“You’re pretty wise for a twenty-year-old,” he told his little sister.

  “I do okay. I was raised to listen more than I talked. Which is no mean feat in our family.”

  He laughed. “No shit.” Miles glanced at his phone and saw the time. He had an interview scheduled in a few minutes and less than half an hour after that, they were due on stage. He and Poppy headed back into the warren of hallways to where he and the rest of Earthquakes had set up.

  Omar had headphones on and watched a movie on his tablet in a far corner. Maddie was Facetiming with her parents so Miles waved at them as he walked by.

  Silas was most likely off on a run. He liked to run the steps at whatever arena they were playing in as a good luck token. And to keep his cardio up because he was a monster beyond the drums and needed to stay in shape for it.

  He’d find out whatever Harlow was bothered by later on when they were both alone.

  “Gloria sent a cease and desist to me and your dad,” Jenna, her dad’s wife said after Harlow had been assured there was no emergency behind the call.

  “What for? I don’t understand.” Harlow asked.

  “He’s doing press. You know how it is on tour.”

  Harlow made a sound to indicate she was listening, and yes, she totally knew.

  “It came up that you were on tour now too. And he was talking about how proud he was of you and Above Me and then he told some cute story about how he taught you guitar as a reward for you getting your schoolwork done.”

  That made Harlow smile. “He did. It was more that it was one-on-one time than learning guitar chords, but I hope it was nice for him because it was everything to me.”

  “You’re going to make me cry,” Jenna said, emotion in her voice. “Yes, the way he told the story and the way the interviewer put it in the final edit made it clear it meant a lot to him.”

  “So Gloria is mad that…we were happy? She wants you to stop talking about your lives?”

  Jenna snorted. “He mentioned that you and Marcella went on the road with him. He didn’t actually say anything about Gloria, only that he was a single dad, and his sister was a huge part of why he could be out on the road with a young kid. Apparently, this set her off somehow. She considers it slanderous.”

  “That is so rich coming from her.” Harlow was past being surprised when her mother did something terrible. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t seriously angry.

  “You want to tell me what’s going on? This was out of the blue and your dad is beyond pissed off. His attorney is already on it. But he doesn’t want you put in the middle, so that’s why he didn’t tell you and I am.”

  “I’m not in the middle. I’m always on his side. I saw her recently. It didn’t go well. But it had nothing to do with him.”

  “I know there’s a really complicated history with her. I just want you to know your dad and I are always about you and Ry. I want to protect you. You can tell me anything.”

  Harlow ran a fingertip under her eye to wipe the tears and deal with what she knew would be mascara smears. “I went to Hector and Mindy’s for dinner while we were in Atlanta. Gloria showed up and was a nightmare. I haven’t spoken to her since. I’ve barely spoken to her over the last fifteen years. I’m not entirely sure why she would decide to make some sort of fuss now with my dad. I’m twenty six years old and I can’t remember a single time in my life when she treated me like she wanted me around. She dumped me off on him when I was two and that’s pretty much all the mothering I’ve ever received from her.”

  “This strike at your dad was about how people would perceive her. This has nothing to do with anyone but Gloria. I’m sorry. I’m sorry she can’t be the mom you need her to be. You are loved. And you are valued.”

  “I’m sorry this has seeped into your lives.” Like toxic waste.

  “Sweetheart, Gloria doesn’t scare me or your dad. Our worry here is about you. And how this makes you feel. You didn’t tell him about the dinner in Atlanta? He would never blame you, you know that, right?”

  “He’s still selling out entire arenas! How many bands who’ve been around as long as AMJFJ has can say that? He’s got a real relationship with a person who cares about him as much as he cares about her. And there’s Ryder. Why would I bring anything about Gloria into that? He paid his dues. He gets to be done.”

  “That’s not how life works, Harlow. You know that.”

  “I didn’t tell him any of the details because he can’t change what happened. He can’t make her behave better. He can’t do anything that would make her love me more. Or less, for that matter.”

  Jenna’s voice was thick with emotion. “I wish I was there right now to give you a hug. Let him help you sometimes. I understand why you’ve kept some of this to yourself. I love that you protect him the way you do. But I love you too. And not just as Richie’s kid or Ryder’s big sister.”

  “Even if I’m a lazy slut?” Harlow said. She’d meant to tease but beneath that, she’d needed to say it out loud.

  “She said that?” Jenna’s voice had gone very hard.

  “Among other things. Apparently I was a flirty slut even as a baby and I will trap a man into supporting me by getting pregnant so he has to marry me.”

  “Like she did? Oh I shouldn’t have said that out loud. It wasn’t like Richie was unwitting. He fucked her without birth control so it’s not a surprise or a trick. Ugh, I’m sorry. She is terrible. And she is accusing you of things she perhaps feels she is or did herself. Thank god for Marcella. You got a way better mother out of the deal, but your heart still hurts and I hate that.”

  Harlow laughed. Relieved, so relieved at Jenna’s response.

  “I hate it too. I’m working on getting past it. Can you at least tell me if Hector or Luis are involved in this cease and desist thing?”

  “Not that I know of. Your dad does talk about them in interviews, though not as much. He feels bad about that too. But that you don’t know tells me maybe they weren’t supportive when Gloria did whatever she did at this dinner?”

  “No, they weren’t. To be fair, Hector didn’t participate in her attacks but there’s tension now between me and them because I stood up for myself, and they’re not used to that.”

  “They don’t know you at all then. Which I guess is not only a pity, but the root of the problem,” Jenna said.

  “Not everyone wants to know me. I’ve got to deal with that like anyone else. And I’ve hit a place where I am unwilling to take a bunch of disrespect for doing nothing more than existing.”

  “Well, good. I’m sorry they’re not being the brothers they should. I’m sorry about a lot of stuff.”

  Harlow blew out a long breath. “None of this is yours to feel sorry about. You can mention to my dad that there was a dinner where a falling out occurred and that’s probably why Gloria is being like this. But if you can, as a favor to me, try not to make a deal of it. He’s on tour. He’s got to get up on stage and entertain over and over and this will mess with his mojo. There’s nothing he did or can do now to make Hector and Luis be any different. She formed them into what they are, but Dad will feel guilty for it anyway.”

  “I’ll do my best. Because you’re on tour too. But when you’re done and he’s done, I think it’s time for us all to have a long talk regarding your mother,” Jenna told her.

  Sounded fucking terrible. “If things change, let me know. She shouldn’t get to decide the timing because she’s feeling a way about me getting up and leaving the table where she is insulting me.”

  “I never turn my phone off when your dad is gone for work. If you need anything, including a sympathetic ear, call me. Promise,” Jenna said.

  “Okay, I promise. I’ll call if I need you. Thank you for being there to answer.”

  When Miles came offstage later that night he was exhilarated and starving, so he went looking for Harlow so they could eat some late dinner together and he’d make her tell him why she was brooding. But she wasn’t in their green room or around the stage either.

  “She just went outside to get a breath,” Brian said.

  “She okay?”

  Brian said, “Go find her and make her tell you.”

  “Harlow doesn’t respond well to making her do anything,” he muttered, and Brian laughed and laughed.

  “Yeah, no shit. But you’re alive and unbruised, so you’ve got something going for you because otherwise, she’d never tolerate it.”

  Miles thanked Brian and went back out.

  They nearly crashed into one another when she entered the building as he was leaving. He caught her around her waist. “Hey. I was just looking for you. I’m starving. Come eat with me. The garlic is singing a siren song.”

  That’s when he noted her expression.

  “What’s up?”

  She told him about the cease-and-desist Gloria had sent her father.

  The first three words that came to mind were those he thought of most often when it came to Gloria Martin. “What the fuck? How’s your dad taking it?”

  “It was Jenna who called, not him. He’s trying to shield me from it. Like I don’t already know how she is. I’m so mad he didn’t tell me.”

  “You’re both the same. He won’t tell you to protect you and you won’t tell him to protect him. Meanwhile, Gloria runs riot with her bullshit and hurts you both for funsies.”

  Her eyes widened and he wanted to apologize. Didn’t really want to cause her distress but damn it, this fucking woman was a tornado, and she was dead set on hurting Harlow. She needed to share this stuff with her dad and he sure as hell needed to share with Harlow. She wasn’t a kid anymore. Their mutual secrecy hurt them both.

  “Telling him changes nothing.”

  “I bet he’d say the same,” he challenged.

  She growled.

  He brushed hair back from her face and kissed her temple, just breathing her in. He tried to tell himself he’d be just as concerned about this if they were only friends. But his heart thundered in his chest at her scent. He wanted to do anything and everything he could to make her stop hurting, including saying tough stuff because she’d listen to him, and she needed to hear it from someone she trusted.

  “At least Hector and Luis don’t appear to be involved,” she said at last as they started walking toward the mess area for dinner.

  “That’s good. I’m glad he listened to me.”

  She looked to him as she skidded to a stop. “Listened to you when?”

  Oops. He’d forgotten to tell her about that little exchange after she’d left for the stage. “Just a little back and forth that second night in ATL when they were backstage. I told him he owed you a real apology because you trusted him, and he didn’t make his home a safe place for you. And then I told him to fuck off if he couldn’t be a real brother to you.”

  “Hector and Mindy sent a text saying they’d been impressed with Above Me. They thanked me for the invite and apologized that things got heated backstage. That was only because you told him to?”

  These people made him want to punch everyone in the throat. Even though he had told them to thank Harlow for the invite and to say she was awesome Miles hated that she thought they’d only done it because he’d made them.

  Maybe they had for all he knew. But he didn’t want her hurting from these people. Enough was enough. So he’d ease around the truth. “They should have thanked you so I’m glad they did. They should have apologized for that shitshow backstage and at their home, so I’m annoyed but whatever. I don’t think they only did it because I made them feel guilty by telling them the truth. You are wonderful and talented so it’s good they saw it and maybe understand you a little more.”

  He’d never forget the bitterness in Hector’s tone when he’d made that comment about playing nice to get invited to things. Gloria had done a number on all her kids it looked like. But Hector wasn’t a kid anymore and it was time to grow the fuck up or stay away.

  “I know an attorney or two if you need someone,” he told her. “Extended family. If you need someone tough to handle Gloria, they’d be good.”

  “Jenna said my dad’s attorney was on it already, but thanks.”

  “You still hungry?” he asked. Miles had noticed she would go too long without eating when she was in the middle of work or was upset about something. Being on tour was grueling, he wanted her to stay healthy, so he wasn’t above some nagging.

  “Maybe.”

  “Come on then. Let’s get dinner. You need the calories so you keep up in bed later.” He winked at her and steered them both toward the scent of garlic.

  CHAPTER

  SEVENTEEN

  Harlow stood in the audience, looking up at Earthquakes on stage at Madison Square Garden. Above Me had already played their set and she was still buzzing with excitement. Her first time playing MSG and it had been as incredible as she’d imagined.

  And now she got to watch her man kick ass to a sold out crowd in a mythical arena in the city that never slept.

  The place was absolutely packed with cheering fans who knew all the words to every song. Miles and his band were giving them every bit of their money’s worth and more.

  A silvery blue spot seemed to caress him as he leaned in to the mic to sing the lyrics to “On Your Back”, a song about being taken over by a sexual partner. Having been taken over by the man currently singing about naked slide of skin on skin, she could verify it was not overrated at all.

  “So fucking soft. Hard edged need like a knife. Pull it from me. Pour into you.”

  Yum. He dominated the stage, and she could see those sexy forearms of his from where she stood. Usually, she stayed stage left but some nights she got out in the audience to get the full experience and that night she wasn’t sorry.

  Their sound was perfect and every single member of Earthquakes was in synch with the others as they made an incredible storm together. It was so magical all Harlow could do was clasp her hands together in front of her chest, just so thrilled for him.

  Thrilled enough to ignore all the exposed tits being showcased in his direction. After all, hers were the ones he paid attention to, and really could she blame anyone for trying to get some from him? As long as he didn’t give it, she could find a way to deal with it.

  He’d be sweaty and revved up and the moment the hotel room door closed behind them he’d pounce on her. Hot damn she was lucky.

  “This one’s for a certain dark-haired siren,” Miles said into the microphone and they began playing, “Mine,” one of the sweeter and still darkly sexual songs on their most recent release.

  “Dayum,” Nora said into Harlow’s ear. “He’s wants that kitty cat for real.”

  That made Harlow giggle even as she saw it for what it was. Miles wanted everyone to know they were together. There’d been pictures and enough talk that it was obvious they were. But this declaration from stage was sweet, yes, but also her dude staking a claim in front of the world.

  He was a handful. Especially when it came to getting whatever it was he wanted. She was wildly flattered that what he wanted was her. Even while she was wary of the way he simply steamrolled through things to achieve his aims.

  Usually it was about sex or getting her to eat or rest or sleep in his room, so he got away with it. But there were lines he skirted, and she realized more each day that she had to keep an eye on those lines, or he’d stroll right over them.

  Still, she couldn’t remember the last time she was so wonderfully, truly happy. And that bossy guy up there on their second encore was a big part of that.

  “They’re nearly done. Come on.” Nora grabbed her hand and dragged Harlow backstage once again so they—really Harlow—cold be there when Miles came offstage.

  Backstage was chaos as the band came off the stage, handing off instruments and ear monitors. Harlow would have waited for him back in their green room space, but Miles really liked it when she waited there where he could see her as he came down.

  Harlow realized she liked making Miles smile and it wasn’t a hardship to stand out of the way and take all the chaos in. Miles was still in charge. Speaking to his tech and their tour manager and sound engineer. Doing their nightly postmortem as Above Me had done earlier.

  He was just so sexy and in charge as he focused on whoever he was speaking to. He listened before replying. The others looked to him all the time in myriad ways they probably weren’t even totally aware of. He was so capable and steadfast even with all the sharp edges. A protector.

  She liked it. Most of the time. So far, he was worth the effort it took not to let him get away with whatever he pleased.

  “Holy shit!” Nora exclaimed, catching Harlow’s attention.

  “What?” Harlow tried to read over her shoulder. All she could see were three bullet pointed things from Jeremy so she waited for Nora to fill her in.

  “We hit gold record status. And now two of the singles are charting and getting a lot of play. Jeremy has been approached about using one of our songs in a movie Mercury Reid is directing.”

  “Holy shit is right!” She and Nora hugged, dancing around until Brian approached and then joined them for a moment after they’d told him the news.

  Miles rolled up looking deliciously disheveled and sweaty. Goddess, she wanted to lick him to celebrate. Like a more carnal version of a tequila shot.

  “Hey, beauty, what are we celebrating?” he said, a smile on his face.

  She hugged him and instantly he wrapped himself around her in response. She was utterly surrounded by everything Miles. He made her heart sing.