Her family noticed, and one of them stood up to block her view of Taz. His expression hardened. He looked back at the manager.

“Don’t tell them until after they’ve eaten that I paid for their meal.” He tossed another hundred dollar bill onto the counter and started for the street.

He was lost in thought on the way to the hotel. He pulled out of his thoughts only long enough to look at Kate.

“Thanks for dinner,” he said.

He was gone a moment later, grabbing a key card from Cid’s second in command and making his way to the elevators.

It sucked.

Ramsey had his family, and Taz seemed to have a girl who wouldn’t cross her family to be with him.

Seriously sucked.

Kate made her way to her suite, realizing she was relieved to discover Syon’s stuff set up inside it.

How long was it going to last?

Don’t.

She needed to answer that question, but she couldn’t. Doubt was a cruel little bitch, chewing on everything she thought she knew and twisting it. Time crept by. She checked her cell phone, but there was no text message from Syon.

She’d told Taz she got it. The lifestyle. The demands.

So she couldn’t bug him when he was working. Instead, she slid into bed and told herself to let it go.

Which was another bit of good advice she completely ignored.

* * *

“The Marquis!”

Kate sat up. The space in the bed beside her was empty.

“You’re so hot!”

“Come party with us!”

A round of giggles came from outside the suite door. Kate tripped as she fumbled to get some clothing on. By the time she opened the door, Syon was at the end of the hallway, surrounded by fangirls. Music was blaring, shaking the hallway. He plowed through the door, obviously eager to get inside the suite. It felt like the floor fell out from under her feet.

Members of Cid’s team were still moving around. The early hours of the morning were just normal work time for them. A door suddenly opened, and Yoon popped into view, still shrugging into his suit jacket.

She retreated to the suite she shared with Syon, feeling like the bodyguard was a leash to keep her in her place.

Inside, it was dark, the candles unlit tonight. Her composure was crumbling, and there was no amount of willpower that could stop it. Her confidence was a puddle at her feet, even as she tried to go back to sleep.

You’re overreacting.

Maybe.

A round of loud laughter made it through her closed door. She cringed, unable to fend off the feeling of loneliness.

Well, you can just go down there.

No. She wasn’t going to chase him.

No matter how much she wanted to.

It was the final blow to her pride. The wound that left her without a plan of action, because she knew she’d defeated herself.

* * *

Someone was pounding on doors.

Kate rubbed her eyes. They burned as she blinked and realized she’d slept on the sofa. She stumbled into the bathroom but knew she was alone in the suite. It was well after two, and Cid’s team was getting everyone off to the show. What had been exciting madness in the first few weeks was now a recognizable pattern.

Syon hadn’t come back.

It crushed her. But she wiped her face and opened the suite door. She needed to be sure of her facts, not jump to conclusions.

“Okay, ladies…I need him back now.” Cid was ushering a trio of half-dressed girls out of the suite at the end of the hallway. Their hair was mussed, their lipstick smeared, and one was still topless. Two of Cid’s team members took over, herding them toward the elevators while enjoying the exhibition. No one gave her anything to cover up with.

Just a little more publicity.

It was nauseating.

“See you at the show!” one called before the doors slid shut and she was gone.

Kate’s temper sizzled. Syon appeared in the suite doorway, drowsy, looking like he’d just crawled out of bed.

“What was that all about?” she demanded.

Cid was trying to cut her off, but she ducked around him.

“What?” Syon shrugged.

“Don’t say ‘what.’” Kate pointed at the elevator doors. “One of them was topless.”

Syon’s eyes narrowed. “We’ve been over this ground. You either trust me or you don’t.”

“Oh, like you had such complete faith in me when you pulled up to see me with Conan?”

“That’s different.”

She scoffed at him. “Different because it’s you versus me.”

“Boys and girls, we’ve got a concert to do.” Cid shouldered his way in front of her. “You know, that thing we’re all here to do? To bring in the money? You’re already running behind because of your late night.”

Syon cussed but turned around and stormed toward the elevators. Cid turned on her, blocking her path. “You’ve been here long enough to know how it goes. He’s not going to play by the same rules as everyone else. Take it or leave. As you see, there are plenty who will take it.”

There was more than a little pleasure in his tone and a glitter of victory in his eyes. She wanted to not see it. Wanted to tell herself she was jumping to conclusions.

Kate turned away, unable to watch anymore. Tears stung her eyes, completing the moment.

She shut herself behind the door of the suite and curled into a ball, trying to contain the hurt.

It was impossible. It felt like she was being ripped in two, the agony increasing as the hotel quieted down, telling her that everyone was gone.

Yoon was waiting on her.

But that wasn’t enough to make her get up. Honestly, she didn’t think she could manage to see Syon. Not on stage with the hordes of fans willing to do anything he wanted.

She wanted to think of him as being deeper.

Having more character.

Yeah, right. He doesn’t have to hold himself to those standards.

Your standards.

No, he didn’t. And it hurt like hell to see him abandoning their relationship. Maybe he’d just been checking it out. Seeing what a good girl was like. Enjoying all the offerings the buffet of life had for him.

She leaned her head back against the wall and felt the heat from the crash and burn.

She was pretty sure she could feel her skin blistering.

As well as her heart breaking.

* * *

Syon warned off his makeup girl with a finger. She stood poised with a blending sponge in her hand as she debated whether or not to heed him. Cid turned and gave her a sharp look. She flinched and started toward him again. Syon brushed her hand aside, irritated by the way Cid ran the crew. It was what he expected, but at the same time, there was something irritating about it tonight. Like he was a show monkey.

“Give me my phone, Cid,” he demanded.

The road manager dropped the cell phone into his pocket. “You know how I feel, mate. It’s concert time. All focus on the show. Toys later.”

“I’m making an exception,” Syon said.

Ramsey looked over at him from where he was warming up. There was already a thin film of perspiration on his chest, his features slightly tight as he let himself flow with the beat. Syon could feel the pull, but the way he’d left Kate was getting in the way. He couldn’t drop it.

“I just need to touch base with Kate.”

“Kiss-and-make-up time will have to wait,” Cid said.

“Yeah,” Ramsey added. “Kiss and make up when you have time to fuck out all the wrinkles.”

“Watch your mouth, Rams.”

Ramsey turned, still working his guitar, but his eyes were open now, his gaze keen as he tried to read Syon.

“Kate’s not a fuck,” Syon clarified.

Ramsey’s lips slowly curved into a sensual smile. “That’s what I’d be doing with her.” But Ramsey shrugged, his gaze sharpening for a moment of seriousness. “I hear you.”

At last, a tiny measure of satisfaction went through Syon.

It wasn’t enough though. He turned back to Cid.

“You’re not even dressed.” Cid took a pair of pants from one of his girls and held them out. “Ramsey’s got a point. You might need a little more time with your girlfriend than a quick check-in.”