Total pages in book: 15
Estimated words: 13338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 13338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 67(@200wpm)___ 53(@250wpm)___ 44(@300wpm)
The night they’d met, a stalker who’d been terrorizing Sasha had gone after Cassidy by mistake. Dash had looked into her dazed green eyes, and his life had never been the same. Not that he’d realized it immediately. They’d spent one night together and he’d panicked. The sex, and their connection, had been that good.
Genius that he was, he’d bailed before she’d woken up. Then a near baby scare with a woman he didn’t remember had almost derailed his future. Still, despite him having been an asshole, Cassidy had stepped up and helped save his reputation. And he hadn’t let her go.
“She knows you wouldn’t cheat,” Axel agreed. “But I think the distance is wearing on her. She misses you and that makes it easy for doubts to creep in.”
Her brother had a point and Dash’s chest grew heavy. “I’ll do something to let her know I’m thinking of her.”
The silence on the other end didn’t bode well.
“What’s wrong?” Dash asked.
Axel let out a groan. “How well do you know your wife if you think an expensive piece of jewelry or flowers is going to fix this?”
Dash hung his head. “No. It won’t.” He ran his hand through his hair, trying to come up with something that would help. “I can’t get out of these commitments. The photo shoot, the concerts. Hell, I’m sure you’re on your way to the airport now for tonight’s show.”
“True. Okay, look. Go do what you need to and we’ll talk when I get there.”
Dash disconnected the call and dialed their tour manager. He didn’t often make demands, but it was time he put his foot down and his wife first.
Chapter Two
Although it took Naomi, Dash’s PR person, to juggle events and cancel an interview, Dash planned a surprise trip home after the weekend’s concerts. Though he was on stage in body, every other part of him was home with his wife, and he was surprised he hadn’t flubbed the words or notes. It was a miracle he’d kept up the pretense of joy his fans paid to see.
His family’s private jet waited for him after the event, but a storm in the east delayed his departure. Unable to fly, he did the ritual post-concert breakdown with the band, and he made sure the guys would keep one eye out for Peyton and another on her dirtbag manager. Eventually, the storm passed, letting the pilot take off, and Dash landed at Teterboro Airport late in the afternoon.
His brother Xander was waiting when he stepped off the plane. The humidity of New Jersey hit him hard, but he was damned glad to see his sibling.
Xander slapped him on the back and pulled him into a hug. “I missed you, man.”
“Same.” Dash stepped back and grinned at his older brother. “But you don’t miss Axel borrowing Bella when the band is in town.”
“No more than I miss you living in my house when you have a perfectly good one of your own nearby,” Xander said with a chuckle. “And Axel now has his own dogs, so Bella’s safely at home with us.”
Because he was heading home, Dash had no luggage. He followed Xander to his SUV and they climbed in, Xander immediately reaching for his black-rimmed glasses.
Dash frowned, concern for his brother rising inside him. “Headache?” he asked. Xander had been injured in an IED explosion during his time with the Marines and had lingering headaches and vision problems. The glasses enabled him to write and drive when his eyes gave him trouble.
“Just up late working and my eyes are tired.” Xander started the vehicle. “You realize you’re giving me the emotional character arc of my next book? Rock star is accused of having an affair while his poor beleaguered wife is working and home alone?” He raised his eyebrow before putting the car in gear.
“Fuck off. You know I’m not cheating on Cassidy,” he said without venom, knowing his brother wasn’t serious.
Xander nodded. “You’re a lot of things but a cheater isn’t one of them.”
Dash didn’t know whether to laugh or ask what those other things were. He decided he didn’t want to know.
Xander backed out of the parking spot and they were on their way. “You do realize Sasha and I are Team Cassidy?”
Dash shook his head and closed his eyes. Siblings. “I’m your brother.” And he shouldn’t have to remind Xander of that fact.
Xander shrugged. “And she’s a valuable asset in the business.”
Dash decided if he played along, Xander would get tired of giving him shit sooner rather than later. “Then I get her brother. I need his talent on the drums.” He looked out the window, watching the turnpike as they drove.
“You do realize in a divorce it’s you and Cassidy splitting possessions and not us, right?” Xander asked.
“There is no divorce and this conversation, joke or not, is pissing me off.” His head had begun to throb on one side.