He sat next to her on the little couch. Lily closed her eyes, quickly shifting down a little. If he kept getting so close, he might notice her reaction to him.
Clay glanced over at her, noticing her movement, wondering if she really didn’t like him, or if it was because she reacted to him, like he did to her.
He quickly got over his moment of doubt, he was sure Lily was reacting to him, his nearness. He had noticed it a few times before. Now all he had to do was get her to admit to it.
Lily grimaced as all the hotties came in the room. Don’s group had a large local following and lots of girly girls. She quietly moved away, not wanting to interfere with any of the guys finding one for the night.
She knew how it worked, had seen it before. She leaned against the wall, her gut clenching, wondering if Clay would find one to take back to his hotel too. She had never seen him with a girl. Maybe he had a girlfriend back in LA. She sighed, it didn’t really matter, it couldn’t.
Clay watched Lily out of the corner of his eye, surprised she had moved away when the girls came in. She looked uncomfortable as she leaned against the wall – she always tried to be a wallflower.
“Clay,” Don sat next to him. “When you going back in the studio?”
“Probably within the next three months,” Clay replied, dragging his gaze from Lily and looking over at Don. “Our meetings start in a couple of weeks and we hope to get back in the studio before the end of the summer.”
“Nice.” Don wrapped his arms around Sandy pulling her onto his lap. “You anxious to get back in the grove?”
“Yeah.” Clay smiled, glancing over at Lily, knowing she could hear them, “for the studio, not for the meetings.”
“You don’t like the meetings?” Don asked.
Clay shook his head. “Nah! Amy and Melissa give me a hard time about my dates, and since we will be having the dinner and BBQ at the same time, it will make for a miserable time.”
Don looked around for Lily, wondering where she went. “Lily,” Don called, finding her he motioned her over. “What are you doing over there?”
Lily just shrugged, moving over to stand behind the couch. She overheard their conversation about Clay’s dates. She wasn’t surprised.
Don smiled at Lily, turning back to Clay. “Clay, what do you mean Amy and Melissa give you a hard time about your girls?”
“They don’t like the girls I date, don’t like hanging out with them or going shopping with them. They think they are too superficial, gold-diggers,” Clay laughed.
“Really.” Don’s look of surprise was hard to miss, “they told you so.”
“Yeah, Melissa told me to bring a respectable one this time or she was going punch me out.” Clay glanced at Lily out of the corner of his eye. Laughingly he said to Don, “You know any?”
Clay’s gut clenched, hoping Don would do exactly what he wanted him too.
“Lily,” Don said immediately, grinning, “she is respectable and sweet.”
Don was playing right into his hands. Clay glanced at Lily, locking his jaw to stop his smile at the absolute shock on her face.
“Yes, she is. So, what do you say Lily?” Clay gripped his knees, watching her face. “Would you like to be my respectable date for a week so I don’t have to be harassed by my band-mates wives?”
Lily choked, staring at Clay. What! He couldn’t be serious, and why had Don suggested her? “What?” Lily muttered, staring aghast first at Clay then at Don.
“Seriously.” Clay smiled, his fingers clenching harder. “The girls drive me nuts, hound me and I could really use the help to keep them at bay.”
Lily swallowed hard, glancing away. “Oh… I don’t think that is good idea.”
“Why not?” Clay asked, frowning, watching her hands tighten on the back of the couch. “It won’t cost you anything and you can spend a week in Seattle shopping and going out to dinner. Consider it a vacation, the whole trip is on me, including all the shopping since you would have to go with the wives.”
She shook her head, taking a step away from him.
He glanced at Don, his eyebrow rising, barely able to hide his smile as Don gulped.
Don slid Sandy to the side, standing he walked over to Lily. “Lily,” Don whispered, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking when I suggested you, but Clay did ask and if you say no, it may mean losing his help for me and the band.”
“That’s not fair, Don,” she hissed. It wasn’t.
“I know, but please reconsider,
Distracted
is huge. Clay is one of the best guitarists around, pissing him off could have serious repercussions,” Don muttered, looking down at his feet. “Please Lily! For me, for Sandy, for our band.”
She glared, shifting about to walk around him.
“I promise I will make this up to you. Sandy and I will cover your work hours,” Don pleaded.
“Don,” she gasped, “Do you have any idea what you are asking?”
“Clay is a great guy,” Don whispered, “You have met him enough times to know yourself. I am sure he will have a suite and you would have your own room. You don’t have to sleep with him, just act like his date, make the week a little easier for him.”
Lily shook her head, glancing over at Clay. He was talking to Sandy, yet she swore she could feel his eyes on.
“I don’t know, Don,” she murmured, brushing her chestnut locks over her shoulder.
“At least consider it,” Don pleaded.
“Oh… Don,” Lily mumbled, nodding, she knew the repercussion could be harsh, the industry was so cut throat. She had seen it before. She really didn’t have a choice if she wanted to save Don, “you owe me.”
Chapter 2
Lily glanced nervously around at the people gathered at Sea-TAC Airport looking for the man in the picture Clay sent her, his driver. Why did she agree to this? Urgh… this was so stupid.
She recognized the man up ahead, Clay’s driver waiting for her. She walked up to the man, smiling. “Hello.”
“Lily Travis?” he asked looking down at the paper in his hand.
”Yes.” She clutched her purse, hoping to keep her nervousness from showing.
“I will take you to the hotel.” He picked up her bags and turned, waiting for her to follow.
She followed, climbing in the limo, wondering what waited for her at the hotel.
She stared out the window, taking in the sights of Seattle. It was her first visit here. She wanted to go sight seeing, but didn’t think there would be much time with Clay’s full schedule.
They stopped in front of the hotel. It was gorgeous. Lily stared at the hotel, swallowing repeatedly. She had arrived.
She stepped out and her head turned as she took in all she could see. The driver had her luggage and waited for her. Lily sighed.
She registered at the desk, signing into Clay’s room, picking up the card key she joined the driver and Bell Hop in the elevator.
They carried her luggage inside the suite, putting them in one of the rooms. She tried to tip the Bell Hop and driver but they declined, leaving her alone.
She stood in the entranceway staring at the amazing suite. It was huge. Elegant. A large living room, a dining area and kitchen plus two bedrooms, the suite was bigger than her whole apartment.
She went into the room they had put her luggage in, sitting on the bed. She arched her neck, running her hands over her face. She was here. Now what!
Lily checked the time. It was 4 p.m. and Clay said he would be here by 6 p.m. to pick her up for dinner. She couldn’t help but think this was a bad idea. This date. Weeklong date. How could she pull this off?
Frustrated already and out of her comfort zone she wanted to go back to her little apartment in Florida and hide. She was tempted, but instead of leaving, she headed to the shower. She had made a promise. She had to keep it.
After taking a long shower, she unzipped her bags getting her stuff ready for tonight. She needed to look respectable. Lily smirked. Respectable! Yeah! That was her.
She did her hair half up, letting chestnut locks curl around her face then she put her evening dress on. It was respectable, but elegant; an aquamarine floor length gown with a high straight neckline and half sleeves.
She rolled on her stockings, clipping them to the garters then slipping her feet into her shoes.
She was rubbing on her lip-gloss when she heard the door to the suite open and froze. Nervous, she glanced over at her door. It had to be Clay. He would be the only one coming into the suite.
“Lily,” he called, standing on the other side of her closed door.
“Yes,” she replied, motionless.
“Did you get here okay?” he asked.
“Yes, no problems,” she answered turning back to the mirror.
“I am going to get ready.” His footfalls sounded as he walked down the hall.
Lily let out a deep breath, checking in the mirror again. She put her little purse together, her nerves pulsing erratically, she sighed deeply; her gut telling her this was a mistake.
After a few minutes, Clay knocked on her door.
“Come in,” she called, watching the knob on the door turn.
He stepped into her room leaning against the doorframe, smiling.
Lily stared at him through the mirror. His ebony hair brushed away from his face and his tawny eyes seemed to glow in the dim light.
“You ready?” he asked, his eyes traveling over her.
“I think so,” she lowered her eyes, watching him through the mirror. She wondered if he was checking if she looked respectable enough.
He stood up straight. “Don’t be nervous, it is just dinner.”
Lily picked up her camera. “Would taking my camera be a problem? I would like to get some pictures of the town while here.”
He didn’t answer. Instead, he walked up behind her his eyes on her camera.
Her nerves firing she watched him through the mirror. He stopped behind her, his eyes meeting hers in the mirror, “Here, let me see?”
She handed him her camera, watching him inspect it, turning it over before putting the camera down on the dresser.
He smiled at her through the mirror. “No, leave that here.”
Lily glanced down at her camera. He probably didn’t want her sneaking pictures of him or his friends. Not that she would.
“You okay?” he asked.
She jerked her eyes to his in the mirror. “Yeah.”
She lowered her eyes skimming over him. He wore a button down tan shirt, the top three buttons open showing a hint of his skin. His jeans were skin tight, hugging his waist and he wore a pair of black boots.
Clay turned holding his arm out toward the door. “Let’s go.”
She picked up her purse, walking out of the bedroom, fidgeting with the strap. She stood by the door waiting for him.
He stopped in front of her and Lily glanced up. “Anything in particular I should know before we go?”
He smiled, his eyes hooded. “No, be yourself and relax.” He placed his hand on her waist, guiding her out as he opened the door.
The weight of his hand and the heat of his skin penetrated her clothes, making her nerves skitter even more. She bit the inside of her cheek as they entered the elevator.
His hand never left her waist as they exited the elevator and walked to the car. Lily climbed into the limousine, scooting over as Clay stepped in behind her.
He laughed. “I won’t bite.”
“I didn’t think you would.” She peeked at him from under her lashes then looked down at the floor. He made her react, her body responded to him, and that was going to make a difficult situation worse.
The car pulled away and she took a deep breath, rubbing the muscles in her neck hoping she was capable of acting like his girlfriend.
Clay sat quietly next to her, his hands on his knees. Her eyes traveled over them, fascinated. They were large, strong, and had hard calluses on the fingertips of one hand from where he held his strings. The limo slowed, came to a stop and Clay glanced over at her smiling before climbing out. “Be right back.” Lily wondered where he was going. Moments later, he came back holding something out to her. “Here.”
Startled by the camera in his hand, she glanced at him, her brows furrowing. It was an expensive camera, one way out of her budget. “What is this for?”
“For you.” Clay grabbed her hand placing the camera in it. “This camera will take better pictures, and you can take pictures of whatever or whoever you want.”
She pushed the camera back at him. “I can’t take this.”
“Yes, you can.” He refused to take the camera out of her hand. “A token of my appreciation for helping me out.”
She shifted on the seat her lips pulling into a pout. The camera was an expensive gift.
He laughed, brushing his fingers over her pouting lips, “no strings attached, Lily.”
She sucked her breath in, his touch burning her.
“We are here.” He climbed out of the limo, turning he held his hand out for her. Lily placed her hand in his, stepping out of the car, standing barely a foot from him. He settled his hand on her waist urging her forward.
She took a deep breath, clutching the strap of her little purse. Clay introduced her to everyone. She listened to all the names, but doubted she would remember them all.