Changing the Key: A Detrimental Rock Star Romance (Book 1)

by April Michelle

  “I can see how you got your name,” I told her. She paused with a curious look on her face. “You’re like a busy bee, never staying in one spot long.”

  Mama Bee threw her head back and laughed heartily. “It actually came from the boys all calling me Mama Abby, but over the years, it started to run together and morphed into Mama Bee. I think I like your story better though.” She grinned at me and continued gathering ingredients.

  Watching her move around the kitchen with such ease was mesmerizing. Cooking was a true labor of love for her; a way to show she cared. The sauce was already simmering, and Mama Bee was about to start on the meatballs. No recipes in sight.

  I only knew the most basic cooking skills. Having a limited grocery budget meant most of my meals came from a box or a can. Home-cooked meals were a luxury. And while I could whip up a simple breakfast and follow the directions on a package, I had never learned any family recipes. I would have no idea how to cook Jaxon’s favorite foods.

  “Will you teach me?” Embarrassment warred with longing, but I refused to let it win.

  “Oh, honey. I would love to teach you.” Compassion laced her words and the reassuring squeeze to my hand put me at ease. “I barely knew how to boil water when I married Vince”.

  “Really?” It was hard to picture the woman in front of me being anything other than capable.

  “It’s the truth, and you should never feel embarrassed for not knowing how to do something. There’s always more to learn, and everyone has something they can teach you. Goodness knows my students are always teaching me new things, especially when it comes to technology.”

  Mama Bee was one of the most kind-hearted women I had ever met. The only other one that came to mind was Miss Molly, and though she was no longer in my life, she had made a lasting impression. Picturing the future ahead of me, I hoped that Mama Bee would be in my life for many years to come.

  “Thank you,” I said, giving her a spontaneous hug that surprised us both.

  Discreetly wiping a tear from my eye, I released her. And then I learned to make meatballs.

  Sunday morning, after another walk around the lake, I could no longer ignore the worn-out state of my sneakers. Jaxon happily insisted that we drive to the mall in Charlotte. After trying on several pairs, I was debating between two that I liked when Jaxon grabbed both of them and headed for the register. Sputtering in protest while putting away the rejected shoes and sliding my sandals back on, I was too late to stop him. Marching up with every intention of telling him off, he crushed his lips to mine. It was an effective way to shut me up for sure, and within minutes I had nearly forgotten what I was going to say.

  “Baby, before you yell at me, I need you to understand something.” His hand stroked the side of my face as his eyes locked onto mine. “You’ve been taking care of yourself your whole life, and your independence is one of the sexiest things about you. I know, with one hundred percent certainty, that you are not with me because of my fame or my money, and I love you even more for that. But it makes me feel good to take care of you and buy you things. Please, let me.”

  It was hard to argue with him when he was being so damn sincere. Instead, I nodded and tried my best to be gracious by just saying, “Thank you.”

  As we browsed the mall, I hesitated to show much interest for fear that he would start buying everything I touched. He was always offering to pay for things, knowing that I hated spending my money. But old habits were hard to break. Money had been tight for so long that it was ingrained in me to seek out the cheapest item on a menu, buy whatever brand cost less, and save for a rainy day. For the first time in my life, I had a nice cushion in my bank account, which felt great. But with my future still in limbo, I was hesitant to spend any more than necessary.

  Several stores later, we struck a deal. Jaxon promised to restrain himself if I tried some things on. Honestly, it had been so long since I’d gotten clothes from anywhere besides a thrift store that I was curious to try out some newer styles. As expected, there were hits and misses. But true to his word, Jaxon let me experiment, only insisting on buying one pair of jeans that he claimed made my ass look especially hot and a matching underwear set that he argued was more for him.

  “You’re the only woman I know of who comes to the mall and doesn’t want everything in sight.”

  “For me, shopping is about what I need, not what I want. But don’t worry. I’ll splurge when I find something that makes me really happy,”

  Halting in front of a department store mannequin, I was riveted. It wore the perfect black, pinstriped pantsuit. The wide, pointed collar screamed with attitude while the tailored waist kept it feminine. Everything about it called to me.

  “Try it,” Jaxon whispered into my ear.

  “I don’t even have a job yet.” In fact, I had only heard back from one company, informing me that they had filled the position but would keep my application on file for future reference.

  “So wear it to interviews. You’ll look and feel like a total badass.”

  He was right. Taking in every angle from the dressing room mirrors, it fit like it had been made for me. Paired with a white silk blouse, it was exactly what I wanted. And it was on sale. Walking out to model it for Jaxon, I felt his eyes travel the length of my body.

  “You have to get it,” he said, as he wrapped an arm around my waist from behind. I could feel his arousal against me and arched my lower back, eliciting a moan from him. “After I help you take it off.”

  Sneaking into the fitting room, he placed each item back on its hanger then lifted me to press my back against the fitting room wall. Clothing was shoved away, his fingers dug into my ass cheeks, kisses bruised my lips, and his hips pounded against mine. We came simultaneously, gripping tightly to each other and gasping for air.

  “I love you so much,” he rasped, his voice choked with emotion. I ran my fingers through his hair as he bowed his head to rest it on my shoulder.

  “I love you more.” My legs drifted to the floor as he eased out of me, and I could feel his release run down the inside of my thighs before he wiped it away with his boxer briefs.

  Tossing the dirty underwear into the bag with the shoe boxes, he got dressed with a smirk that told me he knew exactly how going commando would affect me. Then his eyes caught the reflection of my bare ass in the mirror. Expecting his usual leer, I turned to see what was causing his brow to crease.

  “Are you alright?” Feather-soft caresses traced the reddened fingerprints on my skin. His face filled with regret as he knelt down to kiss each mark.

  “I’m fine,” I assured him as he finished soothing my skin. Urging him to stand, I laced my fingers behind his neck and pulled his face to mine. “Never hold back when it comes to loving me. I want all of you.”

  “All that I am and all that I have is yours. Always remember that.”

  “I will. I love you.”

  “I love you more.”

  “Good morning, birthday girl,” Jaxon whispered. The bed dipped beside me as he began to strum a guitar and sing “Happy Birthday”.

  Blinking against the sunlight streaming across the bed, I was greeted by a plate of chocolate chip pancakes, complete with whipped cream and sprinkles, resting on the bedside table. Candles shaped like the numbers two and six flickered on top, pulling a smile from my lips.

  Birthdays had never been much to get excited about growing up. Besides the year I spent with Miss Molly, they had never been very memorable. As an adult, Megan and I had always been too broke to do anything more extravagant than going out for dinner or a few drinks. But looking past Jaxon, to the presents piled on the bed and dresser, my heart burst with joy. Not from the material items, but by the love each present represented.

  “Make a wish,” Jaxon encouraged, setting aside the guitar.

  “I already have you,” I purred, stretching up to nuzzle his neck.

  “And you always will.”

  But he would be leaving soon to go back on tour. My eyes
burned and my chest ached as I thought of saying goodbye. So I squeezed my eyes tight and wished for a way for us to remain together while we both got to chase our dreams. With a deep breath, I regained my composure and blew out the candles.

  Holding the plate in one hand and a present in the other, he tipped them like a balance scale. “Now for the real test. Food or presents first?”

  “Hmmmm. Tough call. How about we alternate? I can open them while I chew.”

  “Clever girl,” he laughed and stopped me as I reached for his discarded t-shirt. “No getting dressed yet.”

  Handing me the first box, the number of gifts registered. “This is a lot of presents.”

  “I couldn’t decide on one, so I got twenty-six. There’s one for each year that I’ve missed.”

  This. Man. With hearts in my eyes, I opened the box to reveal a matching bra and panty set, which he helped me into. With a mouth full of pancakes, I unwrapped a sundress and a pair of sandals to put on. He then decorated me with silver heart-shaped earrings, a matching bracelet with heart-shaped links, and a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant. More food was followed by several boxes of clothes. Jaxon had obviously been paying attention at the mall because everything fit perfectly. Jeans, shorts, and a variety of tops along with a new bikini and cover-up provided enough to replace my entire existing wardrobe. I was especially fond of the set of panties with bananas printed on them.

  Next came a new suitcase and a set of pink mugs for my tea. Stuffed, I set the empty plate aside and the gifts continued. Raspberry-filled dark chocolate squares joined the pile along with a new iPhone and glittery pink phone case. The brand-new laptop and glittery pink case that matched my phone were completely over the top, and the pink leather laptop bag with a matching lunch box nearly had me in tears. But it was the final gift, a seemingly innocent, rectangular box that pushed me over the edge. Pulling back the lid, a shiny acrylic nameplate caught the light. It was just as I had described Miss Molly’s, only this one had my name with the words Public Relations Specialist under it. A sob broke free as I threw myself into his arms. It was all too much.

  He held me like I was the most precious thing in the world. And that’s when I knew. The security I had been searching for my whole life was right there in his arms. Watching him ride away was not an option, even temporarily. The only way I could be happy was to postpone my job search until the end of the tour. They still needed an assistant and a publicist, and I could always find ways to help different cities when we visited them. Just like I did for the food bank in New York. I had a wealth of resources and influence at my disposal. It was time that I used them.

  Wanting it to be a surprise, I held off on telling Jaxon about my decision. I simply wanted to enjoy my special day with my special man. With the weight of my job hunt suddenly lifted from my shoulders, a laugh broke free and I rained kisses all over his face. “Thank you,” I said. “It’s too much, but I love every single thing.”

  “This is just the beginning.”

  And it was. My afternoon was spent getting pedicures with Mama Bee and Callie at the local salon. Little did I know that it was a diversion for the guys to decorate the pool area and backyard for their traditional birthday cookout and bonfire. I arrived home to find the wall of glass doors in the pool room opened wide to connect it with the patio. Music was playing, and several crew members and their families were already mingling.

  Jaxon was the first to welcome me back and led me into the nearby bathroom where my new bikini and cover-up waited for me. Papa V and Pops manned the grill as I made my way over to them for hugs. Then, I was passed around until I had greeted everyone. It was nice to meet several of the crew members’ wives and kids and spend time swimming, eating, dancing, and just enjoying everyone’s company.

  Long after the sun went down, the candles were lit on a beautiful lemon raspberry cake before a very enthusiastic group sang “Happy Birthday”. As I blew out the candles, repeating my earlier wish, Jaxon passed me a stack of cards.

  “Instead of presents, everyone made a donation to the Chicago Food Bank in your name. Each card contains a donation receipt.”

  I looked up at the crowd, quietly watching me. “Thank you,” I managed to say around the lump in my throat. “This means more to me than you will ever know. I’m so lucky to be a part of this family and appreciate everyone being here. I love you all.”

  “We love you too!” Lance shouted as he cranked up Pitbull’s “Don’t Stop the Party”, saving me from further blubbering.

  As the hour grew late and the party guests left, I stretched out on top of a lounge chair. I was under strict orders not to help clean up, and it was physically painful to sit still while everyone else worked. To distract myself, I uploaded several pictures from the party along with a heartfelt post thanking everyone again for their generosity.

  Scrolling through dozens of birthday posts, I almost forgot to check the notification for a new message. Having already spoken with Megan earlier, I was curious to see who it was and nearly dropped the phone when I saw the sender’s name. It was from Molly Hanson. Miss Molly had sent me a message. My hands shook as I opened it.

  Dear Anna,

  I’m not sure if you remember, but you stayed with me when you were younger. I have thought of you often over the years, especially on your birthday. I loved you dearly, and my heart broke when you had to leave me. A few times a year, I’ve searched for you and cannot tell you how happy it made me to find you today. You have grown into a beautiful young woman, and I am relieved to find you doing so well. I would really enjoy hearing from you if you are interested in reconnecting.

  Happy Birthday!

  Love,

  Molly

  She loved me. She hadn’t forgotten about me. Frantically wiping the moisture from my eyes, I ran towards the kitchen. The guys were all helping with dishes, but Lance was the first one I aimed for. Barreling into him, I gripped him in a crushing hug.

  “Thank you,” I cried, repeatedly, barely catching my breath. An important piece of my childhood had been restored, and I would always have Lance to thank for that. Without his encouragement, I might never have heard from her and known how much she cared.

  And that I had mattered to someone.

  Chapter 25

  Jaxon

  Anna’s birthday had been a perfect day. Unfortunately, the day that followed was complete and utter shit.

  I woke to an empty bed, and after calling Anna’s name and getting no response, I stumbled into the kitchen to find a note. Not wanting to wake me, she had gone to the lodge to get some work done. Crumpling up the note, I tossed it aside like a petulant child. Miserable, knowing that we only had a few days left before I had to go back on tour, it rankled that Anna didn’t seem as bothered by the idea.

  Cranky and in need of caffeine, I made coffee only to find that I had used the last of the creamer yesterday. Putting on the first pair of shorts and shirt I came across, I stomped down the porch steps, mug in hand.

  Callie stared out the window as I entered the back door of the kitchen. “Good morning,” I said, pulling her from her trance. Her eyes were red and puffy as though she’d been crying. “You okay?”

  “Fine,” Callie mumbled, staring into her coffee cup.

  Looking to Eli for any clues, he just shook his head as he loaded the dishwasher.

  Grabbing the creamer container and a muffin, I settled beside her. “Whose ass do I need to kick?”

  “Mine.” A humorless laugh huffed from her chest.

  “What can I do?” I hated seeing my normally perky, smiling sister looking so down.

  “Nothing. I screwed up and now I have to fix it.” She gave me a sad smile before sliding out of her chair to leave.

  Once she was gone, I turned back to Eli. “What do you know about that?”

  “Something must have happened with Derek, though she wouldn’t tell me anything either. I saw them dancing together at the party last night and they were having a good time. They
left together after the clean-up, but that was the last time I saw them.”

  If it was anyone else, I would have been preparing for a fight. But I knew Derek would never intentionally hurt Callie. For all I knew, he was just as upset over the situation. Rubbing a hand over my face, I reluctantly decided to give them the space to work it out. Unless they came to me for help, there was nothing I could do.

  Lance’s voice, singing along with the upbeat pop hit that was flowing through his earbuds, announced his arrival. While that let everyone know that he was bringing sexy back, he opened the refrigerator to grab a drink. Glancing between me and Eli, he picked up on the tension in the room.

  “Sorry to ruin your morning, but I figured you’d want to know,” Lance said, pulling the earbuds free.

  “Know what?” I asked, getting a sinking feeling.

  “I sent you the link to an article.”

  “Fuck. What now?” I checked my phone and sure enough, I had missed his message. Opening the link, my gut churned as I read a bullshit article about me cheating on Anna.

  “I’ll post some of the pictures from the party to counter this nonsense,” Lance offered. “Anna might have some other ideas, and several fans have already posted comments defending you. They’re team #Jaxanna and don’t seem to buy into this garbage.”

  “Have either of you seen Anna?”

  “She’s in the office. Looked like she was on a video call with Molly,” Lance offered. “There was more crying, so I left as fast as I could.”

  Lance’s reaction to being on the receiving end of her emotional outburst last night had been comical. Standing stiffly in her arms, he had finally reached out a tentative hand to pat her back like he was handling a bomb. Anna continued to thank Lance for his part in reuniting her with Molly, and once her tears were gone, his discomfort had eventually faded and they shared a few drinks to celebrate.