Between Us (The Renegade Saints #3) (7 page)

Reaching out, he takes my hand in his and shakes it. “Devon, I’m Cole Hayes. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’ve heard great things.”

His large hand completely envelops my much smaller one. I stare up at him and watch as his mouth moves. I hear every word, yet the conversation we’re having with our eyes is completely different. He looks like he’s seconds away from slamming me against the wall and fucking me through the damn plaster…and I want him to do it. Badly. I glance down at my sandals while I try to think of something to say. Absolutely nothing comes to mind.

“I was just coming over to ask Ian if he wanted to go eat,” Cole says and turns his attention toward Ian at my side. “I thought maybe we could continue the conversation we were having the other day about how Flynn and I write music these days.”

It’s impossible not to notice how Ian’s blush makes another appearance when Cole speaks to him. I wonder what that’s all about.

After Ian nods his head, Cole turns back to me.

“I’d like you to come, Devon. It would be great if the three of us could get together. Let me take you to lunch, my treat.”

I nod like a complete idiot, a silly little grin plastered to my face in spite of my brain screaming obscenities at me about not making a fool out of myself. Just because I find him ridiculously attractive and compelling doesn’t mean I can’t spend time with him…right?

Right. Sure.

Regardless of how stupid it is to be spending time with Cole, I’m going.

After we separate, I drive to meet Cole and Ian at a Chipotle nearby. My stomach is one big nervous knot because I’m about to have lunch with two of the most attractive men I have ever set eyes on. If I had never met Cole in person, I’d probably be very giddy about Ian right now, but as it stands, my thoughts are almost entirely on Cole.

How in the hell did I not notice how magnetic he is in any of the photos or videos I studied preparing for this project? It’s like none of them even came close to capturing the kind of sexy he is. Or at least not in a way I understood it like I did today.

When I pull into the Chipotle parking lot, I’m happy to note it isn’t jam-packed. I immediately spot Cole at the door—trying and failing to look inconspicuous. After parking, I make my way over to him. As his eyes rake across my body, I shiver. The way he looks at me makes me feel like some kind of goddess.

I grin nervously as I stare up at him.

“Hi,” I blurt breathlessly.

The smile he gives me sends a shot of liquid lust directly to my veins. I’m well aware that I’m smiling like a pageant contestant having a turn on the stage, but I can’t stop. It’s like a first date complete with butterflies in my stomach and a case of the jitters. The thought makes me feel like a dork and I let out a nervous giggle. Right then, Ian steps through the restaurant door, holding it open.

“You guys coming in?”

While Ian’s question is directed at both of us, he only looks at me. Once again, I wonder just what is going on with these two. Setting a hand on my lower back, Cole guides me into the restaurant as we both greet Ian. The feel of his hand on me is enough to make my nipples harden. I couldn’t be any happier with my wardrobe choice for the day than I am right now. Without the shrug I’ve got on, my nipple situation would be noticeable.

I stay between the two of them—Cole leading in front of us, Ian behind me—as we make our way through the ordering line. As nervous as I am, I’m also starving. My burrito bowl grows quickly as I have things piled on.

When we get to the register, Cole insists on paying, citing that it’s a business lunch. I notice he’s getting a lot of looks from people and it’s obvious he’s being recognized, but the vast majority of people are trying to pretend they aren’t staring. He seems pretty adept at acting as though he doesn’t notice all the looks and whispers going on around him.

Cole insists on carrying all of our food to the table and when we get there, Ian pulls my chair out for me. Both remain standing until I’m seated. It’s an old school kind of chivalry I thought was long since dead. My heart skips a half dozen beats once they’re both seated, one on either side of me. The air around us seems charged with electricity. My brain is obviously a giant slut. Never in my life have I been attracted to two men at the same time. Granted, I’m far more attracted to Cole—but I would let Ian do terrible things to my body.

I watch as Cole crushes a handful of chips together and lets it rain down on his bowl. Looking up at me, he grins. “So what did you think of your first day?”

Most of what I think about my day so far isn’t fit for public conversation, so I’ll be giving him the all-business version.

“I was nervous at first,” I admit as I blend my burrito bowl together with my fork. “Kind of like a kid on the first day of school. But once I got there and started meeting people, I was more excited than ever.”

“Nothing to be nervous about,” Cole assures me with a wave of his fork. “I saw the documentary you did for the YouTube contest. It was really, really good. You’ve got incredible talent and you get the facts out in a unique and captivating way.”

It blows me away knowing he’s seen my work, and I stop chewing from the shock. Realizing I need to get it together, I finish chewing and swallow.

“I really appreciate that. I was so excited when I won. I thought that was the highlight of my year. Little did I know, getting the call from your manager, offering me the Renegade documentary was going to be an even bigger high. You could’ve knocked me over with a feather. Even now I can hardly believe you’re seriously letting me do this. I’m a nobody.”

Cole emphatically shakes his head as he finishes chewing a guacamole-dipped chip. “Everybody is somebody, Devon. When the guys and I hit it big, we didn’t have control of much. We were a bunch of punk teenagers who thought we knew what was up. Once we realized just how fucking lucky we really were, we made a pact that we’d pay that shit forward. There are so many talented people who get passed over for the bigger names. Our first CD was called
The Unknowns
. To us, it’s the definition of our experience. We’re all unknown at some point.”

“She won’t be unknown for long,” Ian interjects. “I saw the documentary, too. In fifteen minutes you made me laugh, cry, and root for Pepe. I felt like I knew him. How did you find him?”

Both men lean forward a bit in their seats, intently focusing on me. I swallow nervously as my eyes flit from one to the other.

“Pepe is a busboy at the restaurant I waitressed at until two days ago.”

Cole looks confused. “I thought Lacey said you were a production assistant,” he says.

“I am. I mean I used to be,” I stutter. “My last day as a PA was last Friday. I’ve been a production assistant by day on a soap opera and I waited tables at Pho Reel at night and on weekends.”

“Shit,” Ian exclaims. “When the hell did you have time to breathe?”

I chuckle because he’s right. I really hadn’t been sleeping a lot when I was working both jobs.

“Being a production assistant was a great learning experience,” I explain, “and working at Pho Reel kept me busy. Plus, with tips, it actually paid a bit more than the PA job.”

“Let me guess,” Ian says. “Crazy rent?”

“No,” I answer with a laugh. “Renting a cardboard box in LA is at least a thousand dollars a month but I’ve got a roommate. For me, it’s clothes and camera equipment.”

“What about you?” I ask Ian. “What do you do when you’re not writing?”

“Oh, I’m always writing,” he laughs as he puts his fork down. “I started self-publishing thrillers about two years ago.”

Cole’s brows shoot up. Clearly, he didn’t know this about Ian.

“You do?” he asks incredulously.

Ian blushes as he chews. “Yeah,” he mumbles after swallowing.

“I don’t remember seeing that in your bio,” Cole tells him.

Ian shifts uncomfortably in his seat and looks away. “I do it under a pen name. It started out as a lark in college and then it kinda took on a life of its own.”

“Ooh,” I squeak excitedly “Maybe I’ve heard of you! I read a lot. My two favorite genres are anything romance and thrillers and I buy a lot of indie books. What’s your pen name?”

He nervously crushes a chip between his fingers as a flush spreads over his cheeks. “I use my middle name, so I write as Robert Monroe.”

I’m flabbergasted because I know the name well.

“Holy shit!” I sputter excitedly. “You wrote
Behind The Walls
! That was my favorite book last year,” I enthuse. “I can’t believe you’re Robert Monroe. My bestie got a BTW paperback signed for me for Christmas.”

The shit-eating grin on Ian’s face is model-hot. “I can’t believe you read it and you’ve got the paperback!”

“Don’t act like you’re no big deal,” I counter as I wave my index finger at him. “You were on the
New York Times
Best Sellers list for weeks.”

Cole is looking back and forth between us with a look of shock. “He was?”

“At least two that I know of,” I say as I nod. “How many exactly, Ian?”

“Five,” he admits. “The book was like the little engine that could.”

“I read on a Goodreads discussion board that you received some offers from the traditional publishing houses,” I tell him. “Did you ever accept one?”

He shakes his head as he takes a sip of his drink. “Nah, I like self-pub. I get to do it on my own schedule, so I can work it around my scheduled jobs. Plus, being an indie means I’m totally responsible for the finished product. The autobiography of the band is being done through a big publisher. I like it, but they have control over everything. I get the best of both worlds by doing both.”

“I totally get it,” I tell him. “I want to try my hand at big budget and indie films. There are great things to be said for both.”

“Now’s definitely a great time to explore every option,” Cole agrees. “There are more options for people in the entertainment business than there used to be. In every area, there are more ways than ever to get your work out.”

“The Internet changed everything,” Ian asserts.

The two of them get into a conversation about all the changes that have taken place over the last decade. I listen intently as I eat my fabulous bowl, offering up my thoughts as I see fit. They’re both talkers, which I like. There’s nothing worse than uncomfortable silence.

As I eat, I watch the way they interact. It’s not comfortable and effortless—in fact, it seems rather stiff. But still, the way they look at each other sparks my curiosity. Cole looks bemused while Ian looks… maybe a bit scared. But still—I sense an underlying attraction. My mind races all over the damn place as I try to fit the puzzle pieces together. If they’re attracted to each other, are they gay? No, that can’t be right. If it were, they wouldn’t both be looking at me.

Like right now. I’ve been so engrossed in looking at them, I somehow missed someone asking me a question. I know this because they’re both staring at me expectantly.

“I’m sorry,” I blurt nervously. “I was thinking about camera angles. Did I miss something?”

“We were talking about leaving things behind during this tour, and I asked if you have a boyfriend,” Cole answers.

I let out a snort that turns into a giggle. “Um, no.”

Cole looks very pleased with my answer, while Ian looks surprised.

“Really,” Ian says, “no one hanging around waiting for you?”

“Nope. My last relationship ended two years ago. Afterward, I really threw myself into work. Time flies when you’ve got a purpose.”

Cole nods his agreement. “That’s so true,” he says. “It seems like it was two years ago when we signed our first contract. With all the ups and downs, the last decade passed by in a flash.”

Toying with my soda straw, I look across the table at Cole.

“What about you?” I ask. “Are you in a relationship?”

The corner of his lips quirk up before he breaks out into a full-blown grin. I bet he knows I was asking personally as opposed to professionally. Judging by the smile he’s giving me, I’m pretty certain he likes my interest.

“Nope, I’m completely unattached.”

I start to let out a relieved sigh, which I quickly cover with a nervous cough. I was just about to get crazy busted for mooning over him. I turn to Ian in hopes of deflecting attention from my almost-gaffe.

“Are you seeing anyone?”

His cheeks pinken as he shakes his head. “No.”

I’m naturally inquisitive, which means I’m dying to ask why—his reaction suggests there’s a reason—but he doesn’t seem receptive to that. I scramble to think of something else to say.

“Tomorrow night, the guys and I have a private box at the Staples Center for Incubus,” Cole announces. “You two should come with me.”

I’m glad he had something to say since clearly I was never going to have a follow up question.

Ian turns my way without immediately answering Cole’s question. “Uh, I’ll go if you do. You down?”

This doesn’t feel like part of my job. I could say no and it wouldn’t be a big deal. I could—but I’m not going to. I want to go.

“I’m so down,” I laugh.

“All right,” Cole answers as a sexy grin spreads across his face. “Give me your address and phone number. If it’s cool with Ian I’ll grab you and then we can pick him up around five. We can have dinner before the show.”

They exchange a look that is the exact opposite of casual. There’s definitely something to it. After a pregnant feeling pause, Ian nods his head at Cole. I only realize I haven’t given a definitive answer when I notice they’re both looking at me.

The silence is deafening as I do mental acrobatics. Dinner before the show is so absolutely not part of the job. I can’t pretend otherwise. I need to be very clear about that in my own mind before I accept. I search myself for hesitation, but find none.

“Sounds good,” I answer finally.

I try not to show how giddy and nervous I am about the fact that I’m going to be going out with them.

As we’re getting ready to leave, Cole reminds me that I’ve got his phone number in my newly assigned cell phone.

“Reach out any time,” he murmurs. “I’m always available for you.”

My pulse races as I nod stupidly. I need to get out of here before I do something stupid like ask him if he’s available for phone sex later. I mean seriously, his voice.