Page 9 of Edge of Heaven

He rakes his eyes up and down, a smarmy smile on his face as he reaches for the button of his jeans.

“You know what else you’re ready for?” He unzips his jeans and slides them down.

Ugh.

And just like that, he’s back to being a jerk.

I manage not to roll my eyes.

“I thought we had to get going?” I ask instead.

“We have a few minutes.”

“Then I’ll need to fix my makeup when we’re done.”

“I can wait. Now, come on…” He motions to the floor with his hand. “Show me how grateful you are to be my woman.”

I pull in a breath and drop to my knees.

This is for Toby.

I’ll do whatever it takes to help my baby get better.

I wasn’t the best mom when he was born but that changes now.

Six more months and then I’m free.

* * *

Backstageat the arena is mobbed.

Usually, it’s just the band and crew milling around, getting ready for soundcheck and the pre-show meal that’s always provided.

Tonight there are record label reps, radio personalities, and what appear to be contest winners.

I see the women lining up excitedly, wearing as little clothing as they can get away with, hair and makeup done to the nines.

That was me once upon a time.

So desperate to get Callum’s attention.

What a mistake.

I got him and now all I want is to get away from him.

“Things are crazy tonight.” My friend Ryleigh Bell comes up behind me with a grin.

She’s dating Angus Jeffries, the drummer for Crimson Edge, and we’ve been friends since college. We were good friends for a while, but I went home to L.A. as soon as I graduated and we lost touch.

Running into her on tour was fun at first, but now it’s just stressful because Callum doesn’t like her and doesn’t want me to hang out with her. She’s pretty overt about how much she dislikes him, so even though she toned it down a little once I asked her to, there’s no love lost between them.

And he gets cranky when he sees us together.

Luckily, he’s distracted right now, in his element as he lords over the conversation with the DJs and contest winners who are hanging on his every word.

“You doing okay?” Ryleigh asks me as I restlessly shift from one foot to the other.

“Yeah.” I try to keep my tone neutral. “You know how it is with him. I never know if he wants me close or expects me to hang back.”

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