Time Out of Mind (Suncoast Society #43)(85)

“Fu-freaking A, I did.” She grinned. “Dang Doms. Stupid men, that’s what you are.”





Mevi was painfully aware of Doyle’s presence next to him. He knew if he sat there staring at the man all night, not only would it not be fair to the kids and parents and donors he was there to entertain and meet, it would be blatantly obvious.

Because he’d burst into tears and fall onto his knees in front of Doyle, wanting to put his head in the man’s lap.

Feel his fingers stroking his hair.

All the band members took turns going around the room to meet everyone and take pictures with the people at every table. At one point, he noticed Bonnie over at his table and talking to Doyle.

Instead of running over, like he wanted to, he forced himself to stay where he was and talk with the kids currently needing his attention.





Doyle wasn’t sure what to do when Bonnie started making the rounds of their table. Like Mevi had, she started at the chair to Mevi’s left and worked her way around, leaving Tilly, and then himself for last.

It shocked him when she hugged him and whispered into his ear.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were together. We didn’t sleep together. He came to my room to work that night and fell asleep, that’s all, I swear. He’s heartsick missing you.” Then she stepped back, the warm, friendly smile on her face that she’d given everyone else firmly fixed to her face.

Except she squeezed his hands, hard, before moving to another table.

Tilly leaned in as he sat. “Well?”

He nodded. “She apologized.”

“Good.” Tilly glanced in Bonnie’s direction. “That means I don’t have to hurt her.”

He elbowed her, hoping she was kidding, but with Tilly, one could never be sure.

Not completely.

She had, after all, punched a guy.

And that was someone she considered a friend.

That wasn’t even counting what she’d done to Erique.

Garth, Troy, and Pasch also made rounds, shaking hands with him and greeting him warmly, apparently none the wiser about the hidden drama between himself, Mevi, and Bonnie. Or, if they were, they were also hiding it.

It’s going to be a long damn night.





Chapter Twenty-Nine


The shakes hit Doyle as Tilly drove them away from the estate.

“Why shouldn’t I kill you now?” he grumbled.

“Uh, if that was some weird, psychologist version of the phrase ‘thank you,’ then you’re welcome.”

“How long were you planning this with him?”

“I wasn’t. Planning with him that is. He didn’t know we were going to be there. It really was a coincidence. Leigh forgot to tell me about the tickets until last night, and they almost went to waste. When I found out who the guest was, I nearly shit myself.” She glanced at him. “By the way, you’re f*cking welcome.”

“Thank you.”

She held up a room key card, handing it to him. “And here. 912. Top floor. You’ll need that for the elevator, too. He specifically said don’t knock, just come in.”

He took it, staring at it. “Do I even want to know how you got his room key?”

“He gave it to me. Duh. He can get another one at the front desk. This way, you don’t have to ask security to call up and give your name and all that bullshit. Their elevators only work for keycards, and they have security staff stationed at desks by the elevators on all floors. They’re used to dealing with elite clientele. We use them for the studio all the time.”

“Oh.”

“Dumbass men,” she muttered. She let out a startled meep and swerved back into the correct lane when she spotted an oncoming car in their lane.

“Maybe you should let me off here and I’ll call an Uber or something.”

The only thing that scared him more than Tilly was Tilly’s right-hand driving skills.

“Yeah, like you haven’t done that same shit. Out in the country like this, no traffic, it’s easy to forget.”

“I need to call Pippa.”

“Like hell, you do. I’ll show up, get her talking, and tell her this was the deal the whole time to see how she’d handle the sudden departure from plans. Just keep your ringer on. If she has a meltdown, I’ll call you.”

He turned to stare at her. “Seriously, how freaking long did you work on this plan?”

“You think that’s impressive? Only took me about a split-second to come up with a good reason to counter you saying you had to call her. This is why women are usually superior to men in nearly every way except peeing while standing, and I’m sure we could improve on that if we really wanted to.”

She flashed him a manic grin.





It took them nearly an hour to get there. She pulled up under the canopy to let him out so the chilly drizzle didn’t get him wet. “Have fun. I’ll pick you up at ten, and you and me and Pippa can eat breakfast together. Or breakky. Or morning kipper tea. Whatever the f*ck they call it here.” She grinned.

Now she was deliberately f*cking with him and he knew it.

“Thank you, Til,” he said. “Seriously.”

She shrugged. “Like I’ve told others, I like to help my friends. Pay it forward.” She smacked his shoulder. “Now don’t f*ck it all up. Don’t run away again. I mean, I know logistics are tricky with Pippa, and with his tour, but take a break after you’re done with her and go join him.”