Drake Sisters 06 - Turbulent Sea

sound check. My poor sound crew is probably having fits. I've got to go, Jonas, but I'm counting on you to save us.'
    'That's my specialty, honey. And I'll find out everything I can on Prakenskii, but if he's undercover, I don't want to blow it for him or raise any red flags. Stay away from him.'
    She closed her eyes for a moment, wishing she had, wishing it wasn't already too late. 'Please don't tell Hannah how stupid I've been.'
    'No one thinks you're stupid, Joley. Please be careful. I'll call back with information and a plan.'
    'I knew you would. Thanks, Jonas.'
    Joley slipped the phone into her pocket and went to the door of her bus. Taking a deep breath, she opened it, knowing Ilya would be waiting to escort her to the sound check. She was right, and the sight of him took her breath away. He was so handsome, so mesmerizing, his deep blue eyes hypnotic. She inhaled his scent, and went dizzy with wanting him, weak with need. She forced a small smile and glanced at her watch.
    'Sorry. I'm so late. We're going to have to hurry.' Deliberately, before Ilya could respond, she looked beyond him to spot Logan stepping out of the other bus. She waved and beckoned him over, trying to hide her relief.
    'Joley, stop it,' Ilya hissed. 'What's this going to prove?'
    She flicked him a quick look from under her lashes and then shrugged her shoulders. T don't know what you're talking about other than I'm hours late with my sound check and my crew's had to wait on me.'
    She kept walking toward Logan as fast as she could, and, thankfully, Logan hurried toward her. Before Ilya could say anything else Logan was there. Deliberately she stepped to the other side of him, putting him between Ilya and her.
    She should have known it wouldn't work. Ilya simply dropped a pace back smoothly, looking as stone-cold and as professional as ever.
    'Baby all right?' she asked quickly.
    'Lissa's great. I think everyone holds her too much. We get her down, and one of the guys will come in and pick her up right out of her little carry crib. Tish deals with it, but I think it makes it hard to keep to a schedule.'
    'And you and Tish? How's that coming?' Joley prompted. She was so aware of Ilya. So aware of the rise and fall of his chest, his every breath, even his heartbeat. Her palm itched and tingled no matter how much she rubbed it against her thigh seeking relief.
    'Not bad. I'm going to have to do a lot more groveling.'
    She flashed him a look. 'And I hope you know you deserve to grovel. She shouldn't take you back.'
    'I know that. But I'm not stupid enough to ever lose her again. I love Tish, Joley. It was a dumb mistake. I was drunk and she wasn't there and I was lonely, and if I could take it back, believe me, a million times I've thought of that moment, that one moment when I walked out of that room with that woman. I can't remember what she looks like. I don't even remember her name. I only remember Tish standing there with that look on her face, so happy to see me, and then seeing - knowing - and her smile fading. The light just died out of her eyes. Believe me, Joley, I know exactly what I lost. If I get it back, I'm not going to ever lose it again.'
    She put her hand on his sleeve. 'Then I wish with all my heart that she takes you back.' They were only steps away from the door, and she wanted to run. She could barely breathe through the pain in her heart. It felt like a knife through her chest. She swore under her breath, counting the steps to safety.
    Without warning, Ilya moved fast, a huge graceful tiger inserting his body with fluid grace between her and someone she couldn't see. He actually shoved her to the side and away from him. A woman screamed.
    'Bastard! You bastard, Logan. I'm going to kill you. I'm going to destroy you.' Lucy Brady, the woman who had given birth to Lissa, lunged at Logan, swinging her fist. In her fingers, she clutched a broken bottle.
    Ilya restrained her, taking her to the ground. 'Keep moving,' he ordered. 'Both of you. Get inside.'
    Logan hesitated. Joley grabbed his hand and yanked him with her, running now, into the building and toward the safety of her crew. Glancing back, she saw more security guards converging on the snarling, spitting woman on the ground, and Ilya calm and cool holding her, uncaring of her threats.
    Chapter Twelve
    Joley flashed across the stage like quicksilver, looking so sexy Ilya found it hard to tear his gaze from her. She was all glitter and flash, sultry and dazzling, burning