Turbulent Sea (17 page)

"I didn't handle it all that well either," Tish protested. "Seeing all those girls willing to do anything with Logan—with the others—they were like brothers to me, it was overwhelming. Maybe I shouldn't have stayed away so long, but I thought our marriage could handle it." She shook her head. "Now look at us. I'm alone and he's got a child."

"Logan has sole custody of the baby, Tish. Lucy gave up all rights to her and she doesn't want her at all. Neither does Lucy's mother. They wanted money. When Lucy found out Logan was married and he had dropped her, she went berserk. She has mental problems and I think she's all the mother can handle. If you're still married to Logan, I don't know the legal ramifications, but I think you should be able to adopt the baby easily. Maybe this is your chance. Talk to Logan about it."

Tish sighed. "That's one more tie to him."

"Is that really such a bad thing?"

Angry voices rose, and Joley looked past Tish to the three men arguing. She had never seen Brian actually lose his temper, but he shoved Dean, his posture very aggressive. Jerry stepped in between the two men, pushing Dean away from Brian. She was still too far away to hear what they were saying, but body language suggested it was a fairly violent argument. She could see several members of the crew watching the three men while pretending to work.

"Do you know what that's about?" Tish asked.

Joley sighed and filled her in. "I guess I should have been the one to speak with Dean, instead of making Jerry and Brian do it."

"No, you shouldn't," Tish said. "Jerry's your manager and he deals with the crew. You aren't responsible for anything these people do. If Dean took advantage of a minor, Jerry will fire him. And if he knows where she is, they'll get it out of him. You can't be involved in things like that. You're the star, Joley, the band is secondary. If you got involved in a confrontation with a crew member, someone's going to videotape it and it will end up on television, the Internet and especially the tabloids. Let Jerry do his job."

"I don't want it to come to blows. Brian almost never loses his temper. I can't imagine what would make him get so angry."

"You can't?" Tish shook her head. "The band looks at you as a younger sister. They're very protective and very loyal. My guess is Dean said something very ugly about you and got Brian's back up. None of them are going to let anyone say anything bad about you."

Joley felt a tug at her heartstrings. She felt as if the band were family—brothers she loved—but their camaraderie with one another was very different than with her and she always felt the odd man out. "Since you've been gone, I haven't felt as much a part of things as I used to," she admitted, frowning as she watched the argument get a little more heated.

The disturbance had attracted the attention of not only the crew, but also the Russians. They paused in their work and observed the altercation. Joley's palm began to itch. She rubbed it against her thigh, and her heart began to pound. Ilya was nearby—very close. She spotted him making his way to the two Russians and her stomach did a little somersault. He moved with fluid grace, like a large jungle cat, all rippling muscle and power, yet conserving energy with every step.

"Whoa! Mama mia, who is that?" Tish asked. "He's hotter than Hades."

Joley considered feigning indifference, but this was Tish. "Ilya Prakenskii, Nikitin's bodyguard."

"He can guard my body anytime." Tish said appreciatively. "Have you…"

"No. But ask me if I want to."

"You'd have to be dead not to want to. I think I'm having an orgasm looking at him."

Joley pressed her palm tighter against her thigh. The center throbbed and burned, and deep inside, in her most feminine core, the same throbbing and burning began. It was going to start all over again, that terrible need, the emptiness that nothing—no one—could fill but Ilya. If she was going to suffer, it was only fair that he should. She wished she could make him feel the same relentless, merciless craving.

Lifting her palm, she studied the center. Already the discoloration was appearing. Faint marks, two circles intertwined. Joley lifted her gaze to Ilya, watching his every move as he approached the two Russian guards. She took a deep breath and ran her finger over the center of her palm, imagining touching him intimately, holding his body close to hers and claiming it for her own.

Ilya's body jerked. He looked up, his gaze locking with hers across the distance. Time seemed to stand still, and for one moment there were only the two of them locked together in the natural wonder of the amphitheater.

I'm sorry
. She hadn't believed she could really give him such a jolt of physical awareness.

Be very careful playing with fire you don't understand.

She moistened her lips and turned away from him. It was his magic—not hers—and she didn't understand it. But she knew how dangerous it could be.

"Is something going on between you two?" Tish asked.

"Not yet," Joley answered honestly. "I'm still considering the price tag."

"For a man like that? It's going to be hefty."

Joley laughed. "I missed you, Tish. You're so right, about a lot of things, but especially about this."

"But I bet he'd be worth it."

Joley had the feeling she was going to find out. If she didn't find something huge to put on the con side of the list fast, she would allow him to seduce her, and then she'd be in way over her head. Tish wasn't like Joley's sisters. She looked at the man and saw "hot" all over him. She didn't see the neon warning lights flashing,
danger, danger
. If Joley hung out with Tish, she could easily talk herself into an affair with Ilya, because she desperately wanted him.

"Have you seen Logan yet?" Joley asked, needing to switch the subject. She couldn't think too much about Ilya, especially with him close by. She couldn't afford for him to be reading her thoughts.

The teasing smile faded from Tish's face. "We spoke on the phone, and I said I'd meet him here, but I haven't seen him yet. I drove all night to get here, and now I'm thinking of jumping back in the car and calling him from the safety of two or three hours away."

Joley looked past her. Logan had just stepped out of the bus, and his radar had found Tish immediately. He was staring at her with naked longing. "I think it's too late to run, Tish. He's coming this way."

Tish didn't turn around. Instead, she closed her eyes briefly, as if gathering strength. Joley pressed her hand for courage. "I hope you stay, Tish. You're family to all of us and we've never been the same without you." She kept her voice low. "But I understand if you can't stay."

Tish's fingers clung to hers for a moment, and Joley felt her tremble. Instantly she felt protective and stood her ground, letting Tish hold on to her for courage.

Logan stopped a few steps short of them. "You came, Tish." His voice was low and gravelly, choked even.

Joley was nearly overwhelmed with the mixture of emotions pouring out of Logan. He was close to a breakdown, she realized. The pregnancy had been a nightmare, with Lucy threatening to kill herself every few days and the paparazzi dogging his every footstep. He stood directly behind Tish, his usually good looks worn and tired.

Joley watched the struggle on Tish's face as she turned to face her husband. "I came," she agreed. Her fingers tightened around Joley's.

"Thank you for coming, Tish. Believe me, I know what I'm asking." Logan raked both hands through his hair and then rubbed the shadow along his jaw. "I have the baby here. She's been crying most of the night, kept us all awake. I don't know what's wrong." He glanced over to where Jerry and Brian were now shouting at Dean. "Everyone's temper is a little frayed. They all took turns holding her to try to get her to sleep, but we can't keep that up."

"The baby's in the bus?" Tish asked, obviously melting at the sheer desperation in Logan's voice. "Show me."

Joley took a couple of steps toward Jerry and Brian, but Tish hung on to her like a pit bull. "It looks like it's getting out of hand over there."

"Don't think you'll make it any better," Logan cautioned. "Dean was talking crap about you this morning and Brian overheard him. He was seething when he came into the bus. He's hard to rile, but when he gets going, you've got to look out. Come see the baby."

Joley frowned, torn between hope that she could end the argument that looked like it was coming to blows and fear that she would possibly make it even worse. Dean glanced up, and his venomous gaze met hers across the distance. He spat on the ground and gestured obscenely at her. Even from where she was, Joley could feel the malevolence pouring from him to her. She shivered as waves of hatred and anger washed over her. And something else. She turned her head quickly to see Ilya straighten, his gaze on Dean, hard and cold and glittering with promise. His aura was black and swirled around the edges with blood red. She drew in her breath sharply.

Brian spun Dean around and smashed his fist into his face. Dean staggered back and then flung himself on Brian. Around them the crew sprang into action, surrounded the two men and dragging them apart.

Logan pressed Tish and Joley forward toward the band's bus. "You don't need to be out here. Somewhere, you know someone with a camera is lurking. Let Jerry and Brian toss the bum out on his ass."

"I feel responsible," Joley said.

"He's right, Joley," Tish agreed. "You can't be involved in that. Brian shouldn't have been either. Either the man knows something or he doesn't. If he does, he should just give them the information, and if not, he shouldn't be so resentful that they asked him. It's a perfectly legit question when some kid is missing." She tugged at Joley. "Let's go see the baby."

Joley glanced back toward Ilya, but he was walking away, heading toward the front of the amphitheater, his back toward her.

Chapter 7

LOGAN stepped out of the bus and put the baby into Tish's arms, standing there with a look of utter, naked, helpless love on his face, for the entire world to see. "I named her Melissa Lacey, the one we picked out together back when we were in high school. We've all been calling her Lissa. Isn't she beautiful?"

Tish looked as if she would cry. She stared down at the little upturned face, the little waving hands with soft, perfect fingers, then pushed the baby into Joley's arms and stepped inside the bus.

Logan caught Joley's shoulders for support, leaning heavily on her, looking down at his child. "She doesn't want her, Joley. She can't forgive me for the things I did."

Joley patted his hand, looking up at him. "I love you, Logan, but you're dense. She's crazy about you and desperately wants to believe she can be a family with you and the baby, but she's afraid. Take the baby and go to her, and for God's sake, eat your pride. Tish is the best in the world. They don't come better. If she accepts you back and takes Lissa as her daughter, she'll never look back. You'll never have anything thrown in your face. You don't deserve her, but if you really want her, I don't think it's going to be all that difficult to convince her. You've got Lissa, and who could resist her?" She smiled at the baby, bent her head and kissed the little forehead. "She's so beautiful."