Reckless (25 page)

I shook my head. “Being a celebrity isn’t as simple as it once was. It used to be that you had a talent, people liked it, and you excelled accordingly. Now, it’s almost more
about being adept at traversing the social waters. You need talent, and the ability to sway the public. Nick is good at the manipulation part, and you’re really good at the talent part. You
let him do his thing, you do your thing, and I’m sure everything will work out fine.”

Kellan gave me a grin that finally looked happy. “I can’t tell if you’re wise . . . or still naïve.”

I lifted my chin. “I’m gonna say wise.” Kellan laughed while a thought struck me. “Oh . . . will we still be able to get married? With a ceremony and everything?” I
chewed on my lip. “Because my mother will have an aneurism if I try to back out of it.”

Leaning in, Kellan kissed my cheek. “We’re still getting married, Kiera. He only told me not to say anything to the public.” Cupping my cheek, he whispered, “And I plan
on saying ‘I do’ just to you.” He grinned. “And a few hundred friends and family.”

Groaning, I laid my head down on the seat. “Oh God.”

Kellan poked me in the ribs. “You’ll be fine. If I can do all this, then surely you can manage pledging your undying love, devotion and fealty to me in front of a small
crowd.”

Pulling back, I snorted. “Fealty?”

Kellan gave me an innocent smile. “What? Isn’t that one of the vows?”

When we arrived at the radio station, there was a swarm of people waiting outside. They were being contained on the sidewalk by thick velvet ropes while a couple of fresh-faced college kids
wearing colorful lanyards around their necks walked back and forth along the other side of the rope—interns for the radio station, probably.

We all gaped at the assemblage as we watched Nick’s car pull up and drop Tory off. A second man exited her vehicle, grabbing two guitar cases from the back; the boys were going to play one
of their songs live this morning, after the station debuted their single with Sienna.

“Are all those people here for us?” Evan murmured.

Nobody knew, so nobody answered him.

When our car pulled up and let us out, the crowd of women started screaming. It hurt my ears from inside the car. I couldn’t believe that so many people were hanging around a radio station
at this hour of the day, just hoping to catch a glimpse of the D-Bags. When Kellan stepped out of the car, the earlier outburst was silent in comparison. My ears were ringing when I stepped onto
the sidewalk.

Kellan held his hand out for me, his small act of rebellion since Nick hadn’t given him any warnings on PDA, but Tory pulled him forward before I could grab his hand. The front doors of
the station opened at the same time, and Sienna walked out, flanked by her two bodyguards. Not realizing she would be at this interview, I was surprised to see her. I guess most of this crowd was
here for her then. God, she wasn’t going to be on the entire promo tour, was she?

Kellan seemed surprised as well. Especially when Sienna flung her arms around his neck and kissed each one of his cheeks. Glancing around, I noticed the scores of cell phones capturing every
moment of the “lovebirds” reconnecting. The crowd of girls jumped up and down in their excitement of watching this breathtaking couple in action. Farther back in the crowd, I noticed a
man with a high-end camera. He had to be paparazzi or with an entertainment magazine; he had a satisfied smile on his face as he clicked photo after photo of Kellan and Sienna.

And Sienna, ever aware of her surroundings, gave him the money shot. Swishing her long dark hair away so her face was clearly visible, she leaned up and finished her greeting with Kellan by
placing a light kiss on his lips. Kellan pushed her away as he stepped back from her, but the damage was done—I was positive the photographer had captured the moment. As Kellan started to
scowl, Sienna pulled him into the building and away from the tittering public’s sight.

Feeling more like the band’s forgotten assistant than the lead singer’s wife, I hurried after the group. Kellan broke apart from Sienna in the lobby. “What was that?” he
snapped at her.

Sienna patted his cheek. “That, love, was marketing.” Kellan’s frown deepened and Sienna’s full lips turned down. “Relax. It’s a harmless photograph to
titillate the masses.”

Kellan shook his head. “Not on the lips. They belong to my wife.”

Sienna smirked, and maybe it was my imagination, but I swear she was thinking,
They won’t be in a couple of weeks when you’re rolling around in bed with me.
“Fine.
How’s your voice? Ready to do an acoustic set to kick off our single?”

That took me back. I hadn’t realized that they’d be performing the new single this morning. By the blank look on Kellan’s face, he hadn’t been told about it either. The
plan had been to play one of their album cuts once the station played the official recording of the duet. Guess Sienna had decided that she wanted a flashier debut of her sure-to-be-hot song.

Before Kellan could answer her, Sienna swept him away. Kellan looked back at me as I followed behind the entourage. I gave him a warm smile, letting him know I was fine. Sienna and her
bodyguards practically shoved him into an elevator while the rest of the D-Bags got into a second one. When both sets of doors closed before I could get into either one, I sighed and waited for an
empty car with some of the interns. They giggled and I heard one intern whisper, “Holy crap, Sienna’s boyfriend is hot!”

Not seeing Tory anywhere around, I told them, “They’re not dating.” Nick hadn’t told me that
I
had to be silent, although it was implied in every stare he gave
me. I didn’t want to spoil anything for Kellan by outing that we were married, so I didn’t say anything else, but it didn’t matter anyway. The interns looked back at me with
humoring eyes; they clearly didn’t believe me.

When I finally got up to the floor of the building that the radio station recorded from, Kellan and the boys were already in the room with Sienna, wearing headphones and making small talk with
the disc jockeys. Their instruments were brought in and set up, and I quietly sat on a stool in the corner, absorbing it all.

The boys all introduced themselves. After Kellan said his name, the female DJ told him, “It really is a shame you are so unattractive, Kellan. It’s a good thing we’re on the
radio, ladies, because you would all genuinely feel sorry for this man.” By the sarcasm dripping off her voice, the entire listening audience had to know she was joking.

Kellan smiled and shook his head. She groaned. “Dear, God . . . you’re killing me.”

Her male counterpart held his arm out like he was holding her back. “Easy, there, let’s not’s mount the artists before they’ve even had a chance to play.”

The female DJ let out an exaggerated sigh. “I’ll try, but you know me and good-looking men.”

The male DJ immediately added, “The whole city knows about you and good-looking men.” Kellan and the guys chuckled and he added, “Sienna Sexton is also here in the studio, and,
on behalf of men listening everywhere, can I just say . . . you are smoking hot!”

Sienna flashed him a smile as she brushed her dark hair away from her shoulder. “Ah, thank you . . . so sweet,” she cooed in her charming accent.

Pointing a finger between Sienna and Kellan, the woman asked, “So, Sienna, Kellan, rumor has it the two of you are an item?”

Sienna looked at Kellan right as he looked at her. Kellan grit his jaw. Sienna shrugged and said, “Well, he is quite . . . edible.” She looked back at the woman jockey with a
conspiratorial grin. “I would have to be an idiot to pass him up, right?”

The woman leaned in, like she and Sienna were best buds. “Is that a yes, then?”

Sienna gave her a coy smile, but didn’t answer her. Probably hoping for something juicy that she could talk about later, the woman turned her attention to Kellan and said, “So, come
on, give me the scoop, Kellan. What’s going on with you and Sienna?”

Looking very uncomfortable, Kellan scratched his head. Tory was standing beside me, but she looked like a coiled viper, ready to strike out at the DJs if they asked just the wrong question, or
at Kellan, if he answered in a way that the label didn’t want him to. Just standing beside her pent-up energy made me nervous. Finally, Kellan murmured, “Ah . . . our single is out
today . . . the album drops in September.”

Both DJs laughed at his sad attempt to change the subject, knowing smiles on their faces. I felt a sharp sting jolt through my body, like a Band-Aid had just been ripped off of my soul.
He’d done it. By dodging their question, Kellan had just confirmed his relationship with Sienna. Where that was going to go from there, I didn’t know, but I knew it had just started.
The match had been struck with Kellan’s answer; I just prayed the resulting fire was small and easily contained.

Kellan looked over at me, an apology in his eyes. I kept up my encouraging smile. It didn’t matter what the public thought. We knew the truth.

The DJs spent the next few minutes talking with each boy in turn. Evan seemed completely at ease as he gushed about Jenny. Matt seemed like he hated every second of being interviewed, and was
even vaguer about his life than Kellan. Griffin ate up the attention like a starving dog downing its bowl of kibble. He told all of Los Angeles about his “availability” should any of
them want a private performance. But then he went on to mention that he was about to have to kid with his girl. I had no idea if he was being serious about his single status, or if he was just
playing up the rock star image. Either way, I was surprised that he mentioned Anna and his soon-to-be child.

The boys set up to play after that. Griffin and Matt both grabbed acoustic guitars while Evan sat behind a compact drum that one of the assistants must have brought in. Kellan stood at a
microphone, looking comfortable and relaxed. I would be sweating bullets if I were him, about to perform to thousands of people, maybe hundreds of thousands if they broadcasted online. And
performing acoustically was even more of a challenge; no searing electric guitar to hide your flaws. But Kellan was pretty flawless, so I knew he’d do well.

When the DJs gave them the go-ahead, Evan started the intro. Griffin and Matt joined in on their part with Kellan a few beats after them. The first portion of the song was quiet, but
Kellan’s smooth voice still filled the small space. When the song switched to a more emotional section, his voice was powerful, commanding, and yet heartbreaking too. As I knew he would be,
Kellan was perfect. What the audience was now discovering about him was something that I’d known from the very beginning—Kellan was so much more than a pretty face. He had genuine
talent.

Equally talented, Sienna nailed her part when it came up. The two singers were standing side-by-side, each lightly keeping time to the music with their bodies, but when the song switched into a
battle of wills, the pair turned to sing directly at each other. Maybe it was the moment, maybe it was the song, maybe it was the look on Kellan’s face as he sneered at Sienna, but I had
goose bumps by the end.

I felt like clapping when it was over, but the DJs immediately started in on the praises, so I didn’t. I wanted the whole world to hear how amazing the D-Bags were. And it looked like the
world
was
hearing it. A computer screen in front of the male DJ showed a never-ending stream of text messages from listeners. The feedback was unbelievable.
“Wow! I can’t
believe that was live! Who are these guys, because I need to buy their album! Sienna was great, but Kellan . . . good God! If he looks half as good as he sounds, I might die right on the spot!
D-Bag fan for life!”

The accolades went on and on and on. Everyone was blown away. My chest was bursting apart, I was so damn proud of him!

The guys packed up, then said their goodbyes. Kellan was all smiles as we left the studio. Scooping me up, he twirled me in the air as members of our assemblage passed by. Sienna eyed us with a
strange expression, but didn’t say anything. He set me down by the elevators just as a car dinged open. Ducking us inside, Kellan hit the “close door” button before anyone else
could enter. He waved at Sienna and Tory through the crack, then twisted to me.

A little boy grin on his face, he asked, “How was it?”

I shook my head, wondering if he was aware that my answer to that question was always going to be the same. Tossing my arms around his neck as the falling elevator made my stomach shift, I told
him, “Amazing! Perfect! Wonderful! I could go on and on.”

Pressing me against the back wall, Kellan murmured, “Maybe later,” as he leaned in to kiss me. He stopped right before our lips met. I think I whimpered. Pulling back, he seemed
concerned. “Sienna kissed me . . . I feel like I should bleach my lips before I kiss you.”

Smirking at him, I pulled his mouth to mine. “I think I’ll live.”

As our mouths moved together, I silently wished that we were on the top floor of a very tall building. As Kellan’s tongue brushed against mine, his hips pushing me against the wall as his
fingers slipped under my shirt to caress the indentation of my lower back, I knew that no building on earth could have possibly been tall enough.

When the car stopped, Kellan released me. Face contrite, he whispered, “I’m sorry.”

Feeling a little drunk from our short, heated moment, I responded with a laugh. “You don’t ever have to be sorry for that.”

Pulling me past the small swarm of people trying to enter the elevator, Kellan shook his head. “No, for earlier, in the interview . . . when I didn’t say anything about you.”
Stopping us, he twisted to look at me. “I really wanted to.”

Cupping his cheeks, I firmly told him, “Don’t do that. Don’t turn this moment into something you feel guilty about. I told you that I understand, and I meant it. You have to do
what you have to do right now.” Grinning wide, I added, “And did you hear the reaction? The listeners loved you for you in there. Once your album is released, you can do and say
whatever you want, and it won’t matter . . . because they’ll love
you
. . . not you and Sienna.”