Managed (VIP #2)(71)

Oh, that hurts. And yet he’s been a solitary man for so long, can I blame him for wanting his space?

Exhaustion lines his face as he watches me with cautious eyes. “I can’t be the man you expect me to be, Sophie.”

The faint yellow of a bruise on his cheek catches my attention. I lift my hand to touch it, and he takes a step back, evading my hand. “Can’t or won’t?”

“Does it matter?” he counters. “In the end, the result is the same.”

I should walk away, save what’s left of my pride. But I’ve never been able to hold back from engaging with this man. “Are you going to tell me where you were?”

“No.”

Jesus, I want to stamp my foot. On his. “Why not?”

He’s fully away from me now, retreating to the kitchen to grab the kettle and fill it with water. “Because I don’t want to.”

“Asshole.”

“Admitted that already, love.”

My back teeth click, as he fusses with his tea leaves.

“Teatime, is it?” I grind out. “Having a problem that needs soothing?”

“Yes,” he says without turning. “You.”

A gasp of pain leaves me before I can hold it in.

He turns at the sound, and his brows lift in apparent surprise. “Chatty girl?”

I blink rapidly. “You are an *. And it isn’t something to be proud of.”

I grab my shoes and head for the door.

“Sophie.” He makes a grab for my arm, but I evade his reach.

“Don’t,” I say, wrenching the door open. “I need to be away from you for a while.”

He runs a hand through his thick hair and grips the ends as if he needs to hold something. “At least tell me where you’re going so I don’t have to worry.”

A bitter laugh leaves my lips. “Oh, the irony.” I glare at him. “Guess what, Scottie? I’m not telling. Because I don’t f*cking want to!”

I slam the door behind me and head out into the night.





Chapter Nineteen





Gabriel



* * *



“You tug at those cuffs any harder and they’re going to fall off.”

I don’t bother turning to acknowledge Killian at my side. It will only encourage him. And I don’t have it in me to pretend I’m impenetrable right now. I hurt Sophie last night. I ruined her fun and then made her think she was a problem to be solved.

I didn’t realize how badly I was mucking things up until she stormed out. I’d only thought to protect my private life as I’ve always done, by putting up a wall and sniping at anyone who tried to look over it.

The method still works; she left. Cut me off at the f*cking knees. I’m stuck walking on stumps and trying to pretend it isn’t agony.

Around us, stagehands, lighting engineers, and sound techs scurry to and fro, getting ready for the concert. On the other side of the massive screen we’re standing behind, the crowd fills up the stadium. Their murmurs and laughs create a constant hum.

“Shouldn’t you be in the dressing room getting your hair artfully disheveled?” I ask him.

“Libby does that for me in her own special way,” he answers easily.

Of course she does. Every damn person on the tour has been treated to the sounds Killian and Libby preparing for concerts. And celebrating the conclusion of each show. I don’t know how they ever thought they were being secretive.

“Then go find your wife,” I say. “I’m fairly certain she’s waiting for you in the lavatory.”

“Man, don’t let on that you know about the bathroom hookups or she’ll never give it to me there again.”

“It would do well for you not to provide me with ammunition at this moment.”

He falls silent, standing at my side and watching the well-choreographed art of the stagehands’ work. I know what he’s doing. Babysitting. Killian knows me too well. Just as I am able to tell if he’s hurting with one look, so is he. Granted, it’s been over ten years since he’s seen me hurting. Thinking about that time adds another stone to the gravel pit that’s formed in my gut.

Sophie didn’t come home last night. Home. I have not thought of any place as home for so long I’m surprised I even remember the concept. My houses are dwellings in which I rest when not working. Given that I’m always working, I rarely spend time in any of them. Yet from the first night Sophie settled her things alongside mine and filled those quiet, orderly spaces with her effusive nature, wherever she is feels like home.

Last night, alone in my bed, it was more like hell. I wasn’t able to lower my pride enough to ask any of my crew if they knew where she was. But it was a close thing. I’d been tempted to beg. That chafes too.

Eventually the tour will end. Sophie will move on to other projects, and my life will return to normal. Why that thought makes my gut clench isn’t something I want to dwell on.

Knowing Killian as I do, it isn’t a surprise that he can’t keep quiet for long.

He huffs out an impatient sound. “Seriously, dude, what’s got your dick in a knot?” From the corner of my eye, I can see him grinning, wide and smug. “I thought for sure your coach would be rocking for a few hours.”