“Babe, that was beautiful. You were beautiful.” Jake met me at the back of the stage, handing me a bottle of water, and planted a kiss on my cheek. He looked almost as flush as I was.

I twisted the cap and took a few sips. It wasn’t one of my full-blown concerts, but it was an entire set and I could already feel my voice starting to crack. He had pushed me too hard to do the extra meet and greet, and added an interview with the Austin Times.

“Thanks.” I held the bottle against my chest. It started to soak through my white shirt.

“The press is going crazy. You should see the social media accounts. They are blowing up. I can’t keep up with all of them.”

I glared at him. “Jake, these are sick kids. I’m not trying to exploit that.”

“No, you leave that part to me.”

He was like an evil genius I couldn’t control. I didn’t know when the switch had occurred for him. There was a time when he was a friend, a confidant even, but now he was hungry to be at the top. And I was his only way to stay there. He didn’t care if that meant using sick children for photo ops, or offering a free concert for national publicity. He was starving for every headline I could capture.

“What time do we leave tomorrow?” I asked. I rarely knew my schedule ahead of time, but I had been promised a few days home in Nashville. I had visions of sleeping in my own bed.

He steered me toward the side of the stage where we could talk without fan interruptions. “First, we have more photo ops. The mayor wants a picture.”

“Of course she does.”

“And before we take off in the afternoon I have you scheduled to stop by as many of the kids’ rooms as possible. Take your guitar and play a few of their favorites. They’ll want autographs. Meet a few of the doctors. You know the drill, babe.”

“That I don’t have a problem with.” I was about to lay into him about all of the other things he expected of me when my back slammed into something as solid as a wall, but it had arms and a chest.

I turned slowly and looked up. I knew that chiseled face and grin. I had seen those bedroom eyes pop up more than once in the headlines. What was Luke Canton doing here? This was definitely not his kind of scene.

“Sorry,” I eked.

“No, don’t apologize. I was coming back stage to see you. Good show.”

I stared at his massive frame. “You came to see me? You like my music?”

He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I liked it tonight.”

I laughed. “I guess I’ll take that. I just don’t see you as the country fan boy type.” The Warriors’ quarterback was notorious for partying, and I didn’t think any of my songs would make it on to his playlist.

That made him chuckle. “I have a lot of different tastes.”

Jake grabbed me by the shoulders and whispered in my ear. “We need to keep moving, Lex.”

Luke was in front of me, and he didn’t look like he had any intention of stepping out of the way.

“I was hoping we could talk.” His voice was low. “I like what you did up there.”

There was a slight shiver running through my heated exhausted body.

“I have a meet and greet and then I’m free.” I smiled. I could feel the anger rising off of Jake’s neck behind me. “You sticking around that long?” I asked.

“I think I could manage.” Good Lord his smile was having a sinful effect on me.

“Not tonight, you’re not,” Jake butted in. “You’re booked, Lex. Sorry, Mr. Canton. We can certainly put a fan pack in the mail for you. Would you say you’re a size XL?”

I spun around to face my dick of a manager. Jake had sized up the media fallout of this situation in half a second. He didn’t want me spotted with Austin’s most infamous playboy. He didn’t want me speaking to him, have a picture taken with him, and he especially did not want me spending any one-on-one time with him. Three years with Jake had taught me how to predict the way his manipulative mind worked. The panic was written in his eyes. The cameras were around the corner, and if I stepped into view with Luke things could turn into a publicity nightmare for Jake.

I suddenly realized the possibilities Luke Canton presented. I held my tongue, and instead of lashing out at Jake I turned my smile to the tall quarterback. I could have a little fun, and prove a point.

“Sorry my manager is a little rude.” I eyed Jake to put him in his place. “Like I said, I’m free after the meet and greet.”

“Great, I’ll see you then.” His eyes lit with promise and I couldn’t help the slight flutter it created.

I brushed past him with Jake’s ire on my neck, but I didn’t care.

As soon as we were out of Luke’s earshot, Jake hissed, “What in the hell are you thinking? You can’t be seen with him. Not even here.”

“Since when do you decide who my fans are? I thought any press was good press?”

“Babe, we both know there is such a thing as bad press and Luke Canton is the definition of it. He’s the equivalent of a morally deprived man whore. I don’t want you within a five-mile radius of him. Understand?”

I smirked. “Guess that’s going to be pretty hard since we’re under the same roof at the same charity event.” I smiled sweetly. “For the children.”

“I didn’t know he was going to be here, or I would have prepared for the optics. Must have been a last minute addition to the guest list.” He stopped long enough to suck in a breath. “He’s off limits, Lex. Off limits.”

Before he could berate me any further, I stepped quickly into the room where the fans were waiting for autographs. For this event, there was a charitable contribution expected, except from the children. I’d never accept a penny from them. They were the reason I was here. One hundred percent of the proceeds from tonight’s concert and all of my merchandise would be donated to the new wing of the hospital.

This hospital was going to become the gold standard for what children’s medical care should look like. There were aquariums in the lobbies. Rooms full of toys. There was an art studio and even a music lounge for kids to kick back in gaming chairs and listen to music.

No one wanted to bring their child here, but if they did, they knew they were getting the best care in the best environment.

I took my place behind the long table and took a sip of water. There were a dozen different colored markers scattered and a pile of pictures from the cover of my latest album. I was lying in a field of wildflowers. The sun illuminated the blond streaks in my hair, and my guitar was in the grass next to me. I snickered every time I had to sign that picture. It was the day I had a full-blown allergy attack and Helena had to redo my makeup at least ten times. All of it was smoke and mirrors. My entire career was like that cover.

Jake left me to greet the fans. “We’ll talk about this on the ride back to the hotel. Stay away from him.”

“Yes, Dad, and did you want to give me a curfew too?” I grinned sweetly.

I reached for the first picture. “Hi.” I smiled at the woman in front of me, dressed in a silver glittery gown. She looked like she could be one of the hospital’s big donors. I wanted to be extra sweet in case it added to her generosity tonight.

“Who should I make it out to?”

“Betty, please.”

“All right, Betty.” I scribbled my usual wishes for love and music and signed my name.

“It was a beautiful concert,” she gushed. “Just beautiful.”

“Thank you. I’m glad you could be here for the event.” I handed her the glossy photo before the next fan moved forward in line.

I don’t know how many people passed through. I didn’t keep count of the tuxedos or cocktail dresses snaking through the line. I reminded myself I was raising thousands of dollars. My wrist was starting to ache. I had barely glanced up when I heard a deep voice. A solid, strong hand slid my album cover in front of me.

“You can write it out to Luke.”

I cleared my throat. “Anything else?” I wanted to sound casual and normal, but there was something about Luke Canton that stirred something in my stomach.

I had only spent a combined total of two minutes in the man’s company, but I felt nervous and giddy. It wasn’t something I had felt in awhile. I was almost afraid to look up—afraid he would see what he was doing to me.

He leaned toward me. “Depends on how much you can put on one of these pictures.”

I wasn’t going to blush. I refused to let him get under my skin, even though he was blatantly flirting, and I was blatantly returning the cues.

I used the fuchsia pen and scribbled a few lines. I added my phone number at the end, eyeing him as I handed it to him.

His eyebrows rose. “Did you think I was asking for your number?”

“Weren’t you?” I challenged.

“I did pay a thousand dollars for the autograph.”

My eyes widened. “A thousand dollars?”

“It’s for the kids, right?”

I nodded. “Right. For the kids. But still, that’s very generous.”

“Yeah, that’s what they say about me.”

I dropped my eyes to the table. We both knew the things people said about him. It couldn’t all possibly be true, could it?

“And what if I dial this number? Is it going to be a Chinese restaurant?”

I pressed my knees together under the table. It had been a rebellious impulse to give it to him, and I was starting to question myself. Was I really this mad at Jake? Or was I willing to flirt with Luke Canton a little while longer?

“Try it,” I suggested.

He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialed the number. I bit my lip when we both heard my phone ring.

“Not a Chinese restaurant.” He grinned.

“No.”

He looked over his shoulder. He was the last one in line. Jake would be here any minute.

“Want to get a drink?” The way he asked it sounded as if he was asking for so much more than a nightcap at the hotel bar. Even his words dripped sex. Was there ever a woman who turned him down?

I nodded. God, yes. He didn’t know how thirsty I was. Thirsty for something other than schedules and order. Thirsty for a taste of something wild. Thirsty for something dangerous. Dangerous like him.

He leaned over the table. “Here’s the thing. I have to leave alone.”

I looked at him, trying to read between the lines. He didn’t explain what that meant.

“But, I can meet you somewhere as soon as I leave the hospital. Or.” He stopped and lowered his voice. “You could come back to my place.”

The good girl knew what to do. Lexi Wilde would not have a drink with the state’s biggest womanizer. And she sure as hell wouldn’t go home with him. Everyone knew about Luke Canton. I didn’t have to be a huge football fan to know he was the kind of bad boy girls like me needed to steer clear from. Jake wasn’t completely wrong. Luke’s image was the complete opposite of mine. Our paths colliding publicly would be an explosive disaster.

“Text me your address,” I whispered.

He picked up the thousand-dollar autograph I had signed and tucked it inside his tuxedo jacket.

“Done.” The wink he shot at me made something twitch between my legs. I let out a tiny whimper.

“Lex,” Jake was out of breath. He ran toward us. “They need you on stage to announce the auction winners.”

“Oh?” I shot Luke a disappointed look. Getting out of here wasn’t going to be easy and with the way the night was going, it was starting to look impossible to spend a minute alone with him.

“Yes, come on.” He stood impatiently between the table and Luke. “The mayor is waiting for you.”

Luke started to follow us and Jake spun around. “Thank you, Mr. Canton. I can take it from here.”

But Luke wasn’t the kind of man Jake could push around. I recognized that about him quickly.

“I’ve put in quite a few bids. So I’d like to hear Miss Wilde tell me if I’m the night’s big winner.” His eyes traced my lips and I felt them part slightly in response to his heavy stare.

“Oh, well I didn’t realize that,” Jake stammered. Luke had him almost as flustered as he had me.

It was impossible to ignore the effect he had on people. His frame was imposing. His eyes a shocking green. And his body was like a Greek god. The killer smile didn’t hurt either. Standing next to him I didn’t care if he was the Pied Piper leading me down the wrong trail. I only knew I wanted to know what was at the end of that road.

“I’ll join the other donors. Excuse me.”

I watched him walk out of the room as if he owned the entire hospital. He was brash. He was confident. He was hot as hell. And holy shit, I wanted to spend the night with him.

“Jake?”

“Hmm?” He was practically sliding me across the polished floors to get me to the stage.

“Would you be okay if I donated something to the auction? Something last minute the donors could bid on live?”

“Sure, babe. I think it’s a great idea.” He was clearly preoccupied trying to get me up on stage as quickly as possible. He released my hand at the base of the stairs.

I pecked him on the check before I took the steps. “Thank you.” I smiled. “It’s really going to bring in a lot of money for the children. And I think the fans will love it.”

“Sounds good.” He nodded. “A signed guitar? Some of your Alexan boots? Backstage passes for the Christmas show?”

I anchored my foot to the stair and looked at the mayor, then turned over my shoulder to answer Jake. “I was thinking of auctioning off a private concert.” I jogged the rest of the way to the applause of the crowd, leaving Jake with his jaw hanging open.

I looked out into the crowd, squinting through the bright lights. But now that I knew what I was searching for he was easy to spot. There on the sideline was Luke Canton and I hoped like hell he was here to play ball.