Page 7 of Behind the Lyrics
“Girl, what in the hell was allthat? You two looked pretty chummy but sounded like pissed-off, hormonal teenagers on the air.” She crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her torso to the side, her classicI’m not leaving until you spill your gutsstance.
“I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” I smoothed my hair and checked the time, ensuring everything ran to the preset schedule. “He pushed every button I have and then some. I’ve never known someone so cocky and demanding.”
“Well, what did you expect? He’s one of the biggest names in the music industry, even if he’s been out of the scene for a few years.”
“I don’t know what I expected, but thank God that’s over. I don’t think I could handle being in the room with him again without slapping his face.”
Terri laughed, the sound deep and contagious. “Well, I’m not surehefelt the same way. I think he wanted to eat you for a meal, and I don’t mean the food kind.” She winked.
“Ugh.” I groaned. “Please stop. There’s no way he’s interested in me that way, not when he can have his pick of any woman in the world. And he can have them. I can’t imagine anyone wanting to put up with him for more than a day. I’d kill the asshole.”
“Mmhmm.” She drummed her long nails on the table and shot me a sly smile. “Well, hopefully, we’ll get a bump in listeners and pick up a couple more sponsors. We’re going to need them to pay the FCC.”
Snickering, I leaned my head back to stare at the ceiling and let the building tension dissolve.
What does Viktor Farrow know about me? Nothing. How dare he judge.Staying cold encased my heart in ice, allowing no one inside, and that was just fine with me.
Chapter 8
Viktor Farrow
I’d never been so insulted in my entire life. Not once could I remember being flat out denied what I wanted.
Wait, what am I saying? That Iwantthat little demon?I pushed the handle on the glass door leading to the parking area, and stormed outside.
My bodyguard caught up and opened the back door of the SUV, and I slid inside.
Andy, my overzealous terrier sitting in the passenger’s seat, glanced up with wide eyes. He switched off the screen of the mobile he held.
Clive started the motor.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I growled while keeping my stare locked on the shit-stained walls of the station.What had I been thinking?Women jumped at the chance to snuggle with Viktor Farrow, so why in God’s name had I set my sights on such a pain-in-the-ass little devil?
“I listened to the interview.” Andy darted a quick glance over his shoulder.
Clive put the vehicle in Reverse, backed out, then steered the Escalade onto the long, deserted highway leading the few miles back to Mesa Palms and the private home the recording studio provided.
“Yeah, you two sounded, um…” Licking his lips, Andy briefly glanced into the sideview mirror then cut his stare straight ahead.
“We soundedwhat, Andy? Spit it out.” I retrieved my mobile from a pocket and Googled Angela Morales and K-ROC.Hmm, well, well. According to her social media sites, shewasmarried but single now as far as I can tell.Wait, why in the hell was I interested in her love life? I sideswiped the screen and stuffed the device into my pocket, my irritation reaching a critical level.
“It’s just, it sounded like you were having fun trading insults.”
I watched the ancient Saguaros, tall and erect standing guard over the desert, fly past the window. The setting sun painted glorious fire across the sky, the streaks shooting against a few high clouds, creating a living portrait of the world in flames. Closer to the horizon, deep purples contrasted with the blazing rays. Though harsh, the desert carried a breathtaking beauty amid the desolation. For some reason, its outer loveliness and inner toughness reminded me of Angela.
I gritted my teeth.Stop thinking about that woman, Viktor.It was as plain as the nose on my face she found me disgusting, nothing more than rubbish on the bottom of her shoe.
But what if she didn’t?What if she saw you as more than the broken rock star she thinks you are?I frowned in annoyance at the voice in my head. Why would I care?Because you felt something back there—something more than the solitude or helplessness that usually eats at your soul.
Andy kept glancing at me, as if waiting for me to say something. I shoved the voice away, unwilling to deal with my emotions for the moment.
“If you call being told in front of the station’s three listeners that I’m a coke-addled, rehab-hopping, past-my-prime rock star, then yeah, Andy, I guess Ididhave fun.” I gave him the finger, closed my eyes, and pressed the back of my head into the seat. “Nice fucking job arranging that interview. If my career wasn’t already headed down the loo, it will be afterthatlittle enlightening piece of publicity.”
I really need to fire the little prick and find a new PA.
Chapter 9
Angela Morales
