Black Falcon: Complete Series Collection by Michelle A. Valentine Page A

him?”
    “Yes,” she says breathlessly.
    I frown. She’s probably going to spend the rest of her time here with Riff. “So I take it you’re busy.”
    Aubrey sighs. “Don’t be mad. We’ll be together all the time in about a week when you come home. Besides, you have Noel to play with.”
    “You know it’s not like that.”
    She giggles again. “But it could be just like that if you’d let it.” Riff mumbles something, and I hear the distinct sound of sucking. “Um, gotta go, Lanie. Love you.”
    Before I can get out another word of protest, she hangs up. Aubrey’s always been one to live a little on the wild side. I guess her messing around with Riff should’ve been expected. He’s a horn ball and she has a thing for the bad-boy type. I should’ve seen that one coming. I lay my phone on the table and run my fingers through my hair. A strong pair of tattooed arms wrap around my waist, and I stiffen. “Noel, what are you doing?”
    He pulls my hair away from my neck and kisses the delicate skin there. “I thought we made our feelings for each other pretty clear last night.”
    I pull away. “Just because I said I feel something for you doesn’t mean we can act on it.”
    Noel scratches the back of his neck. “I don’t get you, Lane. One minute you’re hot for me, the next, you shove me away. Aren’t I more important than some lame job?”
    “Noel...”
    He shakes his head. “You know what, forget it. Sorry I crossed some line you have drawn in your head.” I watch him stalk off toward the bedroom and slam the door.
    A few hours later, when Aubrey and Riff are forced out of their sex nest, I stand backstage with her while we wait for the guys to come out of their band meeting. She grins from ear to ear as she goes over every sordid detail of her sexual escapades. I roll my eyes where she gushes about how great Riff is in the sack, and she gives me a playful shove.
    “So you’re telling me nothing happened with you and Noel last night?” she questions. “You two were pretty cozy on the way back.” I sigh, and she laughs. “I knew it! Tell me!”
    I hold up my hands in surrender. “Okay. Okay. Jeesh, get a grip. We kissed.”
    Aubrey raises her eyebrow. “A kiss? Was it like a polite peck, or was it full-on tongue I-want-your-body make out?”
    I frown. “It definitely wasn’t polite.”
    “Lanie, God, I swear, for someone so smart, you sometimes act like an idiot. You should be ecstatic right now. Reconnecting with your first love is something people dream about, and you’re getting that. I don’t see why you don’t just let loose and let it happen.”
    “But the job—”
    “But nothing . Don’t make me give the ‘jobs aren’t everything’ speech. Jobs don’t keep you warm or make you feel sexy, but Noel Falcon totally can. Anyone can see the guy is crazy about you.”
    Is it really that obvious? He’s been trying to get in my pants since we met back up in Houston, but last night I found out he has actual feelings for me, and that scares me a little. I obviously hurt him in the past, and I don’t want to do that again. Things are going smooth between us now, but what happens when my two weeks are up? Will he go back to sleeping with random groupies while I’m in New York? If he did that, I would end our relationship...again. Then there’s the job. I don’t think I’m ready to risk anything just yet.
    Aubrey stares at me. “Quit doing that.”
    I flinch. “Doing what?”
    “Overthinking things. You’ll never know until you let down your walls a little.”
    I run my fingers through my hair. “Why are you pushing this? You hated him.”
    She shrugs. “You’re my best friend, and I love you. I want you to be happy. Plus, he’s not the asshole I thought he was.”
    I give her a weak smile and wrap my arms around her.
    “Hey now...” I turn and find Riff staring at us. “Nobody gets this girl’s lovin’ but me.”
    Aubrey giggles like a kid at Christmas when Riff