Free Surprised By You (The By You Series) by Kelly Harper Page B

could even start working on it.
    Thanks for nothing, Universe.
    “Oh, no. Leland is a friend of mine,” Sarah said, quickly. “He’s helping with a gift for my boyfriend. I was just telling Maggie about it, earlier.”
    My head bobbed, quickly, in agreement with Sarah’s cover story. For a few long seconds, I didn’t think Haden was going to buy it, but finally he tilted his head in a shrug and let the moment pass.
    “So what trouble are you two ladies getting into today?”
    “Oh, you know, girly stuff,” I said. “We’re going to wonder around the Festival and check out all the booths. I think the Avett Brothers are playing this afternoon.”
    Haden cocked an eyebrow at me before fixing Sarah with a serious look.
    “Now don’t you let her go eyeballing too many of those other bands,” he said, his tone concerned. “We both know she’s got a thing for rock stars.”
    He held the flat look and my eyes widened. Could he really, seriously think I could ever possibly leave him for anyone else? I swear men can be such idiots sometimes! I fought down the urge to grab the nearest thing and throw it at his head.
    Then, the corners of his lips tugged upward and he gave me that sly, devilish smirk that usually meant he was pulling a fast one on me.
    I gasped and didn’t think twice before reaching for the pillow on the bed. I swung it around, violently, hitting him squarely in the shoulder. He barked out a laugh as I swung it over and over.
    “You stupid man! Don’t even joke about things like that.”
    Sarah was laughing right along with him. Haden’s chest rumbled with those deep laughs as he tangled my arms in his, pulling me tight against his body. Before I knew it, we were kissing again, and the world around me was swirling into nothingness.
    Damn him for being so… him.
    Sarah cleared her throat in a not-so-subtle way, and we broke apart. I shoved his shoulder one more time for good measure.
    “You know I trust you completely,” he said, those green eyes of his trying their best to turn my insides to mush. (They usually do a pretty good job of it.) “I’ll see you after the set.”
    “Maybe. If I don’t find another, sexier, rock star who’s an even better guitar player than you.”
    The grin on his face didn’t fade for even a second.
    “Impossible. No rock stars are sexier and better guitarists than me.”
    I made a few grumbling noises to let him know he shouldn’t be so sure.
    He kissed me one more time on the forehead before he turned to head out. His minute was over a long time ago, but Bartlett was probably too busy trying to get Kyle out of bed to be worried about anything else. Haden turned back just before he hopped off the bus.
    “Don’t forget your security pass, I hear security is pretty tight around here.”
    I let out a few more grumbles and shooed him away. He shot me one more fierce grin before bounding down the stairs.
    As soon as the door shut, Sarah and I vaulted for the window. We watched Haden until he disappeared into the mass of tents outside.
    “You think he suspects anything?” Sarah asked.
    “No. No thanks to you.”
    “Hey, I covered it up pretty nicely.”
    I gave another noncommittal grumble.
    “We better get started, it’s going to be a long day.”
    Little did I know just how true that statement was.

Chapter 2

    “Please, you don’t understand, this is an emergency!” The old, curly haired lady’s eyes narrowed as she gave me a stern look. It had only been a few minutes and Phase One of the Big Plan was already in serious jeopardy. “You said yourself that it’s just a spare.”
    Her look soured with every word I spoke. I decided it was best to stop while I might still be ahead. Her eyes narrowed and her head tilted to one side, considering me for a long time.
    And judging me.
    There was a lot of judgment in her old-lady eyes.
    “And what’s in it for me?”
    I got the distinct feeling I was about to be hustled.
    “Have you heard of The Believers ? I