Manaconda (Hammered #1)(23)

Noah grinned and surveyed the party. I tried to see it from his perspective. Women wandered around in bathing suits that probably wouldn’t see water—unless Bats got to them. Men in swim trunks with their perfect gym bodies mingled with the suits from the label and a ridiculous level of beautiful women were peppered around the deck. A few famous faces that I knew by name, and others I knew by reputation. It was a strange mix of the LA set, the trendy, and the normals.

Bats was holding court in the pool, Wyatt at the bar, Keys was flitting from group to group with her usual charm and laughter. The head of our fan club, Jessica, had her camera at the ready, but she was more interested in the famous party crashers than recording anything.

Zach and Owen had their guitars out, jamming with a handful of actors who fancied themselves singers. A female country singer sitting in with them lent an earthy flavor to the cover songs.

Indie was finally relaxing for the first time all week. I was pretty sure she was holding a glass of wine that could be a decanter, but I was glad she was loosening up. Even the stoic Patrick was chatting up a girl. Everyone was having fun. And I should have been in the middle of it, but I couldn’t make myself wade in.

My brother’s gaze locked on something across the space. I followed his line of sight past the lights, the laughter, and the glitter. I wasn’t really aware of the growl until my brother laughed.

Noah’s lips twitched, and his pair of dimples dented his cheeks. “Know her?”

Kenny stood just outside the theater entrance to the patio.

“Back off, brother.”

She’d changed. Instead of the buttoned up suit, she was wearing a little slip of a dress that shimmered in the torchlight. The LA skyline was cool blue and white and she was all flame. From her hair to the shimmering wine-colored dress, she was nothing but heat. All her curls had been tamed and yet teased at the same time.

I wanted to fist my hands into all of it and drag her into me until there was nothing but skin.

“You going to introduce me to her?”

I frowned. “Hell, no.”

“You’re just afraid she’ll like the superior Jordan brother.”

“You’re delusional.”

He rubbed his fist against his chest. “I’m wounded.”

“You will be if you don’t stop looking at her.”

“So, that’s the way of it, huh?” Noah grinned around his bottle before he took a sip.

“Fuck off.”

“You lose your quippy comebacks when you’re twisted up about a girl.” His smile faded. “Don’t get too bent, brother.” He stood up straighter and clamped a hand on my shoulder. “Promise me.”

I finally caught her gaze and any assurance I might have tried to make dissolved on my tongue. “Not sure I can do that. I don’t break my promises to you, Noah.”

He sighed. “Man. Well, there’s always a beer in the fridge for you in Colorado.”

I hoped I wouldn’t need it, but I nodded. “How long you here?”

“Got a job in town for the next two months.”

My attention swung back to Noah. “Really? And you’re just now telling me?”

He shrugged. “Figured I could crash with you, but maybe I need to find my own place.”

I shook my head. “You know the code at the house. There’s plenty of room.”

Noah’s gaze wandered over my shoulder. “Soundproofed?”

I shot a look over my shoulder. A woman with dark hair and darker eyes smiled warmly. I slapped his arm. “I’ve done some remodeling since your last visit. You’ve got your own wing.”

“Damn, I love visiting you, little brother.” He set the beer on the ledge and pushed off. Noah relieved a waitress of two glasses of champagne with an easy smile and made a beeline for the brunette that had captured his interest.

I turned my attention back on Kenny and caught her talking to a slim blonde woman in an ice blue suit. I recognized her, but couldn’t quite pull her name into my head. When Dex came up to meet them I groaned.

Donovan’s version of Pepper Potts, minus the naked time. Lila something or other. I didn’t really want to wade into that conversation. Then again, everything I’d been thrust into tonight had been against my better judgment.

My balls tightened. Well, except Kennedy McManus.

I’d be thrusting into her balls deep, even if it was the worst idea in the history of ideas.





10





Kennedy





Dex clinked his ice cubes before taking a sip of his whiskey. “That was inspired, Kennedy. Is that how your PR firm works? Fuck the clients? Then put a spin on it?”

I gripped my small purse dangling from my wrist, resisting the urge to twist. Showing any sort of weakness in front of Dex was a mistake. His sharp obsidian eyes were looking for an angle. I wasn’t sure if it was to move up the ladder at Ripper Records, or to show up Lila—whatever it was, I didn’t want any part of it.

Lila Shawcross’s elegant blonde brow arched. “Don’t be crude, Dex. She minimized an escalating situation. The press smelled blood in the water—which I wouldn’t put it past you to have chummed yourself.”

Dex gave a dismissive shrug. “Bad press is even better than good press for sales.”