Say You're Mine (The Gallaghers Book 1) by Layla Hagen (comprehension books .txt) 📕

Watching him perform live was like seeing him again for the first time. His whole body transformed right before my eyes. I couldn’t explain how it was different from watching him in the rehearsal room, but it was spellbinding. I couldn’t look away.

I had no idea how long I stood rooted to the spot like that, but several songs later, the guys hurried backstage.

“We need more water,” Lars barked. I’d seen several assistants discreetly replacing the empty water bottles with full ones on the stage, but no wonder they needed more. The night was hot and humid, and somehow it seemed even warmer under the neon lights. To my astonishment, the moment they were handed bottles of waters, they poured it on them.

Brayden laughed at my expression. “It helps cooling off. And it’ll dry up as soon as we get out there. It’s crazy hot tonight.”

I made a “come here” motion with my forefinger. “I’ll let you in on a secret. You’re crazy hot too.”

He walked up to me, tilting forward until his lips were level with mine.

“I wrote that first song for you, Isabelle.”

“For me?” I whispered, completely stunned.

“I couldn’t get you out of my mind after I came to your office, so I started writing music. It’s your song.”

“Wow.”

“Think I deserve another good luck kiss?” He looked at my mouth as if he planned to claim it no matter what I said.

Clearing my throat, I made a big show of looking around at his bandmates. I had a plan, and it better work out.

“I promised him a kiss if he charmed everyone out there. What’s the verdict?” I playfully glanced from him to the guys. “Does he deserve it?”

Lars whistled. “I’m tempted to see what he does if I say no.”

Brayden growled.

Harvey clapped his hands, chuckling. “Now so am I.”

Thomas just nodded.

“Band, scatter around. We’ll regroup on stage,” Brayden said in a deliciously low baritone.

I wasn’t surprised when the band followed that order without any comment. His bossy allure worked wonders.

He trained his gaze on me once the guys left. We were by no means alone, but at least there wasn’t someone within a few feet of us.

“You make me do crazy things, Isabelle.”

“Ah, this was actually planned,” I whispered. “I knew you’d want to send them away if I got you too riled up.”

“Did you now?”

“You did say good luck kisses had to be dirty,” I reminded him, playing my fingers on his shoulder. “I needed some space for that.”

I kissed his jaw before brushing my lips against his. I teased him only for a few seconds before he took control of the kiss. Bossy man!

I thought he was running on adrenaline back at the hotel, but it was nothing compared to now. His whole body thrummed. The way he kissed me turned my legs weak. My panties felt on fire.

I tugged at his T-shirt, demanding more, needing more. Did he really have to go back on stage? I kind of didn’t want to give him back.

“Hey! Don’t forget to breathe,” Lars called from somewhere nearby, breaking the spell.

Brayden grumbled, looking over his shoulder. “I thought I told you to go away.”

Lars grinned. “Your exact words were ‘scatter around.’”

I couldn’t help but laugh. Harvey and Thomas weren’t with Lars, so he’d clearly stayed behind to give Brayden crap.

“Right. Next time I’ll be more literal.”

Brayden kissed my forehead before heading back to the stage.

As I looked at him, I made all sorts of post-concert plans. My chest kept expanding with joy. He was mine. All mine.

I kept watching the show from the same hidden spot as before. The temperature seemed to be rising the longer the evening went on, or maybe we were all fired up.

Before I knew it, Rick came over to me to talk about my exit plan. I couldn’t leave with the band because they were going to be ambushed by press and fans.

“A bunch of fans have already crowded around the back entrance, so we’d better leave now,” Rick said.

I wanted to stay until the end, because the concert was phenomenal, but I understood why it wasn’t possible.

“Okay. Let’s go.”

We navigated back through the labyrinth of corridors and stairs. Even this section of the arena was vibrating from the music and the bass. Rick opened the door to the parking lot, asking me to stay behind him.

Suddenly, he backed up and shut the door again.

He made a phone call, speaking in a low tone, but I caught every word.

“Send reinforcements. We have a big horde of fans in the back already.” After hanging up, he focused on me. “We need to wait a few minutes. The reinforcements will go through the front and push the crowd back so we have a clear path.”

“Okay.” My heart was pounding faster. Was this normal?

Rick was on the phone again. I tapped my foot, crossing my arms in front of my chest to keep from biting my nails.

I had no idea how much time passed before he finally opened the door, gesturing me to follow him. It felt like an hour, but I was sure it had only been minutes.

Rick’s reinforcement team had created a corridor of sorts that led to our car. There were mobile metal railings flanking my sides. The corridor was wide enough for two people to pass, but fans pressed in from both sides. Their hands stretched out until they could almost touch me. I couldn’t hear what they were saying. Hundreds of voices boomed around us, mixed with the music still coming from the stage. I thought a few of them shouted my name. My pulse thrummed in my ears. The car seemed so far away, and Rick was doing his best to shield me, but I still felt a few fingers brush my arm, tugging at my tank top, scratching as I hurried by.

We reached our dark blue Mercedes at last. I ducked inside immediately, and the second Rick closed the door, I locked it,