“Aw, Chaser,” she teases. “Are you all worn out from a little hard work?”
“Little? Woman, not many men could lift you off the floor and carry you in here without missing a beat.”
“I wouldn’t know.” She chuckles and rests her head against my chest. “And you’re the only man I care about.”
And thank fuck for that.
“Good.” I wrap my arm around her and pat her ass.
“So, your band meeting must have gone well?”
I reach down and hike her thigh over my leg. “I think so. I forgot all about it once I caught you coming out of the shower.”
She swats my chest. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“You’re impossible.” She moves to roll away from me, but I hold her tight.
“Yeah, it went well. Val got us dates opening for Shooting Fences at the Coliseum.”
“Oh my God! Are you serious? That’s…that’s huge!”
“Yup.”
She squeezes her eyes shut. “Thank God. I was so worried Davey would screw things up for you guys.”
“Hey.” I rub my thumb over her cheek until she opens her eyes and peers up at me. “Even if he did, I wouldn’t change a thing about how we handled him.”
“Neither would I. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been worried.”
I close my eyes and say a quick thanks to whatever forces in the universe brought this woman into my life.
“Val wants to know if you’re still up for doing our next video.”
“Of course I am. She can’t scare me off that easily.” She runs her hand over my chest. “Do you still want me to?”
I take a deep breath and think over how to phrase my answer. “As long as you’re sure it’s not going to have a negative impact on your career.”
“Why? Your video is what launched my career.”
“Yeah, but you’re getting more serious auditions now. I don’t want you labeled as some band dude’s girlfriend.”
“You’re not ‘some band dude.’”
“You know what I mean. Just talk it over with your agent and make sure it’s still good for you.”
“Okay,” she whispers. “Thank you, Chaser.”
I twist my fingers in a lock of her hair, winding it into a curl before setting it free. “The video won’t have any firehoses this time. Val says we’re going ‘simple and rugged.’ Whatever the fuck that’s supposed to mean.”
“That sounds much better. Not just for me but for you guys. Something stripped down and simple might help set you apart from everyone else.”
“She had bad news, too. MTV yanked the ‘Candy Jar’ video. Davey’s revenge on us I guess.”
She covers her mouth with her hand. “Will you be mad if I say I’m not torn up over that?”
“Nope.” I sit up and kiss her forehead. “Not even a little.”
Mallory
“Let’s wash up.” Chaser turns and glances at the clock. “We were supposed to meet the guys about half an hour ago. They want to go out and celebrate.”
“Do you want me to join you?”
He stares at me as if I’d just asked if the world was flat. “Yes, I want you with me.” One corner of his mouth lifts. “I got distracted by your very fine form coming out of the shower all wet and sexy.”
We clean up quickly, and he holds my blow dryer while I try to fix my still-damp, messy hair into something somewhat presentable.
I catch his eye in the mirror. “You think anyone would believe the great Chaser Adams helps me dry my hair?”
“If they knew I have the privilege of doing it while staring at your naked body, they would.”
As much criticism as I’ve taken on everything from my nose (not button enough) to my breasts (too big and somehow also too small) to my ankles (too bird-like) since I arrived in Hollywood, it’s impossible to be self-conscious when Chaser constantly lavishes me with compliments.
I signal for him to shut off the dryer, finish curling my bangs, and shoo him out, so I can spray a cloud of Extra Super Hold AquaNet over my head.
“What should I wear?” I ask when I find him in the bedroom.
“Sweater?” He grazes his chin with the edge of his hand. “Something that comes up to here?”
“You’re hilarious.”
He drops his hand and shrugs. “You have anything white? You look pretty in white.”
“Hmmm…” I poke through my dresser drawer, pulling out white underwear and a strapless bra, tossing them on the bed before heading over to the closet. “I was given this after a catalog shoot, but I wasn’t sure where it would be appropriate to wear.”
I pull out the white, stretchy dress with plunging neckline and glittering crystals sewn into the fabric. It fit like a second skin and made me feel sexy when I wore it for photographs on a closed set. I’d be too uncomfortable wearing it in public without Chaser by my side.
He narrows his eyes as he studies the dress. “Is it a…halter top?”