Free Tangled Trust (The Lust List: Kaidan Stone #2) by Nova Raines

Calvin lifts a gray brow.
    Serena grins. “Not that I care what the boys think when I have a real man.”
    Calvin laughs and gives her a peck on the lips.
    The two of them squick me out, but Kaidan doesn’t miss a beat. His friendly expression never falters.
    “Both ‘Devil’ and ‘Beautiful Lie’ are Top 100,” he says. “You sing ‘Lie’ tonight, and it’ll hit number one by next week. You produced it, didn’t you Ethan?”
    Ethan downs his drink, what appears to be hard liquor on the rocks, and waves over the waitstaff. “Another,” he says, shoving the glass in the direction of the waitress without looking at her. “Yeah. ‘Beautiful Lie’ is all me.”
    “Not entirely,” Serena says, shooting him a dark look.
    Ethan folds his hands in front of him. “Uh—did you forget what your vocals sounded like raw?”
    Serena flushes, and her eyes narrow. “The track would be nothing without my vocals.”
    “It’s true.” Kaidan says, “There are two amazing Stone Label talents on one track. And that’s why it’ll hit number one.”
    Serena lifts a brow at Ethan but nods, placated by Kaidan’s words.
    He continues the conversation, asking Ethan about the song he’s set to perform and bantering with everyone at the table in turn. Calvin interjects every once in awhile with a clever remark. They’re the perfect picture of father and son. They control the conversation. They’re confident. Powerful.
    Kaidan’s really good at this—at schmoozing and managing the talent. If he hadn’t told me himself he had doubts about taking over the label, I never would have believed it.
    I admire how easily he masks his true feelings, but it’s a little disturbing at the same time. Because… how can you trust someone who can hide how they really feel so easily?
    The auditorium is quickly filling up—the show will be starting soon.
    Our table devolves into multiple conversations—Bia with Zoe, Bia’s manager with Kaidan, and Calvin with Ethan. I sit in awkward silence beside Serena, and it takes everything in me not to look at the diamond. I want to rip it off of her and take it home. A little heat spreads in my belly, champagne or what—I don’t know. Serena used my dad to get that diamond, and she’s using Calvin Stone to ensure her hits continue to be hits. I’m sure of it. I down my champagne, and a new glass appears before me like magic.
    “So, you dating Kaidan officially now?” Serena asks.
    I freeze and slowly turn toward her, pasting a smile on my face. But Serena isn’t even looking at me. She’s gazing at another table and waves brightly, smiling as she catches a friend’s eye.
    “I’m not sure. I…” My eyes have followed Serena’s gaze, to the group she’s waving at. It’s two tables filled with Cylon Smash band members and their dates. And right smack in the middle of the group, hanging off Ender Varrone’s arm, is freaking Peyton Mackenzie, wearing a shiny gold gown and shooting daggers at me.
    I avert my eyes quickly, face flushed. Thank God I didn’t wear the gold gown!
    “Kaidan’s great,” Serena continues, her voice low. “He’s been nothing but welcoming to me.”
    I take a breath, trying to forget the way Peyton is likely staring at me. “You mean—about you and his dad…”
    She waves her hand. “Oh yeah. Can’t say the same about Devon.” She makes a face and whips some lip gloss out of her purse. The diamond moves with her, and the necklace settles in her cleavage.
    “I love your necklace,” I say, gushing like it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
    She looks like a deer in headlights for a split second, then smooths her lip gloss on. “Thanks.”
    “So whatever happened between you and my dad?” I ask, my voice light.
    “Oh, you know. He left me for someone younger.”
    Ew. She’s such a liar. “Really? That’s interesting. I didn’t know that.”
    “Well, I mean—you were at school. So you wouldn’t know, would you?” Her tone is