Manaconda (Hammered #1)(24)

“That’s not how we do it at Ripper, and you know it.”

“You don’t know the Donovan I do. He plays dirty with the best of them. Believe me.”

Lila lightly twisted the stem of her wine glass. “That may be so back in your London days, but it’s not how we do it now. You’ll do well to remember that.”

Dex peered down at his feet, rocked back on his heels a moment before taking another sip. “I get results.” He lifted his glass then seemed to have spotted someone over our shoulders. “Cheers.” His wide smile was in place as he sauntered off.

My wristlet was cutting off my circulation before I realized I’d been twisting it subconsciously.

Lila plucked a glass of wine off a passing waiter and handed it to me. “Dex is a shit, but he’s right, he does get results. I just don’t particularly like his methods.”

“Yeah, well today was a clusterf*ck.” I took a gulp of wine, happy to find it was a shiraz rather than the drier merlot I’d been expecting. Too bad. If it were a merlot, I’d probably drink it slower. The fruity, full bodied wine went down way too easy. I drained the glass and helped myself to another.

Lila made a hmm sound.

“I know I screwed up. Hell, I wouldn’t put it past Donovan to hold my favor over me again.”

“About that.”

I groaned and took another gulp. I deserved it. Whatever was coming my way. I’d behaved unprofessionally. I’d literally let my libido derail my common sense. I hadn’t even done that as a teen. “Lay it on me.”

“Donovan’s worried about Hunter.” She took a delicate sip of her white wine. “And you.”

I blew out a breath. “It wasn’t one of my finer moments, but I think we managed to put the right spin on it.”

“You’re right. You did. Now you’re trending as Hunter’s girlfriend.”

I choked, holding my glass away from me and my dress. “What? Where’d you hear that?” I’d checked the social media channels before I’d gotten dressed.

“Music Life, TMZ, and US Weekly so far.”

I resisted the urge to take out my phone and let my google-fu come out to play. “Look, fling I can understand. But girlfriend?”

Lila crossed one arm under her elbow and pressed the lip of her glass against her chin as she studied me. Finally, she tilted her head, her China blue eyes direct and strangely sympathetic. “Perhaps going all avenging angel at the press conference perpetuated that.”

My shoulders sagged. I finished off my second glass and reached for a third when warm fingers caught my wrist.

“Not so fast. I don’t believe you’ve eaten anything but my pasta today, Kenny.”

I yanked my hand away. Damn tingles. Why did it have to be him that caused the tingles? Not to mention his voice. Imagine broad shoulders and a chest cavity to match. Then add a little bass to that ridiculously perfect package. Yep. A deep voice like that collects panties as payment for survival.

I was waving mine like a damn white flag.

Okay, so they were actually black and raspberry lace. I had a problem with LaPerla. Sue me. I had to wear business suits most of the time. I liked pretty bra and panty sets. Maybe liked wasn’t a strong enough word.

Maybe I really shouldn’t have another glass of wine.

Lila hmmed again.

Dammit. I should have just stayed in my room and forgotten all about whatever it was me and Hunter were contemplating.

Sex.

Steamy hot, mind-altering sex.

I snatched another glass of wine off a waiter passing me on the left. My inner hussy had been denied for too long was all. She was being pushy, but I could handle this. I peered up at all six-feet-three-inches of Hunter. At least that’s what his bio said. He seemed so much larger when I was next to him. “I’m assuming you know Lila.”

Hunter nodded curtly. He held his hand out to Lila. “Nice to see you again. I didn’t realize you were coming out tonight.”

She shook his hand firmly. “Donovan is in New York, so I thought I’d make an appearance.”

Hunter smiled tightly. “To get a firsthand account of our shenanigans?” He tipped up a dark bottle of beer and took a lazy sip.

“That’s one word for it.” Lila tapped her nail against the bowl of her glass. “I know all about how the media works. Even better, I know how a band works. There’s a lot of tension going on and the tour hasn’t even started.”

Hunter’s fingers tightened on his bottle. “We’ll work it out. We always do.”

Lila inclined her head. “I hope so.” She took a small drink. “Your timing is fortuitous. I was just explaining to Kennedy that the media has run with the girlfriend angle. We feel that it would be in everyone’s best interest if you perpetuated the story.”

My mouth dropped open. “You want us to pretend to be a couple?”

“Hell, no.”

I swiveled to Dex’s voice. I never thought I’d side with him, but right now I was definitely ready to ride his train of thought. A moment of madness on the horizon was one thing. Staying in his sphere for longer than tonight was definitely not what I had in mind. Couldn’t I just have a one night stand with a hot guy? A hot guy that actually seemed capable of delivering an orgasm to make my career blunder worth it.