Read Online All Smoke No Fire by Randi Alexander - Free Book Online Page B

in.”
    It hadn’t been as bad the first time, with Owen. They’d actually stopped seeing each other before he got a manager. But with Bradley… She closed her eyes. It’d nearly killed her.
    “Dax is his name, and he’s a good person.” Her voice had lost most of its heat, but she spoke loudly, trying to get her point across. “Give him a chance to—”
    Delroy stood right in front of her, crossing his arms. “Okay, prove me wrong. If I offered to represent your newest puppy, sight unseen, a full management contract, would you be willing to give up your relationship with him? Drop him like a boulder?”
    Not see Dax again except professionally? Not hold him, kiss him, laugh with him about silly things, never again watch his face as amazement filled his gaze, or passion darkened his eyes?
    “You haven’t known Dax very long. It should be easy, right?” He spoke loudly, as if she’d drifted off somewhere. “Just tell him you’ve changed your mind about the sex part and I’ll do my best to make him a star.”
    “And if I don’t?” With all her soul, she didn’t want to let him go. Could she do this for him? Give him a chance at a music career at the expense of her heart?
    “If you don’t, then I won’t even see him.” Delroy’s lips tightened into a straight line.
    “You’re a rat bastard, Delroy.” Burning formed behind her aching eyes, moistening them.
    “Think of it this way, Mari. You and Bradley were together for five months. You’ve known Dax for less than a week.” He shrugged. “Cutting it off now is going to hurt a hell of a lot less than what’ll happen five months down the road when the puppy gets a recording contract and waves goodbye.”
    Was she so unlovable that no man would stay with her? “Given those choices, I have no recourse but to break it off with him. Somehow. But you’d fucking well better do right by him.” Marilou felt like the sacrificial virgin on a Mayan altar, about to give up her heart for the greater good. But instead of quick and painless, she knew her whole being would ache for Dax, and for longer than she cared to imagine.
    Her manager pulled her in for an unwanted hug. “Lady, you’ve made a very intelligent decision.” He stepped back from her stiff body and bent to look into her eyes. “Just tell him you brought him here to get over your Mardi Gras phobia, and now that you’re cured, he’s free to go.”
    Imagining Dax’s face when she did this to him…would she see relief in his eyes? No, she knew it would be as hard for him as it was for her. She’d just have to keep reminding herself why she was doing this.
    But her broken heart poured tears from her eyes like she hadn’t cried in years. Sobbing, she plopped in Delroy’s guest chair and accepted the box of tissues from him. She’d let it all out, cry herself dry, then try to repair her makeup before they brought Dax in.
    Her makeup could be fixed, her heart…that was irreparable.
    ****
    Ten minutes later, she’d used Delroy’s private bathroom and the makeup she kept in her purse to look almost normal again. She and her manager walked out to the lobby, but Dax wasn’t there.
    “Shanna.” Delroy’s voice snapped and his receptionist stopped typing on her phone, her face flooding with guilt. “What have I told you about that goddamn phone all day?”
    She swallowed, setting it down. “Sorry, Mr. North.”
    He mumbled something about getting good help nowadays.
    “Where’s the man I came in with?” Marilou kept her panic at bay. Maybe he’d gone to the bathroom, or out for a coffee, or—
    “Oh, he left. He asked where he could get a taxi.” She set an envelope on the counter in front of Marilou. “He asked me to give you this.”
    The fear took hold of her chest and she could barely breathe. “Was he sitting here the whole time?”
    “Um…” Her eyes shifted around the room. “He got up and walked back toward the offices. I figured he was in the bathroom?”
    Delroy