One of the bodyguards walks up to me backstage, his lips grim. “Someone wants a pass back here. He claims he produced Ms. Ross-Taylor’s latest album. I told him to fuck off, but he’s not giving up.”

I was typing a text to Mark, telling him we’re sorry he couldn’t make the show, when my fingers freeze at this little shocker. I blink at the guy a second. “Let me handle him. Lead the way.”

The three-hundred-pound beast crooks a finger and starts walking over to where fans are screaming and clawing to get past the ropes. Amidst the surrounding chaos are the twins from hell, their confident expressions cooler than an autumn breeze. Jason’s in dark blue jeans and a hot-as-hell grey hoodie pulled over his head. Justin’s got a blue, short-sleeve button up over charcoal jeans. If they didn’t dress differently you might not be able to tell them apart. Both pairs of ice-green eyes lock on me as their shoulders visibly relax.

“Do you know this guy?” The bodyguard points to Jason who’s so relieved to see me he’s bordering on a smile.

I frown and raise my hand. Jason thinks I’m about to say let him in, but instead I use that gesture to announce, “Don’t know him. Sorry.”

Jason’s deep voice warns me underneath the screamers, “Sarah, don’t do this.”

Justin crosses his arms, shaking his head that I’m making a mistake.

The bodyguard looks at me, because he knows my name really is Sarah.

Loud enough for the Cocker Brothers to hear me, I tell the beast, “He’s a stalker, Wayne. That’s how he knows who I am. We deal with him all the time.” To Jason I shout, “She’s not interested! Give it up!”

As I bury my head in my phone and head away he shouts at my back, “I fucking hate you!”

My middle finger flies up and I keep right on walking.

Serves him right. I know for a fact he didn’t tell Simone he was coming. I would have prepared myself for the inevitable pit in my stomach and dampness in my panties.

She’s been out for his balls ever since she woke up this morning with a scratchy throat. And all over my ass, since he’s not been here to take the heat.

I’m doing him a favor, but he doesn’t need to know that.

As soon as I walk into her dressing room, she growls, “Why didn’t you tell him to stop making me sing that fucking song earlier?!!!”

Sighing, I quickly walk over to the couch where she’s drinking hot water laced with honey. “For the tenth time, you are an adult. You could have stopped him if you felt your chords becoming strained.”

She bends, laying her head onto her knees. “What am I gonna do!?”

“How bad is it?”

“I have sandpaper in my throat!”

A knock makes us both look over. I touch her shoulder. “Stay here.” When I get to the door I lay my ear against it and call though, “Who is it?”

“Room service.”

Simone and I share a look. The knob turns without my help. Mr. Perfect Face and his matching brother walk past me.

Oh shit.

Here we go.

Simone’s eyes turn to silver swords, rising as though one possessed, her index finger pointed at Jason. “You!”

He freezes, confused.

Justin leans on a wall from which he can watch the scene. He meets my eyes a moment, then turns back to Simone as she snarls, “My throat is fucked up because of your perfectionism and I have to go on in…” She glances to the wall clock. In fact, we all do. Then she locks back onto Jason. “Thirteen minutes!!”

“Simone…” He holds his hands out.

“Don’t Simone me! How the hell am I supposed to sing ten songs like this?! If I can’t do a set for twelve-hundred people, then how am I going to do the Arena for thirty-thousand someday? Huh?! My voice is going to crack out there!”

I have to admit Jason is weathering her attack like a champ. He’s very calm as he tells her, “First, my perfectionism is what’s going to make you a star. This will be your last concert where you’re not the headliner.”

“I can’t be a star if I blow it out there! They’re going to laugh at me! Because of you!”

I glance over to see Justin watching with disapproving tension around his eyes.

Jason reaches into his pocket. “Beautiful, these are lozenges that Usher uses before he goes on. And Jay-Z. And Drake. They’re fifty-eight dollars a roll because they’re specially made by a nutritionist to the stars.”

The balloon of her fury deflates as she cocks her head, takes the roll and rips the wrapper off. “These had better work,” she mutters, turning away from him.

Jason’s staring at her back as she pops two in her mouth and starts crunching. He glances to me. From his expression, he’s not a fan of this side of her. With her in her own world, he crosses to me.

My breath hitches as he leans in to whisper in my ear, “Why didn’t you let us in?”

God, does he ever smell bad?

“I think you know why.”

He nods, getting it. I was partly saving him, partly her. Amusement lights up his gorgeous green eyes as he leans in, his voice almost inaudible. “You didn’t have to be a cunt about it.”

Heat pools out between my thighs and I blink hard, barking, “Didn’t I?”

I lock eyes with him and he holds my look in a way that shimmers goosebumps down my spine.

Justin pushes off the wall and mutters without emotion, “Simone, have a good show.”

She just waves dismissively, still turned away and waiting for results. She unwraps more of the roll and pops two more lozenges in her mouth.

Jason and I are watching her.

As Justin walks up he hits Jason’s arm. “Let’s go.”

From a distant place Jason nods before he locks eyes with me again. “Sorry I called you a cunt.”

“No, you’re not.”

He gives me a smirk that is so hot it makes my panties dampen even more than when he just lit my ear on fire. “You’re right, Sarah. I’m not.”

He dips out of the door first before Justin goes to close it. On a pause Justin locks onto me as though seeing me for the first time. His eyes narrow and he disappears.

I take it back. They don’t have to wear different clothes to be told apart. Give him a second and Justin will show you there’s a sharpness to his eyes, almost devious, that Jason just doesn’t have.

I saw it as clear as that mirror Simone’s walking toward.

“Sarah,” she whispers, touching her throat like she can’t talk.

Oh God, did he give her something she’s allergic to?

Fear grips my heart.

Is the show over?