Sahara (A Night Fire Novel Book 3)

by Watkins, TM

  Austin and Evan both pushed their beers to me, smiling so innocently. I was done for, I knew it. They wouldn't let up on me until I told them what they wanted to hear. Except that it wasn't my story to tell. I was over the mind games and was happy to tell the world that Fraser and I had been misbehaving. There might have been a moment when I could have referred to Fraser and I as being in a relationship but not any longer. I was back to the convenient fuck. His refusal to say something to his friends had caused that. Even watching me walk out the door hadn't prompted him.

  He could have easily said something to Austin and asked him to not say anything until tomorrow when he would finally tell all. I barely knew Austin being that he was always the quiet one but I knew that he was a good person deep down. If Fraser asked something of him, he would do it without question. Fraser should have at least tried to form some kind of explanation for what had unfolded. Austin and Abbey had witnessed something that they couldn't understand. And for Austin to have suspicions, it meant that what was going on was pretty obvious.

  I sucked back the beer and said nothing, watching Evan and Austin look at each other with dismay.

  “Okay, I'll just come out and say it.” Austin sighed. “You two have hooked up and it's going pear shaped.”

  Well done Austin, hit the mark in one sentence. Evan nodded in agreement.

  “Yep. Aus called it. How long Eden?”

  I said nothing, keeping my gaze pinned to the label I was peeling off the bottle.

  “I'd say no longer than a week, maybe since Sahara arrived.”

  Evan nodded again. Austin had clearly missed his calling, he should be a detective.

  “And Eden's pissed because he won't tell us, like he wouldn't tell us about Sahara.”

  Damn he was good. Somebody give the man an award or a medal, something.

  “Are we too hard on him?” Evan frowned.

  “Nah, it's the way that we are, the way that we've always been.”

  “Yeah but Curtis kept Frankie from us for two months.”

  It was true, Curtis had indeed kept a secret from them for two months. He had been going to a restaurant where Frankie worked just to watch her from afar. None of them knew and it was only that they were getting sick of his excuses for not hanging out with them that they became suspicious.

  “I don't understand why he wouldn't say something. I couldn't wait to tell everyone about Abigail.”

  “We need a plan, we need to make him say something.”

  My gaze lifted from the label that was being shredded, looking to the devious gaze from Evan. Whatever plan he was going to unleash upon the poor unsuspecting Fraser, it was going to be good.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I'd given up on trying to keep Fraser's stupid secret, relenting after the second beer. I had ensured that Evan and Austin were going to keep the whole thing to themselves because it still wasn't for me to say something. I wasn't the one with the problem and they both agreed. I told them that I had given him until we landed in LA to tell them otherwise I was ending it all. He'd agreed to it and the only reason it had changed was his attitude towards the Pete debacle.

  I wasn't blaming anyone for it, if anything it had brought things to the surface which was what I secretly wanted. We sat in the tavern and I told them exactly what had happened, how Fraser insisted I go to the dinner and then threw his jealousy at me by inviting that woman over. To have her all over him like that was crushing, I couldn't understand why he was doing it when he knew that I didn't want to go.

  Austin had nothing to offer about the woman other than she had appeared about ten minutes after I left and had spent the entire night on the lounge beside Fraser. He was already suspicious of us and after a quick conversation with Abbey, they both agreed that they were going to keep an eye of the two of them. So I had his assurances that what I saw was the most that had happened but it meant shit really. It wasn't about what could or could not have happened, it was about the fact that he had done it to make me jealous. Which was utterly stupid in my opinion.

  By the third beer I'd had enough, ready to find a bed and be done with this day. There was no way in hell I was going back to Fraser's and I didn't really want to impose on the love birds. I had suggested the nearest hotel to the airport would be fine but Evan stated that it didn't work well with his plan. And that was why I was now at his house.

  The grand scheme was that on the surface everything was fine. To those that didn't know of the fight that had happened tonight, nothing had changed. But to those that did know, I was secretly rebounding with Evan. Happy to play the devil in this farce, Evan offered the guest bedroom in his house for me to use until we left for LA. Tomorrow we were going to a meeting at the clubhouse, one that had been scheduled a while ago. Austin was going to ensure that Fraser was there, figuring that he'd probably need help with Sahara he said that he and Abbey would go to his place in the morning and help get her ready. They agreed that I needed to walk into the clubhouse with Evan and that Fraser needed to see it.

  I could see this ending in fists being thrown.

  Paparazzi had followed us, something I did not want. This was going to be a headliner for sure. The assistant is screwing the guitarist. And no doubt it would be on the internet within minutes. I walked in to his dimly lit house with my bag, Evan dragging the other one behind him.

  “Did you want anything to eat or drink?”

  “Just a bed thanks.”

  I could barely see him in the darkened entry but enough light shone through the window to reveal he nodded his head.

  “This way.”

  He led me through the entry, past the stairs and to a door nestled to the side of them. The grandness of the stairs hid the door, light showing off the steel poles and glass that made the balustrade. Evan pushed through the door and flicked on the light.

  The room was as big as my apartment, a bathroom and walk in robe to one side and an enormous bed against the far wall.

  “I'm sorry he's doing this to you Eden.”

  I turned and looked at him as he put my bag into the walk in robe, his face solemn. It was probably the most serious I had ever seen Evan.

  “He deserves a good beating for it.”

  “But you're not going to do that, right?”

  He shrugged at me, looking to the modern wood tallboy sitting by the door.

  “Evan promise me that none of you are going to get physical over this.”

  “I can't make promises for the others Eden.”

  “Well then promise me for yourself.”

  Evan ignored me as he walked to the door.

  “Evan!”

  “Good night Eden.”

  And with that he closed the door.

  I could have chased after him to continue pestering him but I lacked the energy and conviction. The weight of the past twenty-four hours was catching up to me and as I sat on the bed I wanted nothing more than to lay there for a really long time.

  Something pushed on my hip, the more I ignored it the harder it insisted.

  “Go away.” I groaned.

  I gasped as I sat up from the bed, suddenly aware that I had fallen asleep. No shower, no changing into bed clothes. I didn't even turn the light off.

  “Get ready, we're going in half an hour.”

  Evan walked out of the room looking incredibly refreshed and I probably looked like death warmed up. He'd had a shower and smelled of a divine clean man smell that was hard to pick. Definitely nothing floral. I smelled like cooked sweat because I'd slept in my clothes under the light.

  Deciding that I was going to enjoy this morning I got up from the bed and rummaged through my bags, pulling out the tightest pair of jeans I owned. Slinky black bra and matching g-string and a top that was loose enough to hang off the shoulder slight but tight enough to show the assets. By the time I had showered and found a pair of boots to complete the ensemble twenty minutes had passed. I really did shower for too long.

  Evan said nothing as I walked ou
t but the grin was a mile wide. He passed me a coffee for which I was grateful. Lethargy was still lingering and I needed a caffeine boost.

  “You are going to have him eating out of your hand.”

  “You think so?” I asked warily.

  Evan nodded with that cheeky smirk, god love him he was adorable.

  “We are going to be best friends so you need to make sure you don't go freaking out, 'k?”

  I nodded slightly, unsure of what he meant by best friends.

  “Just so we are clear of how things are going to proceed. The goal is to make him fess up and if that means my hand ends up on your ass then so be it. Don't go smacking me for it.”

  Well I guess it's that kind of best friends then.

  “Sure.”

  Taking another sip I thought of Fraser, wondering what he was doing, if he was coping with Sahara. Wondering if the blonde stayed the night. Maybe he'd found a new live in babysitter that he could play under the sheets with.

  “Heard from him yet?”

  Evan shook his head.

  “Aus sent a message just after he got to the house, said it looked like a bomb hit it. Sahara was asleep but he said that it looked like Fraser hadn't got a wink of sleep.”

  “No doubt the bitch kept him awake.”

  “Sahara?”

  “No, the blonde woman. Idiot.” I scoffed.

  He looked at me with a crazy dulled smile and shook his head.

  “Abbey said she left.”

  “When did you talk to Abbey?”

  “Last night when we dropped Austin home.”

  His head tipped back slightly as his gaze narrowed.

  “I suppose you were a little drunk last night, you probably don't remember. She said that after she got the message from Austin to go home, the woman realized that the baby wasn't Abbey's. The woman fled the house like it was on fire, telling Fraser she was too young to date a guy with a kid.”

  “He sure knows how to pick them.”

  “He picked you, what does that say about you?”

  I huffed as I put the cup into the dishwasher and picked up my bag.

  “He didn't pick me Evan, I was just a convenience.”

  “Somehow I doubt that.” he muttered, following me out of the room.

  Yet again I sat in a car, staring at the building that was about to become the bands clubhouse. Yet again I was facing this group of people on the edge of secret about to be broken out for all to see. But would it be Fraser that tells them or would it be a result from another fight? Curtis and Austin's cars were here, Jaxon had arrived just as we pulled into the driveway and Jerry wasn't here yet.

  “Well, let's get the show on the road.”

  Evan smiled broadly at me and then turned to look at one rather perplexed Jaxon. He waited for a moment and then turned into the clubhouse.

  “Imagine what's running through his mind.” Evan said with a dark chuckle. “He's probably in there asking them why you're in my car.”

  He sighed happily with another wide smile.

  “Ain't it a great time to be alive?”

  “Sure.” I said softly “For you maybe. For me it's utter hell.”

  Evan shook his head and got out of the car, waiting for me. Reluctantly I got out, wincing at the harsh morning light.

  When we walked into the main part of the warehouse I saw that they were all at the table watching us.

  “Morning.” Evan said as he strutted over to the table.

  And the gentleman that he was even pulled the chair out for me. Somehow I ended up sitting next to him, opposite Fraser. No doubt this was the work of Austin. At the moment it was just the band members and myself. No wives or girlfriends, not even a baby. I guess it made sense that Abbey and Frankie would look after Sahara so that there was no distractions for the meeting.

  Today was Sunday, tomorrow we flew out for the beginning of the tour. The time for Fraser telling them was running out. It appeared that I would soon be in a hotel room, drinking my unemployed ass off. That is if I can get past the pain in the ass singer and guitarist who seem far too insistent that I stay.

  My fingers ran along the edge of the laptop that was sitting in front of me, my phone resting on top of it. It was a wordless message that my running away was not acceptable. I was expected to return to my duties but I couldn't see how that was possible. Not when the glare I was being given was crushing all hope I had.

  They chatted happily as we waited for Jerry to arrive, well except for Fraser and I. He stared at me and I looked at my phone, reading the messages I had missed out on last night. It was nothing of any worth but it was enough to keep me interested for a few minutes. Then I turned my attention to a game, that was until a message came through.

  A slithering dread crawled up my spine as I opened the message from Fraser. I worried that it was something upsetting, I didn't need to be crying. I was stronger than this.

  Fraser: Did you fuck him?

  No, hey I missed you. Or, I'm sorry for being a dick. The man was as sensitive as a pile of dirt.

  Jerry walked in with a pile of rolled up papers in his arms.

  “Morning all, I got the preliminary plans if you want to look at them.”

  “Yeah.” Jaxon lifted his head from his phone. “We could walk around and look at everything.”

  Suddenly four chairs scraped across the floor and everyone except Fraser and I stood.

  “C'mon Fras.” Jaxon slapped his back.

  It barely moved the mountain.

  “Gimme a minute, I have to make a call.”

  “Sure, coming Eden?”

  I blinked hard, looking up at Jaxon a little dumbfounded.

  “Uh soon. I have to visit the little girls room.”

  Thankfully they had renovated the bathroom first, no longer did I have to turn my nose up at the thought of going in there. I stood up and swiftly walked to the door to the office section, turning down the corridor to the bathrooms.

  I stood at the basin, flicking cold water onto my face. There was no need for the bathroom except to calm down. As Fraser pushed through the door, I ripped the paper from the dispenser and dried my face. When I lowered the paper I looked at the mirror in front of me, he was right behind me. My heart thumped hard, watching those whiskey eyes looking back at me as he lowered to my ear.

  “You never answered my question.” he whispered dangerously.

  “I am not a cheater and even though what we had didn't really feel like a relationship, I still stuck to the rules of one. So no, I didn't sleep with Evan or anyone last night. I'm not the one that had some blow in sitting on his lap so don't start this shit with me.”

  “You left.”

  “You hurt me. What you did was unnecessary. I told you I didn't want to go to the dinner, you made me. Then you throw it back at me like that. If you truly think that I am beneath you then walk away forever Fraser. I'll be the dirty little secret that no one knows about because you're too gutless to tell anyone.”

  I pressed my hands tight to the basin as he drew closer to me. So close I could feel the heat from his body, the touch of his body against mine was brief but it was there.

  “You're changing the rules.”

  “How?”

  “I had until landing in LA.”

  I huffed with a pained laugh.

  “Yeah but that doesn't mean you can't tell them earlier.”

  I turned around, his body so close I could barely move but I managed. To have him this close and try not to touch him was hell.

  “Do you understand what you are doing to me? My mind tells me that you are using me, that you're ashamed of me and of what you've done and that you regret it.”

  His eyes widened slightly at what I had said, a panic setting in subtly.

  “That you don't want them to know because you're embarrassed. That I'm not worthy of you or that I'm not what you believe your ideal partner is. Or maybe it's because you'd rather be the player for the rest of your life and you've realized how bad y
ou've screwed things up by having sex with me. Because I'm not like the dozens of groupies, am I Fraser? You can't just walk away from me after having your quick fix, can you? So yeah, fine. I might just be changing the rules or maybe you just misinterpreted them. But one thing is certain, you and I are done unless you tell them before we leave Vegas. Can you do that?”

  He nodded and I wanted to cry with sweet relief. His forehead pressed to mine as his arms wrapped around my waist.

  “Please come back. The bed was so cold, I missed you.”

  A heavy sigh escaped him, he lowered as he took a guarded kiss. He feared my rejection. But even though the pain was still so raw, I could never reject him like that. Not when he was trying to fix things. So I let him. The kiss was soft, my arms wrapped around his neck and pulled him closer.

  “I missed you too.” I whispered as I hugged him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Fraser stood by the door to the third bedroom, his head resting on the wood with his eyes closed.

  There was so much pain, so much suffering and there was nothing that I could do. Not really. I could hold his hand, maybe give him a hug or some reassuring words but I couldn't understand what was in his heart. I hadn't been in this kind of situation before, the worst my life has ever been was when my grandmother died of cancer. I'd loved that woman like she was another mother, in ways she had been one to Reese and I.

  With both parents working and struggling to pay the bills, our grandparents cared for us before and after school. They helped us with homework, took us to school of a morning and picked us up of an afternoon. Even when it came time to deciding what we wanted to do with our lives, they were there with inspiration. When I said that I had decided to venture towards artist management it was like all of my grandfather's Christmases had come at once.

  My grandfather was a man who loved music, it was never quiet in their house. There would always be something playing, even if he wasn't in the room. He was the reason I had eclectic taste in music and he was the reason that I told little lies when applying for jobs. No one wants an assistant to be mooning over them all the time, was his solid advice which was his way of saying don't get involved with them. Tell these rock stars you're into country music, they'll be more relaxed around you because they don't see you as a fan, was another.