Page 72 of The Beat Match

He stood and strutted past her, too damn sexy in those sweatpants. “This isn’t a conversation to be had in the bathroom.”

Did that mean he was finally going to open up? She hurried after him, her socked feet sliding out from under her as she rounded into the living room. He stopped. She skated by him.

“Your floor’s fun,” she said.

He shook his head, a hint of a smile showing. “You’re fun. Now get on the couch before you break an ankle.”

She saluted him and sat. He fell onto the cushion beside her. “My father threatened to fire me.”

“Over me?”

“Because I’m out of his control. It’s a fear tactic. He was pissed about me splitting with Rosanna, even though Karim was okay with it. Karim actually thanked me, said Rosanna’s been more grounded since we dated. None of it matters to my father because it wasn’t his plan. And you’re a wildcard he doesn’t like. He said one more wrong move and he’ll give me the axe.”

“He can’t be serious.”

Wes’s attention strayed from her, his nostrils flared, red blotches dotting his cheeks as his hand jerked through his hair. He looked furious and slightly worried. “Growing up, he was ruthlessly cruel with the house staff and his in-laws.” Wes’s tone stayed even, but his eyes held an edge. “It wouldn’t shock me, which would be a new level of vicious, even for him. I mean, how does someone end up—” His jaw bulged.

“End up what?”

Frowning, he waved a dismissive hand. “Nothing. I know why he’s a tyrant, and it changes nothing.”

“We can go into hiding. No more dinners out. Pretend it’s over.” She wasn’t sure why Victor treated his son like crap, but she wouldn’t be responsible for Wes losing his job. He’d said Aldrich Pharma was in his blood. Work was a large part of what made him tick.

“That’s not up for discussion. He doesn’t like us together, but he isn’t pulling rank. It’s the DJing I’m concerned about. I knew it would be an issue, hence the secret identity. Now it’s a ticking time bomb.”

“But you’ve been so careful.”

“I have, but a secret this big can’t stay quiet forever. I always knew that, but I knew I was close to something with the video feed. I needed to get to that end goal, and I’m there. I don’t need to keep performing.” He traced a line from Annie’s forehead down her nose, tapped his finger against her lips. “You can be our mouthpiece.”

She went to bite his finger. He yanked it back.

“That’s nonsense,” she said. “I’m not good enough. And you love performing. You can’t quit.”

“I can.”

“I won’t let you.”

“There you go again, being feisty.” He sounded playful, but the harsh glint in his eyes hadn’t left. “Quitting will be tough. DJing has become an outlet for me, but Aldrich Pharma matters more. That business is why I put up with my father. It’s why I work crazy hours. I love that job and won’t risk it, or jeopardize the employees who rely on their paychecks.”

“I’m not ready to play for us both.” Her voice sounded as small as she felt. He was asking too much.

“You’re not ready yet, but you will be. We’ll do the video show together. I’ll even buy you a matching mask. Then I’ll fade into the background. I’ll still use the studio. Work with you on the music until it feels as natural as breathing for you. And, if I’m honest, this was Leo’s dream, not mine. One of the reasons I worked so hard at it was for him, and for my mother. She was always on me to do things outside of work.” He studied his fisted hands and slowly released them. “Leo has you now.”

Leo had been the reason she’d stayed away from music for years. He was also why she’d returned. Playing piano had made her feel closer to him. DJing had done the same. She wouldn’t walk away now. If Wes wanted to pass the proverbial torch to her, she’d keep it lit for them both.

“I’ll do my best to make you guys proud. But I still want to vandalize your father’s house.” And help Wes unwind from that upsetting call. She maneuvered onto his lap and straddled his narrow hips.

He palmed her backside, but there was less hunger in the move than usual. “I like it when you get all protective of me.”

This was her opening. The perfect time to corner him, locked together on his couch, upsetting call or not. “I like it when you’re protective of me, too…if I know why you’re being impossibly controlling.”

He froze.

She pressed her hands to his cheeks and held him steady. “Why have you been freaking out? Why is there a driver taking me everywhere? What do you think’s going to happen to me?”

He stared hard into her eyes for several seconds, calculating, unreadable, then he sighed. “A competing company got my phone records. Rosanna overheard a guy outside a party talking about it on his cell. DLP is notorious for underhanded dealings, including blackmail to get what they want, and they want to sabotage our Biotrell merger. Your number was on my phone. They know we’re close.”

Extracting that intel had been easier than expected, but stickiness coated her belly. “They invaded your privacy like that?”