Except … shit. Maybe she’s not unattached.
Maybe that’s why she shoved me away so hard.
But if that’s the case, why kiss me back in the first place?
Because she definitely kissed me back.
All eyes swing my way, and the laughter dies on Violeta’s face. Her arms cross, closing her sweater around her like a shield as she surveys me cooly.
Well, fine. Fucking fine. That’s the way it’s going to be? I make an honest mistake, and now I’m a pariah?
Vindictive determination solidifies in my middle.
She might have a stellar ass and kiss like she needs me more than air, but with that look on her face, neither of us will ever experience that again.
She wants to play it this way? Like I’m the bad guy?
Then I’ll be the fucking bad guy.
Chapter Four
Viola
I’m laughing at Aaron’s story about his daughter and Danny’s son when everyone’s eyes shift. The room goes from relaxed and carefree to tense and stiff in the space of a heartbeat.
Or maybe that’s just me.
Because I turn to see what everyone’s looking at, and it’s Mason sauntering through the door, his eyes bloodshot, face scruffy, shoving his fingers through his dark hair, his eyes locked on me.
My laughter cuts off abruptly, and I pull my sweater closed, because the temperature of the room just plummeted from the baleful glare Mason’s throwing my way.
Irked by the fact that he’s glaring at me, I narrow my eyes and return his stare. What right does he have to be mad at me? What did I do to him? If anyone has a right to be mad out of the two of us, it’s me. I went to his dressing room to introduce myself and check if he needed anything before the show.
And he assaulted me.
Okay, okay, fine, that might be a little overdramatic. Because the memory of that kiss kept me up far later than it should have last night.
But that doesn’t change the fact that I wasn’t there for him to kiss. I was there to do my job.
And then the way he talked about me later …
I’d been almost ready to forgive him for the kissing incident, but just like that, all goodwill vanished. Poof. Gone, like it never existed.
But dammit. Why does he have to be so flipping hot? That glare, that scruff, the way his hair flops over his forehead even though he just shoved it back … he could be on the front cover of a magazine. Especially if he were shirtless, like he was last night …
Marcus clears his throat, and I rip my eyes away from Mason, my cheeks growing pink. Again. Dammit.
Dammit. Dammit. Dammit.
I don’t want to be affected by a—a—slut like him.
That’s not a word I like to use, because no one should be ashamed of their sexuality. But he’s clearly not ashamed, so I don’t feel so bad.
And just because he likes to get backstage blowjobs and then turn around and try to screw some other “piece of ass,” as he so indelicately put it, doesn’t mean I want to sleep with someone like that.
I mean …
No. I don’t. That would be a disaster.
And look at him. He’s still glaring at me, even as Marcus starts talking, passing around schedules. I take one on autopilot, barely listening until he says my name.
“Viola?”
“Hmm?” I give him a questioning look, and then realize he’s ceding the floor to me. Tracking through my memory, I realize he said something about me going over the schedule. “Oh! Right! Right. Sorry. Got lost in my thoughts there for a second. I’m not quite used to the late nights and early mornings yet.” Standing, I give a nervous laugh and tuck my hair behind my ear with my free hand. I keep my eyes trained on the paper. “Well, it’s all right here for you. Today’s a travel day. We’ll be loading up to go to the private airport in …” I glance at my watch, trying hard to keep my trembling under control, nerves and excitement zinging through me. I get to go to a private airport and board a private airplane. What a life.
“We know what time we’re leaving,” grumbles Mason. “We all have the fucking schedule.”
My cheeks heat again, but I refuse to give him the satisfaction of looking at him. “Right. Of course. Well then, I’m not sure what else you want me to say. I’ve ordered a new tablet, and I should have it tonight, so I’ll be able to access Blaire’s notes and files more easily from the shared folder she set up for me. If there are any changes to your preferences, please let me know. I’m here for whatever you need.”
Mason grumbles something that sounds suspiciously like, “Ha. I wish.”
Once again, I ignore him, looking at everyone except him and offering the best smile I can muster. “I really appreciate you giving me a chance. I know I’m new to this, but I’m smart and a quick learner, and I really believe that we’ll be running smoothly in no time.”
“You already passed the interview. You don’t need to sell us on being our assistant,” Mason says, this time not even bothering to grumble.
Marcus clears his throat meaningfully and shoots a glare at Mason, who either doesn’t notice or doesn’t care. He stops making comments, though, so I’ll take it.
Smiling at me, Marcus stands again. “The show last night went great. It was a fantastic way to kick off this stint. Let’s keep that same energy everywhere else. It’ll be harder as we go, since it’s longer and more heavily scheduled to make up for our extended time off so Danny and Ava could welcome their newest addition.” Marcus smiles at Danny, who ducks his head to hide his grin as Aaron nudges him.
I haven’t met Danny’s wife and new baby yet, since I arrived at the venue in LA last night with my packed suitcase and jumped right in. My mom and
