Packing only took a few minutes since everything she had fit into a small duffel bag and a backpack. As she stripped the bed linens and tossed them into a nearby cart, I reached for her bag, eager to get her out of there.
At the door, she turned back for one last look. Walking back to reach under the cot, she retrieved a foam takeout container and tucked it into her backpack. Then, we headed towards the office. It was time to settle some business with Bryce.
Chapter 6
Anna
Since my encounter with Bryce, I’d felt adrift; disconnected, like I was observing my life play out before me. The memory of his rough hands on me slithered down my spine as I stepped into the motel office. Pops announced that I was leaving, while Jaxon pulled some cash from his wallet and tossed it at Bryce. I numbly watched it all unfold.
Beverly was fuming, but when Tanisha joined us and also quit, effective immediately, her composure completely snapped. She screeched and yelled until Jaxon suggested solving her housekeeping problem by teaching Bryce to keep his hands to himself. That set off a whole new round of theatrics, and we could still hear her yelling at her husband from the parking lot.
I hugged Tanisha, mumbling my thanks for her friendship.
“That man does not look like an ogre,” she teased. “Good luck with everything, and call me if this doesn’t work out.” She gave Jaxon a stern look. “Take good care of her.” A nod was his only response.
Getting into the van, the reality of the situation hit me like a splash of cold water. “Where are we going?”
“How about we get some lunch and talk,” Jaxon suggested, in a friendlier tone than I had ever heard from him. It was velvety soft as he spoke to me, a stark contrast from last night.
“Where do you suggest?” Eli asked.
As a precaution, I directed them to Waves. Attraction and fantasies aside, I didn’t know anything about these guys, and my emotions were pretty raw, so I needed the comfort of someplace familiar. Besides, Rocco knew I was a hard worker. Maybe he could recommend me to another motel owner or someone with an extra room.
“Anna! You’re early today,” Rocco said, meeting us at the hostess stand.
“I brought some new friends for lunch.” I forced a smile, deciding to speak with him privately after we ate.
“Please, sit wherever you like.”
The restaurant was about halfway filled, leaving plenty of seating options. I automatically took a table by the side window, beckoned by the rays of sunshine to fight off the chill from the air conditioning. Jaxon sat beside me, the heat radiating from him quickly eclipsing any warmth from the window.
“You must come here a lot,” Eli said, passing out the menus from the condiment rack.
“I work here most nights.” They already knew the basics of my situation. Of course, I’d left out the reason I’d been stranded in the first place. I chose to keep that little detail and a bit of dignity to myself. “They’re a bit shorthanded, so Rocco lets me fill in. I had just finished last night and was walking back to the motel when I saw Pops’ accident.”
Jaxon went rigid beside me, making me wonder what I’d said to make him mad again. It seemed like I could anger him by simply breathing.
As Rocco took our orders, it felt strange to sit still and be waited on. Filled with nervous energy, either the after-effects of my encounter with Bryce or my proximity to Jaxon and his intoxicating scent, I offered to get our drinks. Rocco refused.
“Relax,” he said, then looked at the guys. “This girl never stops working.”
As he walked away, I hid my jittery hands in my lap. “How do you feel?” I asked Pops.
“Like I got hit by a car,” he deadpanned. Seeing my flinch, he softened his tone. “I’m sore, but I’ll be okay. Which is the reason why we came by today. I wanted to thank you again.”
I shook my head and fidgeted with my napkin, uncomfortable with the attention. “You didn’t need to do that. I’m glad I could help.”
“Still, thank you. The time I spent at the hospital is kind of a blur, so I want you to know how grateful I am.”
“You’re very welcome,” I said as graciously as I could, anxious to change the subject. “Thank you, all of you, for helping with Bryce.” Steeling my spine, I continued. “I promise I’ll pay you back as soon as I can.” Jaxon had already accused me of trying to steal from Pops, so I was even more determined to prove myself.
“That isn’t necessary,” Jaxon said.
“It is to me.” Jaxon and I stared each other down, neither willing to give in.
“You don’t know who we are, do you?” Eli asked. He loaded something on his phone to show me as he and Jaxon had some kind of silent argument.
A professionally recorded music video depicted a band on stage. One by one, Jaxon, Eli, and the other three guys from last night filled the screen as I recognized the song. It had come out about two years ago and was a huge hit. Radio stations still played it frequently.
“Wait, you’re Detrimental?” This new information bounced around my head like a pinball while my already overwhelmed brain tried to process it.
“So you have heard of us,” Eli chuckled. “I was beginning to wonder.”
“Of course! I love your music. I just never really paid attention to who was behind it. Sorry if that seems rude.”
I really did enjoy them, especially their older stuff, but didn’t have the time or energy to stalk them on social media or endlessly watch their videos on YouTube. I was sure I had seen clips of their videos on the TVs at the bar, just not enough for me to make the connection. Besides, didn’t rock stars usually have big egos and groupies fawning all over them?
“You guys seem so normal. I never would have guessed you were rock stars.”
“We’ll take that as a compliment,” Eli laughed.
“Do you work for them, Pops?”
“I’m their tour manager. So it means a lot to all of us that you helped me last night.”
“We would be completely lost without him.” Jaxon’s sincerity spoke volumes.
“No wonder you were so worried.”
“I was, but it’s no excuse for my behavior.” He exhaled, turned to face me, and loosely took one of my hands. The contact sent a flood of warmth up my arm to fill my chest. “I owe you a huge apology. I was in an epically shitty mood last night and took it out on you. Sometimes it feels like everyone I meet knows who I am and wants something from me. Or they try to use one of my friends to get to me. I assumed you were doing the same thing, and I’m sorry for misjudging you.”
The apology was so unexpected that I didn’t immediately react. This Jaxon was completely different from the guy I’d first met last night, who had said some truly awful things to me. But then I had gotten a glimpse of this nicer side in Pops’ room and on the drive back to my motel. Was this the real Jaxon? Could his callous words all be chalked up to a bad mood and the stress of the accident?
I wasn’t one to hold a grudge, so I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Plus, a sexy, famous rock star, was humbly asking for my forgiveness for being a jerk. Seriously, who could turn that down? Add in the intensely hypnotic eyes and I couldn’t have denied him anything at that moment if I tried.
“I accept your apology.”
“Thank you.” His shoulders relaxed as he released a long sigh.
The timely arrival of our food officially ended the conversation and my discomfort at being the center of everyone’s attention. Sadly, it also ended the warm tingles in my hand when Jaxon released it. Rubbing my hands together, I intentionally focused on the soup I’d ordered, sticking with one of the cheapest items on the menu. Out of habit, I tucked the packets of crackers into my backpack which I’d hung on the back of my chair. The knowledge that I still had limited funds, nowhere to go, and no way to get back home washed over me like a tsunami of uncertainty, but I was determined to keep my nerves in check long enough to get through lunch.
“So you guys are here for the music festival?”
“Yes,” Jaxon said. “We’re the final act tomorrow night.”
While he spoke, Eli slid a portion of his club sandwich in front of me. “I won’t eat it all, and you need more than soup.”
“Thanks,” I mumbled, grateful for his thoughtfulness. “Where do you go next?”
Pops answered that question. “We leave after the show, driving straight through to Maine to start the next leg of the tour. We’ll spend six weeks covering the northeastern US.”
“You need to get back to Chicago, right?” Jaxon asked.
I nodded as Rocco brought complimentary dessert for everyone. I was full but couldn’t turn down the strawberry cheesecake that he set in front of me. Savoring every bite, the conversation around me gradually faded out.
My earlier exhaustion, combined with the adrenaline crash, settled over me, so I rested my head against the window. The small couch in Rocco’s office came to mind, and I wondered if he would let me nap there before my shift tonight. Better yet, maybe I could convince him to let me stay there until I could find a more permanent place.
Bits of conversation filtered past the food coma I was currently experiencing. Pops spoke of being in Chicago in mid-June and needing some extra help. Several text messages were exchanged, and somebody mentioned a junk bunk, whatever that was. It wasn’t until they got quiet and were looking at me that I realized they had asked me a question.
“What?” I asked, blinking back into consciousness.
Jaxon had an amused smile on his face. “How do you feel about a six-week-long scenic trip to Chicago?”
Standing in the entry of the most beautiful house I’d ever seen had me convinced I must be dreaming. This day was too unbelievable to be real. I’d woken up in a storage closet and was now standing in a million-dollar beachfront home. In less than twenty-four hours, I’d befriended rock stars, who helped eliminate Bryce’s threats and my obligation to him. On top of that, my money and travel problems had been solved too. Pops needed some extra help while he recovered, and the band was short an assistant. Until we arrived in Chicago, the job was officially mine.
Holy hell’s bells. I was going on tour with Detrimental.
It had all happened so fast that the details were just sinking in. My lodging and meals were all covered along with a free ride home. That had been more than enough for me to accept their offer, even if I’d had another viable option. Then, Jaxon had insisted that I receive the very generous salary that came with the position. So in addition to getting to travel with a famous rock band, I would make enough money to repay Jaxon, get caught up on my rent, pay off my tuition, and still have money saved by the time I got back home.
I wanted to find Karma and kiss her square on the mouth.
Instead, I settled for giving Rocco a big hug, thanking him for everything, and letting him know that I wouldn’t be back.
Feeling a hundred pounds lighter, I followed the guys farther into the house. Jaxon set my bag at the base of the staircase, so I dropped my backpack there too. The entryway led to the great room, which had wall-to-wall windows, filling the space with natural light and a breathtaking view of the ocean. The whole lower level was open with a kitchen off to the right. From there, sliding doors opened to a large deck and swimming pool. The interior was white and sky blue, with subtle beach accents. It was classy without making me afraid to touch anything.
While I took it all in, the woman I’d seen last night came running towards Jaxon, throwing herself into his arms. A flare of unreasonable jealousy burned in my gut as she kissed him on the cheek and professed her love for him.
“Calm down, Callie,” Jaxon laughed, Eli and Pops joining him. His arms tightened around her with an affectionate squeeze as his face filled with a loving smile. It was a really good look on him.
“I think she’s happy that we finally hired someone,” Pops said.
She eased out of his embrace but left one arm around his waist. I forced a neutral expression as she rested her head on his chest.
“You have no idea how excited I am,” she told me. “Not only will I have less work to manage, but there will finally be another girl on the bus.”
I hadn’t thought about the bus details, but clearly, I hadn’t considered a lot of things. Like whether or not Jaxon had a girlfriend. Looking at the situation objectively; it was for the best. Jaxon was taken, preventing me from another distraction, no matter how tempting he was. I could remain focused on my job, my classes, and getting home. Perfect.
“I’m Callie, Jaxon’s sister.”
Well, hello Distraction. Nice of you to stop by again so soon.
I nearly stumbled when Callie threw her arms around me, though it was more from utter shock than any real strength on her part. She was a few inches shorter than me, with dark hair and hazel eyes. Her smile lit up her whole face when she assured me that we were going to be best friends. Her sweet, open personality made it impossible not to like her. Especially now that I knew the nature of her relationship with Jaxon.
“Come on,” Callie said. “Let’s officially introduce you to everyone else.” She led the way to the rest of the guys, who were sprawled out among the sectional and chairs in the great room.
Eli had shown me the video at lunch, but that paled in comparison with seeing them in person. Yes, I had met them at the hospital, but it had been so brief that I hadn’t quite gotten everyone’s names. Plus, I’d had no idea who they were. Now, one by one, they stood to introduce themselves.
Shawn was the most wholesome of the bunch. He was Jaxon’s height but was clean-shaven and had dirty blonde hair. It was the kind of hairstyle that looked like he’d just rolled out of bed when he probably spent more time on it than I ever had on mine. Wearing a blue polo shirt and khaki shorts, he looked almost preppy.
“Welcome,” he said, shaking my hand.
Derek was the most muscular of the group and reminded me of a warrior. He had chestnut brown hair with an undercut and man bun that matched his short beard, both of which had dark auburn tones in them. He was also the tallest of the group making him a bit daunting.
“It’s good to have you here,” he said with a soft smile, pulling me in for a hug as I offered to shake his hand. So just a big teddy bear.
Lance was the wild card. “Anna, the angel!” He picked me up and spun me around, soundly kissing me on the cheek as he welcomed me to the group. By far, he had the most visible tattoos, both arms covered in full sleeves, and his eyebrow was pierced. I learned that he was Derek’s brother, which explained their similar coloring, though Lance’s hair was shorter, with a fauxhawk and bleached tips. He was also leaner than Derek.
“Thank you all for having me.”
“Let me show you to our room.” Callie hooked an arm through mine and led the way.
It was a bit like being swept away by a rip current. I glanced back at Jaxon, who was watching me intently. Our eyes held for a heated moment before he turned back to speak with Shawn.
Grabbing my belongings, I followed Callie upstairs. “I hope you don’t mind sharing a room with me, but I have an extra bed. It’s either that or the sofa, and I figured you would appreciate a little privacy for tonight. Starting tomorrow night, we’re back on the bus, where privacy will be non-existent.”
We reached a bedroom with two twin beds in it. “Are you sure? I don’t want to invade your space.”
“Honestly, it’s no problem. I’m just happy they finally hired someone and that you’re a girl. I was beginning to think that we would never find anyone.”
Her excitement was contagious, and I found myself smiling back at her. “I can’t believe you didn’t have people lined up around the block trying to get the job.”
“Oh, we had dozens of applicants, but not many made it past the screening process. Most of the women, and a few men, just wanted to sleep with my brother or one of the other guys. A few were in unknown bands and brought their demos to the initial interviews hoping for a record deal. One woman even worked for a nation
al magazine and was trying to write an insider story on the band.”
“Wow,” I shook my head in total disbelief.
“Yeah, it’s hard. Everybody seems to want something.”
Jaxon’s reaction last night began to make more sense. Not that I condoned his behavior, but I better understood where it had come from. It also made me more determined to prove that I wasn’t like that. I already owed him money, which would bother me incessantly until I was able to pay him back. In the meantime, I would work my ass off to earn my keep. And I would ignore the tingly feeling I got whenever he was near.
Besides needing to avoid the distraction, the rules had changed. Jaxon was a rich and famous rock god. On top of that, he was technically my boss now, making him off-limits in more ways than my sleep-deprived mind could count. I knew my place. And no matter how hard I worked to better myself, I would never fit into his world as anything more than an employee. My head knew it. My body would just have to catch up.
Chapter 7
Jaxon
A happy squeal followed by a splash of water had me turning away from the friends I was talking with to look towards the pool. All of the other faces and party sounds faded as Anna’s head emerged, a huge smile covering her face. Eli and Lance stood laughing at the edge of the pool. No doubt Lance had thrown her in. To retaliate, she sprayed water at them, but it quickly backfired when they cannonballed into the pool, creating a tidal wave that submerged her again. She sputtered and continued to laugh wildly. It was a truly beautiful sound and seeing her so carefree warmed my heart.
Detrimental was hosting our crew, along with the guys from Borrowing Trouble and their crew. It was the perfect opportunity to get to know each other and kick off the next few months of touring together. But, despite the dozens of people in attendance, my mind remained acutely aware of Anna, tracking her movements and making sure she was fitting in and having fun.
Changing the Key: A Detrimental Rock Star Romance (Book 1) Page 6
