Assured (Soul Serenade #2)(52)

“We got a message from Zack and Chad. They’re required to report everything to us. The message said, ‘We had an issue with a man outside the bus, but it’s handled and the girls are safe.’” He kisses the top of my head. “I’ve never felt that kind of fear, Stacy. The message said you were safe, but it didn’t tell me if you were hurt.”

“I’m fine. The guy just gave us the creeps. He didn’t touch us, didn’t say anything out of line. He was just . . . odd,” I try to soothe him.

“I get that, I do. When I got the message, I didn’t know.” Pulling back, he places my hands over his heart and then brings his to gently caress each cheek. “You feel that?”

I assume he means the rapid beat of his heart against my hand. I nod.

“That’s you. You’re inside me.” He kissed my forehead. Pulling back just far enough where his eyes can lock with mine, he watches me. I don’t know how long we stand there, but it seems like hours before he finally says, “I love you.”

Butterflies dance in my stomach as his words sink in.

He loves me!

I stand on tiptoes so our lips are barely touching. “I love you, too.” I kiss his lips, softly.

“Yeah?” he asks, hopeful.

“Yeah, I was afraid to tell you. I didn’t want to scare you away.”

“Baby, nothing could scare me away from you.” He kisses me once more, his soft yet firm lips caressing mine.

“We better get back in there. You’re here to make an appearance.”

“I just need another minute,” he says, holding me against his chest. “I don’t ever want to feel like that again. Like my entire world is crashing around me. I need to put your ass in a bubble.”

“Come on, crazy man, let’s get moving. The faster we get this over with the sooner we can get back to the bus.”

His eyes light up. “I love you,” he says again, as runs his thumb across my lips.

I’m sure my lip-gloss is long gone.

Inside, we find the rest of our crew at a table. Logan gives me a smile, letting me know that she was also able to calm her man down.

My man.

He loves me.

“You good, man?” Gavin asks Cole.

He has his arm slung over my shoulders. Leaning in, he kisses my temple. “Never better.” The creepy man long since forgotten.

“Glad you could make it,” a strange voice says from the end of the table.

Looking up, I see him. Creepy guy.

“Ladies, it’s nice to see you again,” he continues.

Cole whips his head around to look at me, then Logan. I nod, letting him know this is the guy.

“Wilson, what the f*ck? What are you doing hanging around outside our bus?” Cole seethes.

Creepy guy—Wilson—throws his head back and laughs. “Why, looking for you, of course. I see your flavor of the week told you I stopped by.”

Cole tries to stand, but I hold tight to his arm. “Let it go,” I plead.

“What do you want, Wilson?” Kacen asks.

“Just wanted to make sure you all were going to show up. I’m not used to this . . . domesticated version of the band.” He sweeps his eyes over Logan and stops on me, blatantly staring at my chest until Cole growls.

I pull my sweater closed to block his view. It’s not like the girls are hanging out but, this guy is not getting a peek of anything.

“Watch it,” Cole warns.

Wilson holds his glass of amber liquid in the air as a toast and walks away.

“I hate that prick,” Gavin seethes.

I look over and see that his knuckles are turning white as he grips the beer bottle in his hand.

“Who is that?” Logan asks.

“That is Fuck-stick Wilson, the CEO of Stone Records,” Tristan explains.

“He’s the one?” Kacen confirms with Logan.

“That’s him, but he didn’t do anything. He wasn’t inappropriate or anything. We just got a weird vibe from him,” Logan tells him once again.

These men are fiercely protective.

“Good show tonight,” Bobby Jones, the band’s manager, says as he approaches the table.

“Thanks, man.” Cole shakes his hand, as do the other guys.

“Ladies, you look lovely as ever,” he comments.

Logan and I both mumble an embarrassed “Thank you.”

“So, there are a few people Wilson wants me to introduce you to. Once we get that over with, you all are free to go. I know you have a long night of driving ahead of you.”

“Whose ass are we kissing this time?” Gavin asks.

Bobby chuckles. “Wilson is trying to sign a new band. Trying to convince them to leave their current label. He just wants to brag that he signed the hottest rock band out there.”

Tristan finishes off his beer. “Let’s get this over with and get the hell out of here.” He types out a text then shoves his phone back in his pocket.

“The guards are outside,” Cole says.

I place my hand on his leg. “We’ll be fine. We are in a room full of crowded people, and you already know who it was. He wasn’t there to hurt us, Cole. He’s just an ass,” I scold him.

Leaning in, he kisses the corner of my mouth, trailing his lips across my cheek until they meet my ear. He nips at my lobe before he whispers, “I’ll be right back, sweets. I love you.”