SailtotheMoon Read Free Page A

decided whose questions were worth answering, what to
ignore. Laura watched and admired, but as she tried to concentrate on other
things, other people, Zazz intruded into her consciousness.
    Stupid, because he’d probably forgotten her already.
    She enjoyed the experience of watching a world-famous band
fending off the media. They answered as they saw fit, or refused to answer. All
of them had consummate charm, and had that arrogant thing. Or maybe it was
supreme confidence, something Laura had fought for all her life but never
managed to master. Maybe it came with money, or maybe in doing what they loved
best. She had no idea, but none of those things applied to her. She had a
fulfilling job, which earned her enough to own a decent, if not outstanding
flat and afford a few extras. She was lucky, really lucky. And she helped
people, she did something worthwhile.
    The conference ended by the simple expedient of the members
of the band drifting away. V and Jace left via a door behind them. Donovan
glanced around and linked hands with a woman who came straight to him like a
homing pigeon. They left by another door with “Exit” over the portal. Hunter
found a woman wearing headphones—that would be his new fiancée Sabina, who had
recently had an operation to restore her hearing. She wore phones to block out
too much sound. Laura had read all about it, not just because of her curiosity
about the band, but the operation had fascinated her. It must have taken a lot
of courage to go in for it, since it was still in the experimental stage.
    Riku and Zazz kicked away from the table. After glancing at
each other they started to mingle with the members of the media, who
immediately clustered around them and asked questions. The girls fringing the room
moved forward—in for the kill. The guy who had brought them in moved forward
and murmured to Chick, who glanced at them and nodded.
    “Hey, I’m going to see if I can beat all the professionals
and hook Riku or Zazz,” Kelsie murmured low, so only Laura could hear.
    “No, we’d better stay here.” Anxiety grew in her once more,
rising to clog her throat. But Kelsie had gone, heading toward the table with
purpose in her stride. Laura stared after her, knowing a protest would go
ignored. At this rate she’d never get to meet James Asano. They’d be asked to
leave if Kelsie made a nuisance of herself.
    Whatever. She’d remember the concert as one of the most
incandescent experiences of her life.
    And wasn’t that a sad thing?
    “Hey, it’s the woman with the perceptive questions.”
    At the voice she spun around and nearly fell. The tall man
standing behind her caught her elbows, helping her to regain her balance. She
wobbled even more. His warmth seeped through her, entered every part of her.
    “Zazz, oh my God.”
    He grinned, the curve of his lips even more devastating
close up. “Nope, just Zazz. Hi. I was planning to shake your hand, but I like
this better.” He didn’t let go, but drew her closer. Someone murmured an excuse
and pushed past her. She wanted to check her bag, but that would have meant
letting go, and she wasn’t about to do that. She stayed where she was, and he
didn’t move away. He raised a brow. “Which paper are you from?”
    “I’m not. I shouldn’t have said anything, I’m sorry.”
    “You livened a boring press conference. I’m going to start
making shit up from now on. It’s more interesting than the tedious truth.”
    She grinned back, as if they were sharing a secret. “You’re
really talented.”
    Up close, she found his smile devastating, reaching into her
inmost self, parts of her she’d buried deep. How could he do that with a simple
smile, as if they’d been friends for years? “People tell me that, sometimes. So
what are you doing here if you’re not press?”
    “I came to see a member of the crew,” she said, suppressing
the wild impulse to tell him she was a groupie and did he want to find a room?
    He dropped his