Lucky: A Rockstar Romance Two Book Boxed Set

by Liliana Rhodes

  Watching him walk away, she thought about how gorgeous he was and wondered again about his reputation. Maybe that was how he worked. He probably just kissed her because he had the opportunity and no other women were around.

  She thought about the many women swooning over him at every show. How he'd always disappear with them. Then she thought about when she barged into his room and found him alone. It still didn't make sense.

  Jude was right, she needed to live. She had to experience life and all its ups and downs. Her parents had sheltered her too much. Maybe if she had been out in the world, she would've seen Ross for exactly who he was and not trusted him so easily.

  Looking around the bus, she wondered who else she couldn't trust. Jordan she would trust with her life. Looking at her dozing with her head resting on Dylan's shoulder, she knew she had to trust Dylan as well. If Jordan trusted him that much, she knew he had to be a good guy.

  Kat was a couple of rows away from her but across the aisle. She always looked perfect. Too perfect. Lucky wondered how anyone could look so flawless without much rest.

  Lucky wanted to trust Kat, but she couldn't help the nagging voice in her head that said not to. She knew Kat was the popular girl in school, probably had lots of boyfriends and never spent a weekend alone. She thought Kat could teach her so much about life and being on the road. But it was Kat's idea to let Ross and his friend join them on the bus. If Kat was so smart, why didn't she see them for who they were?

  She decided to ask Kat if she heard anything. Maybe Ross or Mark told her something before the bus left. As she approached her, the bus swerved and knocked Lucky into the seat behind Kat, who was talking on her phone.

  "We're almost to Phoenix," Kat said. "You have to come. You told me this would be my tour! The label doesn't care about some fat chick. They specifically asked for me, remember?"

  Shocked, Lucky couldn't move as a cold flush ran through her body. She thought Kat was her friend. Jude was right, not everyone was who they seemed.

  "If you're not in Phoenix, I'm leaving. Let this tour go on without me. You promised this was my big break, and I'm not even in the spotlight," Kat said. "That fucking drummer, I don't care who he is." Kat was silent for a moment. "I thought I told you. The drummer cracked under pressure." She was quiet again. "Yes. With Jude fucking Morrison, can you believe it?"

  Lucky had heard enough. She quietly got up and returned to her seat. Grabbing her phone, she wondered if she could get Kat off the tour but remembered what she said was right--the label specifically wanted her there. Her heart sank a little.

  She knew Richard Black wouldn't give her tour to Kat. They were her songs, and Kat couldn't string two words together unless they were written for her. So who was she talking to?

  As the bus turned off the highway, she realized she never changed like Jude told her to. She grabbed a pair of loose fitting jeans, a purple print floral tank top, and a grey cowl neck knit top with short dolman sleeves. While she changed, the bus stopped and she heard everyone get off.

  When she finished changing, she grabbed her messenger bag, slung it across her body, and left the bus. It was late morning and the sun was high in the sky. Shielding her eyes, she saw most of the band under the canopy of the hotel entrance. Nearby, a motorcycle growled to a start.

  Turning towards the sound, she saw a dark copper Harley Davidson that glowed with bright chrome and black leather. Jude sat on it in his jeans and a thin leather jacket over a faded blue t-shirt, his hands on the handles. As she approached, she overheard the two men talking to Jude about the motorcycle.

  "It’s the latest model Fat Boy. When it came in, we immediately thought of you. We can arrange for it to be at your home after this tour is over."

  "Thanks guys," said Jude, "but I'm just going to borrow it for the day."

  "Of course, whatever you want."

  When Jude saw Lucky, he gave her that crooked smile that made her heart speed up. "Ever been on one of these?"

  "No. Is it safe?"

  Jude laughed. "I'll help you on. Let's get going before anyone decides to bother us."

  Lucky looked over towards the hotel entrance and saw a group of women clustered together, looking in their direction. By now she knew exactly what they were looking at, but she couldn't blame them. Jude was gorgeous.

  He held her hand as she swung her leg over the back of the bike, then they put on the helmets given to them by the salesmen. She wrapped her arms around his waist, happily pressing her body against him, as he drove away.

  The purr of the engine was all she could hear as they drove. As they hit the highway, she began to relax and enjoyed the wind whipping through her hair. She loved being so close to Jude and thought if they did nothing else, just the ride alone made her day.

  As they rode, she watched the terrain change from the dry desert and cactus, with the dark mountains in the distance, to seeing pine and juniper trees with dark red mountains. The air felt cooler and her ears softly popped as they continued their drive.

  Pulling into a quaint town a few hours later, they drove down a quiet street and parked the bike. He took her hand as they walked up back towards the main street where there were shops along both sides of the road.

  "This is an old artist community. I come here all the time when I just want to get away and appreciate the beauty," he said.

  She marveled at the red rocks surrounding them, some jutting into shapes and images like clouds. The streets were filled with tourists window shopping, but no one seemed to notice Jude.

  They walked in and out of shops, looking at paintings and sculptures by local artisans. Lucky was in heaven. She always hoped to one day see the world and when she first heard about the tour, she thought it was the start of that. She imagined spending time seeing each city and learning what made them unique.

  She had no idea being on tour meant nothing but buses and hotels. It made the tour disappointing, despite it making her dream of being a professional musician come true.

  Stopping to sit to share a bowl of homemade ice cream at a busy shop, Lucky pulled her cell phone out of her bag. "I can't believe this. I've got tons of texts and voicemails."

  "From who?"

  "One sec, there's one from Jordan. It just says Richard Black was looking for me and it’s important. Yup, I have voicemail from him too."

  "Lucky, this is Richard. Call me as soon as you get this. I'm at the hotel." She listened to another voicemail from him. "Lucky, Richard. It’s important. Things sound like they're escalating. I'm worried about you. You're not ready for this. Please call."

  Jude listened to his own voicemail and looked worried. "Olivia, listen to me. We have to go now." He stood up and grabbed her hand before pulling her through the crowd and back down the street.

  "Jude! What's going on?" She was winded as she tried to keep up with his long stride. "You have to slow down. You're walking too fast."

  They turned the corner where they parked the bike and saw it surrounded by cameramen. Jude pulled her back under the awning of a nearby building.

  "Stay calm and listen to me. The picture is out. The media went crazy over it, and now they want to know more about you. They think we're an item."

  "So? I don't understand, what's the big deal?"

  "It went viral. I don't have time to explain, but they're after you now."

  He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and kept her close as they blended in with the tourists. Lucky nervously cracked her knuckles as they walked. She never considered this part of stardom. She didn't think of herself as a star. She was just a girl, no different than anyone else. None of this made sense to her. Winding in and out of the crowd, they made their way to the other end of the small town.

  "What are we going to do?"

  "I have an idea. Call Richard and tell him to meet us at Submarine Rock," Jude said.

  They entered a small building surrounded by jeeps. Jude locked the door behind them and motioned for Lucky to call while he spoke to the peopl
e behind the counter.

  "Richard, it’s--"

  "Lucky! Where are you? Are you okay?"

  "I'm fine, I'm with Jude. He told me to tell you to meet us at Submarine Rock."

  "Good, I'll see you in an hour."

  He hung up, leaving her confused. It took them over two hours to get to Sedona, how was Richard going to make it there in an hour?

  Jude took her hand and led her behind the building to a forest green Jeep. As they got onto the main street, she saw a car swerving in and out of the two-lane traffic, approaching them.

  "Hold on, Liv!"

  She grabbed on to a bar across the top of the door as Jude hopped the curb. People cleared the walkway as he drove then got back on the road before jumping another curb, which brought them onto a rocky dirt road. Turning around, she saw the car was gone.

  "This is insane! What could they possibly want from me?"

  "We'll find out soon enough. We just need to get you back to the hotel. You'll be safe there."

  They drove on for a while, red dust kicking up underneath the jeep. Lucky wished this wasn't the way her day ended. She looked around at the scenery and wanted to drink it in, but they were in too much of a rush and she was too anxious.

  After driving through a narrow pass, they finally slowed down. Jude positioned the car in front of the path they came from and got out, leaving the keys in the Jeep. Lucky couldn't believe how beautiful the view was as she got out of the car but knew now wasn't the time to sightsee. Jude led Lucky over to the back of the Jeep as they heard another vehicle coming up the path they were just on. Lucky's heart raced in her chest, and this time it wasn't just Jude's effect on her.

  She saw what the paparazzi did to people. When she had time, she loved going to the different websites and catching up with who was doing whatever to whom. Now she thought differently about that.

  She held tight to Jude's hand when she suddenly heard a helicopter. Jude covered her head as he held her against his chest, protecting her from the red dust filling the air. A large white helicopter swooped down and quickly landed in a clearing by the cliff.

  "Run!" Jude said as he pulled her away from the Jeep, with his arm around her, and towards the helicopter.

  A couple of Jeeps pulled up but were blocked by Jude's Jeep so they couldn't enter the clearing. The helicopter door slid open, revealing Richard inside. He held his hand out to Lucky and helped her and Jude onto the helicopter before it rose into the air again as cameramen made it into the clearing below.

  "Lucky, I've secured the hotel so you'll be safe there, just don't go outside," Richard said. "Jude, there's one more thing you need to know. Donna's here."

  "Who's Donna?" Lucky asked, but no one answered.

  Flying back to Phoenix in the helicopter, Lucky stared out the window as the setting sun created streaks of orange and pinks across the blue sky. Jude seemed troubled. He quietly sat with his arms folded over his chest and his eyes closed.

  She wanted to talk to him. She needed to thank him for the day and for saving her, but she also had the nagging, unanswered question of Donna floating in her head.

  Richard showed her a site with a large picture of her and Jude kissing. The article mentioned them being on tour together but little else. It ended with the promise of more details.

  Lucky wondered if Jude was embarrassed to be seen kissing her. She wasn't the type he was normally seen with, so maybe that's what bothered him. As she thought of their day together, she decided she was wrong. He wouldn't have taken her out like that if he was ashamed of her.

  She stopped herself. She was doing it again. Getting in her head and overthinking and analyzing everything. Reminding herself she never had a boyfriend before, she realized she didn't have one now. She mentally kicked herself as the helicopter lowered itself onto the roof of the hotel.

  Jude draped his arm around her shoulders as they entered. Richard led them towards an elevator before looking at his watch.

  "I'm canceling tomorrow's show. We don't know what the repercussions of this photo might be. We’re better off giving you some time to deal with it. When you're a big star, you won't have that luxury," Richard said and smiled. "I'll meet up with you later, I need to take care of a few things first."

  Overwhelmed, Lucky nodded. She couldn't give another response. She wanted to get home to her parents and her bedroom, forget the craziness, and simply be normal again. None of this was turning out how she thought it would.

  As she and Jude rode the elevator down, the doors opened and a tall blonde stepped in. Lucky thought she looked familiar and wondered if she was a model or a celebrity.

  She was beautiful, with full blonde hair that hung mid-way down her back. Dressed in tight stone-colored pants tucked into brown knee-high boots and a stone top with brown embroidery, the model looked completely put together and confident, something Lucky never felt unless she was performing.

  "Well hello there. This must be my lucky day." The model smirked as if she was proud of herself for coming up with that. "I'm Donna Trevose. Kat's agent."

  "Nice to meet you," Lucky said even though she didn't mean it. She had a bad feeling about her but didn't want to be rude. It was Kat who said bad things about her, not Donna.

  Donna turned to Jude and smiled. "Aren't you going to say hello?"

  "No, actually, I wasn't," Jude said.

  "That's no way to treat your wife, you know."

  "Wait, what?" Lucky said, her mouth hanging open in shock. "Jude? What's going on? Is that true?"

  She didn't wait for an answer. Her eyes began to sting as the weight of the day became too much. He already saw her cry once earlier, it wasn't going to happen again. Lucky was done.

  Pushing Jude away, she rushed out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened again. She didn't care what floor she was on, she had to get away. Her chest filled with a dull ache as she ran down the hall trying to get away from the elevator as quickly as possible. Once she turned the corner, she pulled out her room key to check what floor she needed.

  As she caught her breath, the tears began to fall. She tried reading the number on the small wall plaque to find out what floor she was on, but it was useless. Her sight was too blurry.

  She couldn't get the thought of Jude's lips out of her head, but the memory was tainted now. He admitted he was the reason he had a bad reputation, and she wondered if their time together meant nothing to him. How could she be so wrong about him?

  Her legs went weak as the ache in her chest deepened. Even though she had written about heartbreak before, thinking about Jude made her realize how awful it really felt.

  She felt stupid. How could she not know he was married? Hadn't she read that once? Was that why he didn't kiss her sooner? She slid down the wall as her legs buckled underneath her and exhaustion overtook her. Pulling out her cell phone, she tapped on Jordan's name.

  "Jordan? I need you," Lucky said. "I'm so tired and…I don't know. I can't move."

  "Where are you? Are you okay? Just tell me where you are."

  "I…I don't know," she said as she looked up and down the hall. "All these floors look alike."

  "Look around, Lucky. Is there anything?"

  Lucky sniffled and swallowed hard, trying to control her crying. "Wait, I smell chlorine. Is there a pool?"

  "I know where you're at," Jordan said. "I'll be right there."

  Jordan, dressed in yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt, kept Lucky on the phone as she took the elevator up to the pool. Lucky was still seated on the floor when she found her. Helping Lucky get back on her feet, Jordan wrapped her arm around her waist for support as they walked back to the elevator.

  Lucky hugged Jordan before leaning against the chrome rail. It didn't matter how much they drifted apart, Jordan would always be her best friend. She didn't have to give Jordan details to know she understood what she was going through. Lucky could give Jordan a look or tell her a couple of words and she'd understand everything. That's how close they were and alw
ays would be. Lucky knew Jordan felt the same way.

  "What happened? Is this about the photo? Lucky?" Jordan waited for an answer but didn't get one. "Olivia, say something!"

  Lucky met Jordan's gaze and sighed. "I'm an idiot," she said. "He's married."

  17

  Jude

  "Olivia, wait!" Jude called after Lucky as she ran out the elevator doors.

  He wanted to chase after her, explain everything to her, but he knew from experience that after such a crazy day, she needed some time to herself. Plus he had no choice but to deal with Donna.

  "Oh Jude, that's so cute," Donna said. "Don't you worry your pretty little head about her, I'm sure you'll tap that ass soon enough. You always do."

  Jude gritted his teeth, wishing he wasn't stuck in an elevator alone with her. Every part of him despised Donna. They rode the elevator in an uncomfortable silence until it reached the lobby.

  "What are you doing here?" he seethed with anger as he turned back towards Donna.

  "I already said, I was worried about Kat."

  "I know you, Donna. This has nothing to do with Kat." Jude stared at Donna menacingly. "And how dare you call yourself my wife."

  "Why? That's what I am."

  "Only because you refuse to sign the papers. We never even lived together."

  "Doesn't matter. I won't sign until I get what I deserve," she said.

  "You don't deserve anything. You got enough from me when I agreed to sign that shitty contract you drew up."

  "Is that why you're on the baby's tour? Did Uncle Richard offer to break your contract? He's become shrewder with age, I see."

  "Did I hear my name?" Richard joined them. He looked at Donna with annoyance. "Really, Donna? Why are you here? What do you want?" Richard said.

  "I'm worried my client--"

  "Shut the fuck up. We all know why you're really here," Richard said. "Now if you don't mind, I have a tour I need to get back on track. Where's Lucky?"

  "Donna told her--" Jude began.

  "I got it," Richard put his hand up. "You know, Donna, this girl is the real deal. She's talented and much too sweet to have to deal with the likes of you. I did you a favor by putting Kat on the tour. Yes, I wanted eye candy, but I could've gotten that anywhere. Besides, I was wrong about Lucky. She's real, she's not plastic. Women can relate to her and based on what's been going on, plenty of men want her. I don't know what I was thinking."