Resonance (A Golden Beach Novel)

by Kim Loraine

  Snapping the case closed she tossed the tablet onto the couch.

  “How much of it is there?” Her heart hammered against her ribcage. Did she even want to know?

  “Enough.”

  “How much, Aiden?”

  “It ends with you saying you love him.”

  A crushing weight hit her in the chest, sending a cold sweat over her and a wave of nausea.

  “Oh, God. Oh, shit.”

  “Yeah.” His tone was light but she could hear the tension hidden under the surface.

  “Who’s seen this?”

  Her gut knew the truth. Everyone had seen it. She hoped he’d tell her differently.

  “It’s everywhere. Backbeat is working on having it pulled from YouTube and Marcus is working on tracing it to the source. It had to be someone from the camera crew.”

  Panic set in, filling her chest with a sickening weight.

  “What do we do now?” It was just a whisper. She didn’t have enough air in her lungs for more than that.

  “I need to make a statement. I don’t think there’s a way to fix this, baby doll. We’ll have to see how the label wants to spin it. Either way, I’m the injured party here. You’re not going to be very popular for a while.”

  She worried at the hem of her jeans as she tried to come up with something to say. “I’m sorry.”

  He brought his gaze to hers. “You didn’t do anything to me. You fucked yourself over for sure, but I’ll be just fine.”

  He left her there with the gravity of her actions pulling her into a full-blown panic attack. The door clicked as it closed, and suddenly the silence in the room was deafening.

  Fuck.

  Angela passed the night curled up on the couch, alternating between obsessively checking her social media accounts and wanting to hide under her covers and never come out. She should tell Garrett. Instead, she hid.

  The sound of a key in the door jolted her out of a light doze. Parker smiled sadly and held up his phone. “I just saw way more of you two than I ever wanted, but damn you looked good on camera.”

  She appreciated him trying to lighten her mood, but the reminder that everyone she knew was going to see her in the act just made her feel sick.

  “Does he know yet?”

  Parker shook his head. “Nah, I’m leaving that to you. I even snagged his phone.”

  He handed her the cell and wrapped her in a huge hug.

  She let it out. The tears came in deep wracking sobs, and he held her while she poured her heart out. When she finally calmed down, she let herself sit nestled against his chest, breathing in the scent of his body wash and letting herself be whisked back to a simpler time.

  “Angie,” his gentle voice roused her from her memories. “Do you think maybe it’s time to stop all of this?”

  She sat back, wiping at her eyes. “It’s over. There’s nothing left.”

  His warm hand ran over her back in smooth circles.

  “I think you’re wrong. Just try telling the truth. Being ourselves got us on tour with Violet Hour. What made us think we had to be different once that started?”

  She shook her head, not wanting to hear the truth in his words. “No. Things were going great until I was an idiot. I let my feelings for Garrett get in the way, just like I said they would. No distractions. No relationships.”

  Parker’s lips turned down in a frown. “That’s not a good idea. You can’t do that to Garrett. That would break him.”

  Burying her hands in her hair, she let out a groan of frustration. “It would break me, too. I hate being so distracted. I can’t write anything worth a damn. I spend all of my time worried about what the media is going to see and do. Marcus is on my ass constantly.”

  “I don’t know what to tell you. With great fame comes great responsibility.”

  She rolled her eyes at him, but chuckled nonetheless. “Thanks, Parker.”

  “No problem. So, can we focus on me now?”

  That made her laugh outright. “Of course, how dare I let my sex tape interfere with your needs.”

  He smirked and flashed his middle finger in her direction. “Will you be in the wedding?”

  “Your wedding? Of course I will.”

  “I’m hoping you and Garrett will perform for the first dance. You guys can pick.”

  “Have you set a date?”

  He grinned and shook his head. “We’re still working on that. Probably late summer.”

  She welcomed the wedding talk and the distraction it provided. It was a little bit of normal in their crazy world.

  “Nice. In Golden Beach or somewhere else?”

  “My mom would kill me if I got married anywhere but at home.”

  “Yeah, I can see that. You are her only child.”

  “Well, why have more when they got perfection right out of the gate?”

  She tossed a throw pillow at his head. “You’re so modest.”

  “Bitch.”

  “Cow.”

  “Media whore.”

  She laughed. “That one’s true.”

  “I win.” He hugged her to him again. “Love you.”

  “Even when I’m an idiot?”

  “Especially then.”

  Angela pressed Ignore on her phone for the third time in the last five minutes. Her mother had seen the video. That was the only reason she’d be calling non-stop. A short chirp sounded, signaling her persistent mom had finally resorted to texting—something she loathed doing.

  You’d better call me NOW, young lady.

  Angela would have laughed at her mother’s impeccable grammar even via text, but in truth, the idea that her mom had seen her having sex made her feel vaguely sick. She studiously ignored the message and continued packing her cosmetics bag. In a little over six hours they’d be headed for the States, for the media disaster of her life to come crashing down.

  “Angie? You in here?” Garrett’s voice floated in from the door to her room and her heart lurched. They still hadn’t gotten to talk since the video had been leaked.

  “Bathroom, come on back. I’m packing.”

  His tall frame filled the room as he strolled through the door. Her body responded before she could work out what to say. Her hands tangled in his dark hair and ran over the stubble of his jaw as he pulled her against him. They crashed to each other in frantic movements, lips pressing desperate kisses and fingers roaming their bodies. Before long she was panting for breath, squirming under his touch, and begging for more.

  “Aren’t you upset?” she asked, afraid to hear the answer.

  He pulled her out of the confines of the hotel bathroom and laid her down on the soft coverlet atop her queen-sized bed.

  “I was. I was so pissed I could barely see straight.”

  Her blood raced in her veins, heated and frenzied, as he continued trailing kisses down her body.

  “But then I realized something. It’s over.”

  She sat up, alarmed and confused.

  “Not us. You and Aiden. He’s out of our lives now. The charade is over.” His fingers slid the thin cotton of her tank top up. “Now I can make love to you whenever I want to. I can love you in the real world. I can be yours and you can be mine.”

  Her heart swelled in her chest. Pulling at the buttons of his faded denim shirt, she pushed it away from his shoulders. The beauty of his body took her breath away and she hesitated.

  “What?” His face was serene as she played her fingers along the lines of his ribs.

  “We’ve never been together in a real bed before.”

  His face broke into a wide, infectious grin. “Yes we have.”

  She shook her head. “No. The cabin bed was tiny and squeaky. We spent most of the night o
n the floor.”

  “Or against the wall . . .” he finished.

  “Mmm, that was nice. I’m a fan of wall sex.”

  That grin of his made another appearance, and she couldn’t help but smile back.

  “Me, too.” He slid his fingers under the waistband of her jeans and popped the top button without any further encouragement.

  In moments, they were moving together, a dance choreographed by their instinctive need to be connected.

  “I love this,” he murmured against her ear as he moved inside her. “I love you.”

  Her body overwhelmed with the feel of him inside her, she answered with a barely audible whisper. “I love you, too.”

  He groaned as she came around him, shattering and crying out without a care for who might hear. He followed her release with his own and held her tight against him while they rode out the last of their pleasure together.

  Chapter 31

  Angela had only seen Marcus in the flesh a handful of times. Now, a scant twenty-four hours after the world had seen her in the throes of passion, she sat across from him, the large boardroom table the only thing that separated them.

  His hair was a mass of wiry curls, sticking out all over his round head. He scowled at her with his arms crossed over his chest.

  “What the fuck were you thinking?”

  She didn’t have an answer for him. She hadn’t been thinking with much more than her heart at the time, but she didn’t think he’d like that answer.

  “We can’t do much to save your image. That ship has sailed. Aiden’s coming out looking like a prince, and you? You’re up there with the rest of the crazies he’s dated.”

  Her cheeks flamed.

  “We’ve gotten the video pulled and the show’s production has been put on hiatus until the network can find a new camera crew. Aiden’s getting offers left and right. Unfortunately for you, no one wants to pay to see a slut and the man she cheated with. Unless they’re paying for bootleg copies of your sex tape, that is.”

  She felt sick. People were buying the video? Watching it and doing . . . stuff.

  “Well, are you just going to sit there and frown at me or are you going to try and salvage your career?”

  Her eyes had been trained on the table, she couldn’t stand looking at his fish-like lips and unnaturally wrinkle-free skin. Now, she stared him down hard, not willing to let him think he scared her.

  “I’m listening.”

  “Here are the options. Take advantage of the sexualized image you created. Full on sexpot. Rolling Stone is already chomping at the bit to get a cover story about the girl who broke Aiden Boyd’s heart. You’ll have to commit. That means partying, panty flashing, random guys coming back to your car with you. We can arrange those meet ups, or you can slut it up if you want. But you have to be single. No lovey-dovey shit with Garrett.”

  She frowned at the idea. They’d already changed her image so much. Was it really necessary to do more?

  “Second option, shun Garrett—publicly. Replace him and make amends with Aiden. It might work, but only if the other man involved is gone.”

  “No, no way. I can’t do that.”

  “Either way, Garrett needs to be less of a problem. For the two months you’re staying in LA you need to be seen with everyone but him.”

  It all made sense now. They were trying to force the band out, capitalize on her without them. Backbeat had set her up with her own apartment while Garrett and Parker were living together in a rental house. How long would it be until the label replaced the guys all together?

  “I’m not breaking up my band.”

  Marcus leaned forward, elbows on the table and fingers steepled in front of his mouth.

  “So, keep the distraction and risk the blowback? Let me tell you right now, little girl, if you put one more toe out of line, we will drop your ass so fast you won’t know what happened.”

  “I’m not deserting Garrett. That’s not an option.”

  “Fine. Slut it is then.” He flipped open his tablet and tapped at it for a few moments.

  A cold bead of sweat trickled down her neck, and she shifted in her chair as she watched and waited.

  He pursed his lips and looked back to her. “Photo shoot is tomorrow. You should probably get in for a Brazilian today. Talk to Candi as you leave. She’ll get you an appointment.”

  A Brazilian? How much skin was she supposed to show?

  “I’m not getting naked on camera, Marcus. I don’t see why I’d need a Brazilian.”

  He let out a sardonic chuckle. “You’ve already been naked on camera. Now you’re worried about people seeing the goods?”

  She didn’t know what to say. Before she could come up with a response, he continued. “I’ll call you with your appearance schedule in the morning. You and Aiden still have some commitments to uphold. Also, don’t forget your press conference this afternoon. Keep your mouth shut and look apologetic.”

  She swallowed past the lump in her throat. God this was going to be uncomfortable.

  Garrett stood in the crowd of press, watching Angela as she picked at her nail polish. She sat next to Aiden behind the long table, her name on a placard and a microphone in front of her.

  “Aiden, are you going to find someone to replace her on Give Me You?” a small woman in the front called.

  Aiden pulled his lips into a soft pout and gave her the soulful eyes he was so good at. “We’ve still got a lot of healing to do, but as far as I’m concerned, Angela is the only woman who should sing that song with me.”

  The women in the crowd sighed collectively. Garrett thought he might gag.

  “Is the engagement off?”

  Garrett’s chest tightened in anticipation as he waited for the answer. Angela’s lips pursed, and she continued staring at her chipped nails.

  Aiden answered. “It is. I’d like to thank you for your consideration at this difficult time. As you know, we’ve been through a lot and all I’ll say at the moment is, I’m still hurting. I don’t want to talk about it. I’d just like to move on, professionally.”

  Garrett’s smile was involuntary as was his slight cheer. He’d pulled a cap over his hair. He had hoped to avoid being noticed from his spot in the rear of the room but the members of the press closest to him turned at the sound.

  “Hey, it’s the other guy. Garrett! Are you proud of yourself? Do you make a habit of ruining relationships?”

  His eyes went wide as the cameras turned on him. “What? No.”

  “You must feel pretty accomplished, screwing the fiancée of the sexiest man alive. How many others are there?”

  Anger burned in his blood. “None. There’s no one.”

  “So, you always planned on stealing her from Aiden?”

  “No. She was never his.” His heart pounded in his ears as they bore down on him.

  “You’re saying it was ongoing? That she’d been cheating on him the whole time?”

  Panic gripped him. He was fucking this up beyond belief.

  “That’s not . . . I’m not . . .”

  Parker came from out of nowhere and blocked the surge of reporters.

  “Come on. Let’s get the fuck out of here.”

  He threw open the door and pulled Garrett to a waiting car.

  “What the fuck were you thinking?” Parker’s face was red. He was pissed.

  “I couldn’t let her go in there alone. I didn’t know what he was going to say.”

  Parker ran a hand through his blond hair. “God, sometimes you two are so fucking stupid. You think your outburst helped her in there?”

  Garrett leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. “Damn.”

  “You just made things monumentally harder for her.”

  His stomach
churned as he recalled Angela’s expression when she realized the press had spotted him. Ashen faced and incredulous.

  “I know.”

  They sat, not speaking, for the remainder of the ride to their house.

  Marcus was waiting for them in the driveway when they pulled up to the curb. He didn’t look happy. “Jesus H. Christ, you two are going to give me a fucking aneurism. Can’t you just keep your trap shut?”

  Garrett held back the livid words that fought to escape his mouth. “I’m sorry. I messed up.”

  Marcus smirked. “You bet your ass you’re sorry. Now shut up and let me in. We need to talk strategy.”

  Parker nudged Garrett’s shoulder and cast him a concerned glance. He offered a shrug in answer. He had no idea what Marcus was up to either.

  The house was small but upgraded with stainless steel in the kitchen, granite counters, a big and razor-thin TV in the living room, and every video game console imaginable.

  Marcus made himself at home, sitting in a dark leather chair and kicking his shiny shoes up onto the coffee table. He dropped a level gaze on Garrett and Parker.

  “Time to turn the tables, boys.” He motioned toward the couch across from him. “Sit.”

  Garrett swallowed a sigh. He was done with this shit. He was a grown-ass man and didn’t appreciate being treated like a petulant child.

  Marcus continued, pulling out his tablet. “Angela needs the focus taken off of her fuck up. She’s got her jobs to do, but you two need to carry your weight. We’re in distraction mode.”

  Parker leaned in, elbows propped on his thighs. “What do you mean?”

  “You’ve got roles to play. Garrett, no more mooning over her. As far as you’re concerned, she’s invisible. We’re setting you up with Alexsandra Madison.”

  Garrett’s jaw dropped. “The model?”