Rock Bottom (Tristan & Danika #2)(26)

Cory was out with our new guitarist, and Kenny had escaped to his room. Smart man. I’d have done the same, but after the naked groupie jumping on me in my sleep that I knew had been Dean’s idea, I didn’t trust him, and I certainly didn’t trust any of the strange women that had invaded our place.

What a f**king mess, I thought, taking another swig of whiskey.

Dean caught my glare. He smiled like it had made his day. “What’s up, my friend? Why the bad attitude? There’s plenty of pu**y to go around.”

“You know what’s up,” I growled, fists clenched. “No groupies at the house. Those are the rules.”

The women in the room that didn’t want to admit to being groupies loudly protested that. I didn’t care. They were groupies.

I looked around at them. “Out,” I said rudely. I had no more patience.

A few started to leave, muttering ‘*’ and ‘jerk’ on their way out.

A few didn’t budge, which just made Dean laugh harder. “What are you gonna do, man, carry them all out?”

“They go or I go, and if I walk out that door, I’m not coming back. You can do this deal without me. I don’t give a shit anymore. I didn’t sign on for any of this.”

That, finally, got him moving, shuffling girls out, and being bad-tempered about it.

I wasn’t bluffing, not even close, and he knew it.

The next morning I woke up hungover and pissed off.

I got dressed and shook Kenny awake. He started, nearly falling out of the tiny twin bed situated on his side of the room. He was the only one I bothered, since we shared the room.

“I’m leaving. Heading back to Vegas for a few days. I’m done with this working through the weekend bullshit. I’ve got a girl back home.”

Kenny didn’t try to stop me. He was good like that, good at reading people, and knowing when they meant what they said. “I’ll tell the producer. Just call me when you’re on your way back to L.A.”

“I will.”

I called Danika once before I started driving. She didn’t answer, which was pretty normal for her. She left her phone all over the place, her ringer turned off most of the time because of school. I settled for sending her one clear-cut text.

Tristan: Heading back to Vegas. Try to get the afternoon off. I’d like to take you out.

I was filling up my tank in Barstow when she finally responded.

Danika: Good. I’ve been missing you bad. Jerry says he’ll watch the kids whenever you get here. What should I wear?

I grinned, happier than I’d been since I’d last said goodbye to her, weeks ago.

Tristan: The tiniest bikini you own. Dental floss would work, too.

Danika: LOL. You are a pervert…Were you serious about the bikini?

Tristan: Yes. Frankie got us a pool cabana for the afternoon at the Cavendish resort.

Danika: Wow.

She was ready and waiting when I pulled up to Bev’s house.

She wore her tiny bronze bikini, my favorite, with a transparent gold cover-up that didn’t manage to cover up a thing. She wore sexy high-heeled metallic sandals that matched numerous gold chains around her neck and wrists, gold sunglasses and large hoop earrings. Her hair hung long and straight down her back.

I was hard as a rock before she’d taken two steps out the front door.

I met her halfway, catching her to me for a short kiss. I couldn’t get into it with her on the front lawn, or I’d lose my mind and traumatize the neighborhood children.

I grabbed the small bag she had in her hand, leading her to the car, and ushering her in.

“Where are your swim trunks?” she asked me as I was settling back into the driver’s seat.

“I have a bag in back. I’ll change when we get to the pool. I came straight here.”

“I thought you were working through the weekend again. How’d you get time off?”

“I took it. I just left. I’m not doing that shit anymore. They can fire me if they don’t like it. I didn’t sign on to move there.”

She stroked my arm as I drove. I kept my hands to myself. It’d been too long for me. My self-control was hanging on by a thread just sitting next to her. I was so horny I felt violent with it.

The cabanas were set up nearly on top of the swimming pool, on platforms set along an aisle that ran down the middle of the main pool.

They were designed like a four-sided tent, one side open to the water. It was large enough for about four people, set up like one huge bed with a dozen pillows thrown everywhere.

It was hot out for fall in Vegas, perfect for a day at the pool. I changed into swim trunks and slipped on some shades, my movements clumsy in my rush.

Since Danika had come in a bikini, she was waiting for me when I came outside. Music was blasting. It was the middle of the day, but parties started early and ended never in Vegas.

Danika was moving her hips and snapping her fingers to the heavy beat, her lips mouthing the words to the song, her eyes on the pool. It was impossible for her to hold still when music was playing.

She was as adorable as she was sexy.

I hooked my arm around her waist as we were led to our cabana. Danika’s mouth dropped open in surprise as she took in the opulent setup. Her reaction alone had made the whole thing worth it. I’d had to make about a dozen phone calls to set this up.