Sweet Possession (Sweet #5)(72)

Gray settled on the other side of Faith and shot Lyric a sly grin. “I think you may have converted Mr. Tight Ass, who only listens to country music.”

Lyric’s eyes widened innocently. “I can’t imagine who you’re talking about.”

Connor snorted as he set a plate of food on the coffee table in front of Lyric. “I admit to a few musical prejudices.” He glanced up at Lyric. “Eat,” he said softly.

She didn’t need any encouragement. She sat forward and began to eat the yummy assortment of sandwiches and finger foods.

“We all need a picture together,” Julie said. “The Smurfettes and all, you know.”

The men groaned.

“At least it’s just the tips,” Damon said with a grin. “They can be trimmed.”

“You’re not touching my hair!” Serena gasped. “I think we look awesome.”

“Well, there’s no denying you ladies look fantastic,” Micah said with an easy smile. “I was worried we’d need some of Lyric’s security detail just to escort you girls back here. There were a lot of good ole boys sizing up our muscle.”

Angelina laughed. “You’re so full of shit, but we love you for it.”

Lyric leaned back with her plate and sighed. A few weeks ago, she would have never guessed that she’d meet such great people or make actual friends. Real friends. People who didn’t want anything from her. Who liked the real Lyric.

Now that her show was over, she had a few days to do nothing and then she’d have to move on. Things to do. Albums to record. More concerts. For the first time she felt regret over her nomadic existence and the fact she didn’t have a home base.

How great it would be to get to come home after days on the road and have friends like this group where she could relax and not worry about what face she was presenting to the world.

The yearning was so keen that it made her chest ache.

“I hate to break this up, but Lyric’s tired and I really need to get her home so she can rest,” Connor said.

She blinked in surprise and realized she’d zoned out on the couch while conversation went on around her.

“I’m okay,” she said. “They don’t have to go.”

“You look exhausted,” he said bluntly.

“Of course you need to go rest,” Serena said as she stood gracefully from the couch. “I can’t imagine how you’re holding your head up after such an energetic show. We’ll see you again before you leave Houston.”

Lyric managed to get up and hug all the girls. “Thank you all so much for coming. It really meant a lot.”

“Thank you for the great seats!” Faith exclaimed. “Even the guys had fun.”

“More like we didn’t trust you out on your own again,” Gray muttered.

The women rolled their eyes.

Angelina smirked. “Think of how boring your lives would be without us.”

“Dear God, did you say a mouthful,” Nathan said. “I can safely say that’s one word that will never apply to our lives ever again.”

Julie wrapped her arms around the big guy and grinned cheekily up at him. “Admit it. You led pitiful existences before we swooped in and saved you.”

He lowered his mouth to kiss her, smiling all the while. “I don’t dispute that either, honey.”

Lyric walked them all to the door as the men herded the women, and then she was left alone with Connor and Kane and her security detail.

She closed the door and turned. “Any word on R.J. and Trent?”

Connor shook his head. “I have a call into the lieutenant handling their questioning. He’s supposed to call me when he knows something.”

She sighed. “Call me naïve but I just can’t imagine them doing this. What could they possibly have to gain? It doesn’t even make sense.”

“I’m inclined to agree with you,” Kane said. “But the evidence does support their involvement. We’ll let the police do their job and see what they come up with.”

“The important part is that you don’t have to worry about them anymore,” Connor said.

She didn’t miss his face darkening at the mention of them. He looked . . . jealous. Her lips twitched but she didn’t smile. Maybe later she’d tell him that she hadn’t slept with either man for the last several shows. For now, she liked the idea that he was possessive of her.

“You ready?” Connor asked. “You really do need to get some rest. You’re going to fall over soon.”

“Yeah, let’s go. I could use a cupcake and maybe a cup of hot chocolate. An evening in front of the fire sounds really nice right now.”

He pulled her into his side and they walked out to the waiting car.

Lyric lay against Connor on the couch, her feet stretched to the end, watching the flickering flames from the hearth while Connor absently ran his fingers through her hair.

An empty cupcake wrapper lay on the coffee table beside the half-finished cup of hot chocolate. She was warm, sated and drifting closer and closer to the veil of sleep.

“This is nice,” she murmured sleepily.

He didn’t answer but pressed a kiss to her hair in response.

“If I fall asleep, will you carry me up to bed again?”