work our way through our drinks and another round, her flirting gets more and more obvious. She keeps moving closer to me, throwing her hair behind her, leaning forward with, I’m sure, the express purpose of showing off her cleavage. And she touches me more and more frequently. A fingertip on my forearm here, a brush of her hand against mine there. At one point she runs her fingernails down my bicep without saying aword.

I tell myself that I’m being crazy when the urge to back away from her kicks in. This girl is hot and she’s obviously into me. Who cares if she’s being a little more forward than I’m used to? Isn’t that the point of being a rockstar?

But it gets harder and harder to pretend, even to myself, that I’m not regretting ever coming over here. There’s nothing particularly interesting in anything she’s saying to me and I’m sure that I’m not being all that witty myself, but she seems to laugh at pretty much everything I say. I have a flash of watching the crowd surrounding that executive earlier in the evening, hanging on his every word, laughing at all his jokes. And then I remember the expression on James’s face while he watched—the way he looked so disapproving of their sucking up. I can’t shake the sense of déjà vu. Would this girl be acting like this if I wasn’t in theband?

“Well, it looks like I’m out,” I say, lifting up my now empty beer bottle to show her. “I think I’m gonna hit the bar. But it was really nice to talk toyou.”

“Oh, that’s not necessary,” she says, wrapping her fingers around mywrists.

I resist the urge to shake her off. “What’s notnecessary?”

“Getting another drink,” she says, and now she’s fully pressing her ample chest against my arm. “I’m ready to go rightnow.”

“Ready… togo?”

She rolls her eyes and stands up on her tiptoes to whisper in my ear. The smell of her perfume is overwhelming this close, something sticky sweet that reminds me of eating too much candy—and the sick feeling I always get after. “You don’t have to get me another drink,” she whispers. “We can just get out of herenow.”

I take a step back. “I’m not leaving,” I tell her. “I’m here with my bandand—”

She rolls her eyes again. “I know you’re here with your band, James. Intrigue is totally hot right now. Why do you think I’m throwing myself atyou?”

“Uh, it’s Lance,actually.”

She shrugs. “Whatever. The point is, I want to be with you tonight. And I’m pretty sure you want to be with metoo.”