Page 71 of Lost Lyrics

AVA

I used to dread attending film industry functions when I was married to Luther. The stuffy, snobby, shallow chitchat with executives, investors, producers, directors, and celebrities had often done my head in. The snooty glares and upturned noses from people when they’d found out I was a cop had been draining. I’d avoided cameras and the spotlight. But going to events with Cole and the band had completely changed my opinion. Now, I liked to be seen...with Cole. I couldn’t wait to be styled and dressed, pampered, and glammed up for an evening of fun. At every lunch or dinner, Cole was always determined to transform the occasion into a sexy, flirty, and often steamy affair, full of laughs.

He talked dirty, fucked dirty, and liked togetdirty when we went for a run through the hills or worked out in the home gym, or after he’d had a session on the drums. There was something about his sexy smile, his hot body covered in sweat, and his laid-back swagger that drove me crazy. Every day we grew closer, fell more in love, and made our life together better.

I’d grown comfortable and confident in our relationship. I never wanted to lose what we had.

After spending most of the day withTia, Maddy, and Sutton in our hotel suite, getting our hair and makeup done for tonight’s Grammy Awards, I slipped into my long, maroon beaded gown. The plunging neckline was daring and bold but elegant and sexy. Some days I missed my simple security uniform and heavy flat boots, and carrying a concealed weapon or two, but today was not one of those days.

As Maddy and I sat on the sofa, sipping on champagne, Liliana, our new personal makeup artist and hair stylist, touched up Sutton’s gorgeous smoky eyeshadow and lipstick at the table. Tia stood beside us, swaying from side to side on her feet and rubbing her lower back. She was due to pop in two weeks, but had insisted on coming tonight. FOMO ran in the family.

There was a knock on the door.

“That’s the guys.” April rose to her feet from the desk and made her way over to the door. She opened it, and in strolled the guys in their suave designer dinner suits.

As Cole came toward me, my breath skipped through my lungs and my heartbeat doubled in speed.Every damn time I lay eyes on him.He wore formal attire like it was a second skin. He radiated pure perfection in Armani, Valentino, or Versace. But tonight, he was sex on legs in Dolce and Gabbana, with a black glittery shirt, tie, and pocket square.

Super sexy. Damn hot!I’d be the one instigating the dirty talk tonight.

Cole halted in front of me and held out his hand. I slid my palm into his, and he drew me to my feet.

“Ava?” His green eyes darkened as his gaze raked over the arch of my breasts. He slid his hands around my waist and kissed my lips. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. You’re very handsome too.” I leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “Are you going to keep your hands where I can see them tonight? And your eyes off my boobs?”

He shook his head. “No fucking way.”

“Good.” I placed my hands on his hips and pulled him forward so our bodies were flush, and my groin pressed against his cock. “I’m gonna need that before the night is out.”

“Hmmm,” he moaned, low and soft. “How about now?”

“Can’t.” I straightened his pocket square, then gave his chest a tap. “We have to go.”

Flint, Lewis, and Slip greeted their ladies with a quick kiss. Whatever Flint whispered in Sutton’s ear made her blush...which she did often.

Slip’s soft murmurs to Maddy left a sexy smile stitched onto her lips.

Lewis sank onto the cushion beside Tia, bent down, and kissed her baby belly, then her cheek. “Hey, Tee. You good? No weird aches or pains? Don’t really want you to go into labor on the red carpet.”

“I’m in constant pain and uncomfortable, but I’m fine.” She ran her hands over her belly. “I’ll let you know if anything changes.”

I loved how close I’d grown to the girls, especially Tia over her pending motherhood and our constant talk about children. It was hard not to love her. Her dirty mouth, quick wit, and sexy banter had her outdoing the guys on many occasions. She was a female version of Cole ...God help us. But the four of us had become inseparable. I spent more time with them than my sister, who was more of a workaholic than me.

Cole played with one of my Cartier dangling earrings he’d given me for Christmas and softened his voice. “Have you called the kids?”

“Yeah. They’re good.” I struggled to contain my smile as images of mayhem at the kitchen table flitted through my mind. “Rex ate Charlotte’s dinner. Josh had a sore stomach after eating twelve chicken nuggets and two slices of pizza. Harperdropped a full bottle of ketchup on the floor, but otherwise, had everything under control. She was about to put theSuper Mariomovie on for the hundredth time.”

“Sounds like a typical evening.” Chuckling, he leaned in and pressed his lips against my temple.

“Yeah.” I slipped my hands inside his jacket, placed them on his waist, then rubbed them up and down. His silky shirt, cool beneath my touch. “Wish we were there.”

“No. It’s a work and date night.” Fire simmered low in his eyes as he arched one eyebrow. “You’re mine. Harper will be fine.”

“I know. She’s amazing.” Harper was the best nanny I’d ever come across. After a rough start with Maddy over her past relationship with Slip, they too now got along...well, they tolerated each other and were civil. Harper’s involvement with Sloane had eased the friction. They basically lived together in Cole’s guesthouse. I never had to worry about the kids, knowing they were in the best of care. So tonight, I could enjoy the evening with Cole, the band, and the girls.

Working for The Flintlocks had changed my life. It had tested my skills, my patience, and my time-management capabilities, and I’d added new areas of expertise to my resumé. I’d met some incredible people and couldn’t have gotten to this point without April’s and Blake’s help. I was now on a first-name basis with stylists, makeup artists, designers, flight and accommodation specialists, private jet operators, and car service providers across the globe. I’d never envisioned that happening within my lifetime.Yet, here I am.

My old security team was always on-hand when needed. I worked alongside event managers, production crews, and function organizers, executives at the Ashlem Entertainment Group who managed The Flintlocks tour and promotion and marketing campaigns, and the crew at Everhide’s record label.My cell phone had so many contacts in it to cater to the guys’ needs, I was sure it would melt down if I added one more number.

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