“Mm,”he grunted with a thoughtful scowl, pointing one finger into the air. “This isJohn Mayer. You gotta know John Mayer.”
Witha single bob of my head, I replied, “I do.”
“Thisone’s called ‘Slow Dancing In A Burning Room.’ I’ve heard this song nearlyevery fucking night for the past few months,” he informed me, nodding his headto the tune. “It’s a good one, but you know what’s funny about it?”
Ishook my head without the least bit of interest in what he was saying. “What?”
Witha chuckle that wormed its way through my ears and into every part of my bodyuntil it reached my toes, he replied, “Every single night, I’d watch couples inthe crowd start making out and slow dancing to this like it’s some beautifullove song. But it’s not. It’s about a relationship that’s falling apart.” Heclosed his eyes and sang a few lines in a husky voice that made talking feellike sex, then added, “But damn, it’s a fucking great song.”
Clearingmy throat, I shifted my thighs, and pushed my brain beyond the focal point betweenmy legs. “You’re a, uh … groupie of his?”
Quicklysnapping his eyes open, he shot me a narrowed glance. “Agroupie? I toldyou, I’m a drummer.”
“Iknow that,” I replied brusquely. “But you said you’ve heard that song everynight, so …”
Oneside of his perfectly symmetrical mouth curled upward as he shook his head.Criticizing me with a smile. “I play for the band that opened for him,sweetheart.”
Iwanted to berate him for the bold use of a pet name. His superior tone left aheated dread coiling in my belly, warning me against getting closer to him. ButI didn’t scold him; I couldn’t. Not after I’d already acted like a controlfreak at the office.
Pursingmy lips and swallowing the vile words rising in my throat, I tipped my head,eyeing him with intrigue. “What band?”
“Everheard of Devin O’Leary?”
“Uh,yes, actually. I have,” I widened my eyes, surprised by the strange turn ofevents. “He’s Greyson’s favorite.”
Sebastiancocked a brow as he leaned forward, pressing his tattooed elbows to what wereprobably tattooed knees. Eyeing me intently, I imagined him undressing me withthose chocolate-covered eyes, peeling back the layers to find the screaminggirl inside. I could’ve been dressed in a parka and ski pants and I stillwould’ve felt naked and vulnerable.
“Getthe hell out.”
“Seriously.He loves him. And you’re …” Recollection practically smacked me in the forehead.“Wait a minute. You’rethatSebastian Moore?”
“Isthere another I don’t know about?” His teeth sunk into the fullness of hisbottom lip, now thoroughly amused by my surprise and amounting excitement.
“No,no, no,” I chanted, shaking my head and pressing my hands to my cheeks.“Greyson isobsessedwith you. You don’t even understand. He startedplaying the drums several years ago because ofyou.”
Twistinghis mouth into a contemplative frown, he slowly bobbed his head. “You’re seriousabout this?” He lifted his eyebrows with the question.
Inodded eagerly, knowing for certain there was no way I was letting this guy getaway. Even if my body did want me to get a restraining order and move twocountries over.
“Heloves you,” I stated plainly.
“Well,shit,” he replied, stunned and startled. “When the hell do I get to meet him?”
6
sebastian
My own eagernesssurprised the shit out of me.I knew I had entertained the fantasy of family, someone to greet me at home aftera long quarter-year on the road. But I thought that’s all it was—a fantasy. Inever expected that the moment it became a reality, I’d be so ready to jumpinto the daddy role.
Apparently,Tabby wasn’t so eager to toss me into it either. I read it in the tightdownward curl of her lips and tense cock of her head. The swaying of her stilettoedfoot had stopped and now it was still. Frozen.
Thewoman was a goddamn statue.
“Or,”I backpedaled, “I could wait.”
Shereanimated with a shake of her head. “No, it’s not …”
Herwords faded into the Counting Crows tune now playing in the background. I couldimagine what she intended to say:It’s not you. But itwas. I wasa stranger. The kid didn’t know me. I’d been absent from his life for fifteenyears. How the hell could I expect to just drop myself into his life now withoutwarning?
