Aria (Duet Series Book 1)

by Jennifer Hartmann

  "No, I'm in Los Angeles right now. We've got a gig tonight. How about tomorrow?"

  Chelsie blinked. "You can make it back here that fast?"

  "For you? Absolutely."

  Devon certainly wasn't lacking any charisma. “Well, it was good to hear from you again, Devon. Call me tomorrow when you get back in town and we can decide on a place to meet."

  "Sounds like a plan. I'll see you soon."

  Chelsie continued to hold the phone to her ear, well after their goodbyes had been said. She felt paralyzed by the shock of the situation. She pinched her arm to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. Devon Sawyer, lead singer of Freeze Frame, was going to travel across the country in less than twenty-four hours to have coffee with her. With her. Boring and inexperienced Chelsie Combs.

  A surge of dizzy adrenaline coursed through her, and she jumped off the couch and danced around her living room. Misty glared at her in a way only a judgmental cat could pull off. Chelsie’s reservations had been set aside for the time being. She was going to sit back and enjoy the ride.

  When the next day arrived, Chelsie realized that a coffee date was much more nerve-wracking than she had once remembered. They had decided on a quaint café called ‘Luca’s’ in the heart of the city. Chelsie danced her fingertips across the table as she sat waiting for Devon's arrival. The aroma of cappuccino and pastries helped calm her jitters, while her eyes stayed fixed on the main entrance. Checking the time on her phone, Chelsie tapped her foot against the burnt orange tiles. Devon was almost a half-an-hour late.

  Chelsie was about to send him a text, when Devon and his bodyguard breezed in through a side door.

  "Man, I'm so sorry," Devon apologized, maneuvering himself around the tables and approaching her with a sheepish grin. "My flight was delayed and then there were these fans at the airport..."

  "Hey, it's no biggie.” Chelsie smiled broadly as she let her eyes fall over him. "You're a popular guy."

  Devon reached for her hand and placed a chaste kiss against her knuckles. "And you're an incredibly beautiful girl. Have I ever told you that?"

  "You might have let it slip," she grinned. Chelsie felt like she was hypnotized. With any other man, she would have laughed at such a cheesy line. But Devon’s words felt sincere and the look in his eyes was tickling her insides.

  When they were both seated at the table, they ordered their beverages and regarded one another. Chelsie folded her hands in her lap and began chewing on her bottom lip. It was an awful habit. "You know, this was the last thing I expected to do today," she said. "I never thought I'd see you again."

  Devon's gaze was electrifying. "I couldn't let you get away that easily," he smiled. "I felt shitty about what happened that night. I needed to apologize, even if you never agreed to see me again."

  "I should probably apologize, too," Chelsie told him. "I didn't mean to leave in such a hurry. I’m sorry I freaked out.”

  "Hey, it's totally fine. Noah was being an ass. He knows that, and he's sorry."

  Chelsie couldn't hold back her snort of laughter. "Right. I'm sure he's really broken up about it."

  "No, he is. I mean, sure, Noah's kind of a dick sometimes, but he's a good guy. We've known each other since the first grade.”

  Chelsie raised a curious eyebrow and leaned forward on her elbows. "I guess I just don’t understand why he had such a problem with me.”

  "You know, Noah is a mystery, even to me. It's nothing you said or did. He tends to go on the defense when a girl enters the picture that may pose a threat to the band. He's serious about what we do, and he doesn't want a pretty face to jeopardize that," Devon explained.

  Chelsie frowned. “A threat?”

  "Well, he could sense that I liked you. More than just a one-night-stand sort of thing."

  Oh.

  Oh.

  "Oh," Chelsie said.

  Devon ducked his head with a timid smile. "Yeah."

  Chelsie was certain her cheeks were more crimson than her red romper. She was officially under the love spell of Devon Sawyer and there was nothing she could do about it. Before she could speak, a barista came by with two macchiatos and placed them down on tiny, square napkins.

  "So," Devon began. "Tell me about yourself." He brought the coffee to his lips, his eyes still fixated on her over his khaki colored mug.

  Chelsie raised her arm to glance at an invisible watch. "There's only twenty-four hours in a day. You want the cliff-note version?"

  Devon laughed. "We'll start with the easy stuff. Have you always lived in New York?"

  She nodded as she wrapped her hands around her mug. She took a quick sip before continuing. "Born and raised. My parents moved down to Florida to retire, but my home is here."

  "Are you an only child?" he inquired.

  "I am. It’s certainly had its pros and cons."

  "I've got four brothers. Consider yourself lucky."

  Chelsie pursed her lips together in thought. "Sometimes I do, sometimes I don't. It would be nice to have that special bond with someone. I mean, I had friends, but they came and went. Lisa, the redhead you met last week, has known me most of my life.” Chelsie lowered her eyes as a wave of guilt passed through her. “And my parents and I haven’t spoken for a long time.”

  Devon's expression softened. "Do you ever get lonely?"

  Lonely was the perfect word to sum up Chelsie’s life. "Nah," she lied. "My cat keeps me company and my job keeps me busy. I have no complaints." She wondered if Devon could see the wounded girl beneath her cheerful façade. Chelsie wasn't ready to confess how depressing her life truly was.

  "Well, that's good to hear," Devon replied. "As long as you're happy."

  Chelsie was quick to turn the conversation off herself. "What about you?" she asked. "What's it like to be a rock god?"

  He smirked. "I really can't complain. I'm getting paid to do what I love and I'm traveling the world with my best friends. Not to mention… I've discovered quite the compelling, young woman."

  Chelsie dismissed him with a good-natured shake of her head. "Smooth.”

  Devon leaned back in his seat and folded his hands behind his head. "You know, I was hoping to take you and your friends out for drinks tonight. Something fun and casual. Miles and Tad are still in Los Angeles, but Noah’s back in town if you think you can stomach his presence. Maybe we can all get to know each other better."

  Chelsie's grip tightened around her cup. Just the sound of Noah's name made her claws want to come out. "Absolutely," Chelsie said. "That sounds great."

  Devon clapped his hands together and sat up straight in his chair. "Awesome. It's a date then."

  Chelsie smiled brightly. They continued their conversation for the next two hours. They spoke of Devon’s career, his friendship with his band members, and his life before the spotlight. He was an auto mechanic who played Nirvana covers in his garage. Chelsie listened with interest. Devon had a charismatic way of making something as mundane as tire pressure sound exciting. Chelsie, in turn, shared small details of her life in the big city. She shared her hobbies and aspirations, and her dreams of making a difference someday. She had wanted to go back to school to become a guidance counselor, but her rent and bills forced her to work long hours at the lounge. Being a cocktail waitress had not been her life goal. She’d always wanted to help people – not carry around heavy trays of junk food and clean up spilled drinks.

  Devon did not look down on her, nor make her feel ashamed of her hampered ambitions. He reminded her that everyone starts somewhere, and that it’s not where you begin, but where you end up that truly matters. Everyone has the ability to change their path.

  When they left to go their separate ways, Chelsie felt a yearning in the pit of her stomach. She was enamored with Devon Sawyer, and he seemed to reciprocate her feelings. It felt like she was in some kind of alternate reality. As he sauntered out the door with his J. Crew blazer, luxury sunglasses, and endless amounts of modest swagger, Chelsie sighed. It had only been thirty second
s and she already missed his company.

  Later that evening, Julia barged into Chelsie’s apartment and attacked her with a monster hug. Lisa strolled in behind her. "Girl, you are my hero. I can't believe you scored me a date with Noah tonight!” Julia squealed.

  Chelsie steadied her balance as she recovered from the hug. "He's a douche, remember?"

  "Yeah, he's a total douche,” Julia agreed. “But he's fine as hell and I am so getting me some action tonight. Finally!"

  Chelsie cringed at the mental imagery. "Gross. Just keep the jerk away from me, okay?"

  "That will not be a problem.”

  A few hours passed by, and the women were putting the finishing touches on their makeup and wardrobe accessories. When the doorbell buzzed, Chelsie could hear Lisa and Julia giggle in excitement from the bathroom.

  Chelsie ran a nervous hand through her freshly straightened hair and opened the door. She had expected to see some sort of bodyguard or personal assistant, but both Devon and Noah stood before her in the entry way. They were looking more handsome than Chelsie remembered. Devon wore a white, collared shirt with fitted blue jeans and a chain around his neck. Noah was dressed more casually in a snug, black t-shirt with a band logo she didn't recognize. The scent of masculine cologne infiltrated her senses and she stepped back to let them enter.

  "Hey," she greeted. Chelsie flashed a bright smile in Devon’s direction before shifting her gaze to the man on his left. "Hi, Noah.”

  Her tone was noticeably less enthusiastic.

  "Hey, Chelsie," Noah replied.

  She could have sworn he sounded sincere. Chelsie forced a smile onto her face. "You remembered my name.”

  "Did you prefer 'Water Girl'?" he quipped.

  Chelsie noticed a playful gleam in his eyes. She softened.

  "Oh, boys," Julia sang as she strolled out of the bathroom. Her hips sashayed in a way only professional flirts could pull off. "Are you ready for me?" She struck a sexy pose, then ran over to the two men and gave them each a hug.

  Lisa followed behind, looking slightly more intimidated. Chelsie rushed over to her friend and linked an arm in hers. "We're going to have a blast tonight, yeah?"

  Lisa nodded. "Damn straight," she said.

  Devon approached Chelsie and his eyes lit up with prospect. "Long time, no see. You look… unbelievable."

  Chelsie blushed at the compliment. For the first time in years, she did feel sexy tonight. Her white, spaghetti-strap dress was cut right above her knees. Her blonde hair lay perfectly in place over her bare shoulders, and her sparkly heels matched the champagne shimmer in her eyeshadow. Chelsie did not make a habit of dressing up, but she figured the occasion called for a little extra mirror time.

  "You do clean up nice," Noah sniffed, shoving his hands into his pockets.

  Chelsie wasn't expecting the flattery. “Thanks," she replied, then turned her attention back to Devon. "Are we ready to go?"

  "Ready when you are. The limo's outside waiting," Devon said.

  Devon held out his arm to Chelsie and she took it with pride. When the girls spotted the limo, they gasped.

  "This is what I'm talking about!" Julia exclaimed as she jumped inside. Devon slid in next to her, followed by Chelsie, then Noah and Lisa. "Why does Chelsie get to be sandwiched between the two hotties?" Julia pouted. "Some have all the luck."

  Chelsie instinctively scooted herself closer to the hottie on her left. Devon put his arm around her, and she nuzzled in next to him with a fluttering heart.

  As the limo took off, Noah snatched up the bottle of whiskey and took a big swig. "I am ready to be intoxicated," he declared. "Anyone want to join me?" He held the bottle out as an offering, pointing it more specifically in Chelsie's direction.

  Chelsie turned her nose up at the sight of it. "No, thanks.” She waved her hand in refusal. "I actually want to remember tonight."

  Noah shrugged and put the nozzle to his lips. "Suit yourself."

  "Hey, let's play ‘I've Never’!" Julia suggested. She grabbed a handful of beers and passed them down the row. "It's a great way to break the ice."

  "You've never what?" Chelsie wondered. She crinkled her nose with confusion as she tried to twist off her beer cap.

  "Here, let me," Devon offered. “And ‘I've Never’ is a drinking game." He popped off the cap with his teeth and handed the drink back to Chelsie. "One person makes a statement beginning with 'I've never...', and if the other players have done said statement, they have to drink. The statements are generally laced with debauchery."

  "That means you'll be forced to spill all your dirty, little secrets, Chels!" Julia said with a wicked grin. "My money's on Chelsie being drunk first. I bet she's not as innocent as she looks."

  Chelsie froze in panic. Her dirty, little secrets did not need to be addressed in the backseat of a limo with two superstars. Julia knew little about Chelsie's relationship history – all she knew was that Ian was a jerk. As much as Chelsie adored her friend, Julia was the queen of gossip and Chelsie didn't feel comfortable spilling the beans about her very tortured past.

  Lisa, on the contrary, had first-hand knowledge of Chelsie's secrets – which was why her friend was shooting sympathetic glances in her direction.

  "I don't know," Lisa shrugged. "The game sounds kind of childish."

  "Oh, please," Julia argued. "No one's ever too old for drinking games. Chelsie, why don't you go first?"

  Chelsie's clammy hands clutched her beer. She silently begged for it to open into a big, black hole she could crawl into. It did no such thing. Instead, its contents splashed around inside the bottle as the limo drove over dips and bumps. Chelsie took a moment to gather her courage and cleared her throat. "All right, fine," she said. "I've never..." She fidgeted in her seat as she tried to conjure up something sinful. "Okay, I’ve got one. I've never gotten a speeding ticket." Everyone stared at her and Chelsie could feel her cheeks flush. "What? Was that lame?"

  Lisa took a swig. "I've gotten two," she admitted. Devon, Noah, and Julia followed suit.

  "Okay, Chelsie is fired. My turn!" Julia said. "I've never had sex in a public place."

  "That's more like it." Noah offered a mischievous grin and leaned over to clink Julia's drink with his own. "Cheers." He gulped down a swig and Devon joined him.

  Julia took a sip as well. "Just kidding," she laughed.

  Chelsie slunk down in her seat, embarrassed. Devon gave her a reassuring squeeze.

  "I'll go," Lisa announced. She sat up straight and her eyes twinkled. "I've never had a threesome."

  "Boring," Julia dismissed, taking an extra big swig. Noah followed.

  To everyone's surprise, Chelsie took a sip.

  Noah choked and sputtered on his beer. "Are you serious?" He gazed at her with a stunned curiosity. Julia also looked astounded.

  "My ex was very persuasive," Chelsie explained with an ominous tone. She didn't go into further detail. "Who's next?"

  "Shit, I'll go," Noah said. "I've never been pregnant."

  The group laughed and nobody drank.

  "I've never done hard drugs,” Devon said.

  Noah drank.

  "I've never cheated," Lisa stated.

  Julia drank, then said, "I've never been in love."

  Chelsie and Noah drank.

  Chelsie raised an eyebrow to the man on her right. "You? In love?" She was incredulous with her query, as if he'd just announced he was a nuclear physicist at NASA. She acknowledged the rudeness of her implication and softened the blow. "I mean, you just don't seem like the romantic type."

  Or tried to, anyway.

  Noah scoffed at her. "Love ain't always rainbows and roses, sweetheart." He chugged down the rest of his beer with vigor and tossed the empty bottle in the trash. "And, what, you don't think I look loveable?"

  Chelsie pretended to think hard about the question. "You probably don't want me to answer that."

  "Touché," he said flatly.

  "Noah is just a big, giant teddy bear," Devo
n said, reaching behind Chelsie and smacking his friend on the back. "Aren't you, Hayes?"

  Noah looked less than amused. "I've never killed anyone," he muttered, reaching for another beer. "Yet."

  Laughter filled the limo. Chelsie noticed Noah was not sharing in the mirth, and she wondered if she'd hit a nerve with her comment about love. It was true, though – she couldn't picture Noah in love with another human being. He was crude, arrogant, and hostile. Chelsie didn't understand how Devon could be friends with someone like Noah.

  As the limo pulled up to the bar, Chelsie glanced up at Devon. Her heart was pounding at the thought of being Devon Sawyer’s date for the evening. Her eyes shifted to Noah, who was nursing another beer, his foot tapping against the floor of the limo. Chelsie squinted her eyes. She recognized something – she knew that look. Noah had the look of a man with a broken heart.

  4 Chapter Four

  Noah Hayes trailed behind the group as they entered the bar through the back entrance. He sucked on his cigarette and blew the smoke out into the early spring air. His eyes assessed the three women in front of him, landing on the blonde-haired nuisance who'd stolen his bandmate's heart. Chelsie was a beautiful girl – she must have known this fact, as it was apparent to anyone who had eyes. Yet, she carried herself in a modest, humble way with troves of nervous energy and mysterious secrets hiding behind her pretty features. Noah decided that what she lacked in confidence, she made up for in fire and sass. He couldn’t believe it when the petite waitress had come at him with her defenses up, looking for a fight. The girl had been burned before. He recognized a broken heart when he saw one. And Noah, being the asshole that he was, had no problem playing into her insecurities.

  When he'd first laid eyes on her, Noah was convinced she was another bubble-headed fangirl who was pissing herself with joy from being on stage with them. He'd been surprised to find that Chelsie was an intelligent, hard-headed woman who'd merely fallen under the love spell of his lusted after lead singer. Devon had a way with the ladies. Noah had seen plenty come and go, never to be heard from again.

  This time was different. This time there was a light in Devon's eyes Noah hadn't seen before. This girl was getting to him and Noah didn’t like it. Freeze Frame was the priority in Noah's eyes, and he'd be damned if a woman got in the way of that.