“So, we can begin in about two weeks.” Skip is consulting his iPad. “You can have the studio three times a week, four hours a day.”

“We’ll take it,” Leo pulls his phone out of his pocket to add the appointments to his calendar.

“Great. Thanks, guys. I’m looking forward to working with you.” Skip shakes their hands and shows us out.

“Have you talked to Adam and Jason about coming up here from L.A. for recording?” Jake asks.

“Yeah, they’re good.” Leo exhales. “They’re going to bring the families with them and rent out some houses.”

“Good,” Eric nods. “It’s good to be writing and recording at home again.”

“It is,” Leo agrees and waves as Jake and Eric pull off.

“I want to talk to you,” Rick begins when it’s just the three of us left.

“Okay,” Leo frowns.

“Alone,” Rick clarifies, gesturing toward me.

“I’ll wait in the car.” I begin to walk toward the curb but Leo interrupts.

“No. Stay here.” He glowers at Rick. “Whatever you have to say can be said in front of her.”

“Is she going to be a problem?” Rick asks bluntly.

“What are you talking about?”

“You weren’t even here five minutes before you had to pull her into a locked room and fuck her. This album is a big deal. Your cut alone is over ten million, and that’s before royalties.” I feel my cheeks heat, and my mouth drop.

“Hold it.” Leo holds up a hand, shutting him up and my wide eyes find his before he turns back to the asshole. “You may have forgotten, but it’s never been about the money for me, Rick. It’s the music. The fans love the music. If you have a problem with my girlfriend, I’ll find another manager.”

“I’ve been with you since you were singing in dumpy little clubs in Bothel,” he sputters.

“Yeah, and you’ve gotten greedy.” Leo gets in his face. “Don’t ever disrespect my girl again, Rick. She’s not the problem.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“No, I’m laying it out for you, man. She’s not just one in a long line. Get used to seeing her around.”

Rick glares at me and then wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Fine.”

Leo tightens his hand around mine and leads me to the car, settles me into his front seat, and climbs in himself, and speeds away from the studio.

“I’m sorry,” I murmur when I find my voice.

“Why?”

“I don’t want to cause any issues for you.”

He laughs humorlessly and shakes his head. “You are not an issue. Half the guys in the band are married, Sam. Rick’s just an asshole and doesn’t like change.”

“Okay,” I whisper and clasp my fingers in my lap. He’s right. Rick is an asshole. But I really don’t want to be the cause of any issues in the band. In one hour I managed to make Leo jealous, set his drummer straight and piss off his manager.

I’m just a real charmer.

“Stop it,” he murmurs and pulls my hands apart, links his fingers with mine and kisses my fingers. “Trust me, you’re not an issue.”

“Okay,” I mutter and trace the tats on his fingers when he rests our hands in my lap. “Are you excited to get back into the studio?”

“Yeah, it’ll be fun.”

I nod and look out the window. Darkness has fallen. It gets dark quickly in the winter in Seattle.

“So, I don’t think we’re going to make it to dinner before we go to the club.” Leo gives me an apologetic smile. “But I’ll buy you bar food.”

“I love bar food!” Just the thought of it has my stomach growling. “I want potato skins and buffalo wings and nachos.”

“Is that all?” He asks with a laugh.

“And deep fried mozzarella sticks. I’ll share with you.”

“Okay.” He shrugs and laughs again.

“How do you know the band we’re going to see?” I ask.

“I met the lead singer back in the day when I played the Seattle circuit. He’s had opportunities to come to L.A., but his family is here, and he’s content here. I haven’t seen him in years.”

“Cool. Are they good?”

“Pretty good, yeah. They do mostly covers, but they throw in some original stuff too.”

“Does he know you’re coming?”

“Yeah, I called him the other day.” Leo frowns and glances at me.

“What?”

“I’ll probably be recognized tonight.”

“I figured. You’re not in your usual disguise.” I snicker and kiss his hand.

“You’re okay?”

I love that he’s worried about me.

“I’m fine.”

“Really?” He looks surprised.

“I don’t trust the fame,” I remind him. “You know this. But it’s part of who you are. I’m excited to go listen to the band with you. I’ll be fine.”

“Okay, thank you.”

He parks, pulls his beanie low so it covers his eyebrow and exhales deeply. “Here goes nothing, sweetheart. Let’s go get your bar food.”

“Don’t touch my nachos.”

Chapter Twelve

“I’ll open your door,” Leo pins me with a firm look. “Wait for me.”