Page 66 of Extended Bridge

Bennett shares my sentiment. “Why?”

“Look, something happened. Have you seen her?”

“Since you think I have a couple of groupies in my bedroom, why are you asking me?”

Bennett’s sarcasm spurs me to my feet. I toss his T-shirt over my head. Since it drops to my knees, I don’t bother with my pants and cross the threshold to the living room area.

“Luke?”

Two heads spin in my direction. They both mutter my name, Luke with relief and Bennett with possession.

The slightly shorter man with shoulder-length brown hair a couple of shades darker than my man’s takes a few steps in my direction. “You’re here.”

Bennett growls, “Where else would she be? And why on earth could you think I was with groupies?”

Luke’s shoulder bumps up and down. “I needed to be sure. Listen, we have to talk. All of us.” He points toward the sofa and chairs.

My stomach plummets. What’s going on? We settle on the sofa—me on Bennett’s lap, even though I tried to sit like a lady—as much as I can wearing only a T-shirt. His T-shirt.

In a chair opposite us, Luke closes his eyes. “I’m not going to sugarcoat this. There’s an article.”

Of course there’s an article. Or fifty. Or one hundred. All of them hating on me as UC’s Black Widow. Claiming I’ve settled in on my next prey, namely the lead singer.

Luke doesn’t stop talking simply because my mind is supplying its own narrative. “A Lissa Baker says she had a wild night in the Hamptons with you, Bennett, including drugs and alcohol. Says you two had uninhibited sex, although she described it in excruciating detail. Claims you were complaining about Jenna to her all night.” His gaze bounces to me. “She said you were Darren’s pusher, and you encouraged him to take his fatal overdose as a way to keep him under your thrall.”

I lean back against Bennett, my palm preventing my gasp from ricocheting around the room. For his part, Bennett kisses my cheek.

“She claims Jenna’s causing UC to implode,” Luke finishes talking.

My ears ring. I shake my head. No, no, no. I never would’ve done anything to hurt Darren like that. Nor come between UC.Was Bennett complaining to her about me when I was in the ladies’ room?My entire body goes cold.

Bennett’s hands weigh down my shoulders. He snarls, “She’s a freaking liar.”

“I know,” Luke replies. “Let’s start at the beginning. Who the fuck is this Lissa chick?”

“She was Bennett’s high school girlfriend.” The words pass my lips by rote.

The manager sits taller. “She was, B?”

“Yes,” Bennett hisses. I try to squirm off his lap, but strong hands on my shoulders press down, not allowing me to move. Providing me an unusual comfort.

I disengage from their conversation, swimming inside my own brain. Lissa told reporters a multipart lie, one which most people will believe. How could she do this, after the way she treated a teenaged Bennett? She and his ex-best friend messed him up back then, and she’s doing it again to him. What kind of sadist is this woman?

The kind that has it out for me, clearly. Her venom is unbearable. I try to lean forward. Bennett draws me back against his chest.

“What are your thoughts, Jenna?”

“Jenna’s innocent,” Bennett growls.

“I need to hear her side of the story,” Luke protests.

Bennett’s fingers dig into my shoulders. “This is total bullshit.”

Is this how my life is going to be? Women coming out of the woodwork to complain about Bennett being with me? Is he worth it? Am I?

I know the answer to the last question—no way. If I leave the tour now, I can slip under the radar again in Aroostook. UC will continue its tour without a blip—my still unprofessed love for the incredible man behind me notwithstanding.

“Jenna?”

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