“Hmm.” Greg turned his head toward the hall. “Same go for you, Baz?”
Her flush faded as Baz appeared in the doorway next to Greg. His expression had defaulted to sarcastic asshole. Which told her he’d heard exactly what she’d said.
Damn Greg for needling her about Baz. And damn her mouth for spouting such bullshit about him. Christ, if he’d said the same thing about her, she would’ve wanted to cry.
Fuck. She needed to get Greg the hell out of here so she could talk to Baz.
“Yeah, sure. Whatever.” He shrugged. “So, you wanna hear what I’ve got?”
Greg nodded. “Yeah, I do. I got a few minutes before I need to be anywhere. Let’s give it a listen. Tru, you wanna—”
“She heard it last night.” Baz turned away as if she didn’t mean a thing. “I’m sure she’s got better things to do with her time.”
Okay, she probably deserved that. She grimaced. No, she definitely deserved that, but she didn’t have to like it.
Baz moved out of sight but she heard him say, “I’ll meet you in the studio,” before she heard his footsteps heading away.
Damn, damn, damn. She wanted to rip Greg a new one for putting her in this position but she knew it was no one’s fault but her own.
Greg pushed away from the doorjamb, his gaze narrowed at her as she tried to stop the rush of tears that wanted to flood her eyes.
Stupid tears. No call for them.
“We’ll talk later.” Not a question. A definite promise. “Is the new receptionist coming in later today?”
She pulled herself together with an indrawn breath. “No. She’ll be here Monday. And I have to leave by six tonight. I’ve got a . . . a date.”
Greg looked shocked. Actually physically shocked. But he covered it quickly. “I know it’s none of my business but . . . with who?”
She scowled at him. “You don’t have to look so damn surprised.”
“I’m not.” He raised his hands in the air. “Okay, maybe I’m a little surprised. Sue me. It’s just . . .”
She raised defensive eyebrows at him. “Just, what? Surprised someone would want to ask me out?”
He looked genuinely nonplussed at that. “No! Of course not. I’m just surprised you said yes.”
“Well, I did. And you can just leave now.”
“Tru—”
“No.” She sighed. “Look, we can talk later. Okay? I do have work I need to get done so maybe I can have a few hours off this weekend.” She held up a hand. “And before you tell me I work too hard, I’ll just say I know that. And I’m trying not to. So go listen to Sebastian’s music. It really is good and I think you’ll like it.”
Greg didn’t move. “This isn’t over, babe. I wanna know what’s up. I worry about you.”
Then he disappeared down the hall and Tru took a deep breath.
And sniffled.
Damn it. Just . . . damn it.
What the fuck had made her say that? Sebastian probably thought she was a royal bitch and he had every right to think so.
Jesus, she needed to apologize. But what the hell did she say?
Sorry I told Greg you don’t mean a thing to me and last night was just about sex? And tonight I have a date with another man, which I made before I had sex with you.
When the hell had her life become the plot of a romcom? And a bad one, at that.
Throwing herself into cleaning the messes of her professional life, she got up and closed the door to her office so she wasn’t enticed by going down the hall to see what Greg and Sebastian were up to.
Then she opened her e-mail and prepared to do battle.
* * *
Baz wanted to slam the door closed behind him but he didn’t want to give Tru the satisfaction of knowing she’d gotten to him.
Because she hadn’t.
So maybe he’d thought last night had meant a little more than a good fuck to her. But it didn’t bother him that she didn’t think so.
Alright, maybe it bothered him a little. Fuck. It bothered him a hell of a lot.
Damn it, he liked her. And he’d thought she liked him but obviously he was a complete idiot who didn’t know what the fuck he was talking about. She’d just dismissed him like a . . . like he was a groupie and she was a rock star on her way to the next show.
Christ.
Maybe he really did need to get the hell out of here and back where he belonged. On the road with his band.
His chest tightened as if someone had stuck him in a vise and started to twist the screws.
It’d been so damn long since he’d played in front of an audience, just the thought made him want to puke like he was a rank amateur at his first gig.
And maybe it wouldn’t matter because Nik still hadn’t called him back and he’d had more than enough time to listen to the music Baz had sent. Maybe Nik would never call back.
At what point did he throw in the towel?
Fuck that. It wasn’t time to throw towels or anything else. Was he fucking nuts? Obviously, he was because it’d only been an hour or so since he’d called Nik.
He needed to get his head on straight. And fucking around with Tru wasn’t going to help.
“So, you wanna tell me what the hell happened last night or do I have to drag it out of you?” Greg stalked into the studio, pushing the door shut behind him with more force than Baz had used. “And don’t fucking tell me nothing.”
Uh-oh. “I made new music. I thought you wanted to hear it.”
Greg shook his head, his expression dark, something he rarely was. “Bullshit. You know that’s not why I’m asking. What the hell happened between you and Tru?”
He stared straight at Greg. “Did you ask her?”
Greg’s response was immediate and fierce. “No. Because I’m asking you.”
Shit. “Maybe it’s none of your business.”
“Maybe. But you and Tru are my friends. And whatever’s going on is making both of you act like crazy people.”
“Maybe I already was to begin with.”
Greg smirked, raising Baz’s blood pressure. “Oh, fuck that, Baz. You’re not crazy. But you are pissing me off. Jesus, you’re so fucking talented and you’re pissing it away. And if you think I don’t see what’s going on between you and Tru, you’re a fucking idiot and that doesn’t mean I think you’re stupid, so don’t even go there. I think you’re gonna let a damn good thing get away from you because you’re too damn stubborn.”
“What the fuck am I being stubborn about?”
“About the fact that you want her and you’re not gonna go after her?”
“And who says I haven’t?”
Shit. He knew the second he said it that it was exactly the opening Greg was looking for because he started to smile.
“You’re a sonovabitch.” Baz pointed at Greg, who crossed his arms over his chest and just stared at him.
“Yep,” Greg started to smile. “But I’m your goddamn friend. Now, what the fuck happened?”
Baz sighed hard and loud. “More than me recording music last night. Alright? Happy? But I’m not saying any more because Tru and I haven’t fucking talked about it and maybe we won’t. According to her, there’s nothing going on between us.”
Now Greg had the decency to look uncomfortable. “Don’t take that as gospel. I was pushing her and she probably just told me that to shut me up and put me off. And I’m sorry about that.”
“Yeah, well, she probably meant every damn word. It’s not like she was begging me to take her back— No, never mind. Just let it go, Greg.”
“Is that what you’re gonna do? Let her go?”
“Not exactly my call, and she’s not breaking down my door to get to me either.”
“Then maybe you need to be a little more proactive, because you’re not the only one with a thing for her.”
Baz winced, knowing it was true. “So you’re telling me I should ask her out.”
“Damn straight that’s what I’m saying.” Then he paused. “Just not tonight because she’s already got a date.”