I suppress a giggle. “No, that’s not why I’m calling. I wanted to ask you when your gig starts.”
“Eleven. Why?”
“Because I’m coming to see you,” I reply, amused by his obvious bafflement.
“I thought you were on a dinner date … ”.
“I’m bringing him along. So eleven at Dizzles?”
“Yeah.”
“Awesome. See you there.”
“Bye.” Draven hangs up, and I look at Linden. “The gig starts at eleven. That means we still have about two hours before we should head out.”
“Great, so we still have time to have dinner, which should be ready now anyway. Grab your glass and follow me.”
Taking my glass, I rise and follow Linden through the house as he says, “I hope Mrs. Atkins has everything ready.”
A middle-aged woman is waiting in the kitchen. “Mr. Priest, I was just about to call you,” she says.
“We were faster I guess. May I introduce you to Miss Leroux?”
The woman offers me a warm smile. “Nice to meet you, Miss Leroux.”
“Nice to meet you, too.” Wow, he has actual servants. That isn’t something I’d have expected from a guy my age.
“The table is set, Mr. Priest,” Mrs. Atkins says.
“In the dining room?”
“Yes, everything is the way you wanted it.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Atkins.” Linden walks through the kitchen, and I follow him through an open archway.
The dining room is completely modern, and the walls are full of framed paintings. “Did you paint all of these, too?” I ask curiously.
“Yeah. My mother had them hung in here,” he answers calmly, waiting behind my chair until I’m seated.
“Thank you, Linden.”
He sits down next to me, at the head of the table, and looks at me again. “I didn’t know what you liked, so I decided on pasta Alfredo. Is that okay?”
I nod, smiling. “Absolutely. I just hope I don’t mess up my dress with this sauce.”
“Should we get you a bib?”
I laugh out loud. “No, thanks. I think I can just about manage.”
***
By the time Mrs. Atkins clears the table, we’re back to our first conversation topic: music.
“No way!” he blurts out when I tell him that I once went to a casting call for American Idol.
“Yep.” I giggle. “But it was hard, and I was anxious, so I totally embarrassed myself. No wonder I didn’t get called back.”
“When was that?”
“Oh, a few years ago.”
“Did they show your audition on TV?”
“Fortunately, they didn’t. And don’t waste your time checking the internet, because my dad made sure the videos I was in were taken down.”
“Aw, crap! I would have loved to see that. And hear you, of course.”
“You would have been scarred for life,” I joke.
“I don’t believe that for a second, but you don’t want to prove it to me.” Linden grins, looking a little mischievous. It suits him.
“Here’s a suggestion,” I say.
He cocks his head to one side and looks at me with eager anticipation. “Yes?”
“If we have another date, I’ll sing for you, but only if you promise not to laugh or judge my voice.”
“Deal!” Linden holds out his hand, and I shake it, grinning. Because I’m convinced this will be our first and only date. Wait, did I say date? Uh-oh. “But you have to promise me we will have another date,” he adds. Uh-oh indeed.
“If your schedule allows it.” I shrug.
“It’s pretty empty right now since the doctor prescribed rest.”
“Then we shouldn’t go to Draven’s gig.”
“Yes, we should. I’d really like to hear him.”
I sigh and shake my head. “Men! You’re all insane, you know that? Instead of taking that much needed rest, you want to go out and party.”
Linden laughs and strokes my hand, which makes me realize he hasn’t let go yet. “I’m young, and I enjoy the life I have. Is that so bad?”
“No. Just a little suicidal,” I counter with a smirk.
“Nonsense. I’m not bedridden. I was in the hospital for a few days, and now I want to have some fun. This is the first time in over a year that I have some time to myself, even if it is a forced break.”
I lean back and study him. Linden is really handsome. His blond hair is styled in an upward sweep. I don’t want to know how much wax was necessary to achieve that effect. His turquoise eyes shine when he talks, and his lips have that sensual curve that is almost feminine. My gaze is lured back to those lips repeatedly. I like to listen to him, because his voice is like velvet.
“So is pop music really your heart’s desire, or did the record company tell you that’s what you needed to do to become famous?” I suddenly blurt out.
He sighs and leans back as well. “The latter, I’m afraid,” he confides. “We used to play rock, but our manager told us we’d get further if we started out with catchy pop songs. He said all the teen girls would fall in love with us, and later they would still like us even if we slowly changed our style. Sometimes I think it’s a trap.”
“So you aren’t comfortable with that?” I probe.
“Not really, no. But my friends outvoted me, so I hopped on the bandwagon, you might say.”
“Craptastic.”
Linden nods. “You might say that, too. But we’ll get back to our roots someday.” He takes another sip of his Coke. “Am I mistaken, or was your hair a lot shorter when we met?” he suddenly asks.
“You’re not mistaken. I got extensions,” I admit.
“The long hair suits you.”
“Thanks.”
He glances at his watch and then looks at me again. “If we want to be at the club on time, we need to get going soon.”
“Okay.” I rise and grab my handbag. “Are you going to drive, or do you want everyone to see you coming in that big fat limo?”
“I’m driving … no, wait. My hand … You’re driving. My car is in the garage.”
“Cool.”
We leave the dining room, and I follow Linden out to the massive garage. Two sports cars and an old Jeep are parked there. Although I’d have bet Linden would choose one of his fancy cars, he pats the roof of the Jeep lovingly. “My very first car,” he says proudly.
“Are we taking that?” I ask with a smile.
“Yes.” He throws me the keys, and I catch them. Then I walk around to the driver’s side and get in behind the wheel. Linden sits in the passenger seat. “Oh, I forgot to mention: This isn’t an automatic.”
“I can drive a stick shift.” I smirk, knowing that most guys think all women are barely able to drive an automatic.
“Oh. Great. I’ve never met a woman who can handle a stick shift.”
“You just haven’t met the right women,” I counter quickly and start the engine.
The Jeep practically shoots out of the garage. Fortunately, the automatic door was already open, otherwise I totally would have crashed into it.
“Sweet Jesus. I’m really not suicidal, I swear.” Linden laughs and holds on to the door handle.
“Enjoy the life you have! Enjoy the thrill of life!” I belt out, entering the street with screeching tires. Other drivers are honking behind me, but I don’t care.
“That’s not the thrill of life—that’s adrenaline overkill!” he yells, just as I bring the Jeep to an abrupt stop at an intersection.
“Okay. I’ll go more slowly from now on,” I promise.
“Thank you,” he pants.
The street ahead is clear, so I make a left turn. I try to stay within the speed limit, so Linden won’t have a heart attack. He’s breathing more evenly again, which is a relief. Maybe he just isn’t very tough. I can live with that … right? I sure don’t like a sissy boy, but I saw the doctor take care of his injured hand, and he didn’t even flinch. Sedated, maybe?
/>
“Your driving style reminds me a lot of Alexis’s. He races through town like he’s king of the road,” Linden comments dryly.
“Don’t we want to reach our destination quickly?”
He chuckles. “Not if that means we might end up wrapped around a lamp post or something.”
“We won’t. I mean, okay, I’m a fast driver, but I only pull stunts like that when the road is clear,” I explain with a soothing smile.
Linden nods and then looks at me. “Would be great if you could keep your eyes on the street from now on.” He points at the windshield.
I do as he says, focusing on the road ahead. “Don’t you trust me?”
“I don’t know you enough for that,” he says.
“Oh, but you got in my car in the middle of the night,” I tease.
He laughs softly. “Yeah, but this time it’s my car.”
“Lame repartee, Mr. Priest. I’m sure you could do better.”
“Oh, I could, Miss Leroux, but I don’t feel like it right now.”
“That’s a pity, Mr. Priest.” I giggle.
“I don’t quite agree, Miss Leroux, but I’d prefer it if we could skip the Fifty Shades of Grey talk. I feel dumb.” He laughs.
I laugh with him. “I’ve never read the books, but it’s interesting that you have.”
“I haven’t. Trish read them, and from time to time she read me some passages.”
And here the evening goes from awesome to craptastic. “Interesting,” I say without conviction.
“She reads a lot of stuff like that.”
I clear my throat and step on the gas, as if that will help me get away from talk about his girlfriend. I really shouldn’t be out with him at all. What will happen if someone sees us and thinks he’s cheating on her with me? That would be horrific.
“I guess I don’t mind her reading them as long as she doesn’t want me to flog her and tie her up,” Linden says.
“They’re just novels, not manuals,” I say.
“True, and some of the things they describe are really interesting.”
“Please spare me the details. I really don’t want to hear about your sex life.”
Linden exhales loudly. “Sorry. Sometimes I forget I shouldn’t open up my entire life for someone I don’t know.”
“It’s okay. Not a problem.” I smile and turn into a parking lot not too far from Dizzles. “Did you bring anything you could use to change your appearance? So people don’t recognize you on the street?”
He opens the glove compartment and pulls out a baseball cap and sunglasses. He puts both on. “How do I look?”
“Like a fool.” I giggle. “But that should do it. It’s dim inside Dizzles, so I think we should be fine as soon as we’re inside.”
Linden nods and gets out. I follow him, and we walk down the sidewalk.
“That’s Linden Priest!” someone yells, and immediately, several people start running toward us.
Linden grabs me by the wrist and pulls me after him, breaking into a run.
“Oh, crap. Is this the time to tell you I’m not athletic at all?” I pant as we run like mad toward the club. Fortunately, I know Bradley, the bouncer, and he realizes quickly that we’re being chased.
“Hey, Thally,” he calls and moves the barrier so we can slip through.
“Hey, Bradley. I owe you one,” I gasp as he moves the barrier back into place behind us.
“Linden,” Bradley acknowledges him with a nod.
“Hi, Bradley,” Linden says.
The bouncer grins at him. “Are they chasing you again?”
“Yeah. Could we go up to the lounge?” he suggests. “For a little more privacy.”
“Sure. I’ll let them know you’re coming upstairs,” Bradley says.
I lift an eyebrow. “I’d rather stay downstairs and plunge right into the crowd.”
Linden and Bradley both look at me. “They’ll storm this place,” Bradley says.
I heave a sigh. “Okay, okay, let’s go to the lounge. But I want to call a few of my friends so they can come, too. Otherwise it’ll be boring.”
“Delsin and the others are inside,” Bradley informs me.
“Oh, good. You go up to the lounge, and I’ll check on my friends and follow you in a few minutes.” I turn to Linden with a wide smile. “Then you can meet them.”
“Sure.” He grins back at me. As we walk inside, we can hear the hysterical squealing of several women behind us. Linden doesn’t react at all, and Bradley tells them he’s not the real deal, just a lookalike who they should leave alone.
We stop at the bottom of the stairs. “I’ll go upstairs and you’ll follow soon?” he verifies.
“Of course. Just give me a few minutes.”
“Okay.”
We split, and I dive headfirst into the crowd. I’d all but forgotten how busy Dizzles can be on the weekends. The student bands tend to draw a lot of people, but even on days without live music, the place is always packed.
While I push my way through the main floor, I look around for my friends. The bass makes my stomach vibrate, and my ears, too.
“Thally?” I hear my name from a distance.
I turn around and spot Avery. I wave at him and squeeze myself between a few dancing patrons to reach him. “Hey. Where are the others?” I ask loudly.
“Back there at our usual table.”
I lean closer to tell him, “Linden and I were sent up to the lounge. Do you want to come along?”
“Sure. Better than being squashed down here,” he says enthusiastically.
“Then let’s go get the others.”
Ave shoves his two bottles of beer into one hand, grabs my hand with the other, and steers me through the droves of people. After what feels like an eternity, we reach the table where our friends are hanging out. Kelsey, Sky, Blake, and Nathaniel are there, too.
“Hey, y’all!” I yell excitedly. “Let’s go up to the lounge! Private party tonight, and a lot of space just for us!”
Delsin grins. “All hail the savior!” He takes Cami’s hand and pulls her with him through the room. Avery and Dahlia follow them quickly, and then the rest trudge behind.
Nathaniel lets them all pass, before he looks at me and says, “We’re the last. Want a piggyback ride?”
“Ooh, yes,” I giggle, and he’s already crouching down in front of me. I hop on his back and wrap my legs around his waist. He starts marching, and we quickly reach the stairs. “You can set me down now,” I say.
But he doesn’t. He carries me up the stairs, and when we reach the top, someone tugs at the back of my dress. “Nice underwear, Leroux,” Delsin laughs. “Ouch,” he adds only a second later.
“Don’t you stare at my best friend’s ass,” Camille scolds him.
I throw a glance over my shoulder. Cami pulls down my skirt, which obviously hitched up on the way. “Thanks.” I grimace.
“You’re welcome. I’ll hold it down so this pervert can’t enjoy the view.” She grins.
When we reach the lounge, Nathaniel finally sets me down. Linden looks at the gang with a skeptical expression. “Hello, everyone.”
When everyone is inside, I close the door. “So. This is Camille, Delsin, Avery, Dahlia.” I point at each of them as I say their names. When I’ve been through everybody, they all greet Linden and find places to sit or stand.
I sit on one of the sofas, and Cami plops down next to me. “He’s even hotter than in the pictures I found on Google the other day,” she whispers.
“Yeah, and he’s very much taken, don’t you forget that,” I say under my breath.
“What’s wrong with being friends?” She shrugs.
“Nothing,” I agree, “but I don’t expect us to see each other again after tonight.” I can sense that Linden is staring at me, but I don’t look at him.
“The way he’s looking at you, I’d say he wants more than friendship,” Cami murmurs into my ear.
“What are you whispering about?” Dale want
s to know. She sits down on the other side of me.
“Linden Priest,” I whisper.
“Oh God! He’s so hot. I can’t believe we’re sitting here with a real pop star,” she squeals and then blushes, because Delsin laughs out loud.
“Girls!” He guffaws, and Avery joins in his laughter. It doesn’t take long until the men are talking, probably making fun of us. At least that’s what it looks like.
The music is still loud up here, but it’s at least possible to talk without having to scream at the top of one’s lungs.
“Do you want anything to drink?” Sky calls to the rest of us, pointing at a waitress making her way over to us.
I order a glass of water, while most of the men choose beer and other alcoholic drinks. The girls stick to sodas, and so does Linden. The fact that he doesn’t drink is definitely a plus, I think.
I mean, sometimes I like to have a drink or two, but not when I know I have to drive. So water it is tonight.
“Would you like to dance?” Linden asks, leaning across the armrest to make himself heard.
“Uh … ” I stammer.
“What? Yes or no?”
“Of course she would,” Cami says in my stead.
Linden takes my hand and pulls me up from the sofa. “You can’t dance to this kind of music,” I protest.
“You can dance to any kind of music,” Cami squeaks behind me.
I sigh, feeling somewhat lost. All my friends are staring at us as we walk over to the center of the room and Linden puts his hands on my waist. I swallow. Okay, you can do this. You know how to dance, I tell myself in mounting desperation. And you’re confident, so don’t give them a reason to laugh at you now.
The song is way too fast to slow-dance to, but I let Linden lead the way. I throw a helpless glance at Camille, but she merely grins at me and draws a heart in the air with her finger.
I frown at her and shake my head a little, but the heart she’s drawing now is even larger than the first one. And Dahlia has joined her.
“Could you at least focus on me while we’re dancing?” Linden murmurs.
I look up at him. “I’m sorry.”
His eyes seem to bore right into mine, and again, his irises give the illusion of a sparkle. The color is incredibly beautiful, virtually dazzling. “It’s okay, but I’d prefer a quieter spot right now.”
Linden: Rocking Pleasure: New Adult College Romance (Coral Gables Series Book 3) Page 9
