Page 27 of Just What She Needed

"No, it's just Ross." Rhys's own whisper was low and husky, and Rhett could swear she felt it twine around her like the serpent in the Garden of Eden. "He'll text, or ring back if it's important."

Evidently it was, because the ring tone sounded again. An annoyed frown slanted Rhys's eyebrows. "I'll get rid of him." He snatched up the phone and swiped his thumb across the screen before putting it to his ear. "What's so bleedin' urgent?"

Released from the spell she'd been under, Rhett slid off the bench to her feet. "It's okay. I'll go so y'all can talk."

"What? Hold on," he barked into the phone. "Rhett, you don't have to go."

"It's okay," she repeated. "I'm sure it's band stuff, so I'll let you guys talk business." Confusion whipsawed inside her and made tiny beads of sweat pop out around her hairline. Yes, she wanted him with every fiber of her being, but something internal jumped up and down and yelled that she wasn't ready. All of a sudden it was imperative that she get the hell out of there before anything else happened.

"Thank you for inviting me up to hear the rain. That was so sweet of you." She bent down and brushed a kiss across his cheek. "I'll see you later."

"Rhett, wait."

She sent a quick wave over her shoulder as her feet skimmed across the cool marble tiles of the foyer.

"'Bye, Rhys."

11

You can't have rock 'n roll without sex.—Rick James

As the door closed behind Rhett and her extremely lovely arse, Rhys took a deep breath in an attempt to cool his jets. Nope. Didn't work. He glared down at the phone in his hands, and a growl built in his chest. It came out in his voice when he finally put the fucking thing back to his ear.

"What."

"Oh, man, I am so sorry." The laughter in Ross's deep voice belied his apology. "But you said this morning that you were going to be working all day. How was I supposed to know I'd interrupt you with a woman?"

"I did work all morning. And if you could see what you just chased out of here with your ill-timed call then you'd know just how sorry you are." He pulled the elastic from his hair and ran his hand across the back of his head. Unrelieved tension left him with the beginning of a headache.

A rude noise came down the line. "I've seen the babes you bring home, so I can imagine."

"You can't imagine this one." Rhys directed a wistful glance at the door through which Rhett disappeared. "She's like nothing I've ever seen before."

"Shit, dude. Why'd you answer the damn phone?" Ross's voice grew faint as he spoke to someone else. "Yeah, those are fine, babe. Just put all of 'em in that big suitcase."

"Is that Sara?" Rhys asked in annoyance. "I hope you're not planning to have sex with her tonight, because I intend to ring you every five minutes from now 'til dawn."

"Yeah, there's this little button on the side of your phone that turns the volume off." Ross didn't sound at all worried about being interrupted while making love to his wife. "You should look into that. But I do have something to tell you that couldn't wait."

"All right, then. What is it?"

"Pack your bags, buddy, cause we're goin' to Canada. There's been a cancellation at Canterbury, so they're getting us in early. Means we've got four weeks to record the album instead of three, but it also means we need to be there by day after tomorrow."

"Oh, that's just great," Rhys muttered. "Can we get all of our shit there by then?"

"Most of it. I hope."

A thought occurred to him. "What about the house?"

"Yeah, that's a no-go until next week. So get a hotel room until then." Several more voices were added to the din coming down the line, and Rhys heard the distinct sound of a door slam. Quiet reigned on Ross's end again, but when he spoke again there was a definite echo. "Flynn checked, though, and the house'll be ready when it was supposed to be."

"Fine." Rhys glanced toward the closed laptop on the desk across the room. "I'll book a flight and see you there."

"Sorry to spring it on you, but it'll be nice to have that extra week."

There was that odd echo effect again. Rhys's eyes sprang open wide. "Wait a minute. Are you talking to me from the loo?"

"Heh. Yeah. Paisley and Gina came in the bedroom fighting about something, and Sara started fussing at 'em. I couldn't hear myself think." Ross's gravelly voice grew teasing. "Don't worry, though. I'm not taking a dump or getting in the shower. I know you're still worked up because your woman ran out on you, but I don't want you gettin' any ideas about me being nekkid."