“You’re right. Let’s just get through tonight, get the info we need, then get our asses back to New York where we belong.”

Aubrey wraps her slender arm around my shoulders and gives me a little squeeze. “There’s the Lanie I love. Come on. Let’s weasel our way backstage and get to work.”

My fingers rub over my aching forehead. This is a bad idea, but I reluctantly tell her okay. She grabs me in a tight hug—her vanilla perfume super strong in my nose—and leads me toward the restricted area sign with our backstage passes tight in hand.

CHAPTER THREE

Being backstage at a rock show isn’t as glamorous as one may think. It’s filled with dirty, sweaty men—most of which are overweight and look like they haven’t showered in six months. Plus, the way they leer at me is creepy, like I’m a dessert ready to be licked.

I shudder at the last thought and grip Aubrey’s hand tighter.

“Damn, Lanie, loosen up. You’re killin’ my hand,” she complains.

I drop her hand. “Sorry. Where the hell is the band? Their set has been over for at least fifteen minutes.”

We come to a hallway filled with music equipment and people loitering about. Something tells me we’ve come to the right spot to find a rock band. The sheer volume of scantily clad women milling about shocks me. Some of them are even walking around topless like it’s no big deal.

I smooth down my fitted leather halter and jean shorts, suddenly feeling like one of the only modestly dressed women around.

Do these girls have no self respect?

Aubrey runs a hand through her auburn curls. “How are we supposed to get any one on one time with him in this freak show? Harold is right, rock star accounts are definitely not the usual.”

“I don’t know, but we aren’t leaving until we talk to him.” I grab her wrist and tug her forward. “We’ll check every one of these rooms if we have to.”

Aubrey giggles uncontrollably as we rush from room to room throwing the red doors wide open in search of Noel Falcon. Somehow we’ve ended up turning this into a silly little game of shocking people as we slam open the doors. A majority of the rooms are either locked or empty, but I have the feeling if we keep this up much longer we are going to get thrown out of this place.

The last room we come to has music blasting on the other side of the red door. Aubrey twists the handle, throws open the door, and shouts, “Booyah!” at the top of her lungs, causing me to laugh so hard I double over.

“Oh, um, sorry,” Aubrey says while yanking on my arm.

I stand up straight, trying to curve my giggles, and stare right into the eyes of Noel Falcon. The smile drops completely off my face.

Two topless women press against him, one on each side, and his arms wrap around them. A slow, lazy grin spreads across his face, and I suddenly feel the urge to hurl.

“Well, well, well. If it isn’t my old pal, Lanie,” Noel says. “Please, by all means, come in and join our little private party. I was going to take it easy tonight and settle for just these two, but you and your friend are more than welcome to join in. The more the merrier, right ladies?”

The blondes giggle and then run their hands up and down his chiseled chest while they lean in and kiss each other.

He continues smiling at me, loving that he’s paying me back ten fold right now. I shake my head in disgust. “You’re a real piece of shit, you know that? Come on, Aubrey.”

Aubrey grabs my shoulders, holding me in place. “Lanie, we can’t. What about our jobs? We have to talk to him.”

I shake my head and glance at Noel. “Fuck the job. I’ll pass.”

I storm away from the door with Aubrey close on my heels. I don’t know how I’m going to explain this to Diana Swagger, but this is just too much. It’s way more than I bargained for. No sane person could speak to such a condescending, egotistical, prick of an ex-boyfriend, let alone work with him.

I’ll just have to find a new dream.

Aubrey keeps up with me as I blast past all the people in the busy hallway. I’m so angry with myself. I can’t believe I let myself think for a minute this would be easy or that I’m even capable of facing Noel.

The exit door flies open as I shove my way through. I gulp down the thick, Texas night air and push my hair back from my face. I’m not even sure how to find our rental car from this area of the parking lot, but I keep trudging forward. I need distance as much as I can from Noel Falcon.

“Damn, Lanie, would you wait up? These boots aren’t exactly made for running a marathon,” Aubrey complains behind me.

I sigh and stop in my tracks. “Aubrey, you just don’t—”

“What?” her tone snaps. “Don’t understand? If you tell me that one more time after I’ve listened to you pine after him for four freakin’ years, then I’m going to murder you here and now. Capiche? I know what he meant to you and how much tonight hurt you, but now you know there isn’t anything left for you there. You can move on. Forget about Noel Falcon and focus on your career. That douche is the only thing standing between you and your dream job, go back in there and face him. Get your answers.”

She’s right. I can’t let my emotions come get in the way of the biggest career opportunity I’ll ever have. “Alright. Jeesh. You don’t have to go and get all mafia on me. I’ll think about it.”

Aubrey tilts her head and pops her bottom lip out. “Please, Lanie. Please? I need you as my coworker.”