Sweet Temptation: A Players Rockstar Romance (Players, Book 3)

standing next to me said.
Then, when I sobbed into my hands, she told me, It’s okay. It’s over now.
But it wasn’t exactly over.
When the police asked me if I had anyone I could call to come over and be with me, I’d calmed down enough to call Ash, but he didn’t answer. It was the middle of the night, so he was probably dead asleep in bed with his girlfriend or ignoring his phone.
So I called my manager.
When Brody answered, I was so relieved. He was so calm and so quick to react, to help me without question. He told me he’d send one of his security guys over, and a short while later, just as the police were leaving, Maddox had rolled in. I told the police he was my friend, and the female officer gave me a card with her number on it. Obviously, she noticed the Kings stuff all over him.
It was all kind of a blur. It all seemed to happen in slow motion, and yet so damn fast.
One minute I was waking up in the middle of the night, and the next, the police were leaving my house and a biker was in my living room.
And then, Ronan.
He’d walked into my house and the mood had completely changed. He looked in my eyes and shook my hand.
It was the first time I felt truly safe since I’d dialed 911.
After my shower, I got dressed for the “important meeting” at Brody’s house. I chose a power outfit, obviously—tight black moto leggings with a high waist and a cropped purple sweater, fabulous earrings, and black leather boots with high heels. I wore my hair loosely curled, diva-worthy, and put on full war makeup.
No way was I walking into this meeting looking anything less than totally put together.
As much as I’d joked—flirted?—about it with Ronan last night in the stress of the moment, I was no damsel in distress.
Who wouldn’t be terrified to wake up in the middle of the night to some man trying to break into her house in the dark? Especially after the day I’d had… it was terrifying.
But I was no longer terrified. Yesterday was done. Today was a new and much better day.
Blair Sanchuk had been arrested and hauled away to jail, and I was totally fucking fine.
Once I was all done up and feeling more like my kick-ass self, I considered calling Ash back.
But then I reconsidered.
I’d called Elle last night after calling Brody, and she’d kept me on the line until Ronan showed up and I finally managed to convince her I was safe. I’d called her so I didn’t have to be “alone” while waiting for Maddox to arrive—and because I knew she’d want to know what happened.
But she only gave me shit for not calling her sooner.
When I reminded her she didn’t exactly own a gun and a police dog, so she wasn’t my first call—she reminded me that I was her best friend (though this wasn’t something she’d ever actually called me before), and sounded on the verge of tears.
I got it. I would’ve freaked out too if our roles were reversed.
So I assured her I was completely safe and sound.
She didn’t seem to want to believe me.
Finally, once I’d listed off the number of police officers (including the dog) and various large men who’d swarmed my property, coming to my rescue, she calmed down.
But the more I thought about it now… the more I realized Ash might freak out as badly as Elle did. Worse, maybe, since it was now mid-morning and I still hadn’t filled him in.
When I checked my phone again, the messages were definitely rolling in.
Including a voicemail from Ash.
I didn’t listen to it. After the way Elle had (over)reacted, I decided to evade. For now.
So I sent him a quick text.
Me: I’m good. I’ll call you later.
Then I basically cut and pasted that message and fired it off to a handful of other friends.
I headed downstairs to find Ronan standing by the front door, which was the last place I’d seen him last night.
“Good morning,” I said as I came to a stop, looking him over.
He was… bigger… than I remembered him being. Maybe because most of the time I’d been talking to him last night, he’d been seated at the bar.
Now that we were alone and it was daytime, and maybe I could actually see what was in front of me… he took up a lot of space. Broad and built… Kinda thick all over, in the best way. He towered over me by over half a foot; he had to be six-two or so. I was five-eight… in three-inch heels.
And yes, he was handsome.
I tried not to stare too much.
“Morning.” His gaze flickered over me, head-to-toe, the same way it had several times last night. The man seemed to be assessing everything, at all times. I could practically see the gears turning behind those penetrating, light-brown eyes.
“You know, you’re welcome to sit down,” I informed him.
“I was just stepping outside to make some calls.”
I watched as he slipped on his plain black leather jacket. His brown hair was shaved short on the sides, longer on top but smoothed into place. He looked incredibly polished for someone who’d slept in those clothes last night.
He also smelled decidedly fresh. In fact, I caught the faint scent of the bodywash I left in the guest shower.
So, he’d found himself the comforts of home after all.
Also… did I smell eggs?
“What is that?” I looked over at the takeout bags on my bar.
“Breakfast sandwiches,” he said. “Had them delivered a little while ago. They’re still warm, if you want one.”
Well. Wasn’t that just… thoughtful.
I walked over and took a look in one of the bags as he opened the front door.
“Do you want a coffee?” I called over. “I’m making some before we go.”
“That would be nice. Thank you.”
“Extra sugar?” I said, not meeting his eyes. I dug one of the wrapped sandwiches out