by Lydia Cole
“Why don’t you guys come over? I’m anxious to start pulling that song together.” I glanced up as I shoved pasta into my mouth.
“Now, Lu-Lu, let’s not run them ragged their first week here.” Johnny looked at me with a smile. “Not everyone has your energy.”
“No, it’s all right.” Ben glanced around at the other guys and turned back to me after getting their approval. “We’re kind of anxious to work with you, too.”
So, we all headed back to the mansion after dinner. Johnny headed for his home office, claiming to have paperwork. I brought the guys down to the basement, where we had a whole set up.
Grant whistled at the drum set that was sitting in the corner. “Damn. These are nice.”
I chuckled. “Billie will kill you if something happens to those. As a matter of fact, let me see if they’re busy.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and sent a mass text. Seconds later, I got three replies saying they were on their way. “Awesome,” I said, looking back up at them. “I have a feeling this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.”
Jack was the first to arrive. I heard him yell a greeting at Johnny, then head down the stairs. He smiled slyly when he looked at me, then glanced around the room. “Well, well. She’s roped you all in already?” He moved around the room, introducing himself. As expected, he and Hayden became fast friends.
I looped my guitar around my neck and sat on the piano bench, plucking cords and scribbling alternately. Ben walked over and straddled the bench, watching as I worked. I felt Jack’s eyes on us and hoped that he didn’t turn into the jealous type. I couldn’t handle losing him. He was too good.
Billie showed up a few minutes later, walking up behind me and putting her head on my shoulder to spy. She listened to me play for a minute, nodding gently against my shoulder. “This is gonna be fun,” she commented before patting my head and acknowledging the guys in the room.
Finally, my bassist, Vernon Brown, ambled down the stairs. He took one look around the room and sighed. “This is going to be one of those all night things, isn’t it?”
I nodded, pick in my mouth, and turned to him. “Come on, Vern. You know you can’t resist me.”
He smiled slightly and shook his head. “Not with that pick in your mouth, I can’t.” He moved toward the spare bass guitar he kept in the basement and looped it over his head. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
***
The Sun was coming up when we all crawled out of the basement. Everyone had huge bags under their eyes, but we were still buzzing with excitement. This was probably my best, yet. Both of them. I was so pumped to actually record them.
“You need to sleep,” Jack commented, laying a kiss on my cheek. “No studio today.”
I frowned. “Not fair.”
“He’s right, Lucy.” Billie put an arm over my shoulder. “There comes a time when a girl just needs to give in and accept defeat.”
“No,” I whined.
Vernon rolled his eyes, heading for the door. “I”m not going in today. Let’s see how well you do without me.”
I frowned. “Aw, Vernon!”
“I know when to stop,” he said as he disappeared into the morning glow.
“Fine. But first thing tomorrow. And I mean first thing!”
Jack smiled and turned for the door. “We got it. First thing.”
Billie laid the side of her head against mine, still standing beside me with her arm across my shoulders. “You know we’re only doing it because we love you. You’ve been on a roll, but you still need your rest.”
I sighed. She was right, of course. “Yeah, yeah. I love you, too.”
“Good. Now, don’t call me until tomorrow.” She smacked my ass and headed for the door. “Unless, of course, you decide to cross over to the dark side. Then, you can call me.”
I rolled my eyes and waved to her, turning back toward the kitchen where Ben, Hayden, Grant, and Nate were hanging out. “You guys want to just crash here? We have about a billion extra rooms.”
“That sounds like a good idea,” Nate nodded. “Show me the way.”
I walked down the hall, dropping them off in spare bedrooms along the way. Hayden made some comment about me getting lonely and I smacked his chest–it was rock hard and I felt a few shivers prick at the base of my neck–pushing him into the open room. When I finally crawled into bed, I smiled and fell into a deep, content sleep.
Chapter Four
“Congratulations, Lucy!” My manager, Sterling Sommers, pulled me into a hug. He was in his forties and his hair was gray and thinning, but he was the best. Johnny would have accepted no less for me.
“Thanks, Ster. How’s that tour schedule coming?”
“Brilliant. They’re begging for you.” He looked around and lowered his voice. “Don’t tell Johnny I said so, but you’re gonna top him, for sure.”
My eyes widened. “No way, Ster. No freaking way.” My dad was my hero. He was my role model and my best friend. Never in my life could I ever top him. And if I did, it would only be because of him.
Sterling pinched my cheek lovingly. “You’re so cute. Now, mingle with your guests.”
I rolled my eyes. Only Sterling would call me cute. I was wearing a black dress that barely covered me, carefully exposing the tattoo that wrapped around my right shoulder. I was planning something big to go down my side, but I hadn’t worked up the nerve for the that one. Everyone told me ribs hurt the worst. I glanced down at the stars on my foot and scoffed. It if hurt any worse than that, I wasn’t so sure I could handle it.
“Jesus, you look hot.” Jack pulled me into a hungry kiss. “Let’s ditch this place.”
I laughed and pushed his chest. “Jack, this is my party. I can’t ditch it.”
“Well, then how about we disappear for a few minutes? It won’t take long, trust me.”
“For you, maybe.” I smiled when he groaned. “If you’re a good boy, I might let you stay over tonight.”
He sighed, kissed my jaw teasingly, and moved further into the crowd. Heavy music was blaring through the speakers all over the house. Mostly my music, but a lot of Johnny’s and some other popular rock bands, too. I smiled when the song switched and I heard Ben’s deep voice.
“Hey, I heard this song on the radio yesterday. Some new group.” I heard a girl behind me comment. “I love it.”
Someone else made an agreeing noise. “It is good. I bet Johnny signed them.”
“Probably,” the first girl agreed. “He has a knack for finding awesome bands.”
I smiled and glanced around the room, finding Ben sitting at the bar talking with a cute brunette. “They’re talking about you already, Ben,” I said, walking up and motioning toward the guy behind the bar. “I told you.”
He glanced up at me with a wide smile. “The song’s only been out for a few days and I swear I’ve heard it on the radio at least fifty times.”
“Johnny’s good like that.” I put my hand out to the girl he’d been talking to. “Hi. I don’t think I’ve met you.”
“Oh, sorry. I’m Daphne.”
“Nice to meet you. Who are you here with?”
She glanced around, as if remembering just then that she had a date, and frowned. “I was here with Danny Doler, but I think he bailed on me.”
“Ah, that’s a distinct possibility.” I gave her a sympathetic smile. “Well, I’m glad you came.”
“Thanks,” she said, surprise written across her face. I got that a lot. Apparently, people expected me to be a total fame-bitch.
“There you are,” a familiar voice called as two hands moved around my waist. “Are you avoiding me?” The Irish accent sent shivers down my spine.
I smiled, then turned myself out of his hug. “Now, why would I avoid you, Connor?” I sipped my drink as I looked into his addictive so-bad-for-you chocolate eyes. “I thought you were on tour?”
He smiled, leaning against the bar and crossing his arms over his broad delicious chest. The veins
in his arms bulged and I nearly lost it. He had the body you’d find on the cover of ‘Men’s Health’ magazine. “Now, love, you don’t think I’d miss your big party? Besides, we’re off for a week. I’m not due back in Wales until Wednesday.”
Connor O’Brian was the lead singer of: Decaying Love. Johnny had discovered them while we were vacationing in Ireland almost a year ago and jumped on the chance to bring them over to the states. They’d been a major hit. American girls had a thing for accents. I was no exception to that rule. Before we even made it out of Ireland, Connor had charmed my pants right off. He was sex god and he sure knew how to pleasure a woman.
I turned back and smiled at Ben, taking his attention away from Daphne once more. I needed him. “Ben, this is Connor O’Brian.”
Ben stood up and shook his hand. “Oh, dude, I fuckin’ love your stuff. Bloody awesome to meet you.”
“Johnny signed his band last week. I’m sure you’ve heard their song on the radio.” I had to grin as Ben’s face reddened slightly.
“Oh, right. It’s good. Congrats.” Connor gave me an upraised eyebrow, and I just smiled in return. Let him think what he wanted about Ben and me. Connor had almost been able to pull me away from my music. I wasn’t about to let that happen. Never again.
“Our song is on, beautiful,” Hayden purred in my ear, coming up behind me.
I rolled my eyes, listening to my voice through the speakers. Forever, the second song we’d played at Maci’s wedding, was playing. “And why is that our song, Hay?”
He smiled deviously, then pulled me away. It was pretty hot the way he grabbed me with such command and strength. All that guitar play really had its perks. “Let’s go start a mosh pit.”
I waved to Connor and Ben, following him gladly further into the house. “Thanks.” He’d saved me from an awkward situation.
“You had a look.” He slung his arm across my shoulders. “I figured that particular break hadn’t been as mutual as the tabloids made it out to be.”
“Huh,” I said with a huff. “It was mutual. It just wasn’t easy.”
I forced myself to forget about it, pulling Hayden onto the open floor of the back living room and cranking up the speakers in that room. We jumped around like lunatics as my voice blared. A few people joined us. I forget all about Connor and his sneaky heart pulling ways. For a while. It helped a lot that Hayden was wearing a tight black fitted shirt that showed off all his physique. He was a little more ripped than Connor. I kinda like that. But then a slower song started playing. Hayden raised an eyebrow and I shook my head, moving toward the back porch.
The lights were on outside, but only a few people littered the porch, smoking and huddled together to keep warm. Even in L.A., January was cold. I leaned against the rail and took a deep breath of the icy air.
Hayden walked up next to me and dug a box of cigarettes out of his pocket. “I never would have figured you’d be one to mope about a guy. Little Miss Cool.”
I snatched the cigarette out of his mouth after he lit it, taking a long drag. “Shut up.”
“Just saying.” He lit another cigarette and turned around, leaning his back against the rail so he could look at me. “Wanna talk about it?”
“He almost got me, Hay. Almost.” I shook my head. “Never again.”
“Almost got you? You mean, you almost fell for him, or what?”
I laughed sarcastically. “Oh, I fell. I fell hard. He almost got me to give it up. He almost had me convinced that I’d be happier with him than with my music.” I shook my head. “I was so stupid.”
“It’s not stupid to fall in love, babe. Now, giving up your career, that’s another thing.” He studied me carefully. “Why’d you think you had to give it up?”
“He’s on tour in Europe. He wanted me to come with him. Take a year off and follow him around like some freaking groupie.” I laughed and took another drag. “Fucking pathetic.”
“That he wanted you around or that you were almost willing to go?” Hayden asked me, his green diamond eyes burning into mine. I could feel his eyes licking me in all the right places.
“Both,” I snapped. “Can you imagine if I’d gone with him? I would have missed out on the best year of my career.”
“But you missed out on something else,” he countered.
I glared at him. “Change the subject.” Hayden had intelligence as well as a gorgeous ass. It was what I wanted. But he was taking it too far. I would never let another man get close to me. No matter if they stormed the hot charts above and beyond.
A crooked smile grew on his face. “You’re kind of cute when you get all worked up.”
“You don’t want to see me all worked up, Hayden. Trust me.” I sighed, then finished off my cigarette and flicked it into the grass. I was just getting to the point where I didn’t think of Connor all the damn time, but then he had to show up with his cum-worthy accent and deadly eyes and bulging veiny arms… “Dammit!” I hit the railing with my fist.
He didn’t seem surprised by my outburst. His smile did widen, though. “I love a fiery woman.” He leaned in closer. His breath was on my neck and his hand was low on my waist. My sex instantly woke up. “Are you close to giving in to my charm yet, Angel?”
I smiled at the goose bumps that spread down my arm. Maybe I wasn’t as hopelessly into Connor as I thought. “It’s gonna take more work than that, Hayden.”
He chuckled quietly, still close to my ear. “How much more?” His voice had a way of reaching through my skin and I could feel it in every inch of my molecules.
“A…lot more,” I answered, trying to be strong. My deep, quiet voice gave me away.
He spun me around and trapped me against the railing. “I think you’re lying.” I was a sucker for a dominant man.
I bit my bottom lip, looking up into those bright green eyes. “Prove it.”
His smile widened and he leaned forward, his dimples making me want to do very naughty things to him. His lips crashed into mine. It was hard and passionate. I felt myself molding into him. I could definitely get used to getting kissed just like this.
My arms wound around his sturdy neck and my hands went straight to his messy hair. I rubbed his leg with mine, smiling under his kiss when his hand found my thigh through the slit of my dress. I yelped quietly as my sex began to tingle.
His tongue plunged into my mouth and I stifled a moan. In a matter of seconds, I was hot and bothered. My mind was just trying to figure out how to get him up to my bedroom without causing a stir. I wanted him. Now.
A flash of light brought me back to reality. I cursed and pulled back, turning my head in the opposite direction and dragging Hayden back into the house. “Johnny!” I called as I made it inside.
Johnny’s head poked around, eyes curious. “Something wrong?”
I was furious. “Paparazzi in the back yard. What the hell?”
His face fell and he moved outside. I stomped up the stairs and stormed into my bedroom, fire searing through my veins. I wasn’t even sure which made me more mad: That someone was sitting in a tree outside my house or that he ruined my amazing make-out session with the hottest man I’d ever laid my eyes on.
I started pacing in the open space between the door and my bed, mumbling and waving my arms around. I heard my door open and close, and turned to yell at whomever was interrupting my private tirade. Hayden was standing there, leaning against the door with a wide smile across his face. It was a perfect picture of man, but I was so angry.
“I hope you’re happy.” I continued my pacing. “Now you’ll be famous, for sure.”
He stood up straight, mood changing quickly. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“I mean, it was a little coincidental, don’t you think?” I turned to him with narrowed eyes. “Did you know there was an asshole photographer out there?”
Rage burned behind his green eyes. Even though I was vexed, his fieriness made him more attracti
ve. “No,” he said through his teeth. “I didn’t kiss you for some publicity stunt, Lucy.”
I scoffed. “Please. You saw a moment of vulnerability and you jumped right on it. Gah!” I waved my arms around. “I’m so fucking stupid!”
He stood there, quietly trying to control his anger. “When you come back down to reality, let me know. Until then, screw you.” He turned away from me.
“Not tonight!� I shouted as he left, slamming the door behind him.
The second the door hit the frame, I deflated. I was lashing out at him. He didn’t deserve it. Of course he hadn’t known. Of course someone would have noticed my party and of course paparazzi would be hanging out at every corner to try and catch a winning shot. I sighed and fell face-first into my bed. So much for enjoying my party. So much for relaxing.
Johnny came in after a few minutes and sat on the bed next to me. “What happened?”
I sat up and took a deep breath, then told him everything. I’d never told him about Connor asking me to follow him around Europe. I thought he’d push me to leave and I didn’t want him to make that decision for me. When I got to the part about Hayden kissing me, he stiffened only slightly.
“Hayden?” he asked quietly. “Never saw that one coming.”
I shrugged. “Me neither. It was a moment of weakness.”
Johnny smiled. “If you say so.” He sighed and pulled me into his lap. “Listen, Lu-Lu, I know you and Connor had something, but don’t get all caught up on it. You’re still young. If you’re doubting yourself, then maybe it was wrong to begin with. When you find that person who’s going to complete you, you’ll know.”
I sighed and nodded into his shoulder. I had managed to get through the entire story without shedding one tear. “Sorry I’m such a drama queen.”
He chuckled. “I would expect nothing less. You deserve a man who’ll treat you like a princess. Now. Let’s go attend to our guests.”
Chapter Five
I got a slow start the next morning. Even the coffee couldn’t perk me. Hayden had left the party after our fight, so I needed to find him and apologize before it turned into a thing. Looking back now, I think I snapped because of Connor. It hurt to think about Connor. Seeing him dragged back a lot of pain I thought had buried. And Hayden had been so sweet… I don’t know, I was confused and messed up at the time. So having the bastard paparazzi over-step my boundaries at that particular moment just pushed me overboard of any logical thinking.
