I glanced over at Parker as he drove us across town, back to my place.
“Have you had a proper girlfriend since you, you know… got famous?” I asked cautiously. I wanted to know, but at the same time, I wasn’t sure how I would handle hearing about an ex of Parkers, especially if I found he wasn’t really over her or something stupid like that. He’d made it clear that he’d always give me the truth, so it was up to me to decide if I could handle the truth.
“One,” he answered curtly, not saying anymore.
He obviously didn’t know me as well as he thought, if he thought I’d be content to leave it at that.
“And…” I prompted.
He groaned and shook his head. “I knew I wouldn’t get away with that one.”
So, he does know me after all.
He sighed in defeat. “Her name was Katie, I knew her from before I hit the big time, we’d sort of grown up together. At school she was the pretty, popular girl that I’d secretly been in love with for years. She’d never shown any interest in me back then, so I don’t know what possessed me to think she was genuinely interested in me all of a sudden.”
I was surprised by this. Parker was gorgeous, talented and kind. I couldn’t imagine that he ever would have gone unnoticed by the opposite sex – rock star status or not. But I did know one thing for sure, I was definitely searching Google for this Katie chick the minute I was alone.
“Anyway, we got together, she lapped up the attention and I made myself believe she really cared about me… long story short, I broke it off after six months and it was messy… real messy.”
He sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
“I caught her fucking around with another guy. Literally caught the two of them red handed… and she had the nerve to look me in the eye and tell me it wasn’t how it looked.” He rolled his eyes. “He was balls-deep inside her, so I’m pretty confident it was how it looked.”
I’d felt like I might have been going to cry, right up until he used the phrase ‘balls-deep’. Now the tears forming in my eyes were tears of laughter.
“I’m so sorry.” I choked out, trying to keep the giggles at bay. ‘But balls-deep?” I lost it. Laughter exploded out of me.
“He was balls-deep,” he insisted before laughing himself.
“Sorry.” I giggled. “It’s terrible really.”
He nodded. “It should have been, but I didn’t even give a fuck when I found them backstage, ya know? She’d shown me her true colours on more than one occasion by this point, and that’s why I knew I had to end it, it was almost a relief.”
“Did you know the guy?”
He nodded. “My publicist. I was more gutted to lose him than I was to lose her.”
Shit.
“I’ve really had a bad run with those,” he joked “I’ll have to remind Jasper that the last ‘straight dude’ I hired for the job ending up fucking my girlfriend.”
I probably shouldn’t have been teasing him, but it was obvious he wasn’t actually in the least bit phased by the ending of that relationship, so I figured there was no real harm done.
“Well I’ve suddenly got a thing for men with tattoos, so if you could take that into account when hiring the new guy, I’d really appreciate it.”
“I knew that you were a sucker for my ink.” He grinned triumphantly.
I rolled my eyes at him. “That would be the stand out piece of information for you, wouldn’t it?”
“Damn straight.” He winked. “And besides, you’re at least one thousand times smarter and more real than Katie ever was. You’re not going to go banging the minions when you’ve got the king waiting at home.” He had a shit-eating grin on his face, and I knew he was intentionally acting like a cocky bastard.
I made a fake gagging motion and he laughed loudly.
“All hail the King,” I deadpanned.
Parker flicked the radio on as he chuckled at my reaction.
“Speak of the devil…” I giggled as one of my very own rock star’s songs came on.
“Oh my god!” I swooned like a fan girl. “I loooove this song.”
He groaned.
“Sing it for me?” I pleaded, batting my eyelashes at him.
“Nope,” he replied without missing a beat. “I’ll pass.”
I reached for the dial and turned it up louder.
Parker shook his head in amusement as I belted out the chorus of his hit song ‘Touched’.
His hand snaked out in an attempt to turn it down, or maybe even off, but I caught it and clasped it in mine.
“You’re a terrible singer,” he yelled over the music.
He wasn’t wrong – I was awful. But I didn’t care.
“You sing it for me then,” I yelled back with a wink.
“Anything to make you stop,” he teased before launching into the verse with all of his vocal perfection.
I sighed as I leaned my head back against the leather seat of his Range Rover and watched him.
I don’t know what it was about that husky voice of his, but it got under my skin like nothing ever had before.
There was something special about watching Parker sing… he felt it deep down in his bones, and it was obvious for everyone to see that he was doing exactly what he was put on this earth to do.
His talent was incredible.
And sexy as hell…
“Is that you Han?” I called as I heard the clatter of keys on the hall table.
“Who else would it be, you little nut bar?” she called back from the living room.
I pulled my hair up into a bun as I strolled out to give her an interrogation about her whereabouts, just like any good friend would.
“You didn’t sleep here last night.” I pointed an accusatory finger at her the moment I laid eyes on her – still in last night’s clothes.
“Neither did you.” She pointed right back at me.
“You know where I was.” I winked at her. “Question is… where were you?”
She narrowed her eyes at me. “You’re awfully chipper for someone who drank their body weight in vodka last night.”
“That…” I pointed at her again. “Would be thanks to all the vomiting.” I grimaced. “And you’re changing the subject.”
“You vomited in front of Parker?” She gaped, apparently outraged with my behaviour.
“Not just in front of him.” I shrugged.
Hannah’s eyes bulged.
“On him too,” I added with a grin.
She let out a small whimper. “Well… it was good while it lasted.” She sighed.
I tilted my head to the side and watched her with amusement. “He’s in my room right now, Han.”
She gaped again. “You threw up on a freakin’ millionaire, celebrity rock star and he didn’t run a mile?”
I shook my head and smirked. “He even rubbed my back and held my hair for me,” I bragged.
“Some kind of sorcery,” she muttered in an accusatory tone as she headed for the kitchen. “At least that explains the flash-ass car out front and the bulky dude dressed in the ‘I blend right in’ suit,” she called out sarcastically.
I’d forgotten Sammy had followed us over here. I absently wondered just how long he would stay out the front of my building for.
He’s committed.
I flopped down on the couch. “Han?” I called after her. “You will tell me where you were.”
“I think we all know the answer to that question,” she called back after a few beats.
No way.
I leapt up out of my seat and followed after her into the kitchen.
“Hannah Montgomery,” I hissed. “Did you, or did you not, bone a certain rock star’s manager?”
She winced.
“Well?” I demanded.
“Technically he boned me,” she offered with a grimace.
I happy danced for a few moments. Hannah didn’t join me.
“Was he bad in the sack?” I asked when I noticed the subdued look on
She swirled the cup of coffee she’d made and shook her head slowly.
“Was he a prick to you?” I demanded, suddenly feeling like I needed to kick Jasper Jones’ ass.
She shook her head again. “No. He was a gentleman.” She sighed in a dreamy way. “He was… perfect.”
What the hell is the problem then?
I raised my brows at her in question.
“I guess I’m kinda sad to see it end. We both agreed it was a one-time thing,” she explained with a quiet, longing tone that I wasn’t accustomed to hearing from her.
I was about to start giving her a hard time about the stupid agreement they’d made when I got distracted by the sight of Parker.
He was still pulling his black t-shirt over his head, giving me a perfect view of his toned chest and abdomen. His tan chinos were slung low on his hips, and his hair was damp like mine from our shared shower.
The thought of that shower had me squirming.
“Tell him to put it away. It’s hurting my eyes.” Hannah groaned dramatically.
I laughed at her teasing. “We’ll talk about you and Mr. Jones later,” I hissed as I headed for the sex on a stick that was wandering around my living room.
“I wasn’t expecting an audience.” He chuckled as he pulled his shirt the rest of the way down. “I hope she hasn’t been here long.” He winked at me.
I blushed. Thankfully Hannah had only just arrived home; things had gotten a little heated… and loud.
Very, very loud…
Parker’s performance in the car had got me all hot and bothered and I hadn’t been able to hold back when we’d walked through the door and found ourselves alone.
Not that Parker was complaining.
“I only just arrived,” Hannah called from the kitchen where she was apparently eavesdropping on our conversation. “But the ‘I just took an after sex shower’ look doesn’t leave much to the imagination to be honest with you.”
“I want to tell you something that you already know.”
Charlotte tipped her head to the side and looked at me in slight confusion. “Why would I need you to tell me something that I already know?”
“Because I need to say it out loud... and to be honest, not knowing what you think about it is killing me.”
It wasn’t just this that I wanted to tell her – it was everything. I wanted to share every little detail of my life with her.
What I had for lunch… how many children I want…
Everything.
“Alright, rock star, I’m listening – let me have it.” She smiled as she sat the book she was reading down onto the coffee table and looked up at me with her beautiful bright eyes.
I shrugged. “I love you.”
Plain and simple.
I told her the words without an ounce of hesitation. I’d rehearsed it in my head a thousand times, from full-on and cheesy, to short and sweet. In the end, I’d decided to just come out with it – I knew what I wanted to say, I knew what I wanted her to feel, and if the tears forming in her eyes were anything to go by, I’d achieved what I set out to do.
She nodded and bit down on her lip in what I knew as an attempt to stop her tears overflowing.
I chuckled. “What, no witty remark today, legs?”
She shook her head.
I reached for her hands and tugged her up to her feet. She buried her face in my chest and wrapped her arms tightly around my middle.
“Do you feel like giving me any kind of feedback…?” I asked nervously.
She giggled.
Say something… anything…
“You were right.”
I was right?
“About…?” I prompted.
She sniffed and swiped at the tears on her cheeks. “I already knew.” She smiled in her beautiful, cheeky way.
Of course you did… you can read me like a book…
I huffed out a laugh. “And is it okay with you?”
Do you love me too?
She tipped her head back to look up at me, and I felt the familiar sensation that could only be compared to the cliché of a swarm of butterflies fluttering around in my stomach.
“I mean, I guess so.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “Since I love you too, it’s probably pretty convenient.”
Fuck yes!
Warmth spread through my veins. I knew she was in love with me. We were only saying aloud the words that our actions had been showing all along. But even though I felt like I already knew, hearing it felt like nothing I’d ever experienced.
I’d told girls I loved them before – but I’d never meant it as much as I did when I said it to Charlotte.
I lifted her off the ground and slung her over my shoulder.
She shrieked. “Put me down you brute!”
I slapped her ass. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you, smart-ass? Holding out on me.”
She giggled hysterically. “I was joking!”
I slapped her ass again.
“Put me down!” she begged between giggles.
I slid her down my body and groaned at the feel of her against me.
She looked up at me like she knew exactly what I was thinking – and she felt the same way.
“You love me?” I questioned.
She bit down on her lip and nodded at me shyly.
“Say it again.” I tugged on a lock of her beautiful, long red hair.
“I love you.” She giggled.
“Again.”
“I love you.” She lightly slapped my chest.
“Once more,” I pleaded.
“You’ll never stop.”
Not if I have my way.
I begged her with my eyes.
She rolled her eyes and then smiled sweetly. “I love you so much more than you know,” she told me, her eyes reflecting that love like nothing I’d ever seen.
I shook my head in disagreement. “I know just how much,” I told her before meeting her lips with mine.
“C’mon, legs, I’ve got someone you’re gonna meet today,” I told her as I bustled her out the door of her apartment. I hadn’t seen her since Sunday when I’d first told her I loved her, so today I’d managed to book out some much-needed free time to work in with her schedule.
“Alright, alright, bossy.” She rolled her eyes. “At least let me put my coat on.”
I glanced at my watch, we had plenty of time to get over there, but with my luck, we’d get mobbed by paparazzi or fans the minute we entered the centre of town.
“Is it another family member?” she asked with a cheeky smile, and I knew she was thinking about my Nona.
“No.” I chuckled. “I think you’ve had about enough crazy for now.”
I tugged her back when she reached the door before I did. I’d swapped cars and done a few laps before heading over here, but there was no guarantee that I hadn’t been followed. I peered up and down the street, and when I was satisfied with what I saw, or more to the point, didn’t see, I took her hand and led her out to my car.
I was just opening the door for Charlotte when I saw a guy with a camera around his neck jogging towards me.
“You were almost too late,” I called out to him, a grin on my face.
“I know.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I was right across town when I got your message and I only had my bike.” He panted again, nearly doubled over.
I glanced at Charlotte and she looked utterly perplexed by the unfolding situation.
Introductions…
“Charlotte, this is Snitch,” I told her, letting her know it was okay. “He grew up in the same town I did,” I explained. “I help him out with some exclusive shots when I can, and in return, he puts the others off my trail when he can.”
Charlotte smiled and crinkled up her nose. “Well that’s a bit cute,” she mused.
She held out her hand to him. “It’s nice to meet you.”
Snitch shook her hand. “You too, miss.”
I glanced at my watch. “We really gotta hit it, man.”
“No problem” He raised his camera and backed up a few steps.
Charlotte shot me a devilish look as I gestured for her to get into the car. I could hear Snitch snapping a few shots from behind me.
“He biked all the way over here, just to get a photo of you opening my door for me?” she asked in disbelief.
I chuckled. I knew Charlotte, and I knew she wasn’t willing to let this go just yet.
“He’ll get good money for these shots,” I reassured her. “I don’t drive women around very often, actually make that ever. Now get in, we’ll be late.”
“He’ll get better money for these.”
I opened my mouth to ask her what she meant, but I didn’t get the chance.
She pushed up on her toes and kissed me, taking my hands in hers while she did.
She broke off the kiss and looked up at me. She placed my hands and hers, right on her belly, over her coat.
I held back a laugh. I knew what she was doing. In a few hours’ time, the entire world was going to think I’d knocked her up.
“Just so you know, I’m not actually pregnant,” she called out to Snitch with a grin.
“Oh, this is gold,” he called back. “I like her, Sloan.”
“Everybody does,” I replied without taking my eyes off the little shit stirrer in front of me.
She giggled and jumped into the car, done with her little show for now at least.
“What’s next, huh?” I smirked at her after I climbed in and Kelvin started the car “A fake wedding? Pushing a doll around in a pushchair pretending it’s a baby?”
She giggled. “You have to admit, it’s pretty funny.”
“You can ring my Nona and tell her it was all a ruse.” I shook my head in amusement. “She’d probably get a real kick out of that actually.”
It was no secret that Nona was a fan of Charlotte.
Huge fan.
All of a sudden, she was calling me twice as much as she had before, but she didn’t use the extra calls to ask about me, she usually just wanted to ask how Charlotte was. She always made sure to check that I was treating her right, spoiling her… but not just by using my money. That was Nona’s advice. ‘Money comes and goes’ she said, ‘but knowing how to treat a woman right stays forever’.
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