WMIS 04 Rock With Me by Kristen Proby Page A

nod and step back from the car, pushing my hand through my hair. “Yeah, things
     are better.”
    “Good. I’m going back to bed.”
    “Okay, get some sleep.”
    She grins wider, and I have the feeling she’s about to say something that I really
     don’t want to know.
    “Will’s home. I’m going back to bed, but not to sleep.”
    “Stop saying shit like that, Meg. I mean it.” She laughs and pulls away from the curb,
     waving as she merges into traffic.
    And now that I have visions of my sister shagging Will Montgomery, I want to poke
     out my mind’s eye with something sharp and hot.
    I turn back toward the building just as Luke and Natalie return and park. As I approach
     them, Luke’s gaze is on me, not friendly, and I feel the bro talk coming on.
    “Hey baby, you go on up and get Livie. Tell Sam I’ll call her later.”
    “Okay. See you later, Leo.” She waves and walks into Samantha’s building. Luke watches
     her until the glass door closes behind her.
    “How is she?” I ask him.
    “She’s great, baby’s great, now let’s get down to it. What the fuck, man?” He crosses
     his arms over his chest and scowls at me. I glance around us, watchful of anyone with
     a camera or phone pointed this way. The last thing we need are photos posted on the
     internet of Leo Nash and Luke Williams having it out on a street in Seattle.
    “Look, Sam’s great…”
    “I know, I’m her motherfucking brother.”
    “What’s your problem?” This is more than brother overprotection. “You know I’m a good
     guy.”
    “You’re a celebrity. Sam has been hurt by this industry enough.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “That’s her story to tell.” He shakes his head in frustration and paces away. “Your
     lifestyle isn’t for her.”
    “Sam is a grown woman, Luke. She can make her own decisions. You and I both know how
     damn smart she is.”
    “You will hurt her, and I’ll be damned if I sit by and watch.” His index finger is
     pointing at me, and he’s pissing me the fuck off.
    “I’ll fucking protect her. Luke, my band members have wives and families…”
    “Is that what you want with her?” He asks sarcastically. “The womanizer Leo Nash wants
     a family?”
    Fuck you, asshole. You don’t know what I want.
    “I’m crazy about her, dude. If you think I’ll let anything hurt her, you’re nuts.”
    “You can’t protect her from this business, and you know that. You should leave her
     alone now, before it goes any further.”
    “I will do everything to keep her safe,” I repeat, my jaw aching from being clenched
     so tightly. “I’m not going to stop seeing her.”
    Luke watches me rub my chest, where an ache at the thought of not seeing Sam anymore
     has taken up residence, just shakes his head and sighs. “I can’t believe she’s doing
     this again,” he whispers. But before I can ask him what the fuck that means, he follows
     it up with, “I’m telling you, when you’re done with her, she’ll be a wreck. It took
     her years to recover from last time, and I don’t know that she could do it again.”
    What the fuck happened?
    “Ready?” Natalie asks as she comes out of the building, holding Liv on her hip. The
     baby’s face lights up at the sight of her daddy.
    “Yeah,” Luke responds and watches me thoughtfully as Natalie settles Olivia in her
     car seat. “You better protect her, Nash, or I’ll fucking kill you.”
    “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
    ~Samantha~
     
    “Ms. Williams, your references are impeccable, and your credentials are spot on. We’d
     love to have you come down to L.A. to meet with us and the other editors to see if
     this would be a good fit for all involved.”
    “Thank you, Mr. Foss.” I grin into the webcam on my Mac and the handsome man on the
     other end smiles in return. “I’d like that.”
    “Would next week work for you?”
    “Yes, I believe my calendar is open next week.”