Total pages in book: 91
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 88225 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 441(@200wpm)___ 353(@250wpm)___ 294(@300wpm)
“Hey, you all right?” Bishop asks, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.
“Um, yeah. I’m fine.”
“Here, let me get that,” he says and takes my suitcases. “No laptop bag?”
“No, I didn’t think I’d have time to use it, so I shipped it ahead. Not like I need to check work emails or anything,” I murmur the last part under my breath.
“Cool, did you need anything else?”
“No, I think that’s about it.”
“Come, I’ll introduce you to the guys. I think you’ll be more comfortable once meeting everyone.”
I nod and bite my lip. I don’t believe anything is going to make me more comfortable with this. That is until we walk over to the group of guys joking and horsing around.
Bishop stops in front of them and I stop at his side. He places a hand on my back and it’s like my entire body comes alive and I’m hyperaware of him.
I don’t take it as sexual tension. I don’t know this guy and have barely given attention to his physical presence. Okay, maybe I have just a little.
However, his touch has a comforting feeling I’m a little thrown by. I almost want to turn into him and snuggle into his side while whispering the word safe. I shake the feeling off. I’m probably just in my feelings because he’s saving me.
“Guys, this is Saga. She’s going to be joining us so I can get her back home to Cali safely. She’s having a rough go, so be nice,” Bishop says.
“You sure you want to ride along with this bunch?” One guy says with a mischievous smile.
Not dangerous, just teasing. He’s handsome, with dark-brown hair and light-hazel eyes. I notice he’s not as tall as Bishop, but still a lot taller than me.
“That’s our drummer, Thrush. Totally harmless and will talk your ear off if you let him.”
Thrush tips an imaginary hat. “Nice to meet you, Saga. I have all the good snacks in my stash and the movie collection when you’re bored.”
“Good to know. Thanks. It’s nice to meet you too.”
“That guy over there with the shaggy golden-blond hair is Bop, our rhythm guitarist. Not a man of many words, but when he speaks, it’s sure to be some smart-ass remark.”
Bop lifts his head from his phone and smiles, his green eyes twinkling with mirth. He gives me a wave and a wink, then goes back to his phone.
“And that’s Fendi, our bass player,” he says, pointing to the guy with all the tats and the crew cut.
Fendi is another tall and muscular guy. I chide myself again about how stupid this is. These guys are huge and it’s all of them and just little old me.
Bishop continues with his introductions. “Dwayne over there is our other bus mate. He’s the head of my security.”
“Hi,” I say and wave.
Dwayne gives a small salute. I can’t tell what color his hair and eyes are because he has on a baseball cap that’s pulled low. What I can see is that he’s huge. I get why he’s security. He probably just chucks fans aside if they get out of hand.
I notice most of the others have all loaded onto the other bus. I don’t take offense. Maybe this happens all the time and they’re over it.
That thought makes me feel self-conscious and a bit foolish. If I call my dad, he’ll send in the calvary, but at what cost? And is it safe to wait here for help to come?
“Come on, I’ll get you settled on the bus. You look exhausted,” Bishop says, placing a hand on my back.
Again, his touch brings me a sense of comfort. My feelings are so conflicted. There’s what I would have done yesterday—heck, an hour ago—and what I’m talking myself into doing now.
Bishop pauses and turns back to the others. “By the way, lay off the pranks while she’s on the bus and definitely no shitting on the bus. I mean it,” he grumbles.
The others groan and start to grumble. I don’t know whether to laugh or feel bad that I’m ruining their fun. Although, I’m not going to object to the no-shitting rule. I opt to stay silent and make my way on the bus.
After all, I don’t think I’m sticking around to make it back to Cali. I step one foot on the bus, then exhale. Well, I guess I’m getting on this bus. Here goes.
CHAPTER 2
Muse
Saga
“Okay, hold on a sec,” he says as we step into the back room of the tour bus.
I look up at him. He’s twice my size, even with my heels on. Not just tall but broad. It would be easy for him to pin me to that bed and take advantage. Yet, I feel safe with him as I did before stepping onto the bus.
Turning from him, I look around the room. It’s a lot more spacious than I thought it would be. The big king-size bed is tossed—sheets and pillows all over. Bishop places my things in the corner before he starts to pull the linens from the bed. I’m frozen as I watch him; not sure what’s going on here.