Page 14 of Under Pressure

“Good to meet you,” Axel said. “Sean treating you well?”

“He’s the best,” Blue said. “Though, he didn’t tell me you were his brother.”

“Typical.” Axel put a hand to his heart. “Are you embarrassed of me?”

“Always.” Sean laughed.

Blue glanced from one brother to the other. “I should’ve seen the family resemblance.”

“They all look alike, don’t they?” Nonna said, her delicate hands clasped in front of her again.

Blue nodded, her gaze landing on Sean a bit longer than his brother, and then she yanked her gaze away. “I’m a huge fan of The Venturists.”

That statement might have intimidated him earlier in the week—maybe even yesterday before she’d called to accept—but now it didn’t. “She is.” Sean grinned.

Don pointed toward Chaz, sending everyone glancing in that direction. Chaz stood with the band, glaring in Axel’s general direction. “What’s his problem?”

“He wants me to do an underwear commercial.” Axel rubbed the back of his neck as his face turned beat red.

“You told him no, right?” Gramps asked, sending a death glare in Chaz’s direction. It worked too, Chaz’s own glare turnedinto horrified shock, then he turned his back to them and slowly moved into a conversation with the rest of the band.

“Of course I did.” Axel sounded exasperated.

It never ceased to amaze Sean just how shy Axel was for a guy who wore such tight leather pants and shirts. He was a rock star but felt no thrill at having underwear thrown his way, or women for that matter. He obviously took after Grandpa in that way.

Sean couldn’t help but pester him. He shot his hand into the air. “I’ll do it.”

Axel shoved his shoulder, a gleam in his eye. “Come off it.”

Sean lifted his shirt, showing off his rock-hard abs. “Seriously, look at this. I’d be a great underwear model.”

Blue perked up at his side. “I totally had that thought about you the other day!” She laughed.

“Really?” Sean felt heat rushing to his cheeks. Normally only Nonna had the power to make him blush. What the heck? He smiled anyway. Had to play it cool. He cleared his throat. “Someone’s got to man up and strip.”

“Oh, for the love,” Gramps muttered under his breath, making Sean laugh. He didn’t miss that Blue was laughing right alongside him.

Axel’s knowing gaze shot between them. Sean harassed Axel, now Axel was going to return the favor. “I don’t know if you can handle it. Being a model isn’t all it’s cut out to be.”

“Like you’d know,” Sean said, pointing to the large band poster that hung at the side of the stage. “You’ve done, what? One photo shoot?”

Axel groaned as he pulled his phone from his back pocket. How it fit in such tight pants, Sean couldn’t guess. “Closer to two dozen.” Huh. That was new information. “There’s weird hours, fasting, water fasting, oiling, primping, and pampering that doesn’t really feel like pampering more like torture.” He held his phone up and started punching through it with his thumb.

“I’m man enough.” Sean puffed out his chest.

“Not if you keep eating Nonna’s pastries,” Gramps said.

“I love Nonna’s Cannoli!” Sean said, affronted.

“Fasting?” Blue said. “Ugh. I could never. Especially not if I had to give up a Cannoli.”

“Same,” Nonna said. “Anytime you want a Cannoli, I’ll make one for you.”

“Really?” Blue’s face fell for just a moment, like she was shocked.

“Of course!” Nonna grabbed her arm. “The boys love my baking.”

This time, Sean grinned for real, then turned back to Axel and pointed at his phone. “What are you doing? I do not want to see naked photos of you.”

---