I peeled my eyes open and stretched my sleepy limbs, relishing the feel of the bazillion thread count sheets beneath my body. I felt so much more relaxed than I expected on such little sleep, and when I rolled over and caught a glimpse of the clock on the bedside table, I understood why.

“Shit!”

Clad in nothing but Garrett’s T-shirt, I bolted out of bed and sprinted to Liddy’s bedroom. It was already eleven in the morning. I was running seriously late, and I still had to get Liddy up and to daycare before I started my twelve o’clock shift at Bernie’s.

When I discovered her bedroom empty, I turned on my heels and shot toward the stairs. “Liddy!” I shouted, my feet sliding on the floor once I hit the landing. I swung around the railing, nearly landing on my ass in my rush. “Liddy, monkey, we’re running late! I need you to get read—”

I skidded to an abrupt halt once I hit the kitchen, barely having a chance to take in everyone milling about. My eyes landed on a smiling Garrett surrounded by the rest of the members of Civil Corruption. “Where’s Liddy?”

“Morning, baby,” he crooned in that silky, rock-god voice of his, moving from the island to come to a stop less than a centimeter in front of me. It was like waking up in an alternate reality where everything was opposite of the real world. In the real world, Garrett sent a raging bitch to kick me out of his bed the morning after. In Opposite World, he bent me over his arm and kissed the ever-loving shit out of me in front of his staff, bandmates, and said raging bitch I mentioned earlier. I liked Opposite World so much more. “Since Ian’s on the list, I had him take her to daycare early this morning so you could sleep in.”

A soft, fuzzy warmth worked its way through my bloodstream, causing me to temporarily forget our audience and melt into him as I curved my arms around his neck. “That was really sweet, but you didn’t have to do that. I’m used to functioning on little or no sleep. I’ve had three years of it.”

His arms tightened at the same time his face grew hard. “We’re sharing the burden now. You’ve been doing it all by yourself for too fuckin’ long.”

I smile and lifted onto my toes, planting a kiss on his jaw. “Stop it or I’m going to jump you again. And I really need to get ready for work.”

“Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to see you guys finally pulled your heads outta your asses,” Killian spoke up, “but all this touchy-feely shit is gonna make me hurl.”

An embarrassed blush crept up my cheeks as I offered an apologetic smile over Garrett’s shoulder.

“Shut the hell up,” Garrett grumbled, slinging his arm over my shoulders and turning us both to face the crowd with me glued to his side. “You’re just jealous ’cause all you can get are bitches who look like they’ve been rode hard and put up wet, and I’ve got a class piece in my bed.”

I wasn’t a huge fan of being called a piece, or how he discussed us sleeping together so openly, but I was too flattered by everything else he’d said to kick up a fuss about it.

The sound of a sarcastic snort pulled my attention from the guys’ argument, and I turned to see Kimber sitting at the kitchen table, glaring at the laptop screen in front of her. “Since when were gold-digging whores considered classy?” she muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.

The atmosphere in the room went electric. Rosita inhaled a shocked gasp and Garrett’s entire frame went rigid. I could tell he was about to spring into action, but I didn’t need him fighting my battles for me. “That’s kind of hypocritical coming from you, isn’t it?” I snarled. “What the hell are you even doing here?”

No one had ever looked at me with so much hatred before. “I’m the guys’ assistant, so I’m here assisting. I’m doing my job.”

“Is that what they’re calling prostitutes nowadays?” I asked in a fake sugar-sweet voice. “Because I’m pretty sure the reason you’re really here is to reverse cowgirl whichever guy pulls his dick out first. Apologies for the language, Rosita,” I finished, turning in the cook’s direction.

“Sometimes it’s called for,” she replied with a firm nod before turning back to the stove and acting like nothing was happening around her.

“Are you really going to let her talk to me like that?” Kimber whined. “When you’re bored with her, she’ll be gone just like all the rest, and I’ll still be here. She needs to show me some respect.”

“That’s the mother of my child you’re talking about, Kimber.” Garrett growled threateningly. “I’d watch what comes out of your mouth next.” There was so much menace laced through his words that a shiver worked its way down my spine.

“Are you kidding me? I’m practically part of this band and you’re going to choose her over me?”

“Bitch, you’re nothing more than a groupie we let hang around. Only difference between you and them is that you get paid to do all the shit we don’t want to. If you actually want those checks to keep rolling in, I suggest you shut your fuckin’ mouth, do your goddamn job, and show my woman some respect. I hear any more of your bullshit about Gwen, I’ll can your ass so fast you won’t know what hit you. You get me?”

By the way her face screwed up in anger, I had a feeling she most certainly didn’t get him. But while she struggled with her inner rage, I struggled not to throw myself at Garrett and demand he take me on the kitchen table again, audience or no audience.

Instead of answering, Kimber slammed the laptop closed and gathered it up, along with her purse. She made to pass me, but I couldn’t help but get one last barb in before she stormed out. Leaning in, I whispered so only she and Garrett could hear. “You should know, you just spent the morning working on the exact same spot where Garrett fucked me stupid last night. Have fun with that mental image.”

Luckily, she stomped from the house before her head could explode and make a mess everywhere.

“You’re a vicious little thing,” he murmured into my ear after the front door slammed shut. “It’s hot as shit, baby. If we were alone, I’d bend you back over that table and fuck you so hard it’d break.”

“I hate her” was the only reply I could come up with in that moment. “Like, serious hate. The kind of hate where I shave all the hair off her head, and her eyebrows for good measure.”

He blinked down at me slowly, then teased, “Jesus Christ. Women are fucking savages.”

I punched him in the arm as hard as I could, but it didn’t seem to do anything but hurt my hand. “Ouch, damn it,” I muttered, rubbing at my sore fist and scowling up at his smug grin.

“All steel, baby. But you already know that.”

I rolled my eyes at his sexual innuendo and then remembered I needed to get a move on. “Coffee and shower!” I ran over to the coffeemaker, poured myself a steaming hot mug of goodness, and spun around to run back out. I shouted a hurried goodbye to Rosita and the rest of the guys and, without giving it a second’s thought, stopped long enough to lean up and give Garrett a quick kiss before rushing off to shower.

It took longer than normal to get ready since I had to fight Garrett off and force him out of my shower, but it left me with an idea. As soon as time permitted, we were going to break in that shower… along with several other places in Garrett’s massive mansion.

* * *

“Wow. That’s just… wow.”

I’d just finished telling Corrine everything that had happened after my disastrous date with Steve and the ensuing events from the past few days. It had been nearly a week since Garrett and I started our… whatever it was we were doing, and it had been amazing.

Our weekly girls’ night in had finally arrived, and she was currently at the mansion since it was my turn to host. I decided it was finally time to fess up to what was going on. Garrett and the rest of the guys were in the studio working, and Trolls was playing on the humongous TV while Liddy shook her little booty and sang along. Corrine and I drank wine and chatted while watching and recording her every now and then.

What could I say? My little monkey was adorable.

“Right?” I lifted my glass and took a sip. “It was bizarre, I swear. I came into the kitchen this morning and he acted like… I don’t know. Like we’d been together for years. In front of everybody. It was like he was claiming me or something.”

“I’m happy for you if you’re happy, babe, but you have to admit, one-eighty in his behavior is a little unexpected.” I couldn’t fault her for being suspicious. There was still a part of me deep inside that was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“I know,” I sighed. “And I keep telling myself to be careful and not trust it, that it’s too good to be true, but….” I closed my eyes and pulled in a deep breath before looking at my best friend once again. “I’m happy,” I said quietly. “I can’t remember the last time I felt this good.”

The cautious expression on her face slowly gave way to a small, genuine smile. “If you’re happy, I’m happy. That’s all that matters.”

I reached for her hand and squeezed. “Thanks.”

“But I need to know something really important.” She leaned in and lowered her voice, speaking with an almost grave seriousness. “He’s an animal in the sack, isn’t he?”

“Fuck me” we heard coming from behind us. We both looked over the couch to find Ian had come up from the studio and was watching us with a disgusted look on his face.

“Language!” I scolded, shooting a look at Liddy to see she was too entrenched in her movie to pay us much attention.

He ignored me and carried on. “That’s something I definitely don’t need to know.”

“Sorry, baby.” Corrine smiled, not sounding sorry in the least.

Ian rolled his eyes, but I could see the admiration in them as he leaned over the back of the couch to kiss Corrie’s forehead. My heart warmed at the sweet gesture directed toward my BFF. She deserved a terrific guy who’d treat her like gold, and clearly that giant of a man was the one to do it. “This what you two talk about every time you get together?”

Corrie took a drink and shrugged. “Pretty much. Guys’ locker room talk is nothing compared to what women talk about. If you knew, you’d blush.”

“Not all of us are like that.” I scowled in her direction. “I don’t want to hear about your bedroom skills, and I certainly won’t be sharing Garrett’s.”

“Buzzkill,” Corrine grumbled.

“Thank you,” Ian replied flatly.

“What’s bedroom skills, Mommy?” Liddy asked.

Damn it. “Nothing, monkey.” Luckily the trolls on the TV started singing again, distracting my girl from the adult conversation.

I turned back to Ian and asked, “So how’s it going down there?”

“Pretty good. They’re on a roll. I haven’t seen Garrett this focused in years. They keep this up, they’ll have a new album in no time.”

That didn’t fill me with the warm and fuzzies. A new album meant another tour, more groupies, life reverting back to what it had been the past three years. Ian must have noticed my displeasure because his expression morphed into one of concern. “This time it’ll be different, Gwen.”

The smile I forced didn’t reach my eyes. He had no way of knowing that for sure. But before I could absorb the news fully, Garrett appeared. “Dear sweet merciful heaven,” he declared. “What the hell is my daughter watching? Is that unibrowed thing singing Lionel Richie?”

“Daddy!” Liddy squeaked, forgetting all about her show.

Garrett caught her midleap and tossed her into the air, making her squeal with delight. “Hey, munchkin.”

“What’s bedroom skills?”

Son of a bitch! Garrett looked back and forth between his daughter and me for several seconds. I discreetly shook my head in a pretend she didn’t say anything and change the subject gesture. We really needed to start watching what we said around the little girl.

“What are you watching?” he asked, easily diverting her attention.

“Trolls!”

“Christ,” he grunted, rolling his eyes as if in agony.

“Can the men in this house please watch their language around the child?” I asked sarcastically.

Garrett put Liddy back on her feet, and she ran back to the TV and began dancing around as a new song started to play. He moved around the couch and bent down, placing a kiss on my lips. “How’s it goin’, baby?”

Swoon. From the look on her face, Corrine really liked what she saw.

“I’m good,” I answered, even though it wasn’t totally true. “So… Ian says you guys might have a new album done soon?” I hedged. “That’s exciting, right?” And by exciting I meant not exciting at all… at least not for me.

“I guess.” His casual response and shrug surprised me. “It’ll be nice to have one in the bag already, but me and the guys aren’t planning on releasing it anytime soon. Chris is already throwing a shit fit about that.”

The mention of Civil Corruption’s manager would usually put me in a terrible mood, but I was too focused on what Garrett had just said. “What? Why? Really?”

Catching on to the relief I couldn’t keep out of my voice, Garrett smiled knowingly. “I told you we were taking a break, didn’t I?”

“Yeah, but—”

He cut me off. “Releasing a new album means another tour. It was a mutual decision. The four of us want to stay off the road for a while. It’s been almost ten years. That shit gets old, Gwen. We want a life that doesn’t include hotel rooms, buses, and plane rides. The label isn’t expecting anything from us for a while, so we’re in no rush. But when the creative juices are flowing, we have to follow where they lead. That’s why we’ve been spending so much time in the studio. And I made you a promise. No more carrying the burden on your own.”

The remaining pieces of my shield fell right then. If or when that other shoe decided to drop, I was in serious trouble. My heart officially belonged to Garrett Wilder.

“What about Chris?” I was surprised I was able to say that jack-ass’s name without gagging. The only person I disliked more than him was Kimber.

Those jade eyes grew warm as he glanced at Liddy, still singing and dancing, before he looked down at me. “Don’t you worry about him. I can control Chris. All you gotta worry about is my girl’s questionable choices in music.”

A blinding smile slowly stretched across my lips. “There’s nothing wrong with her music choices. Justin Timberlake’s in this movie. He’s hot.” And because I wasn’t done messing with him, I asked, “Oh! Do you know him? Could you introduce me?”

He growled, but there was no anger behind it. “Oh, baby. You’re gonna pay for that later tonight. Now give me a kiss. I gotta get back to work.”

I gladly did as he asked, and then he and Ian started back downstairs to the studio. I was still wearing a stupid grin on my face when I turned back to Corrine. She was smiling too.

“I approve, honey,” she said. “I totally approve.