Bassist Instinct (The Rocker Series #2) (15 page)

“What?” She asked him.

“Nothing, you look good. Are you okay?”

“I don’t know, I have a hundred questions, but I’m too tired to focus on any of them, and you must be exhausted. Sam’s in the front room, I’ll go make the office bed, you can sleep there.” She stood and he walked with her to the stairs.

“Just find me sheets and towels, I’ll make the bed,” he said and handed her phone back to her.

“Then come up and help me,” she said putting her phone in her pocket. “You can tell me what you were doing in Morocco.”

“I really can’t,” he said.

“Oh.”

“Why don’t you tell me what you did for your birthday? I’m sorry I missed it.”

“I played piano for my birthday. Your secretary sent me a lovely bright yellow chrysanthemum plant full of paper pumpkins, which I planted in the backyard, the mums, not the paper pumpkins. You’re off the hook.” He smiled at her.

“Not if you know my secretary sent them. Let me take you out to dinner tomorrow,” he said.

“I think I have plans for dinner tomorrow,” she couldn’t help the grin that spread across her face.

“Oh.” He stopped. “I don’t think that’s safe, Fi.”

“Oh? Because you think he’s a user? Or because of the SUV people?”

“Both, but you’re a grown up, I have to concentrate on your personal safety, not your love life.”

“I’m going to spend the day with Tate, he’s coming at 9:00 to pick me up. I’m afraid the car is a two-seater.”

“Yeah, I heard. Did Dean give you a safe deposit key?”

“No, but the garage is full of his things, feel free to look through it. I packed everything up when he left for Paris, I wasn’t expecting him to die. His parents can’t quite bring themselves to take it, and I don’t know if they ever will.”

“The ring on the piano, it was from him?” Liam asked as she handed him a stack of clean towels.

“Yes, when he asked me to marry him last Valentine’s Day. It’s not a blood diamond, is it?”

“Not if he gave it to you in February,” he said and she nodded, relieved.

They climbed up to the third floor and Fiona moved the cello off the bed and propped it up in the corner. It started sliding down and she took it out to the hall and put it on its side so it wouldn’t be damaged. “It’s the one thing of Dean’s that I wanted to keep, I just don’t know where to put it.”

Liam turned and gathered her up in his arms. He loved Fiona so much, she had always been his favorite person. He loved her more than he loved his somewhat estranged full sister, and he had since he first clapped eyes on her when they were little. It was clear from the beginning that his parents didn’t want her around, but felt obligated, like taking in a homeless kitten found behind a dumpster. It made him want to protect her, and that had become his job. He had a busy time of it, too, because his other sister, Kathleen, went out of her way to make life miserable for her. His mother had, too. Their father was just apathetic, but they all were on the receiving end of that.

He never understood their animosity when he was a kid, Fiona was so sweet, how could they not love her as much as she deserved? Later he understood their jealousies, but at the time it made him pull away from them, and make his urge to protect Fiona even stronger.

Now as they stood holding each other, all of the stress he’d had during the day of her disappearance fell away from him. “I was very worried about you, Fi. Don’t just disappear again, you took years off my life.” She chuckled and they released each other.

“You took a few off mine when you met us at the door,” she said. Tate had put himself in front of her, she realized, that was brave and stupid of him. “Poor Tate.”

“I’m pretty sure that wasn’t the first time someone’s big brother drew down on him,” Liam looked disapprovingly at her.

“Don’t be so judgmental, that’s not like you,” she said throwing him the bottom sheet. He laughed.

“It is exactly like me, Fifi. It’s in the job description. By the way, I’m sending Sam with you tomorrow, don’t fool around and try to lose him. I’ll stay here and go through Dean’s things if it’s okay with you.”

“Sending Sam with me on a date? Won’t that be a little awkward?”

“For him or you?”

“Everyone involved, I should think.”

“That’s the reason why I’m not going. Sam is the best at what he does, just let him be your bodyguard for a few days while we figure this out.”

“Okay.” They finished making the bed and she put her hand on his arm. “Thanks, Liam. Sleep well.” She went down to her own room and took a long shower. When she was relaxed and happy she climbed into her bed and closed her eyes. Fragments of the day bombarded her. The images of Tate’s smile, his eyes and hands on her body, his lips searing her own and his well-defined yet slim body pressed against hers tormented her and kept her from falling to sleep for some time until her weariness finally took over and she slept.

Chapter Five

When Tate walked by his sister’s suite he heard a burst of laughter behind the door. He knocked, not wanting to be alone. Ryan answered and pulled him in.

“If you were to sleep with a man, who’d it be?” Ryan asked in greeting.

“Michael Fassbender,” Tate said without hesitation. The room erupted in laughter. “What?”

“You came up with your answer mighty fast, Tate-o,” Christie said still smiling. Tate grinned.

“I have given it a great deal of thought,” he said to more laughter. “What about the rest of you?”

“No one else has answered yet,” Genna said grinning. “Come on, Connor. I’m on the edge of my seat.”

“I know you want me to say Tom Hiddleston, my love,” Connor finally said gazing at his wife. “But I’d only do it for you, love.”

“Thank you!” They laughed together. “Edgar, you’re next.”

“Absolutely not, I’m not even peeking into my psyche for that information.” Piper leaned over and whispered something to him and he pulled away from her for a split second and then had a thoughtful expression on his face. “With you?” Piper nodded.

“Oh yeah,” she said and the room erupted again when Edgar grinned.

“Ryan, don’t think you’re getting away with not answering,” Christie said.

“Idris Elba,” Ryan said. “If it’s got to be a man then I want the manliest one I can think of.” Tate’s phone rang while everyone in the room was recovering from Ryan’s statement.

“Yes,” he said not recognizing the number.

“Hi Tate, it’s Fiona, do you have a minute?” Even her voice got him hot, he thought. But how he hated the phone, he’d so much rather be there with her, or better yet, have her here with his friends and family. He stepped into the doorway to the bedroom, but was loathe to go in. The twins were playing on the floor there and he sat down with them.

He told Fiona much of what Mikey told him on his walk to the hotel, but he decided against telling her that Mikey’s man hit a brick wall when he tried to find out any information about her. In fact, the brick wall started pushing back trying to find out who was asking and Mikey’s man had to back off quickly. He wondered what Liam really did for a living, it felt like the heavy hand of the government. As long as he keeps her safe, Tate didn’t care.

The boys were crying by the time he finished talking to Fiona, and the adults had moved on to tormenting the women.

“I’d sleep with Genna,” Christie said.

“You are so sweet, Christie,” Genna responded.

“How about it, Piper?” Christie said.

“No, not Genna, she doesn’t do it for me in the least. I’d have to say Emma Thompson,” Piper said.

“Ooh, good one,” Christie said, and Edgar stood abruptly and pulled Piper over his shoulder and took her to the door as she shrieked with laughter.

“I think I must have a thing for beautiful older women,” Edgar said and headed for the door. “’Cause that is hot.”

“You’re lucky you said
beautiful
older women,” Piper said.

“Hey Tate, Mikey gave me a heads up, sounds like you need a little security,” Edgar said to his Tate as he went by.

“Do I ever. If Mikey filled you in already, can you get someone for me tomorrow?” Tate asked.

“Edgar, put me down,” Piper said.

“Give me a minute, baby. I’m on you tomorrow, Tate. Sunday you’ll have Rensselaer.”

“Clean, mate, this is your holiday with Piper, I can’t take you away from that.”

“Piper has a few things to do tomorrow, she’s cool with it, right, Piper? Anyway, Lord knows, I can’t shop anymore. This woman is crazy when it comes to shoes, she can’t walk past a shoe store without getting sucked in. They are totally worth it, though.” He chuckled, and Tate wondered if he had ever heard Mr. Clean, aka Edgar Beasley, chuckle before Piper Fleming knocked him flat.

“I can hear you, you Neanderthal. And Tate is talking to my ass!” She said laughing and Edgar smacked her lightly on the very same ass, making her squeal in delight.

“I might just prefer it this way, Piper, my love,” Tate said. “I can see you’ve been doing the Pilates.”

“You are in so much trouble, Edgar!” By the look in Edgar’s eyes, Tate thought he welcomed whatever was in store for him.

“Redheads, they get so…passionate.” Edgar said and Tate heard Piper smacking Edgar’s backside.

“I’ll text you her address, I’ll be there at 9:00 tomorrow.”

“You’ll be up at 9:00 am?” Edgar laughed.

“Yes, this girl has got me right by the short hairs,” he said and they both laughed.

“9:00 it is,” Edgar walked out the door with his package over his shoulder.

Tate turned to say goodnight to his friends and found Genna walking toward him. He smiled at her. “I never heard who you’d pick.”

“Who I’d pick for what?” She had such a lovely open smile. Her long blonde hair was pulled away from her face in a French braid, wisps of it softened her look.

“The woman you’d have sex with…” He nudged her.

“Oh that. Well, I have to say, men are kind of weird about that, but it was a funny conversation. I opted for a character from one of my books, her name is Claire Sumner. It was probably cheating, but she has all the things I admire in a woman, and she’d be non-judgmental. I think that’s what would bother me the most about baring myself to a woman, we hold each other to such a high standard, it’s unfair to all of us.”

“Wow, you took it all very seriously, didn’t you?” Tate looked at her carefully.

“I guess I did.”

“You’re a complicated woman, Genna.”

“We are all complicated, Tate.”

“Well, I’m just glad you didn’t pick Christie as eagerly as she chose you. That’s an image I will never get rid of and it’s disturbing me,” Tate said and they both laughed.

“Is everything okay? You seem a little thoughtful and maybe a little down. Did you have a bad day?” Genna said putting a hand on his arm.

“No, I had a truly splendid day. Genna, I went on a date… for the first time, I think, and I had more fun than I ever expected. I’m not down, just discovering truths about myself that I hadn’t known, or even considered. I guess I’m more complicated than I thought.”

“And are you okay with these discoveries?” She asked gently. He paused and considered her question.

“I think I am. But it’s scaring the hell out of me at the same time.” She squeezed his arm.

“I have no advice for you. But know that you have the best friends a man could hope for.”

“You are a darling,” he leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, you lot.” He lifted a hand to wave to his friends and walked down the hall to his own room. He looked at the shots he took of himself and Fiona earlier that day, and changed the background to the one of her looking properly taken care of. He felt something flutter in his abdomen. Lust, the woman was certainly making him lust after her. He was proud to have been the one to put that look on her face. Was it more than just lust, he wondered? They’d known each other for two whole days, and he’d not yet taken her to bed. It had been high school since he’d waited that long for anyone. Connor was right, though, she was different. He’d wait for her to make the first move. It might kill him, but he’d wait.

***

Connor and Genna walked arm in arm along R Street back to her parent’s house from the inn. It wasn’t very late, and there were Friday night revelers here and there. Whenever someone would pass them Connor moved his face away, often into Genna’s throat for a quick kiss. Walking in public with his family was the only time he was bothered by the attention of his fans, and since the news of Genna’s pregnancy hit the tabloids, he found it more and more disagreeable. It would be madness when The Nutmeg finally put in an appearance.

The compulsion to keep her and the babe safe were at times overpowering. He’d never been so singularly driven before. It drove Genna mental, and he knew at times he made her angry, but he couldn’t stop a train with his bare hands, and he couldn’t stop being worried about her and the babe. He would die if he lost Genna, he would suffer for the rest of his life if they lost the babe. Neither option sat well with him.

“You’re uncharacteristically quiet. What’s up?” Her voice was like silk on his skin.

“I was thinking of how dear you are to me,” he said and she stopped and looked up at him. She was an averagely tall woman, but he was a tall man.