Angel (Fallen Angel, #3)(25)

Wolf whistles sounded around the room, and out of the corner of my eye, I could see Viper grinning.

Jaime pretended to wipe his face with his tie. “Is it hot in here? Anyone else sweating? I mean, look at this guy.”

My fellow band members all turned toward me, exaggerated stares in my direction before they broke up laughing.

“He only looks like an angel,” Killian said. “He’s been properly corrupted since joining the band.”

“Uh huh,” Jaime said, and then reached behind him to pull out the Rolling Stone magazine. “This looks like some serious corruption right here. Viper, what do you have to say about this?”

Viper’s smirk grew. “You’re welcome.”

Hooting and hollering was all I could hear as the audience got an eyeful of a very naked Viper and me on the cover that Jaime lifted up. I sure as hell hoped the makeup they’d put on me earlier helped cover all the heat rushing to my face.

Jaime flipped through the magazine, showing everyone the band photos. “Look, I’m not playing for the other team, but you might be the hottest band on the planet.”

“Thank you,” Jagger said, shooting another wink to the crowd.

“So, we’ve gotta address the elephant in the room, because I know everyone’s dying to know.” When Jaime looked at me and Viper, I knew exactly where he was going with this. “What the hell is going on with you two?”





Seventeen





Viper





WHEN JAIME FINALLY asked the question we’d all known was coming, and the crowd let loose with another round of deafening cheers, any fears that the angel and I wouldn’t be well received as a couple was quickly squashed. Add in the fact that Jaime was once again holding up the Rolling Stone cover to make sure everyone got a good look at how damn amazing we looked together in the flesh, and yeah, the studio audience nearly lost their fucking minds.

Halo shifted on the couch beside me, and when he glanced in my direction, I automatically reached out and put a hand on his thigh. As I met his wide-eyed stare head-on, I squeezed the firm muscle beneath my palm, letting him know I was right here, and then let my eyes shift past him to Killian, and then Jaime.

“You’re the one holding the magazine,” I said, and then chuckled. “What do you think’s going on?” Jaime’s eyes dropped back to the magazine, and I added, “I don’t just let anyone touch my…guitar the way Angel does.”

Halo snorted as Jaime looked at us and said, “Angel? Hang on a minute. Have I been saying your name wrong, Halo? Is that what we’re supposed to call you?”

“No,” I interrupted, and leaned in to press a kiss to Halo’s cheek, then I faced the audience and said, “That’s what I call him.”

The crowd went fucking nuts at that, and Halo shook his head, bringing his hands up to cover his face.

“Okay, okay,” Jaime said. “Shh, shh. Behave yourselves, everyone. You’re embarrassing Halo. I told you we have a blusher.”

I moved my hand off Halo’s thigh to drape it behind him on the couch, where I squeezed his shoulder, and when he lowered his hands and looked at me, I winked.

Halo grinned, and I waggled my brows at him. “I’m gonna kill you,” he said, but his sparkling eyes told me otherwise.

“See,” I told Jaime. “If that isn’t love, I don’t know what is.”

As the audience laughed, Jaime leaned over his desk and pointed between the two of us. “And that’s what this is, then? Love? How did this even happen?” He propped his elbows on the desk and placed his chin in his hands. “Come on, tell me. I won’t tell anyone other than my friends sitting here tonight and the couple million friends I have watching at home.”

Killian smirked, and both Jagger and Slade gave a mock groan, as Halo looked my way and shrugged.

“You started this,” Halo said, and I nodded.

“Yep, that’s exactly how it happened,” I said. “I saw him. I wanted him—I mean, come on,” I said, looking out to the all of a sudden silent crowd. “You can see why—and I decided I was going to have him.”

Jaime let out a booming laugh. “Just like that?”

“Just like—”

“Not just like that,” Halo said, and rolled his eyes as he turned to Jaime. “It was more than just we saw each other and bam, ripping clothes off.”

I slowly shook my head at the crowd and mouthed, No, it wasn’t, and when they all started laughing, Halo turned in my direction, and I shrugged, playing the innocent. Halo was not buying that for a second. But when he put his hand on my thigh, I knew he’d relaxed into this. We’d already decided in advance we would play this by ear and be honest with how we felt. But if at any time the other wanted to stop, we’d say Miami, and know whatever else was left to say needed to remain ours.

“We were working together a lot,” Halo said, turning to the audience. “Writing music and lyrics, and that brings you close…”

“But,” Jaime interrupted, “I am right in assuming that you two became much closer than the rest of the band?”

Halo looked to me, and as his eyes roved over my face, lips, and then down to my chest. “Yes. Much, much closer.” I all but fucking groaned.