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Chapter One

This is bullshit, Gabe thought

Lounging in his favorite recliner, he crossed his legs at the ankle and took another draw off his Corona as he tried not to glare at the latest intruder on Sole Regret’s tour bus They had yet another woh that the pregnant chick had decided to set up ca some red-headed ice queen who’d taken up permanent residence at his hip, and Shade’s ex-sister-in-law turned fk-buddy kept showing up at their gigs unannounced He was sure that if Adam’s wo she was mad at hi Melanie that she couldn’t join them on the road That the band had a rule about wohtly so

Well, screw that If the rest of the guys were allowed a little fe hours between concerts, then he sure as hell wasn’t going to upset Melanie again byher feel unwelcome She wasshe even wanted to ride on the tour bus Spending countless hours on the road with a bunch of guys wasn’t exactly the perpetual party everyone thought it was

Gabe set his beer aside and pulled his phone out of his pocket He dialed Melanie’s nu to consult the band on this He didn’t care if they thought he was puy-whipped, or worse, in love with the sweet little accountant he’dMelanie to the show that night The guys hadn’t bothered asking if their women could join the tour, so why should he be the only one following the rules?

“Hey, you,” Melanie answered Her soft voice le with pleasure “I was just thinking about you I can’t wait to see you toht Did you make it to New Orleans?”

“We’re on the road somewhere in southern Louisiana We should be there in an hour or two Are you at work?”

“Yeah, but I can take a little break,” she said “This spreadsheet can wait”

He was counting on that “Can it wait until Monday?”

“Huh? Why?”

“I uys hadn’t heard that because even though he illing to go to bat for Melanie, he’d be much more comfortable if he kept his love life and his band mates as far apart as possible

If any of the guys had heard what he’d just said to Melanie, no one said anything Not even Oho lived for oing ballistic any tihtest weakness for a wo Dawn’s hand in front of everyone and no one had said a thing about it And Daas gazing into Kellen’s eyes as if entranced and speaking to him in a soft, sensual tone Or she hen she wasn’t too busy laughing at Owen’s stream of jokes Noasn’t that just a homey trio?

Granted, Gabe was in a bad es froht He hadn’t seen her in five days and five long, lonely, cock-in-a-perhts The woman had hi truly eret’s rare nights off just to see her

“I erie shop on the way ho to keep it a secret and surprise you with —”

“Don’t!” he interrupted “I can’t take another set of blue balls, Mel”