Gone for You (Sixth Street Band #1) (5 page)

“Cameron Noble!” Turning my head to the guy walking toward our table, I raised a brow. “You look just like your brother. I’d recognize you anywhere.” He reached for my hand. “I’m Greg, the manager here. I’ve known Chase for years.”

“Nice to meet you, Greg.” Smiling, I extended my hand.

He shook it and turned to Logan, who didn’t look up from his plate. Shifting from foot to foot, Greg shoved his hands in his pockets. I guess he wanted more than a meet and greet.

“Pull up a chair.” I motioned toward the other side of the table. “Join us.”

Logan’s foot found my shin under the table, though he didn’t look up. Greg eagerly pulled up a chair.

“Nice place you have here.” I pushed my plate of half-eaten food away.

“Thanks.” Greg nodded at the server who dropped off a cup of coffee. “I’m glad y’all are enjoying yourself.” Ignoring Logan’s grunt, he added sugar and cream, stirring them in slowly. “I’ve got tickets to your show. Not the best seats, but…”

Time to pony up for the solid Greg did by providing the posh accommodations at a moment’s notice. “How many tickets do you need?”

His face lit up. “Just two.” Looking down at his cup of coffee, a coy smile hitched up one corner of his lips. “You know how it is. I’m trying to impress a girl with my connections.”

“I would think that wouldn’t be a problem,” I said with a chuckle. “You’ve got a great events coordinator on site.”

His smile widened. “Since the events coordinator is the girl I’m trying to impress, it would kind of ruin the surprise.”

My stomach did a little flip.
No way.

“Isn’t that kind of taboo? Propositioning your employees?”

Well, shit. That had sounded better in my head. Greg either didn’t notice, or he was too embarrassed about being caught with his hand in the cookie jar to protest.

“Technically, it’s a little sketchy.” He shrugged. “But Lily’s already given her notice. She’s graduating in May.”

I nodded, choking down another sip of my coffee. Dave had told me all about Lily finishing her fine arts degree at Southern Methodist University. That’s the reason I was dropping $10K on “The Essence of Texas” package.

Eyeing Greg, I tried to suppress a smirk. If the dude had his sights set on impressing Lily, he’d need to up his game. Bringing her to one of my concerts after I dropped a small fortune for a couple of dates wasn’t likely to do the trick.

“Let me see what I can do about the tickets,” I hedged. “We’re not exactly on speaking terms with our manager right now, and she controls that shit.”

It wasn’t a lie, but it wasn’t the truth, either. I could get Greg tickets to the show. Front row. But I wasn’t down to watch him grinding on Lily while I serenaded them from the stage if our dates didn’t turn out the way I planned.
Awkward
.

“Awesome.” Greg extended his hand for another shake.

After looking at it for a second, I reached across the table and shook it.

Game on.
Poor chump had no idea.

Something caught Greg’s attention over my shoulder. He licked his lips, and I swear his pupils dilated. The click of high heels on polished travertine…it had to be Lily. I had the urge to piss on her leg just to mark my territory.

“Hey y’all,” she said cheerily. “I think there was some mix-up with your personal shopping order yesterday, Cameron. I’ve placed another order, and it should be delivered this afternoon.” Her gaze shifted to Logan. “Chloe will have the items you ordered delivered to your room as soon as they arrive, Mr. Cage.”

Chloe?

“Thanks, Lily. Tell her to drop them by anytime.” He traced the rim of his coffee cup with his index finger, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

I’m guessing Chloe might have had something to do with Logan’s bedraggled appearance. The pink flush that crept into Lily’s cheeks confirmed it.

“If any of the items don’t fit, bag them up, and I’ll have them returned.” She kept her gaze fixed on his face, despite her glowing cheeks.

“I don’t think that will be a problem.” Logan winked. “Chloe knows my size.”

Greg chuckled when Lily turned a deeper shade of pink. Logan’s gaze drifted across the room to a willowy redhead that perused the fruit bar, adding items to her plate.

“Excuse me.” Logan pushed his chair back and dropped his napkin on the table.

Sauntering across the room, he greeted the redhead, leaning forward to whisper in her ear. She placed a hand on his chest and giggled.

“Chloe?” I lifted a brow, looking to Lily and Greg for confirmation.

They nodded.

“So I’m guessing Chloe is Logan’s personal valet?”

Lily’s flush was nearing crimson on the color matrix.

“And—I’m making a wild guess here,” I said with a grin, “that Sean has an equally fetching companion for the week.”

“I told you before, Cameron, we don’t fetch,” Lily snapped, crossing her arms across her chest defensively. “But I’m sure Sean is quite satisfied with my choice.”

Greg gave me a wolfish grin. “Which one of our lovely valets did Lily choose for you, Cameron?”

“Dave Salsida,” I deadpanned, looking directly into Lily’s sky blue eyes. “I’m not complaining, though. He might not be my type, but his knowledge of the property and the staff is enlightening.”

“Of course,” Greg said with a chuckle. “Dave is one of our best.”

I hid my smile. Lily might be acting disinterested, but she was as clear as a pane of glass. If she truly didn’t give a shit, I’m positive she would have chosen someone other than Dave to help stock my refrigerator and bring me my messages.

“I should be getting back.” Greg rose from his chair. “Can I walk you to your office, Lily?”

“Sure,” she mumbled, glancing at her phone.

“I just got the last confirmation for your package.” Looking up, she gave me a self-satisfied smile. “The limo will pick y’all up at 9 a.m. Thursday. Dave will bring over your itinerary this afternoon.”

Shaking my head, I stood. “No can do. I have a radio interview this afternoon.”

“That’s fine. He’ll leave it on the desk in your bungalow.” Lily slid her phone in her pocket. “Or slip it under the door, if you prefer.”

“Nah, I’m not comfortable with that.” I shook my head, dismissing her suggestion. “I want everything to be perfect. Why don’t you drop by the bungalow Thursday morning to make sure it’s all set?”

“Of course, Cameron.” She glared at me.

Clueless, Greg took out his phone, frowning at the screen.

“I’ve got to go see about something off property.” He dropped a hand to Lily’s back. “I’ll see you tonight.”

She continued to glare at me, seemingly unaware of the poor sap trying to get her attention.

“Lily?” he said.

“What?” Startled, she tore her gaze from mine and turned to him. “I’m sorry, you were saying?”

Narrowing his eyes, he dropped his hand from her back. “I’ve got a meeting off property. I’ll see you tonight.”

She nodded. “Of course.”

“It was nice meeting you, Cameron.” Greg clapped me on the back. “I’m sure I’ll see you before you leave.”

“Sure. Thanks,” I said, my eyes on Lily the whole time.

Greg walked away, looking over his shoulder at us, with his phone pressed to his ear.

“What’s going on tonight?” I asked dryly. “Hot date? Thought you didn’t have time for fun?”

“I don’t,” she huffed. “It’s just a work thing. There’s a new pianist Greg’s thinking about hiring for the lounge. He wants my opinion.”

It sounded like a date to me. Or a way to get in her panties. Since I had a plan to get there first, I didn’t appreciate Greg cock-blocking me. I was only here for a few days. He lived here. He could always…

Looking into Lily’s sky blue eyes, I let the wretched thought die. Whatever happened when I was gone was none of my business. But Greg would have a hell of a time getting to first base while I was around.

I shrugged. “Have a good time.” She clamped her mouth shut when I glided past her.

As I stalked to the front desk, the clerk turned to me, her eyes going wide. I rested my arms on the polished marble, smiling at her coyly.

“Can I help you, Mr. Knight?” Her tone was breathy.

Cute. She was really fucking cute. My gaze flickered down to the nametag pinned to her chest, admiring what was underneath. Not today, Olivia. But I’ll remember you next time I’m passing through.

“You sure can, darlin’,” I drawled. “What’s the dress code in the lounge?”

“Business casual.” She twirled a strand of her dark hair around her finger.

I didn’t own anything business, and my casual was too casual for the lounge. I glanced over my shoulder when the hair on the back of my neck registered Lily’s presence. She walked toward her office, looking down at her phone without acknowledging me. I could always ask her to contact the personal shopper, but I didn’t want her to think I was desperate to hear her voice. Which I was.

“Then I guess you’d better tell me where the nearest mall is around these parts.”

Chapter 5

W
here are you going?” Logan pushed his way into the bungalow and went straight to the fridge, where he grabbed a bottle of beer. He wandered over to the sectional and turned on the TV, flipping to the pay per view.

“Dude, no porn,” I muttered, holding up one of the ties I had picked up at Saks. “What are you doing in here anyway?”

He flipped through the stations, finally settling on ESPN. I knew the answer. He was trapped. We never spent more than two nights in the same city, and if we did, we usually changed hotels.

We were here until Saturday,
and so was Chloe
. Logan wasn’t going to be a total dick, but he wasn’t stupid. She might get the wrong idea if they spent the entire week enjoying each other’s company.

“Just hanging out.” He gave me a sidelong glance as I stood in front of the mirror, holding up each tie. “What are you getting all decked out for?” He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Ignoring his question, I draped a tie over each shoulder. “Red or grey?”

“Dude, do I look like Heidi Klum?”

Shaking my head, I walked to the bedroom to finish getting dressed.

“Are you going to tell me where you’re going?” he called after me.

Cringing, I pulled the pins out of the dress shirt. “I thought I’d go to the lounge.”

Logan stood at the door, watching me fumble with the tie. “Who’s the girl?”

I didn’t look up. Whatever I said would come out wrong. If I told him I was stalking Lily for a sport fuck, he’d make it a competition. On the other hand, if I admitted I couldn’t stop thinking about her, I’d never hear the end of it.

When I didn’t answer, he stomped across the room and grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around.

“If you ever tell anyone I helped you tie your tie, I’ll make sure the world knows you cried like a bitch the first time you rode the Texas Giant.”

Slapping his hand away, I turned back to the mirror, glaring at him in the reflection. It was the biggest fucking roller coaster in the country, and I was twelve years old.

“I’m going to hang out here.” Grabbing a magazine, he dropped on the bed. “What?” He looked up, quirking a brow. “If you have to go through this much trouble to turn this chick’s head, she isn’t going to fall into your bed, dude.”

“You never know.”

Ordering my second Jack and Coke, I stared straight ahead, my eyes fixed on the mirror behind the bar. I had the perfect vantage point to see anyone who walked through the door, without looking like I was waiting around. Pathetically. In a coat and tie.

I tugged at my collar.

A curvy brunette slid into the seat next to me, meeting my gaze in the mirror. Smiling coyly, she looked down at my drink when the bartender asked what she wanted.

“Whatever he’s having,” she said, turning to look at my profile.

The bartender smirked, turning to fix the drink while he glanced at us in the mirror. I’m sure he’d seen this ritual played out. Daily. Smiling, I tipped my glass to her before I took the next gulp of my drink.