by D'Ann Lindun
“A break wouldn’t hurt. And we can finish this tomorrow.”
“Why not.” Maura stood and smiled at Andrea. “I’d love to borrow your suit, if you’re sure it’s okay?”
“Absolutely. Come with me.”
Together, they went inside the mansion.
~*~
The men stood together and watched the women walk away.
Erik turned toward Stoney. “Damn, man. Hot chick. Nailed her yet?”
For some reason, the question irked Stoney, although he might’ve asked his friend the same if their roles were reversed. “Shut up.”
Erik didn’t take offense and punched Stoney in the arm. “She’s hot. If I weren’t so into Andrea, I might be tempted.”
“It’s just about the music, man.” Stoney didn’t want to examine the feelings Maura brought up in him—shit he’d thought long buried.
“That’s what I told myself, too. Then I went and fell for the girl.” Erik grinned like only a man in love can.
“I gotta get a suit.” Stoney ran to the pool house and grabbed his shorts. He changed in a flash. He never figured Erik, or any of his other friends, for settling down. It seemed like they all had caught some love bug. He wasn’t about to expose himself to that particular disease. He liked Maura, was attracted to her, but anything more than songs and sex was off the table.
He grabbed a clean towel and left the pool house and his thoughts behind. Erik had already hit the pool, busy doing laps. Stoney slid into the cool water, and sat on the bottom step. His attention was caught by the girls walking toward him. Although Andrea was gorgeous, he couldn’t stop staring at Maura.
She’d piled her mass of dark hair on top of her head, leaving her slender, pale neck exposed. He had never wanted to lay his mouth on a part of a woman’s anatomy so bad in his life. Until his gaze slid down, to her tits and his mouth watered. The borrowed suit was about a size too small, barely covering her nipples. How did such a tiny woman carry around such a great rack?
Stoney shifted. Damn, his loose swim shorts were getting too snug in the crotch. A half-dressed woman hadn’t given him a hard-on since forever. Women used every asset they had to get a rock star’s attention and wearing next to nothing was one of their top ploys. He’d seen it all—big fake tits, little tiny ones and everything in between—but the sweet pair belonging to this woman were making him hard.
He dropped his hooded gaze further. A diamond bellybutton ring. Why wasn’t he surprised? The chick was a jewelry magnet. She even wore a tiny gold chain around her left ankle. He ached to run his finger under it. His cock twitched.
He plunged into the pool to cool off before he embarrassed himself. The clear, cold water did the trick and his dick shrunk. Water splashed behind him and he flipped directions to see who had dived in.
Maura.
She swam at a furious pace from one end of the pool to the other. Her hair had come loose and floated around her like an inky shroud. Again, Stoney just stared. This woman must be a witch the way she was mesmerizing him.
She finally surfaced, shoving wet strands of hair out of her face. She saw him staring and smiled. “That felt good.”
He could think of a whole lotta other shit that would feel good, too, but stayed silent. He knew she didn’t appreciate his dirty mind.
“What?” She covered her breasts with her hands.
“Don’t.” He gently took her hands and held them. “You look amazing.”
“Really? I’m kind of a mess at the moment.”
Generally, he hated women who begged for compliments, but he sensed she was sincere. “No, you aren’t. You’re gorgeous.”
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“Welcome.” He led her to a private corner of the U-shaped pool and sat on the bench along the wall. He pulled her until she straddled him. He held her slim waist, aching to pull her tight against his cock.
She placed her palms on his chest, not pushing away, but not allowing him to pull her snug either. “You said you didn’t want to be in the pool with Erik and Andrea if they made out. So, if we did that would be a little hypocritical.”
“Little good it did, too.” He looked over her shoulder. “They’re going at it like rabbits down on the other end.” He chuckled at her horrified look. “Kissing, Maura. They’re not screwing. Yet.”
“Have you done that before?” She cocked her head and studied him like a bug under a microscope.
“What?” he pretended not to understand her. “Kiss? A few times.”
“Fuck in a pool with your friends close by.”
Her blunt words and tone shocked him speechless. Finally, he found his tongue. “Maybe once or twice.” Revulsion crossed her face and he instantly regretted his honesty. “Haven’t you?”
She wrinkled her pert nose. “Not hardly.”
“You’re pure as the driven snow and all that?” He didn’t know why he was baiting her. Maybe because he liked the way her nose turned up, or the way she pursed her mouth. “Or have you ever regretted something in the morning sun?”
Something indefinable flashed in her blue eyes and she pushed away from him. “I have to go.”
“Wait.” He grabbed for her, but she evaded him, swam to the steps and climbed out. She marched to the chair where she’d hung her towel and wrapped it around her waist like a shield.
He caught up to her as she was stuffing papers into her guitar case. “Let’s finish tomorrow, okay?”
When she looked up, tears glistened in her blue eyes. “The music? Or getting in my panties?”
Both.
Wisely, he held the smart-ass comment to himself. “The song.”
“I’ll see. I might be busy.” She snapped the case shut with a firm click and waved to Andrea. “Thank you for the loan. I’ll return it tomorrow.” Andrea gave her a thumbs-up, then waved.
“Does that mean you’re coming back?” he pressed. Damn. Every time his mouth ran away with him, this chick flipped out. Still, he wanted to see her again.
“I’ll let you know.” Without a backward glance, she stomped inside presumably to change before leaving.
Stoney flopped onto the deck chair and ran his hands through his hair. What had he done this time? She was as hot and cold as any woman he’d ever met. One thing was certain—she wasn’t the kind of girl he was used to—impressed by his job. She wasn’t easy and she wasn’t into games. He grinned. A refreshing change from Nicole and women of her ilk.
~*~
Maura didn’t know why she was so upset. Stoney hadn’t said anything so outrageous that she couldn’t deal with it. No, she was angry with herself. His words had brought back a lot of painful memories she’d rather forget.
From the time she’d been in the seventh grade, she’d crushed on Adam Pelletier. Much to the amusement of most of BMHS student body, she’d chased him like a coyote after a rabbit. Trouble was, he’d been in love with Eden Jamieson as long as Maura desired him.
His devotion to another girl hadn’t mattered. Maura was convinced if he just gave her a chance, he’d change his mind.
The culmination of her crush had happened last spring, when she’d been singing at The Waterfall. Adam had come in alone and approached her. Over the moon at his attention, she’d been all-too-eager to go home with him.
As her mind played over that night, her hands on the steering wheel tightened. They’d been on the couch, petting heavily, about to make love when he called out his estranged wife’s name.
The humiliation had been almost too much to bear. None of her foolish stunts all those years were a drop in the bucket compared to how she felt in that moment.
For the first time since she’d been thirteen, Maura got it. Adam would always and forever be in love with his wife. Maura couldn’t compete with that. She shoved him off her, left and never looked back.
So, while she hadn’t had sex with strangers, her utter humiliation that night was overwhelming.
She’d tried hard to forget the entire incident
.
Dredging it up to share with Stoney was the last thing she cared to do. However, if he asked around, someone would no doubt fill him in, happy to shred her reputation. Eden Pelletier hated her with a burning passion, and so did her many friends and sisters. Any one of them would be happy to exact revenge for her mistake that night.
She wasn’t pure as the driven snow, as Stoney had said, but in her defense, Adam and Eden had been broken up, almost divorced.
Maura doubted Stoney would care about her shady past, but she did. Looking back, she couldn’t believe all the time she’d wasted on an unrequited love. What had been wrong with her for those many years?
She gave her head a little shake.
The truth was she was wildly attracted to Stoney. But what if she made another mistake with her heart? What if she fell for him like she had Adam and he wasn’t into her? Sure, he might want to spend the night with her, maybe the weekend, but what if not more? She wasn’t a one-night stand kind of girl.
The few relationships she’d had since then had ended quickly, mostly because she was too cautious.
With Stoney, she wanted to go full throttle. Not hold back from fear of rejection.
The thought shook her to the core.
She couldn’t go through another soul-jarring occurrence of falling for someone who wouldn’t love her back. No, she had to guard her heart at all costs.
As she pulled into town, she noticed Starla’s car at The Waterfall. Starla had always been a good friend to Maura, even though she was Eden Pelletier’s half-sister. Maybe the other woman could help her sort out her conflicted emotions. With a flick of her wrist, she turned her car into the parking lot.
Although the front door was open, the bar was empty.
“Starla? You here?”
“Maura?”
“Yeah,” she shouted.
“In my office,” Starla called. “Come on back and bring me a Diet Coke, please.”
With a chuckle, Maura poured two cans of pop over ice and carried them to Starla’s office. She found the striking blonde at her desk, bent over a mound of paperwork. Maura handed over the cold drink. “Here. I didn’t know you were so busy…I’ll leave you to it.”
“Stay,” Starla said. “Give me an excuse to stop for a while.” She sipped the drink. “What’s up? You look upset.”
Maura sank into the chair across from Starla. “I could be falling for a rock star.”
Starla laughed. “You and four billion other girls.” At Maura’s frown, she sobered. “Seriously? Who?”
Maura filled her in, then leaned back and crossed her legs, playing with the gold filigree chain around her ankle. “What should I do? I don’t want to get hurt.”
“No one does, honey. But if you don’t take a chance, you’ll never find anyone and that’s a sad way to live, too.”
“True. But Adam wasn’t into me at all and look how long I carried a torch for him. What if I fall in love, I mean for real, and he doesn’t have feelings back?”
“Then you write a heartbreak song that makes you rich and famous, then you move on like the rest of the world has to when things don’t work out.” Starla smiled to take the bite out of her words. “No one goes into a relationship knowing how they will come out on the other side.”
Maura considered Starla’s advice. It was sound, she knew. Could she take a leap of faith and not be so stupid as to get her heart broken again?
Only one way to find out—jump in and find out.
CHAPTER FIVE
Maura sat behind the stage as a makeup artist and hairdresser both worked on her. Her record label had thoughtfully sent them to Black Mountain even though the rodeo wasn’t a big event.
Dillon sat nearby with his booted feet propped on a railing as a reporter asked him questions. His beautiful blonde girlfriend sat next to him, holding his hand. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. Shiloh had already been made up and wore a skintight white leather outfit, complete with ostrich boots. She was gorgeous and nice, although very possessive of her boyfriend.
Maura supposed she couldn’t blame the other woman. Shiloh and Dillon hadn’t been together very long and groupies constantly threw themselves at him. Dillon seemed devoted, though. Maura had never seen him make an inappropriate move, ever. For a couple both involved in the music business, surrounded by constant temptation, they seemed very happy together.
The band and roadies milled around, doing sound checks and making last minute adjustments. Through the throng, she thought she spotted Stoney. What on earth would he be doing here? He’d said he’d come watch her perform, but he’d been just talking…right?
The crowd parted slightly.
Stoney stood there, looking around. He must’ve sensed her gaze on him and he looked up. Their gazes locked. With a small wave, he headed toward her. Maura’s heart pounded wildly and her pulse picked up a dozen notches.
He drew near. “Hey.”
“What are you doing here?” Her voice sounded breathy.
“I told you I might drop by.” He leaned a hip against the railing and raked his hot gaze raked over her black, embroidered corset and tight jeans. The look in his eyes made Maura feel a little dangerous.
“Did you?” She feigned indifference.
He chuckled. “Yeah.”
She motioned toward Dillon and Shiloh. “I think you know these guys, right?”
He nodded at them. “Hey.”
They waved and said ‘hi’ back.
“When are you on?”
“In about ten minutes.” Maura played with one of the many curls the hairstylist had put in her hair. “Why?”
“I want to know when you get offstage.” He crossed his ankles and she noticed he wore a pair of cowboy boots. Her gaze slid up, slowing at the bulge in the crotch of his tight jeans before moving up to a western shirt, untucked.
When her gaze met his again, he grinned and she flushed. “Our set is only about thirty minutes tonight.”
“What are you doing afterwards?” His low, seductive tone sent a shiver through her.
She shrugged one shoulder. “Depends.”
“On” He quirked an eyebrow.
“What you have in mind.” Maura couldn’t believe her bravery, but Starla’s advice rang in her head. Her pulse beat wildly and his gaze locked on her neck. She figured he could see her nerves pounding through her skin.
He leaned forward, close to her ear and she caught a whiff of his cologne, something warm and musky. “You want me to describe what I want to do to you?” He looked over her shoulder at Shiloh and Dillon. “Your friends might be shocked.”
The vee between her legs dampened and she squeezed her legs together to ease the sudden pressure. Damn the man for the effect he had on her. “I doubt it.”
His laughter was loud, making everyone turn their direction. “True.”
“Shut up,” she hissed.
“You started it.”
She had no comeback because he was right. She had, and he was going to finish it. Another shiver raced across her skin.
“You cold?”
Hot, then chilled, from a sudden fever. “No.”
“I can warm you up,” he said. “Guaranteed.”
If just his suggestive words turned her into a quivering mess, what would his body do to hers? She’d probably implode into a pile of gray, powdery ashes. She reached for a bottle of water to avoid replying.
She was playing with fire here.
This man knew the game inside and out. She was an amateur when it came to men. And bad boys like him were so far out of her league it wasn’t even funny. Starla’s advice to give him a go might be sound, but Maura knew she was out of her comfort zone with this guy. She had no idea how to handle someone like him. She was saved by an announcer introducing her and Dillon. “I need to go sing.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Stoney promised.
Maura nodded and stood on wobbly legs. “Okay.”
Dillon, too, had stood and he held out his hand.
They always took the stage that way. Maura ignored Stoney’s glare and the slight frown on Shiloh’s face and took Dillon’s hand. This was only business. He was a nice guy and handsome, too, but he wasn’t her type. Plus, he was involved.
Adam had married.
She flinched at that thought.
She shook off the unpleasant memory and pasted on her best smile. With a deep breath, she glanced at her duet partner. “Ready?”
“You bet. Let’s go.”
The announcer introduced them and the curtain rolled back. Time to shine. Maura put a bounce in her step as she and Dillon stepped forward. She waved with her free hand at the cheering crowd.
With a last glance at Dillon, she let go of his hand and took her microphone. “Hey, everyone! Ready to party?”
The crowd went wild. The band picked up a beat. With a deep breath, Maura began to sing. Since she’d been a child, singing had been her escape. Her way to forget the things that hurt her. This was no different, only she got paid for it now.
She pranced around the stage, bending to smile at a hot cowboy who wouldn’t have given her the time of day pre-fame. She straightened and danced to the other side of the stage. And froze.
Adam and Eden Pelletier stood in the front row. Starla and a cowboy next to them.
Adam smiled, Eden frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.
Maura started. She’d missed a line. At Dillon’s raised brow, she picked it up again. Automatically singing the words, her mind raced. What were they doing here? They had to know she would be performing.
Eden and Shiloh were half-sisters, although not close. Maybe Shiloh had comped her family some tickets.
Forcing her wobbly legs to support her, Maura spun away. She pasted on her best smile and raised her free hand over her head. She closed her eyes and let the music flow over her, swaying with the beat. A movement behind her startled her. Her eyes flew open.
Stoney stood beside her, guitar in hand. He winked at her.
“Welcome the lead guitarist for the Silver Star Band,” Dillon shouted. “Take it over, Stoney.”
As the crowd stomped and clapped, Maura mouthed, “What are you doing here?”
