“You could have just ended that sentence. Left it as, I should have told you. As for how it got brought up, by a total stranger? It was a massively stupid miscalculation.” She caught his blanch, but it had to be said. “I understand he’s your uncle and he cares about you. I even like that about him. But it was a lunch with your entire family, only the second time I met them all. What they must think between that article and that situation with Ben.” She tried not to wring her hands at the anxiety that brought.

  He shook his head. “Obviously he’ll tell Erin but that’s because they’re married, and she’ll see his upset and demand to know why. But he’s not mad or upset at you at all. He’s pissed at himself for how he handled everything. And at me for not being more up front with you.”

  Harlow stared at him, torn between feeling bad that Ben was upset and being angry that she was feeling that way because he’d brought it up the way he had to start with.

  “He’d very much like it if he could continue the investigation,” Miles said. “He won’t say anything to me. You’d be the one to share whatever you felt I needed to know.”

  “He said stuff designed to make me feel better and stronger. And most of it did. I’ve been wrestling with whether or not to continue with him.” Harlow shook her head. She wasn’t going to tell him just yet that she’d already spoken to Ben, and they’d laid out a very clear set of boundaries and he would continue his work. For Harlow

  “He’s the best at what he does. And just because he told me the stuff at the start doesn’t mean he won’t keep his word going forward.”

  Harlow just stared at him, stunned that he continued down this path without even a basic gesture toward what she’d just told him.

  “Let’s pretend you didn’t just make a point against me hiring Ben. Because you did. If I had an investigator I hired and I paid, you wouldn’t be involved. You wouldn’t be arguing that I continue to keep someone providing a service in a way I do not like. You’d poke your nose in because that’s how you are. But if I’d said I wasn’t satisfied with someone’s services, you’d accept that as my choice to make. But here you are, arguing with me about it and only because he’s your uncle.”

  “But we laid ground rules now.”

  Never had she wanted to hit someone in the face with a pillow more than she did right then. “You discussed my case like it was yours. You gave him personal details. You paid a retainer. Neither of you thought it was important to include me at the start. He was defensive on your behalf. As your uncle, that’s great and I love it. As a person supposed to be working for me? That’s a problem.”

  “I have the money! Why does it bother you so much that I want to help you? Someone should be protecting you, and since no one else has, I sure as fuck will. You mean everything to me. In the time we’ve been together I’ve watched her attack you a dozen times. It wrecks me to see it, so I know it’s a thousand times worse to feel it. I was told I was reckless for pursuing you during this tour. And then Maddie said something that made total sense to me. She said that when I was with Sophie, I was out of control but with you I was reckless. And I am, because I will do everything I can to take care of you and shield you from pain you don’t deserve. Even if you get mad. And I hate it when you’re mad at me.”

  The emotion in his voice had her taking his hand a moment. There was plenty of reckless on both sides. She’d broken a dozen of her own rules for him as well.

  “It’s incredible to me that you’re so protective. That you care about me so much you’d start a relationship in the middle of a tour. That you want to be seen in public with me. That you’d brave my wrath because you do what you do to keep me from being hurt. I accept your bossiness and the way you do whatever you want most of the time. You can’t own what Gloria does to me. All the money in the world can’t fix that.”

  He sighed, squeezing the hand she still held. “This would be easier if you’d be less rational and just admit I’m right about everything.”

  She snorted.

  “I need you to understand that if you don’t respect my boundaries it will kill us. Not your over protective bullshit, not your bossiness or the fact that you’re spoiled. But when I tell you something is important to me and you don’t listen and argue with me when I call you out, it breaks something in my heart. I love you, but I’m not going to be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t see me as a fully formed person who makes her own decisions. I respect your choices and I need you to do the same.”

  She held a hand up to keep him from speaking. She wasn’t done.

  “Here’s what’s happening. Ben and I have spoken in detail about this issue. He will continue on as my investigator. I considered asking Jeremy for names of people for me to hire, but Nora made some good points about why I should stick with Ben, and I agreed with them. I’ll share the information I get back. I’m not trying to keep you out of my life, Miles. I want you at my side, not driving while I sit in the back seat.”

  Miles took a deep breath, but she saw his smile of relief that she was keeping Ben. “This is our first big fight,” he said, and that smile turned down into a frown. “I don’t like it.”

  “I don’t like it either. But we can make it through if we’re honest with each other. And we listen when the other says something is important to them. You’re used to everyone going along with whatever you say. You’re a leader. Super sexy. Great when it comes to fucking. Not always easy to handle when you’re with a person who is never going to let you run their life, even if it’s the best, safest way ever. You don’t like being told no and I rather like saying it.”

  “I don’t want to break this thing, or any part of you. I just want you to be surrounded by love and support. I promise to do my best to listen and respect your boundaries. Again, I’m sorry. Ben is sorry. It was a mess and one that could have been avoided if I’d listened to you better. I’m relieved you gave him another chance. He really is awesome at this stuff. You’ll share what you find? Promise?”

  They’d make it. She wasn’t stupid enough to think that would stop him from getting up in her business, but if he listened and paid attention, they’d be okay.

  “Yes. Unless you turn into a control freak and ignore my very well defined boundaries. Then we might have to renegotiate.”

  He held out a pinky and she clasped it with hers.

  “I will do my best to not take over. Even when I might have a better plan and do it a certain way because that’s best.”

  She smirked a moment. “Oh, okay, well good talk.”

  “And I’m sorry I was high handed.” He laughed. “I love you. I’m sorry the first time I told you was over the phone.” He snickered and she flipped him off.

  “Remember what I said. Oh. And I love you too. Sucker punched me yesterday. Nora knew before I did.”

  Miles laughed. Only Harlow could describe falling in love as being punched.

  “Yesterday? And you still love me after all this?” he teased. Sort of.

  “Must be love that I’m still here now.”

  Blushing and absolutely pleased at everything she was telling him, Miles rolled his eyes. “You’re absolutely gorgeous and smart and funny and you make me stupid with happiness. They saw it. Whatever you said to my mum turned her into your number one fan.” As much as he wanted to drag her into the bedroom and sex her into oblivion, there were some other things he needed to share. Wanted her to know so she understood him better. Not to excuse what he’d done, but to give context.

  “Your mother is a delight. Also, who knew she cursed like a sailor when she got mad?”

  “It’s adorable when it’s pointed at someone else. Not so fun when she’s pissed at you.”

  Harlow watched him for long moments until she finally said, “There’s more. Tell me.”

  Of course she’d sense that. “It’s that she’s involved that makes it worse. Sophie I mean.”

  Harlow paused, cocking her head.

  “Will you tell me why? I’m not going to get jealous that you’re still emotionally connected to her.”

  He snorted, shaking his head. “I am emotionally connected. Not how you might assume. Can I tell you about her? It?”

  Harlow looked at him with a sad smile. “Of course you can. I want that.”

  “And can we do that snuggled up? You’ve been mad at me for hours. I hated that.”

  She held her hand out and he tugged, pulling her up so they could relocate to the bed and under the blankets facing one another.

  He took her hand. “When I was the Miles who was with Sophie, I was a different person. A lesser version of who I am now. Weaker. It wasn’t a great love affair or anything like that. When we met, Earthquakes’s success was just heating up. It seemed fun to go out and be wild. After all, I’d earned it hadn’t I, with all my hard work.” Miles shook his head.

  “Sophie’s world was different than mine had been. There were drugs everywhere all the time. I came to rehearsal high more than once until Silas took me aside and said none of them wanted to see my face unless I was ready to do my job. I thought, fuck that! They just want to kill my fun. The sex,” he peeked at Harlow, but she didn’t look upset. “Threesomes and more. She didn’t care if there were other people with us, so I didn’t care either. I stopped caring about a lot of things, mainly how the truly important people in my life saw me and what I was doing. It wasn’t that I was a junkie, or that I’d physically harmed anyone. But I was a wreck. A juggernaut of chaos and instability until she got bored and cheated and I got ashamed and finally broke things off.”

  Harlow squeezed his hand but said nothing. Just letting him get it out.

  “Then, after the breakup, Sophie took things, private things, between us and she threw out all the details. She gave all these breathless, giggly little bits about us to get more attention and to raise her profile as a celebrity adjacent person. This stuff was everywhere. She bragged about my piercing and how high capacity I was when it came to drugs and alcohol. She posted pictures of my dick on the internet. I had to face my mum knowing she’d heard I did coke. That she knew I’d smoked dope with heroin. People knew all my weakest moments and I had no defense other than pretending it didn’t bother me.”

  He pulled his hand away to scrub it over his face.

  Harlow continued listening to him with nothing more on her features than empathy.

  “I don’t mean to say she made me do it or that she was a bad influence, because that’s not true. I allowed her into my world and then I wallowed in the way we dirtied it up.” The words had been ripped from him. Something he’d thought dozens of times but had never given voice to. “It took me a really long time to trust anyone new after that. And I can’t say it wasn’t hard even with those I did know and had no reason to suspect.”

  He pressed the heel of his hand against his chest, against the pain. “Because of me, she slithered into your life and did to you what she did to me. I hate that it was her who brought Gloria’s attention back to you in such a visceral way. I hate that it made you upset. I hate that it makes you believe you’re not deserving of your success. She’s a shallow person who doesn’t care about anyone above what they can do for her. Obviously, she sees you and thinks you had to fuck your way to success because it wouldn’t occur to her otherwise. I hate that she’s in between us because she’s stirred her pot again.” He’d worked so hard to get past that part of his life and his worst mistake had come back to do harm to his best thing in the world.

  “Miles, I feel this way because of years and years of being taken less seriously because I had a famous dad. Or because I’m female. And attractive. With boobs and a brain. It’s part of this industry and I loathe it. But it’s not because of whatserface. Sophia is an archetype. There are many of her. You can’t own that. In fact, you’ve gone out of your way to be the opposite with me.”

  She kissed his fingertips.

  “Thank you for trusting me enough to share this. It helps me understand you so much better. I’m sorry she betrayed you. I’m sorry she messed with your trust but I’m so grateful you gave it to me.”

  He blew out a long breath, letting go of the guilt and the anxiety that Harlow might react badly. Let himself accept the fact that she loved him. She wasn’t going to hurt him like that. Would, in fact, go out of her way not to.

  “Are we at the make-up sex part?” he whispered.

  “Probably,” she said. “If you’ve got the energy to pleasure me well, let’s get to it!”

  CHAPTER

  TWENTY-NINE

  Harlow spun in a circle as she took in the master bedroom of the house Miles had rented for the next several days. Floor to ceiling windows fronted the entire space with a large deck just beyond. The ocean glittered to the horizon past that as the setting sun set the sky afire in oranges and pinks.

  The light on her skin was a lure. God she was magnificent there in a short sun dress of blue gingham. Sexy and sweet all in one.

  La Jolla was one of her favorite places. She’d mentioned it once, months ago at the beginning of the tour. He’d remembered because it occurred to him they’d be in San Diego for shows. It’d been a pleasure to choose this house for her. A base for the next several days. A way to spoil her, which was one of his favorite things.

  “I had Poppy text the address and basic directions to your dad and to Jenna. There are groceries in the fridge and pantry. Poppy took the initiative to stock up on things we’d all like. She’s really pleased you invited her to stay here with us,” he told her.

  “Well of course I did. She’s your sister and my friend. Also, she’s exceptional at taking care of people.”

  “Sometimes you have a tendency to assume the things you do for people are things everyone does. Even though there are few enough people who do those same things for you. You’re a beautiful soul and very much a nurturer and fixer.”

  He met her in the middle of the room, just looking into her face and letting her smile ease every heavy thing on his mind.

  “You’re one to talk. You take care of me all the time. And the band and your friends. Your family. My friends.”

  Miles warmed at her words. “In all the world there’s nothing for me to do but take care of you. Then I know for sure you’re okay because I’m the one who helped make you that way. You’re pretty easy to take care of. I don’t do all that much because you usually beat me to it because you’re taking care of me.” Which was frustratingly true at times. As problems went, it wasn’t a bad one to have really. But as he loved spoiling her it did take creative thinking.

  “I have very few riders in my contract.” She grinned. “This house is stunning. And we’re here because you remembered something I said months ago. So my dad and Jenna and Ryder can stay here too. And Poppy to balance it.”

  Yes, he’d done it because he’d tucked away that detail when she’d been talking about her favorite places. But he’d also done it because she could meet with Richie there in the house instead of some other place where Miles would have to remain behind. In that house he’d be near enough to step in in necessary. Or to lean on. Whatever. He didn’t mess around when it came to her, damn it. If that made him pushy or bossy, well, yeah it did make him both those things.

  He promised to do the best he could to respect her boundaries, and he was! But that didn’t mean he had to give up attempting to protect her entirely. Just that he’d be better at keeping it below her radar.

  “You look so pretty,” he told her, inching the hem of her dress up little by little. “You’d look even prettier riding my face.”

  The intake of her breath and her blush rocketed straight to his already achingly hard cock.

  “I don’t know if you noticed, but the headboard looks like it’s bolted to the wall. I think you could brace yourself there. And make all the noise you want because for the next few hours we’re all alone.”

  It didn’t matter that he’d already had her that morning when they woke up. Or that he’d have her again when they got home later that night. He wanted more. Always. Greedy for her.

  “You can even leave the dress on. I’m all about your ease.”

  Her delighted laugh stroked over his skin like a caress. A little husky from desire. Like a secret she’d whispered.

  “I noticed it has these little buttons.” He flicked them open one after the next, all the way to her belly button. “I’ve been thinking all day about how I could open the front of this dress up and free your tits from that bra.” As he said it, he’d done it, popping the front clasp.

  In addition to pretty much always wanting to fuck her, Miles figured it would help her not be so nervous about the upcoming conversation if he kept her busy climaxing, napping, and eating.

  He’d start with the climaxing, then they’d go to dinner with Omar and depending on what the mood was when they got home, he’d probably top up the orgasm tank so she’d sleep deeply.

  One handed—the other was slowly twisting the bar through her nipple back and forth—he was able to grab the waistband of her underpants and pull them down so she could step free.

  She was already wet as he slid his fingertips through her labia and up to her clit.

  But before he went any further, he took several steps back. His shoes were already by the front door so he laid on the bed and beckoned her.

  She straddled his body as she moved toward his face. He stopped her when she tried to undo his jeans. If she touched his cock he’d lose it. And he wanted all his focus on her. Then he’d free his cock and fuck her so hard her tits bounced.

  There were no words between them just then. Just the soft sounds her knees sliding over the bedspread and their breathing. But when she got close enough, he grabbed the tops of her thighs and her ass, holding her in place.

  Her hair slid forward, partially obscuring her features as she looked down at him. Her pupils were huge, lips wet from where she’d licked them. Christ, every little detail of her reaction to him unraveled all his control.