Colors of Love (6 page)

“What kind of mix-up, exactly?” Tasha asked.

Yeah, focus, girl. There’s been a mix-up with your tickets. Don’t ya wanna know if you’re gonna get to see the
Speed
concert?

He looked at Tasha. “They were double-booked.”

Even the constant buzz of sound behind them could not mask Sophie’s horrified gasp.

Sophie should be horrified. Standing meters away from their assigned seats and being denied access was not Kaz’s idea of fun. Well, it hadn’t been—until
he’d
arrived. Now she’d be only too happy to spend the duration of the concert watching him instead of
Speed
.

“It’s not a problem.” His voice was so calm and so positive, Kaz couldn’t help but believe him. She couldn’t help but want to snuggle up in his arms either. “I’ll find you alternative seating. If you’ll just follow me?”

Oh, yeah. Here was a guy used to being in charge. Used to ensuring everything ran smoothly. Here was a guy who was super-confident in most everything he did. His orange aura told Kaz that. It also told Kaz to trust him, because he wouldn’t disappoint her.

A moment’s silence followed his request. Sophie and Tasha seemed to be mulling over his offer. Kaz remained quiet because the power of speech still eluded her. Which wasn’t a bad thing—if she could talk, she strongly suspected she’d volunteer to follow him all the way to the ends of the earth if he so wished.

Then Tasha nodded, breaking the impasse. Kaz nodded too as she narrowed her eyes to take another look at the man, wondering about the grey strip around him. What had happened to cause the grief and sadness he held so close? And did it have anything to do with the change she knew was coming?

When her gaze settled on his eyes—his beautiful brown eyes—she had to catch her breath. He was looking back at her, with…well, with almost as much interest as she looked at him. And perhaps with a hint of surprise? Or maybe he was just surprised to find her staring at him with such open curiosity. And what about the buttercup yellow that had snuck into his aura? She hadn’t noticed that the first time she’d looked at him.

The man blinked, his eyes widening as his gaze flickered down her body and back up again. It wasn’t a leisurely once-over—although Kaz felt it deep in her belly, which seemed to flutter with a million butterflies. It was a quick glance, almost imperceptible, except Kaz was staring at him so intently she couldn’t help but notice. And he knew it.

A magnetic pull danced between them, making her want to shuffle up close.

Had Tasha and Sophie not been standing beside her, she would have taken a step forward. As it was, she had to force herself to replace her foot on firm ground and not move.

But then he smiled, a smile so sexy it made Kaz smile too. And shiver. She couldn’t help herself. She stepped closer. She would have taken another step if he hadn’t blinked once again and then directed the full force of his beam at Sophie.

Lucky Sophie.

“This way, please.” With a gallant motion of his hands, he indicated they should follow him. He turned and led them halfway around the jam-packed stadium
,
the only place in the city big enough to hold all of
Speed
’s fans
.

Tasha and Sophie trailed tentatively behind him, but Kaz felt no such compunction. She fully intended to keep pace with this man. She was going to talk to him if it killed her. Maybe he’d give her some clue as to the connection between the message from the trees and the carmine emanating from him.

When he noticed her beside him he shortened his strides to match hers.

Nice. A gentleman.

“So, does this happen often?” she asked as they walked. “Double-booked seats at concerts, I mean.”

This time when he smiled it was all for her, and it made her feel warm all over. “Honestly?” He shrugged. “I wouldn’t know. I usually don’t get involved in seating issues.”

“You don’t?”

He shook his head, drawing her attention back to the turquoise and viridian shades there. Here was a man determined to become something better than he was, determined to rise above the situation he was born into. He was also a man who experienced strong emotion. Lord, but she wanted to get to know him better. So, so much better.

“It’s not part of my job description,” he said.

“Oh.” Yikes, that didn’t sound too reassuring. Lucky Sophie and Tasha hadn’t heard him. “If that’s the case, will you be able to find us other seats?”

“You have no concerns there—we already have. I think you’ll be happy with them. They’re much closer to the stage than your original ones.”

“Bonus.” Kaz grinned. Their original seats had been so far back the only way they’d have been able to see the band with any clarity was by looking up at the massive screens hanging above the platform. “Mind if I ask you a question?” She wanted to ask him a million questions. Find out everything she could about him. Wanted to understand all those colors in his aura.

She saw everyone in terms of color. Every single person. So why did this guy grab her attention? What was it about him that made her want to understand just what it was he thought and felt that made his colors glow so enticingly? Or so concerningly.

“Not at all. Ask away.”

“If this isn’t part of your normal job description, then what is?”

He scratched his head and said in a slightly amused voice, “Well, let’s see.
Speed
members would probably call me their general workhorse and gopher, but I like to think of myself more as band manager.”

Kaz tripped over her own feet.

He caught her arm, steadying her before she could fall, and his hand burned about a hundred degrees on her bare skin.

Kaz’s jaw dangled open. She slammed it shut. What the…? “Y-you’re Luke Struthers?”

He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve heard of me?”

Heard of him? He was her brother’s idol. His role model. While Kaz had daydreamed about the cute-as-hell Jordan Speed, her brother had expounded the virtues of Luke Struthers. He’d spent hours explaining to her why the man was a legend. How he’d used his marketing and promo skills to take three unknown brothers and turn them into superstars.

Now that she thought about it, the man did look like the pictures Ollie had shown her. “Uh, yeah. Your name’s been mentioned once or twice around my parents’ house.”

“Once or twice is enough for me.” He grinned. “Usually it’s the Speed brothers who are mentioned by their fans. Not their band manager.”

“My brother’s just completed a course in marketing. He, er, wrote a term paper on you. You’re kind of his hero.”

“I’m flattered.” He was. Kaz could see it in his eyes. “Tell your brother I say hey.”

“I will.” She couldn’t wait to see Ollie’s reaction. He’d likely drop dead from jealousy. Demand to know every detail about their meeting. Kaz would tell him. She’d just leave out some important bits. Like the instant desire that had struck her. Like the way he made her heart race like crazy. Like the four bajillion goose bumps that had broken out over her skin.

She glanced at her arm, at the very place Luke held it. How intriguing that a stranger’s hand should feel so right wrapped around her forearm like that. So…seductive.

Luke glanced there too, then met her gaze. He didn’t drop his hand, and she didn’t ask him to. As if by mutual consent, they just carried on walking, Kaz picking up the conversation as if nothing had happened. As if no silent communication had passed between them, and as if her arm weren’t burning up from his very touch.

“I’m surprised you’d be on this side of the arena,” Kaz mused. “I’d expect the band manager to be backstage now, handling any last-minute crises, ensuring everything flows smoothly.”

He nodded. “Usually I would be there. But someone asked that I personally look into the mess-up with the seats. I couldn’t refuse.”

“Someone? You mean the usher at the door?”

A heartbeat passed before he answered, and when he did, light twinkled in his eyes. “Yeah. Sure. The usher.”

Oooh, he so hadn’t told her the truth with that answer. She slowed to a stop and searched his aura for signs of lemony green, an indication that he might willfully be lying, but found nothing. He still vibrated in colors that inspired her confidence and trust. The only thing different about his aura was the brightening of the carmine and a small spot of scarlet that had appeared just below his belly. A spot that wasn’t there before they’d begun talking.

Scarlet. The color of desire. And lust.

The same darn color that was swelling from her in waves.

He tugged gently on her arm, spurring her into a walk again. They headed down the same staircase she and her friends had ascended not ten minutes ago.

“It wasn’t the usher, was it?” Kaz pushed him.

“Who else would it have been?” His question was shrouded in innocence.

She frowned. The man was evading the question. “That’s what I’d like to know.”

“Know what I’d like to know?” He looked over at her as he asked, his mouth curved into a smile, his eyes still twinkling and his voice low and intimate.

At that point Kaz would have told him anything. Anything at all. Phone number, credentials, bank details. They were his. All he needed to do was ask. “No. What?”

“Your name.”

“Oh. Uh. Kaz. Kaz Flaherty.”

“Kaz? Unusual name.”

“It’s short for Karen.”

“Well, Kaz, you ready to see your new seats?” He stopped at a door clearly marked “No Entry”.

She blinked. Er, no. Not if it meant an end to their conversation. “You still haven’t told me who asked you to sort out the mess.”

“I know. And I will. Later.” He pushed the door open as Sophie and Tasha caught up. A wave of sound crashed over them. The sound of forty thousand screaming voices.

Luke lifted his palm, indicating the three friends should walk through the door.

Kaz did as he asked—and gasped.

He turned to Sophie. “Front-row seats okay with you?”

Holy heck. Front-row seats at the
Speed
concert? Now, more than ever, Kaz wanted to know who’d asked Luke to sort out the mess.

Tasha laughed in delight. Sophie asked if he was kidding.

“We never kid about the front row.” Luke’s tone was solemn but loud enough to be heard over the roar around them. He led them past the massive crowds of people in the standing-room-only section, towards the VIP seats in the center of the floor. “See the three seats in the middle?” he half-yelled. “Those are yours.”

“But—”

Sophie’s objection was cut off with another of his beautiful smiles. “Look, the mistake was ours. We double-booked your tickets, and the concert is completely sold out. This is the only alternative seating we could come up with on the spur of the moment. Please, accept our apologies and take the seats.”

Sophie and Tasha stared at him, disbelieving.

He turned to Kaz, squeezing her arm gently. “The seats are yours,” he said into her ear, making sure she could hear. “Take them. Please.” His breath washed over her neck, giving her shivers.

“Okay.” Because what else could she say when
Speed
’s band manager offered her the best seats in the house while he held her arm in his hand and whispered in her ear?

He nodded his approval. “Good.”

Kaz wanted to angle her head to the side in the hopes he’d nibble her neck.

“Now tell your friends to sit in them.”

“Go.” Kaz shooed Sophie and Tasha towards the chairs. “Sit. Quickly. Before he changes his mind.”

Luke’s laugh told her he had no such intention. The low rumble in her ear vibrated through her chest, making her breasts tighten in awareness.

Looking as baffled as she felt, Sophie and Tash thanked Luke profusely and headed over to the three middle seats. Kaz would have scurried after them, but Luke still held her arm in a firm, pussy-wetting grasp. Besides, she couldn’t seem to drag her feet away from him. Plus, she wanted answers.

“Later?” she asked him.

He drew back to look at her in confusion.

“You said you’d answer my question later.”

The twinkle was back in his eye. “I will. I’ll answer all your questions. Because believe me, by then you’re going to have more than just one.”

What the…? What else was there to ask? “Mate, the concert’s about to begin. There isn’t going to be a later.”

He looked at her with eyes as liquid and enticing as melted chocolate. “Yeah, there will be.
After
the concert.”

“After?”

“After,” he confirmed. “Sit tight here, and I’ll see you after the concert.”

Kaz laughed then. Yeah, right. Sure he would. Because band managers of world-famous rock bands always made sure they saw arbitrary audience members after a show.

Luke gave a low whistle as he regarded her. “Oh, ye of little faith.” Then he did something that shocked Kaz. He lifted the arm he still held to his mouth and kissed the palm of her hand—sending a flurry of goose bumps up her arm. “Trust me, sweet pea. I’ll see you after the show.”

And with Kaz’s jaw gaping open—again—Luke Struthers turned and walked out of the arena through the same door they’d just walked through. The one with the neon sign hanging on it that said, “No Entry.”