Page 23 of True Stars Collide

“Sure. Let’s take the limo and head down to Nobu in Malibu, sound good?” Ben asked.

“Just make sure the limo’s stocked with Johnnie Walker Blue and I’m down,” André said.

“Liam?” Zoe tilted her head, her eyes questioning.

Liam gritted his teeth. “Yeah, okay.” He hated the reminder their relationship was for the press. And he was in major trouble.

Ian clapped his hands together. “I’ll make the reservation for 9 o’clock and have the driver pick you up at 7:30. Again, thanks for all the hard work. We’re back in business.”

Everyone started packing up their gear and clearing out. It was already 6 o’clock.

“Is it cool if we crash here one more night, Liam? Easier with the limo and then we can move back to our places tomorrow,” Ben said.

He shrugged. “Yeah, no problem.”

Finally…he and Zoe wouldn’t have to sneak around anymore. Because nobody suspected how close he and Zoe had become. It wasn’t like they’d discussed the fact they’d become truly involved, not even with each other.

Maybe it was time for them to talk. Maybe it was time for him to confess how their connection was more than sex. More than the music. She was one of a handful of people he trusted––she was the truest person he’d ever met. She had to feel the same, right? He couldn’t be the only one catching feelings, could he?

“Meet you guys down in the kitchen at 7. I’ll mix a pitcher of my world famous margaritas for the road.” Zoe waved a hand and sauntered out the door without a backward glance.

Yeah, maybe Zoe wasn’t as invested as he’d assumed? Or was she just a better actress? Either way, they had hours with the band before a discussion was an option. He scowled.

“Dude, don’t look so pissed off. Pretending to be Zoe’s husband isn’t exactly a hardship. Wish the team had asked me to do it.” Ben winked at him.

“Fuck off. Not a hardship. Just hate the b.s. with the media, that’s all.” He set his Gibson back onto its rack and headed out of the studio.

The guys made kissing sounds and André called after him, “Liam loves Zoe.”

He flipped them off and stalked out the door.

Yeah, if they only knew.

* * *

Liam’s self-control was about to snap. The evening had been one endless, agonizing ride. From the moment Zoe had strolled out of her bedroom wearing a black leather dress with a slit up to the top of one creamy thigh and a neckline that plunged to her navel, he’d been rock hard. All that soft gorgeous skin on display begged him to touch her.

Now she was plastered against him in a corner booth, with one delicate hand resting on his thigh. Unable to resist, he dropped a kiss on her bare shoulder and inhaled her jasmine scent. She shivered and her fingers tightened on his leg. Yeah, their chemistry was over-the-top. He’d never survive this interminable dinner––maybe he could convince her to meet him in the restroom and take her against the wall.

She threw back her head and laughed, her throaty voice another layer of temptation. Every muscle in his body tensed. Yeah, her voice when she was singing or laughing or moaning his name drove him wild. This woman.

Yeah, his heart was involved. Even though at the moment, his dick was ruling his system and all he wanted was to get the hell out of this fishbowl and back to his house. Just the two of them.

He leaned in and brushed his lips against the side of her slender neck. “Can we get out of here? I want you to myself.”

Her pulse hammered in her throat, revealing she was affected as he was. She nodded and murmured, “Absolutely. We’ve done our duty and the guys want to keep partying. Let’s take the limo back and they can call a car service.”

“Done.” Oh, he’d make sure she enjoyed the limo ride back to Santa Barbara.

He straightened in the seat, ready to bolt out of the restaurant, pronto. “Guys, Zoe and I are headed back to my house. You cool with us taking the limo?”

Ben nodded. “Yeah, I’ll call a driver I work with to take André and me down to Melrose. You sure you two lovebirds don’t want to come?”

Zoe laughed again. “We don’t want to cramp your style.”

“Never. We’re stoked you’re one of us now, Zoe. We’ve got all the time in the world to party when we go on tour.”

Liam rose and tugged Zoe to her feet and toward the exit. “Later,” he called over his shoulder.

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