Love Resolution (Black Cat Records series)

by Michelle Mankin

  “You’ve got to be kidding me.” Her scalding tone obliterated the rest of what he’d been about to say. “Don’t tell me you really expected me to just skip right over from that scene at your room to the restaurant as if I didn’t have a care in the world?” She snorted derisively. “Oh, yeah. Of course you would. Being engaged didn’t mean quite the same thing to you as it did to me, did it?” Her whole body vibrated with anger.

  Bryan crossed the room and stood protectively behind her. He put his hand on her shoulders.

  The leash Marcus had on his temper snapped. “Doesn’t appear that it meant much to you either,” he threw right back at her, eyes narrowing on Bryan.

  Her hands went to her hips and she advanced toward him, stopping when she was less than a foot away. “It meant everything to me. Everything.” Her green eyes flashed. “I would have done anything for you. And you just tossed me aside like a toy you got tired of.”

  That’s exactly what I did, he thought grimly.

  “I’m obviously a slow learner, but I got the truth shoved down my throat last night.” She rubbed a hand that trembled across her eyes before focusing back on him. “It took me a while for it to register but I finally got your message. You want me out of your life. Fine. I’m out.”

  He winced at the finality of those words.

  “But listen and hear me well. I may be in your band, but you don’t own me. My personal life and what I do with it are no longer any of your concern. I’ll take care of things with Sam in a bit, but right now, I want you to get the hell out of my sight.”

  “Thanks for taking care of the room,” Avery told Bryan as the taxi turned off of Harbor Drive and onto the short side street that led back to the Half Moon Inn. “And for the clothes.” She plucked at the zipper pull on the Del sweat set she wore. “I’ll pay you back when I get my wallet.”

  “No you will not.” He gave her an unwavering look. “I was just helping out. That’s what friends do.” He swiveled his body toward her, knee up on the seat between them. “Talk to me, Red. You haven’t said more than two words since Marcus left.”

  “I’m sorry.” Her leg bounced as she glanced down at her clasped hands. “I’d hoped to have had more time to prepare for this than I’ve been given. I’m not ready to deal with it all just yet.”

  “Yes you are.” He covered her hand with his own. “You’re badass. I’ve seen you in action. You’ll be fine. Just don’t let them talk you into doing anything you don’t want to do, ok?”

  She nodded.

  “Our bus leaves in an hour. My offer still stands.”

  “I know…thanks.”

  “Ok.” He leaned his face closer to her as the taxi pulled to a stop in front of the hotel.

  Offering him her cheek, she tilted her face up toward his, but unexpected camera flashes over Bryan’s shoulder drew her attention, causing her to turn more fully in his direction. His lips collided with hers.

  She tried to draw away, but Bryan stopped her, holding the back of her head in his hands. His grey green eyes searched hers. “Honestly, I’ve wanted to do that since the first time I saw you lusting after my guitar in Seattle,” he confessed. “And I think maybe you did, too. I want it even more now. Stop me if I’m wrong.” He brought her face back to his, his fingers flexing loosely against her hair. She could have easily pulled back. Maybe she should have. But she didn’t.

  His warm lips touched hers again. There wasn’t anything incidental or fleeting about this kiss. This kiss had purpose. This one sizzled. He brushed his mouth softly across her slightly parted lips. Their breath mingled. His tongue touched hers. He tasted like cigarette smoke, something that might have bothered her before.

  It didn’t now.

  He released her. Her eyelids fluttered open to find him staring intently at her. She wondered why he had stopped.

  “You had one of the chocolate mints from the room.” He ran the rough pad of his thumb across her bottom lip. “I want a lot more of that if you’re offering, Red, but…” He trailed off, angling his body in front of the back window and motioning with a hand over his shoulder. “I’m not sure how public you want all this to be.”

  She gasped. The car was surrounded by photographers. In the heat of the moment, she had completely forgotten where they were. Ducking her head to his chest, she realized he was right. She had wanted him to kiss her. There was something between them. Physical attraction, for sure. But how much her need for affirmation after what Marcus had done factored into it, she wasn’t certain. Currently, things were way too mixed up to sort out.

  She lifted her head to try to explain. “Bryan, I…”

  “Let’s get out of this taxi,” he cut in, tapping her on the nose and reaching into his jean pocket. He peeled off a couple of bills and handed them to the driver. “Thanks, man. Keep the change.” He angled back to her. “If you don’t want any more pictures taken, I suggest you put your hood up.”

  She lifted it over her head and took the hand he offered her.

  “Ready?”

  She nodded.

  “Let’s make a run for it then.”

  They dashed through the pack of paparazzi, ignoring their shouts and questions. Once inside the lobby, Avery lowered her hood. Bryan studied her expectantly.

  “I’d better go,” she said.

  “I know.” He reached out with both hands and smoothed down the hair on either side of her head. “I’ll see you in Phoenix. You call or text me if you need me. Promise?”

  She nodded.

  “Alright, then.” He turned and with his long legged stride soon disappeared around the corner.

  “Ah-hem. Miss Jones?” The front desk clerk waved a white envelope in her hands. “Miss Daniels left a message for you.”

  “Thanks.” Avery took the envelope. She tore the seal and quickly scanned the brief note. She smiled grimly. “Which way is room 122?”

  “To the right and all the way down to the end of the hall,” the clerk told her.

  Thong sandals flip flopping on the floor, she made her way rapidly to the room. When she reached the door, she pressed her lips determinedly together, not knowing who else might be inside. The door flew open after one knock.

  “Avery!”

  Her friend engulfed her in a tight hug before dragging her into the room. The door closed behind them and Sam spun around, leveling her with a disapproving stare.

  “Why’d you run away? Everyone’s been worried sick. Marcus destroyed his hotel room. Mary’s on the warpath and Trevor’s been on his feet half the night trying to calm everybody down.”

  Avery sighed and sank down on the foot of the bed, head buried in her hands.

  “I’m sorry.” Sam sat down beside her and gave her an apologetic sidelong glance the moment she raised her head. “I’m a little worked up. Stress and too much caffeine. Can we start this over?”

  Avery nodded.

  “Are you ok?”

  Avery shook her head sadly.

  “Oh, Avery.” Sam held out her arms.

  She shifted to let her head rest on her friend’s shoulder. Sam’s chestnut curls tickled her nose.

  “I don’t know what to say to make it better.” Sam stroked her back. “But I want you to know that I’m totally on your side. Why Marcus would do something like that, I have no idea.”

  “I think it’s pretty obvious.” Avery lifted her head. “Anyway, I only came back because he informed me in no uncertain terms that I had obligations to him and the band. That I missed a meet and greet, for instance.”

  “Yes. I rescheduled that to tonight. I told the press that you had the flu. Not that anyone bought it. The story’s kinda all over the news.” She winced. “That tramp sure loves to hear herself talk.”

  “Great.” Avery’s face reddened. “How pleasant.” Sarcasm oozed from her words. She let out a long weary sigh. “Before I talk to Mary, I need you to tell me exactly what my obligations are. I’m not going to let Marcus bully me into doing anything more than my contract
demands.”

  “Ok, Avery.” Sam took her hand and squeezed it.

  Avery managed a watery smile in return.

  “You don’t have to do the thing tonight, if that’s what you’re asking. Not technically. You only have to attend seventy-five percent of those.”

  “Good. I’m not up to that. I will be, but I’d prefer not to smooze just yet.”

  “I understand, and I’m here for you.” She smiled gently. “And I’m not the only one. Ray’s been asking about you and Trevor’s been on the phone keeping Justin and your dad up to date. And even though Mary seems mad as hell on the outside, I can tell that she’s mainly just worried about you.”

  “I hope you’re right.” She grimaced. “I’m not looking forward to talking to her, but thanks for the encouragement and the heads up. I’m lucky to have you as a friend.”

  “Luck had nothing to do with it. I believe we were put together for a reason. And,” she patted Avery’s knee and beamed, “now that you’ve got me, you’ll never be able to get rid of me. I’m kinda like a grass burr stuck to your shoelaces. Ask my sister.”

  “I’m glad. I could use a little stability in my life.” She squared her shoulders. “Ok, before I start making phone calls, I need you to find out one more thing.”

  “Yes, I thought about it,” Marcus answered, shifting uneasily on the colorful couch. He ran a hand through his still wet hair, a result of his session with his other therapist, the treadmill.

  The psychiatrist lifted a quizzical brow.

  Unflinching, he returned her gaze, his eyes steely. “Maybe I have some self-worth issues.”

  “Ok. So why do you think that’s the case?”

  “I don’t know.” He let out an exasperated sigh. “Shouldn’t you tell me? Isn’t that why Mary’s paying you the big bucks?”

  “Actually, you’re paying,” she reminded him, folding her hands lightly in her lap.

  “I’m a lot like my mom, I guess.” He stood and paced up and down the length of the suite several times, brow furrowed. “We both live and breathe work. As a result our…my sense of identity is very tightly woven together with what I do. When I’m doing well professionally, when I feel in control of the process, then things are fine. But when I’m in a situation I can’t control or faced with a lot of negativity, I take it real personally. I decompensate. Like in Seattle when everything went to shit.”

  “Marcus, no one can be in control one hundred percent of the time.” She finished typing. “What we have to do is develop coping strategies for those other circumstances. Fortunately, you have many resources to call upon. Your family and your fiancée come to mind.”

  “I don’t have a fiancée.” His lips turned down. He reached a hand down into his jean pocket and fingered the ring. “Not anymore.”

  “Oh?”

  He dropped back down on the couch, opposite the rattan chair she sat in and put his head in his hands. After a moment, he glanced up and met her gaze. “I really fucked up,” he admitted.

  “Ah, yes, the woman who’s been on all the entertainment shows.” She glanced down at her computer. “I’m sad to admit that even I watch those things.”

  “For the record, I didn’t sleep with her” he clarified, voice laden with self-reproach. “I just wanted Avery to think that I did.”

  “It seems to me that you are way too focused on your shortcomings. Although, it’s noble to set high personal standards, the trouble comes when you continually punish yourself for not living up to them.” She met his eyes. “Marcus, you’re a perfectionist, but no one is perfect. You can’t define yourself by your flaws. We need to retrain the way you think about yourself. I want you to focus on the good things that make you the man you are, and when I see you tomorrow we’ll go over those, alright?”

  “Be a real short list,” he muttered as he walked her out of his hotel room.

  “Where’s Avery?” Marcus demanded, finally cornering Sam near the melting ice sculpture. He’d been trying to get a word with her the entire evening. “The damn event’s almost over.”

  “On her way to Phoenix,” she answered, glancing down at her watch. “Probably almost there by now.”

  “The hell she is.” His eyes narrowed. “She’s on the Tempest bus, isn’t she?”

  “Yeah,” she said distractedly, returning the wave of one of the departing VIP’s. “Thanks for coming, Mr. Yanamoto.”

  “And you let her?” Marcus growled.

  “Um, yeah.” Her chestnut brows lifted and she leaned toward him. “She needed some space. I don’t blame her. Can you?”

  “That’s irrelevant.” He frowned. “I think it’s a real bad plan for her to go hang out on a tour bus for fifteen hours with a bunch of guys like them.” His jaw hardened. “Last time I checked, Avery’s a member of Brutal Strength, not Tempest. And I’m pretty sure she’s bound by legal jargon to travel with us.” He let out a long breath. “Trevor,” he called, making eye contact with the band manager.

  “What’s up?” Trevor asked as he crossed the room toward them.

  Marcus heard the apprehension in his tone and didn’t blame him. It had been a taxing twenty-four hours for all of them. No one wanted more drama, least of all him, but no way was he going to let this slide. “I want you to get in touch with someone in legal at Black Cat. I need documentation to present to our wayward guitarist when we arrive in Phoenix. I want her to understand that she can’t just take off on the Tempest tour bus whenever the mood strikes her.”

  Placing the bottled water down on the wooden deck beneath his feet, Marcus took a deep breath and stared out at the bay. Sailboats and motorboats bobbed in the gentle sway where they were moored in the marina. The night was quiet, the lonely silence occasionally interrupted by the sound of a buoy dinging in the distance. Solitary patches of orange light emanating from the dock lighting cast a somber glow on the scene. He tipped his head back into the gentle breeze that ruffled his hair.

  Regret and a myriad of memories burned through his brain, all of them involving her.

  Writing songs together.

  Her laughter the day they had visited Granville Market.

  Her smile when the water buffalo had eaten from her hand at the farm.

  The feel of her warm hands skimming over his naked flesh. Coming apart together in each other’s arms.

  The contentment he felt in her presence.

  They had moved too fast.

  Wrong.

  He had moved too fast.

  Too fast to have fully appreciated the value of the woman he’d had and now lost.

  His hands gripped the cold steel rail in front of him. He stared out into the dark night. Heaviness descended over his thoughts like a wall cloud as he contemplated a future without her.

  “Please?” Avery begged. “Just one more time?”

  “Are you sure you can take it?” Bryan asked.

  “Man up,” she told him.

  “Ok, but this is the last time.” Bryan crossed his stretched out legs at the ankles and hit reset.

  “Thanks.” She gripped the controller tightly in her hands and focused on the screen.

  “Ugh! Enough already,” Warren groaned from his seat on the couch across from them. “If I have to listen to Rainbow Road music one more time I’m gonna throw myself off the bus into oncoming traffic.”

  “Promise?” Bryan deadpanned without looking away from the flat screen TV.

  Concentrating, the tip of her tongue between her lips, controller extended in front of her, Avery leaned suddenly to the side, trying to keep her avatar from sliding off the elevated Mario Kart track.

  “You’re falling behind again.” Bryan glanced at her and smiled.

  “Not for long.” She lobbed a red shell at him and slid past his vehicle, making her Koopa character wave tauntingly.

  “You shouldn’t have done that,” Bryan said, leaning forward. “I’ve got a star.”

  “Crap.” Avery moved forward to the edge of the leather couch, gaze locked on
the finish line. She was almost there when suddenly Bryan’s cart, sparkling with gold immunity, bumped into hers and knocked it off into space. The screen changed to show his characters celebrating with the trophy. He’d beaten her again. “Bastard,” she muttered, pursing her lips.

  “Mmm. Bring those closer, Red. I think after beating you… fifteen times, I deserve a victory kiss,” Bryan drawled.

  “Oh no, let’s don’t,” War said mockingly, glancing at them over the top of his Playboy magazine. “I’m starving and I don’t want to lose my appetite.” He pulled out his cell. “What are you guys in the mood for?”

  “I could go for a burger,” Bryan told him.

  “Sounds good,” War agreed, throwing his magazine down on the table. “And I wanna get laid.”

  “Sheesh, man,” Bryan hissed, inclining his head at Avery.

  “What?” War shrugged, giving her a pointed look. “She’s no blushing virgin. She’s been shacking up with Marcus Anthony, for fuck sake.”

  “Shut up!” Bryan leapt to his feet and grabbed a fistful of War’s t-shirt.

  “Get your hands off me, dude,” War warned, lowering his voice. “You should never have brought her on the bus with us. I told you before. Nothing good’s going to come of this.”

  “War’s right, Bryan.” Avery set her controller down on the beige leather and stood. “I shouldn’t have come.” Her voice warbled. “I couldn’t stomach being on that plane, but it’s not my place to be here either. I should have booked a commercial flight to Phoenix. ”

  “It’s alright, Avery,” War interrupted, shrugging out of Bryan’s hold. “I’m sorry. I’m just hungry and irritable. I’ll check with the guys in the back, and we’ll decide on a place to eat.”

  “I’m sorry he said those things to you,” Bryan apologized when War was out of earshot. “He’s got no regulator on his mouth.”