“Grab this, Em.” My sister is setting up the drum set for Liam. As I take hold of the cable she’s handing me, she pushes up from the floor. It’s been difficult to get back into the swing of things. When Cal and Tay got back from their honeymoon, the record label told the guys there would be another local tour, so here we are at the Hollywood Bowl.

I am still interning and about to be offered a permanent position, which means I can stay in LA and be close to my sister. We still haven’t really spoken about what happened, but I know she will tell me when she’s ready.

“Thanks.” She grabs the cable and plugs it in. Taking a seat at the drums, she pulls two of Liam’s drumsticks out of the holder and taps each of the drums to make sure they’re hooked up correctly. The sound echoes through the venue.

“Hey, Em,” I turn to my brother-in-law and grin. He’s dressed in a pair of ripped blue jeans and a T-shirt that reads, “Suck It” on the front.

“Cal, how are you?” He pulls me into a tight hug, and I reciprocate. They’ve all been so incredibly supportive since the incident in Napa, and I am slowly coming to terms with what happened. I have even been to a couple of therapy sessions.

“Good, I think Liam is looking for you. He’s in his dressing room.” Leaving the newlyweds, I head off to find my man. It’s strange saying that. After all we’ve been through, he’s been my rock, supporting me every step of the way.

As I reach the dressing room, I hear the sound of a guitar filtering through into the hallway. I knock and push open the door. “Liam?”

“Peach, come in.” As I step inside, I take a quick look around. Since we arrived I have been helping Tay, so this is my first time backstage.

“Cal said you were looking for me.” He nods.

“I wanted to spend some time with you before the show.” I watch him place the guitar down, and he makes his way toward me. The spicy scent of his cologne envelops me as he nears. “I missed these lips.” He leans in, planting a soft kiss on my mouth.

My body reacts and I arch into him, feeling his warmth. When his tongue traces the seam of my lips, I open willingly. The kiss is soft and sensual, not the normal devouring ones he gives me. My hands twine around his neck, and the scruff on his chin tickles me.

“I missed your lips on mine,” I mumble into his mouth, which earns me a sexy growl. His arms wrap around my waist and he lifts me up, carrying me to the black leather sofa in the room. Laying me down, he covers my body with his. Rolling his hips, I feel how hard he is, which in turn causes a whimper from me.

I want this man all the time. It’s an insatiable hunger that I can’t ever satisfy. “I want inside this right here.” His hand moves down, cupping my jean-clad pussy, and my hips undulate as I shamelessly grind myself against him.

“Yes, I need you.” Tugging his shirt, he helps me pull it up and over his head. The toned, inked torso that greets me has me licking my lips. As he’s about to pull my tank top off, a knock on the door startles us.

“Fuck off!” Liam’s husky growl sends a shiver over me.

“Bro, we need you at sound check now.”

With that, we hear the footfalls of Callum Hayes walking off, leaving us in the room of now-diminishing lust. My giggle echoes around us, and I’m seared by scorching caramel eyes.

“Fuck, this isn’t over, Peach. I’ll devour you after the show.” Hastily, we head out toward the stage, and I find Tay and Kierra having coffee.

“Hey, Ki, I thought you were leaving?”

“After the show. There’s something I need to fix back home.” Her eyes are glistening with unshed tears.

“Fix?” She nods, but it’s the look in her eyes that tells me this is something big.

“Yeah, I can’t really go into too much detail about it.”

“Does Ryan know you’re leaving tonight?” The question falls from my lips, and her answering stare is evidence enough that she’s guilty of not telling him.

“He won’t care.”

“Of course he will. You two have something special, everyone can see it.” I glance at my sister who is nodding in agreement. The night of the wedding, Ryan and Kierra finally admitted their feelings for each other. According to everyone, it’s been a long time coming. They’re both stubborn and hot-headed, and I think this is going to make for one interesting conversation.

“Yeah, that’s all it was, one night. There isn’t room for more, Em. It’s complicated.”

“Look, Ki, everything in life is complicated, but if you’re not going to be honest with him, then how is he supposed to know?” My sister is right. They need to just lay it all out on the table, or it’s never going to work.

“I know, you’re right, but let me go home first. There’s something going on with my parents, and if I drag Ryan into it, it’s just going to complicate things more than they already are. I don’t want him to get into a relationship with me when I don’t even know what the hell I am doing.”

“Girls.” Ryan’s voice cuts through our conversation, and I notice the look on Kierra’s face. She’s smitten with the man. If only she could stop her fears and trust in him. In his feelings.

That’s what I learned with Liam. Once he let go of the fear, things worked out and now I see nothing but happiness when I look into those caramel eyes. It’s a light that shines from him, one that I only ever see when he’s on stage, but when he looks at me, I see it, too.

“What’s up, Ryan?” Tay asks with a small smile on her face.

“I need some help over on the set up, Tay.” The fact that he’s staring at Kierra while talking to my sister doesn’t go unnoticed.

“Sure.” My sister passes him, and his gaze flicks over me and Ki. Ryan is gorgeous in his own way—tall, built, and keeps a beard. The short, dark hair that seems to point in all directions always looks like he’s just rolled out of bed. I would say he’s about six foot easily.

“Are you looking forward to the show, Em?”

“Yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been to a show, so I hope you’re bringing you’re A-game.” His deep chuckle reminds me of Liam. The two are similar in many ways—one of those ways being how much they care. Deep down, these so-called rock stars are just men who love their women fiercely.

“You know it. So stop distracting your boyfriend and let him play the drums,” he retorts.

“I’ll try, but you know when he’s got his mind set on something, it’s hard to get him to stop.” My response earns me a chuckle. Suddenly the drums vibrate through the venue, and the sensation sends tingles through every inch of my body.

My gaze settles on the man who holds my heart in his hands. He’s in his element with the sound check, and we watch as he plays their new release.

I am head over heels, and I don’t want to be anywhere else but in his arms. Ryan leaves us and heads back to the stage. Cutting a glance to Ki, I notice her eyes glistening. She has these incredible teal-colored eyes. I’ve never seen anyone with the same shade before.

“Babe, you okay?”

“I will be. There’s just a lot I need to think about. If I want to be with him, there are things from my past I need to sort out. So me going home will let me tie up loose ends.”

“And when you get back, you’re actually going to tell him? You’re going to be honest about your feelings? Because let me tell you something, that man looks at you like you are his world, or rather, he looks at you like you make his world turn. That doesn’t come around many times in life. So while you can, grab hold of it and don’t let go.” Her smile is sad, and she flicks her gaze at the man in question.

“I know, Em, there’s just too much hanging over my head right now.”

“I get that. Just don’t let him wait too long.” Pulling her in, we hug and for the first time I realize I’m getting to see the inner workings of one of the feistiest women I know.

“I won’t.”

“I know you two spent the night together at the wedding,” I whisper, and she steps back. Her cheeks pinken and she laughs.

“Were we that obvious?”

“Yeah, you two lit up the room with the sparks flying between you.”

“Ugh, I hate not being professional.” Her nose scrunches, and I can see why Ryan is so in love with her. Beneath that fire is a sweet woman, and she’s incredibly beautiful. Her hair is dark blonde, almost brown, her eyes are like a crystal lake that contrast against her tanned skin.

“You’re the most professional woman I know. It’s okay to be in love, you know.” With that, we burst into a fit of giggles.

“You would know, since you’ve snagged the older Hayes brother.” She gestures toward Liam. He’s still in his zone, relaxed and happy. His smile sends tingles through me and my belly flips.

“I am, and let me tell you, Ki, don’t let anyone take that away. You need to be happy. It’s your life, not your family’s.”

She nods and her gaze settles on Ryan again, and I can’t help smiling.