Page 30 of Saving the Rockstar

"I'm just saying, that's a porn star name if I ever heard one." Dylan grinned, unrepentant. "I bet you get all the ladies with a moniker like that."

"I don't mix business with pleasure," Mason said stiffly. "And I certainly don't fraternize with clients."

Dylan looked him up and down, slow and appreciative. "Pity. I bet you could give a whole new meaning to the termprivate security."

Jared made a strangled noise that might have been a laugh. I elbowed him sharply, biting back my own grin.

Mason, to my surprise, didn't rise to the bait. He simply raised one imperious eyebrow. "I assure you, my skills are of the strictly professional variety. I'm here to keep you safe, not indulge your juvenile fantasies."

"Juvenile?" Dylan spluttered. "Excuse you, my fantasies are very mature. Downright sophisticated, even."

"I'll be sure to notifyMensa." Mason's tone was bone-dry. "Now, if you're quite finished objectifying me, perhaps we could review the security protocols for the tour?"

Dylan batted his lashes. "Only if you promise to frisk me first. Gotta make sure I'm not smuggling any contraband, right?"

The muscle in Mason's jaw jumped. For a moment, I thought he might actually strangle my best friend. But then, his lips twitched.

"The only thing you're smuggling is a truly unfortunate fashion sense," he said, eyeing Dylan's neon crop top and ripped jeans. "What did you do, get dressed in the dark?"

"Hey, don't knock the crop top," Dylan said, affronted. "This is haute couture, baby. I'm bringing sexy back."

"I wasn't aware it had left," Mason deadpanned.

Dylan's grin turned sly. "Play your cards right, big boy, and maybe I'll give you a private show."

Mason chuckled. "In your dreams."

"Oh, you have no idea." Dylan winked. "But trust me, if you starred in my dreams, neither of us would be getting much sleep."

For a long, charged moment, Mason just stared at him. Something electric crackled between them, a heat that had nothing to do with anger.

Then Mason blinked, and the moment passed. "Right. Well. As scintillating as this conversation has been, I have actual work to do. Don't you have some groupies to scandalize or something?"

Dylan blew him a kiss. "Don't worry, hot stuff. I'll scandalize you later."

With a long-suffering sigh, Mason turned on his heel and stalked out. Dylan watched him go, eyes glued to his retreating ass.

The second the door closed, Jared and I lost it. We collapsed against each other, howling with laughter, as Dylan preened triumphantly.

"Oh my god," I gasped. "Dylan, you broke him. I think you actually broke Mason Steele."

"Like a sexy little twig," Dylan said smugly.

Jared shook his head, grinning. "I've never seen him so flustered. You, my friend, are a force of nature."

"You're welcome." Dylan buffed his nails on his shirt. "Just doing my part to keep morale up on this tour."

I laughed. "Is that what we're calling it now? And here I thought you were just trying to get into his tactical pants."

Dylan affected an innocent look. "Why, Asher Roth, get your mind out of the gutter. I'll have you know my interest in Mason is purely professional."

"Uh-huh. So all that banter about private shows and frisking? That was just, what, a team-building exercise?"

"Exactly." Dylan nodded solemnly. "I'm just trying to foster a sense of camaraderie and trust with our new colleague."

Jared chuckled. "Right. And I'm sure Mason feels so much more bonded to you now."

"He will," Dylan said, a wicked glint in his eye. "Just give me a few days. I'll have that man eating out of the palm of my hand."

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