Black Falcon: Complete Series Collection (17 page)

My eyes scan the woman a little more closely. Her body is amazing, which is probably why she feels the need to show it off, but what else could he possibly see in her? For that matter, if he’s been with women who look like that, what is he doing with an average girl like me?

She turns toward me and smirks when she notices my stare. I’m tempted to smack it right off her face. “You can run off now.” She points her gaze back in Noel’s direction. He’s still staring at us. “I think we both know who’s getting Noel tonight.”

My blood boils, and my hands ball into fists. “What?”

She folds her arms over her chest. “Come on. Don’t play dumb. We both know I can do way more for him than, well”—she looks me up and down and laughs—“well, than you. I’m more his speed. You aren’t ready for the big leagues, Princess.”

All of my coherent thoughts leave me. I want her to stop talking. Doesn’t she think I already know I’m not worthy of Noel? What gives her the right to rub it in my face? I don’t know where she gets off. Noel wants me, not her. I know that. I do. But the need to help her shut her mouth rips through me. I stand there, fists clenched, praying she just walks away from me.

“Go on.” She uncrosses her arms and shoves my shoulder a little.

The second she lays her skanky hand on me, I snap. My fist whips up and makes contact with her face before I even realize what I’ve done. She stumbles back but manages to stay on her feet. Blood trickles from her right nostril, and she wipes it away.

Her eyes blaze with fury. “You bitch.”

The woman lunges for me and shoves my shoulders. The electrical cords behind me tangle my footing, and I fall back. When I hit the floor, she jumps on me. My hair ends up in her hand, and she yanks my head to the side before she smacks my face. The blow rattles my skull. I’ve never been hit, and I’m surprised by how much it stings. I’m desperate to get her off me. I buck my hips when she draws back to hit me again. Before she has the chance, she flies off me.

I scramble to sit up. After I’m up on my knees, I push forward after her before she has the chance to come back at me. Two large hands grab me under my arms and yank me to my feet. Adrenaline flows through my veins, and my eyes stay locked on the center of my anger. One of the crew members helps the blonde up, and I notice her “dress” is torn and hangs off her body. Her bikini top is also out of place, exposing one of her nipples.

She readjusts her clothes and scowls at me.

I didn’t even notice that the band had stopped playing until that moment, and every eye in the place, along with every camera, points in my direction.

“Lane! Answer me. Are you okay?” Noel asks. My eyes dart to his face—his brow knitted in confusion and concern. I didn’t even realize he’s holding me. “Are you hurt?”

I shake my head and gaze toward the crowd. Somehow, my little run-in with this chick ended up onstage in front of all these people. We must’ve rolled right on out here.

Trampy girl flips me off before she turns away, and a security guard escorts her off the stage.

The impatient crowd grows louder, and Riff picks up his guitar. “Noel, man, we need to wrap this show up. She’s fine.”

Noel’s mouth pulls into a tight line. He doesn’t want to leave me alone, but he knows the crowd will rip this place apart if they don’t get the show they paid for. He touches my cheek and I flinch. “Go to the bus and put some ice on that. We’ll talk as soon as the set is over.”

I don’t want to go. What I really want is answers about who that woman is and why she thinks she has claim over him. But now isn’t the time. I know that. Not with twenty thousand witnesses. Instead of making a scene, I nod, and Noel kisses my forehead.

“Ice. I mean it,” he says as he steps away.

A collective sigh echoes around the arena, and I want to puke. Can I deal with fighting women day in and day out over Noel? This isn’t me. I’m not the crazy girl willing to fight every woman who looks at her man. What’s wrong with me?

A couple security guards escort me off the stage and ask me if I’m all right.

“Sorry about that. Women. What can you do?” Noel says, and the crowd laughs. I know he doesn’t mean anything by it, but it stings a little. “Bet you guys didn’t know you’d get two shows today.”

The crowd laughs even harder, and then the drums kick up the beat. I want to die.

Back on the bus, I manage to find a baggie and stuff it with ice. It stings when it touches my cheek, but the numbness on my skin is welcome. I can’t even make it one day without making enemies. I plop down on the couch and close my eyes. This day can’t possibly get any worse.

There’s a knock on the outside door just as I get comfortable. That’s strange. I’ve never heard anyone knock on that door. Most of the guys come and go as they please on the bus, but the show is still going strong, so I know it can’t be anyone associated with the band. I don’t think I can handle any more crazed fans today.

I shove up from the couch and twist the door handle. On the other side stands a very well put together Diana Swagger. Her red hair sits in a low bun against her neck, and her pressed, tan suit flatters her curvy figure. I look down at my torn black tank and jean shorts and panic surges through me. I’m a freaking disaster. I can only imagine what my hair and face look like.

Diana removes her Gucci sunglasses. “What the hell happened to you?”

I pull the ice pack away from my face and switch it to my left hand. I rub the moisture off my right hand onto my shorts before I stick it out to greet her. “Hi, Ms. Swagger. Won’t you come in?”

Diana raises an eyebrow and doesn’t make a move to shake my hand. “You’re a complete disaster.” She scrunches her nose while she digs her phone from her purse. I drop my hand to my side. “Harold? Yes. Hi. I found her. She’s not...” She pauses and glances at me. “I’m not sure if this is going to work. You may need to come down here and get this account straightened out before we lose it completely.”

Oh no. She’s firing me already? My heart leaps into my throat. If I don’t work for her, I have no reason to stay on tour with Noel. “Please, wait. This isn’t normally me. I wasn’t expecting you this early. Please come in, give me a chance to explain. I’m begging you.”

Diana stares at me. “Harold. I’ll call you back.” She ends her call and shoves her phone in her purse. “Better be a damn good explanation.”

Relief floods me as she brushes onto Big Bertha and I close the door.

Diana looks around the bus. “You share this space with four men?”

I step around the counter and stand across from her. “It’s not so bad. Noel and I share the bedroom in the back. The rest of the guys sleep in the foxholes.”

Diana nods but doesn’t appear surprised. “So you and Noel are an item?”

I tilt my head. “Well, yes. But you already knew that, right? ”

“I had an idea.” She adjusts the purse straps on her shoulder. “That explains his motivation to get you here. Typically we don’t allow our employees to have personal relationships with our clients. This account with Black Falcon is rather large, and since Noel Falcon chose you personally, I have to let it slide. Just be warned, if Noel wants you gone, you’ll be terminated. That is not up for negotiation.”

I swallow hard. Lose my boyfriend and I lose my job. Those are some hefty stakes. “Understood.”

Diana sighs. “Good. Now that we’re the same page, let’s go over a few things, shall we?” She sets her purse on the counter and pulls out an iPad. After a few clicks, she sets it on the counter and turns it in my direction. “Here is your contract. H.R. apparently forgot to go over it with you, which is why I got so lucky to bring it to you myself. It’s standard, really. Basically, all it says is that you won’t sell, trade, or disclose any marketing campaigns we are working on for any of our clients. It also has a non-compete clause.”

“Non-compete?” I understood everything else.

“That means if you leave or become terminated, you can’t join a competing marketing firm within the state of New York for three years.”

I swallow hard. New York is the Mecca of advertising. Sure, there are firms in other states, but my dream is to work for a firm in New York. That’s where all the action is and where I live with Aubrey. But this job is my foot in the door. It’s my shot. I have to take it. Noel and I will be fine, right? “Where do I sign?”

Diana hands me a pen to sign the electronic document. Once I’m done, she turns the device toward her. “Let me just email this back to the main office, and we’ll get down to business.”

We chat for the next thirty minutes about how I’m expected to find out what the client—Noel—wants and how he wants his charity represented. Apparently, he told them he wanted me to have complete creative control over the campaign.

My stomach twists into a knot. This is a lot of responsibility for a first job. I was expecting to have help, but Diana makes it sound as though I’m on my own. If this falls apart, it will totally be my fault.

Diana checks her watch. “Any questions?”

Only a million, but none I can ask without making myself look even more foolish than I already do. “No, ma’am. I think you’ve made things quite clear.”

She stands and straps her purse over her right shoulder. “If you have any questions, feel free to contact me.” She hands me her business card, but I don’t think she’s sincere about me calling her. “My car is waiting. I have a flight in an hour or so.”

I raise my eyebrows. “They didn’t allow you much time, did they?”

Diana cocks her head to the side. “If it’d been any other client, you would’ve only received a phone call, not a personal visit. That’s how important this client is. Mr. Falcon’s happiness means a great deal to me. So make sure he stays that way.”

There it is again, the little jab that I only have my job because of Noel. Apparently my marketing degree from the University of Texas means nothing. I follow Diana out of the bus and watch her get into a black Town Car. She doesn’t even look back, which confirms her pure loathing of me. Great.

A shriek grabs my attention. A group of twenty or so females rush Noel as he makes his way toward the bus. He stops and takes a few quick pictures with the group, along with autographing a few things, before he glances at the bus. A shy wave is the best I can muster. Noel waves back while security holds back the screaming girls.

I step aside and allow Noel past me onto the bus once he breaks free from the crowd. "Hey," I say. My voice is so timid I barely recognize it myself.

To make matters worse, he doesn't say anything. This won’t be a good conversation. I climb up the steps. Noel grips the island countertop in Big Bertha's little kitchen—his full stature towering over it. He doesn’t face me, but I don’t need to see his face to tell he's angry with me.

"Noel, I'm really sorry if I embarrassed you or caused any trouble for you. That girl, she—"

"She what, Lane?" Noel snaps and spins around. "What could a fan possibly do to make you attack her at my show? I thought you were different. You're the mature one in this relationship, right?"

Tears brim in my eyes. "Noel, I'm sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen. The things she said made me snap. I know that's no excuse, but hearing another woman say she's going to sleep with you is just too much for me to handle. I acted before I thought."

Noel sighs and threads his fingers into his sweaty hair. "Jealousy? That's what set you off? Jesus, don't you know me at all? Why do you doubt my feelings for you? You always think you're second. No girl can ever compare to you."

I shake my head. "I never said that."

"You don't have to. Every time I have to a choice between you and something else, you always think you'll be second. Four years ago on the dock, you left me because you said I would always choose music over you. That we’d never have a good life because you’d always come second. You told me you were walking away because I wasn’t thinking about you and our future. Today just proves you still think that. That you aren’t my everything.”

My tears fall at his words. Is it always me who doesn’t love him enough, not the other way around like I’ve always believed? My shoulders shake as a sob escapes my throat. Oh, God. I’ve ruined this. This man that I have all these feelings for thinks I don’t care about him enough. He has no clue that I love him with every ounce of my soul. I want him to trust me.

Noel wraps his arms around me. “Shhhhhhh. Baby, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. You just mean so much to me. The thought of you thinking you aren’t my number one drives me crazy. Only you, Lane. You’re all I’ll ever want.”

My fingers claw into his back as I cry harder and think the exact same thought.

––––––––

I
sit on our bed and watch Noel pack an overnight bag for his trip to Tucson. It’s only for one night, but I know that it’ll feel like an eternity.

Noel zips up his bag, and my heart sinks. It’s time for him to go. “You got everything you need?” I ask. I wish he’ll say he can’t go but then feel guilty that I want to stop him from seeing a sick fan.

He stares at me and licks his bottom lip. “Not everything.”

A blush creeps over me. “Noel...”

He grabs my hand and pulls me to my feet. Every nerve in my body zings as he holds me tight. The things this man can do to me with a simple touch...

Noel’s fingers trace the exposed skin on my lower back. “What do you say? One more time for the road?”

I giggle before his soft lips meet mine. “Your car is waiting, and you’ll miss your flight.”

The thick muscles in his shoulders bunch under my hands as he shrugs. “I’ll be really fast.”

My fingers thread into the hair on the nape of his neck and Noel grins, knowing he’s won this little battle. His hands knead my hips and urge them forward just as his lips attack mine. Fire burns in my core as I feel Noel’s arousal press against me. His tongue flicks against mine, and I hitch a leg around his hip. Large hands cup my butt and lift me off the ground. Instantly, I wrap both legs around him and grind against him, wishing there weren’t so many clothes between us. Noel spins and plops down on the bed with me on his lap. He pops the button on my jean shorts and unzips them, exposing my thong.