He chuckles, all throaty, and it scatters goosebumps over my arms. I try to pull my hand back but he’s got one hell of a grip. “No, that’s not it. I can’t stand the way chicks sing.”
“Right ...” I manage to contain my sarcasm and I’m proud of myself for holding back the eye roll. I pop my eyes open and nod while still meeting his stare. Another yank of my arm and he still doesn’t let go but raises his brow in amusement.Fucking rock stars. I gasp and force a burst of excitement onto my face. “Oh, I know! Maybe from the porn I did?”
“Fuck!” Someone groans and it’s so difficult not to laugh. Trent’s eyes widen with alarm and what could almost be construed as respectful admiration. Not exactly the reaction I was going for, but it’s still funny as hell. I finally have my hand back and sneak a glance at each of the guys. Austin narrows his gaze and I’d place money on the fact he’s trying to recall every porn clip he’s ever jacked off to in hopes that my face rings a bell. Sean can barely meet my gaze, and the old guy, Iz, a roadie from back in my dad’s day, leers like the washed up bastard he really is. Good. Let him lust after someone who could be his child. That’s better than him making the connection.
“Fucking with you.” I raise one eyebrow and grin with one flick of my lip ring.
“Oh.” Austin’s disappointment falls with his concentration.
Trent’s lips curl up with humor, and I exhale the relief that no one knows who I really am.
“Hey, wait a sec! You’re Richie Sands’ daughter!” Iz shouts with a clap of his hands.
Shit.
“Fuck! That’s it!” Trent appraises me with that look of respect that I can’t stand. I glance at Amie but she won’t meet my eyes. Fucking hell. She better not have said a word.
“Shit. Your dad is a rock legend,” Sean whispers reverently.
“So I’ve heard.” Now I really do roll my eyes.
“Fuck, that’s awesome. Do we get to meet him?” Austin bounces on the balls of his feet.
“I have no clue.” I flip my lip ring again and try to catch Amie’s eyes. I can’t deal with this.
“Won’t he come see you on tour?” Austin says and when I exhale a deep breath to glare in his direction my eyes catch Trent’s inquisitive stare. He tips his head and I have to look away because the way he stares, it’s as if he can see more than I want, more than I’m willing to give, and it’s completely disarming.
“Lexi and her father are estranged.” Amie commands their attention. “We won’t be mentioning her relationship to him on this tour. It’s actually in her contract with Off Track Records, and since you’re clients of our label, that agreement extends to all of you. Your manager will be providing you with NDAs to sign before the tour starts, but it’s best if we stop name dropping now. If not, you’ll be held liable for damages.”
Austin raises his hands. “Whoa, no need to threaten lawsuits.” I hate the tension that fills this space. Way to make a first impression. If it weren’t for that roadie, I’d have been in the clear.
Amie smiles, softer this time. “Not a threat, Mr. Jones. Merely informing you of what’s at stake.”
“But won’t that be sort of impossible to enforce?” Trent speaks up. “Like it took us less than fifteen minutes to place her. You don’t think the press will jump all over that story once they make the connection?”
God, I hope not.
“I actually don’t get mistaken for his daughter. Ever. Mostly, I’m confused with another famous performer, which is even more fucking annoying.” I’m rambling, but that’s just to mask how this conversation is filling my gut with dread.
“Oh fuck, nowthatI can see.” Trent nods, a gleam of humor in his eyes.
Shit, now why did I say that?I grit my teeth and step closer to the cocky front man. “Say it,” I dare him. “Fucking say it and see what happens.” I can’t help the temper I have. The one that flares when being teased by a guy. It’s been a part of my DNA for as long as I can remember. Someone else may back down, but I step forward, fists ready and waiting to swing. Trent’s smirk is so fucking arrogant that I want nothing more than to swipe it right off his famous face.
He steps closer, as though he can tell he’s getting under my skin, and lifts his long fingers to grab a lock of my hair. He lets it slide between them. “You know, if you wore a black wig you’d look just like—”
Danika, the next twenty-something pop princess.He doesn’t even have to speak the name and I see red. I fucking hate when people say I look like her. Maybe because she’s so pop and I’m not. Maybe because I don’t want to be seen as a cheap knockoff or copycat. Either way, I don’t take a moment to think before I grab the front of Trent’s tight ass jeans.
“Fucking say it and I’ll squeeze and twist.” I narrow my gaze and his smirk falters a second before it widens.
“Maybe I’m into that,” he teases, unwilling to back down. Fucking A, he’s as stubborn as I am. That won’t be good on the road.
I lift my brow and his eyes widen with alarm. His hand wraps around my wrist and I know that I’m seconds away from having my hand forcibly removed. And probably receiving a verbal thrashing from Amie on the ride home. This isn’t the way to make friends but I can’t help myself. I’m not backing down. The other guys cackle like a bunch of prepubescent boys.
“Dude, your balls have had a bad week!” Austin shouts and Sean doubles over in laughter.
Trent dips his chin so the scruff from not shaving barely scrapes against my cheek. “You gonna hold ’em like that all night or what?” he whispers against my ear before he easily pulls my hand a safe distance from his balls.
“So, this tour’s gonna be fucking awesome!” Austin shouts with more laughter.
“Come on, Lexi. Meet and greet is over. She’ll see you on tour.” Amie grabs my arm and drags me out of the basement before my mind and temper can come to grip with how all of that just went down. I think I’ve met my match in Trent, and I think I’d rather have not.
Yeah, this tour is going to be something, all right.
