You Shook Me All Night Long

by Simone Harlow

  Proud of herself, Charlotte grinned. “I still can’t believe it.”

  “This will be the social event of the year.”

  “I have to start getting the word out. I am going to get a lot of press on this. When I talked to her, she thought it might make a great video. I was thinking of maybe doing just a CD, but with video we might even land a TV deal. I’ve been discussing things with her agent.”

  “This could be sensational. She hasn’t performed live in almost ten years.”

  “She’s flying into the city and she wants to meet all of the Young Singers and the Youth Symphony. She wants to perform with them.”

  “Where are you putting her up at?”

  “The restoration at the Rousseau Plantation finished last month. I’m going to put her up there. If we can do some filming there, we could use it in our advertising and I’m just so excited.”

  “I’m so proud of you.

  Charlotte was stunned. Her mother was not a great believer in praise. Charlotte was thrilled she could do something that her mother acknowledged. She found herself smiling. “I knew you’d be excited.”

  “When can I meet her?”

  “Mother, I believe you are star truck.”

  She giggled. “Of course not.”

  “You are more than welcome to come to airport with me.”

  “I couldn’t.”

  “Of course you can.” She almost laughed at herself for being so blasé about meeting such a celebrity. Travis was making her jaded.

  “Are you … sure?” Her mother seemed to flounder for words.

  “She has to slip her pantyhose on one leg at a time like the rest of us.”

  “Charlotte!”

  “Am I wrong?”

  “Since you put it like that.”

  “Eat up before you faint.”

  She pushed her plate away. “We should go.”

  Charlotte raised her hand for the check, she was too nervous to eat any way. “Good idea. I don’t want to be late.” Her mother smiled, and for the first time in a long time, Charlotte was relaxed in her company. Maybe they had come to some sort of agreement and there would be peace. Maybe she wouldn’t have to feel so guilty about flaunting Travis in her face. Unless she could find a place they could meet on common ground, there would never be a real future for them. She couldn’t choose between the two. It would just tear her apart because she needed Travis in her life.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Travis pushed himself on the gazebo swing as he strummed his guitar. He’d had this battered six-string for twenty years. He learned to play on it. He wrote his first song on it. He’d written about ninety percent of his songs on this guitar. It was more than a tool, it was his talisman. His friend. A breeze brought the scent of wildflowers and spring. Charlotte. He felt himself smile.

  “Am I disturbing you?”

  He turned his head. “Never.”

  She sat down and put her head on his shoulder.

  “You okay?” Travis slipped an arm around her shoulder, liking how natural it felt to do this.

  “I had an interesting lunch with my mother.”

  “She wants to bury the hatchet?” He sounded so hopeful.

  “In your head.”

  Travis smiled. “Ouch. So the opera singer peace offering didn’t work?”

  “Oh she was thrilled, but I still think she’s up to something.”

  “You know, for a nice sweet girl you don’t have a very trusting nature.”

  “I know my mother. She doesn’t admit defeat.”

  That’s what he was afraid of. But the irony of the situation was that Charlotte had the same quality, she was just nicer about it. He needed to change the subject. “You know my mom is going to be in town in a couple of days.”

  “I’m excited to meet her.” Charlotte snuggled closer to him.

  He was nervous about his mom meeting Charlotte. Not because she wouldn’t approve. He knew five seconds after she met Charlotte, his mom would be picking out flowers for the wedding and that didn’t bother him. “She is chomping at the bit.”

  “Hasn’t she met your other girlfriends?”

  “There hasn’t been a girlfriend in a long time.”

  Charlotte stared at him. “What is wrong with the women in L.A.?”

  They weren’t you. “Not a thing. I haven’t had a steady in a long time.”

  “Why is that? You have a lot to offer a woman.”

  “Haven’t found one that held my interest for…” He stopped before admitting he was a man whore. “This is awkward, talking about it with you.”

  She patted his knee. “Do you think I’m judging you?”

  “No, but I haven’t wanted to be boyfriend material, so I don’t look for women who are girlfriend material.”

  She kissed his cheek. “Do you know how special that makes me feel?”

  “Not a clue.” He really didn’t.

  “Does it make me sound bad if I say I’m glad you haven’t had a steady girlfriend in a long time?”

  His Charlotte was ever the diplomat. “I’m choosing to take it positively.”

  “Good.”

  “Are we going to introduce my mom to your mother?”

  Charlotte made a face. “No, I want her to think positively about me.”

  “She’s going to love you.” Of this, he had no doubt.

  “How long is she staying?”

  “She can only stay a few days. She wants to start renovating the office space she is renting.”

  “It must be exciting for her to be embarking on a new career.”

  “She told me she hasn’t been able to sleep since she found the office space.”

  “She’ll settle down. When I took over the foundation, I didn’t sleep for three months. I was bursting with ideas.”

  He was really proud of her. “Now you run it like a well-oiled machine.”

  “I found my calling.”

  “We are lucky we get to do what we love.”

  “Speaking of which, how is the song writing going?”

  He thought about it. It was not going as fast as usual, but he wanted to take time to explore this new side of his writing. “Harder than usual, but it’s coming along.”

  Crossing her legs, she gave him this cute pleading look. “So when do I get to hear some of your songs?”

  He raised his eyebrow. “I thought you weren’t a fan.”

  She stuck out her bottom lip. “I’m a fan of you and I’m your official muse. Besides, you have been wonderful about indulging me. You went to a family wedding for me, did the bachelor auction, got me the best opera singer in the world to perform at my benefit, and you are escorting me to the opera--”

  Travis held up his hand. “I’m not escorting you, I’m your date. I think you’re the one who told me there is a difference.”

  She smiled. “Look at you! You listen to me and you even remember what I say.”

  His knees went weak. Thank God he was sitting or he would fall at her feet like some dumbstruck fool. “I’m good like that.”

  “Yes, you have been very good like that.”

  “What’s that look about?”

  “I have two things left on my list.”

  He took a deep breath. As if he could forget. “I know.”

  She lifted their entwined hands to her mouth and kissed his hand. “How do you feel about it?”

  So he had to choose her next adventure. Yippy. “I will be there when you are ready to get back on a horse. I may not be able to watch, but I will be there.”

  “That’s not the activity I was talking about.”

  That’s what he thought. “Yeah, I figured that, but I had to try.”

  “How do you feel about me sleeping with someone else?”

  Travis picked his words carefully. “That is a complicated question.”

  “Not really.”

  Oh fuck me, he thought. “I was dodging.”

  “So am I.”

  “What are we going to d
o?”

  He wanted her to tell him she could skip it, but that wasn’t the rules. She had to finish. “This is your journey, what do you want to do?”

  “I don’t want anything to come between us.”

  He knew if he said he didn’t want her to do it she wouldn’t, but he didn’t want there to be any regrets between them. Regret was too powerful an emotion to fuck with. “But you are curious and you feel like you have to take this step.”

  “How do you know?” She bit her bottom lip.

  Only Charlotte could make perplexed sexy. “Because it’s been circling around in my head.”

  “If you were me, who would you pick.”

  “With the exception of Vaughn, I’ve shared women with all the guys.”

  “How did you go about it?”

  He shrugged. That was his best answer. “Groupies got fantasies.”

  “And you’ve indulged them?”

  He rubbed his forehead. “I’m not supposed to be ashamed of this type of behavior. I’m a rock star and I’m supposed to get what I want guilt-free. Every time.”

  Charlotte laughed. “Oh, Declan, you silly man.”

  God, he did sound like that. Shit, that was bad. “I can’t believe that came out of my mouth.”

  “I’ll pretend I didn’t hear it.” She shook her head.

  That’s why I like you he thought. “Thank you.”

  “You haven’t answered my question: who would you pick for me?”

  No fucking one. Just me. “Does it have to be someone in the band?”

  “No, but I do know them, and I am comfortable with them.”

  “Gavin.”

  She studied him for a second. “Why him?”

  “Vaughn isn’t touching you. I don’t even like the way he looks at you.”

  She made a face. “I don’t like him either.”

  “Shane plays with your brother and sister in law, that’s really out of my comfort zone.” And that was saying a lot.

  She nodded. “Mine too.”

  “Malcolm would get too emotionally involved.”

  “How do you know?”

  “He really likes nice girls and you are a nice girl.”

  She smiled at that. “And Declan?”

  “Way too competitive.” Travis dragged hand through his hair. “He’d have to go all trick style on you and I can’t have that.”

  Her lips pursed. She was thinking. “What is trick style?”

  “He would make it his life’s mission to be so good, you’d forget about me and want him. Then he could dump you after that.”

  She laughed and shook her head. “Declan and his multitude of issues.”

  That man earned every one of them, so he could let it slide. “He keeps them under control. But he is a good guy, most of the time.”

  “So why Gavin?”

  Travis shrugged. Gavin didn’t have agenda. He was all about the party. “He’s a party boy. He would keep it on a professional level. He’s just in it for the fun of it all.”

  “Gwyn did give me her blessing. She said Gavin is all about a girl’s business.”

  Travis laughed. “That sounds like Gwyn.”

  “Is that a slang term for my vagina?”

  “I’m guessing, yes.”

  “So when do we want to do this?”

  Travis shrugged, he wasn’t in any hurry. He had to stop himself from saying three years from now. But he didn’t think she’d appreciate it. So he didn’t.

  “I think we should get to it, before I chicken out.”

  “You don’t have to do this.”

  “I really am curious.”

  She sounded so matter of fact. It was almost scary, like she wanted to do some chemistry experiment to see if she could blow something up. “What fascinates you about it?”

  “Two beautiful men whose only job is to pleasure me. It’s very heady.”

  “What can I say?” To make you stop this.

  “Have you been with two women?”

  “Yes.” He wanted to lie to her, but he didn’t.

  “And?”

  “Great, but nowhere near as awesome as being alone with you.”

  She slanted a glance at him, not looking convinced. “You smooth talker.”

  She rocked him down to his socks. “Maybe, but I’m not a liar.”

  “I didn’t think that you were lying, but …”

  Yeah, ya did. “But what?”

  “I’m still relatively inexperienced compared to you.”

  He ran his finger over her full bottom lip. “Don’t sell yourself short. You make my eyes roll back in my head.”

  “Really?”

  He liked that she still blushed. “The only reason I’m grateful for all my experience is that I can bring you a lot of pleasure.”

  Her flush deepened. “I’m just glad I stand out in your sea of women.”

  She had no clue about her own appeal. How did he get this lucky? “Half of a groupie’s good time is being with a rock star. For them, that is the fantasy, not sleeping with me. They don’t even know me.”

  Her lips quirked. “I have only one regret. I wish we had met differently. There’s a part of me that still feels guilty for taking advantage of you.”

  “You have more than made up for it.”

  “If you say so.”

  He stood up. “Let’s go find Gavin.”

  “Do you want to do this here?”

  He held out his hand to her to help her up. “Is that a problem?”

  “Everyone will know,” she whispered.

  That cat was so out of the bag it wasn’t even funny. “Everyone already knows, but we can go get a hotel room.”

  She took his hand and stood. “I know it sounds weird, but I don’t want to do it in the bed that I sleep in with you.”

  He smiled glad to know that their bedroom was special. “A hotel it is.”

  “The mansion has private rooms. I still have the pass.”

  Maybe if he insisted on staying here, she’d change her mind. But he didn’t want to seem like he was controlling her. “Would that make you comfortable?”

  “I think it would.”

  “We’ll just have Gavin put on long pants so no one will recognize us.”

  She laughed. “Then let’s go.”

  They found Gavin and they took the band’s limo to the mansion. When they got inside, they put on masks until they got to the private room. Charlotte couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but Gavin seemed a bit off today. He kept staring at them and his face would take on this strange expression. “Are you alright, Gavin?”

  “I’m fine.”

  “You don’t seem fine.”

  He looked like he was ready to burst out of skin. “Are you alright with this, Charlotte?”

  Well she was nervous, but she was a bit excited. She never really noticed how handsome Gavin was with his shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. His long lean body was boyishly sexy. Hmm, that was interesting. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “’Cause.” Gavin couldn’t even look at her.

  She took a deep breath. He seemed nervous. “Gavin, that’s not an answer.”

  Travis put his hand on his shoulder. “Dude, you don’t have to do this.”

  “Yeah, I do.”

  Maybe he didn’t find her attractive after all? “No, we can find someone else.”

  Gavin still couldn’t meet her eyes. “I don’t want you to have to go to a stranger.”

  “Maybe a stranger would be easier.”

  “Charlotte, I’m cool.” He pointed to the bed. “Let’s just get on with it.”

  He didn’t sound as excited she believed he should be. This was beginning to worry her. “Do you not want to sleep with me?”

  Gavin blew out a long breath. “That’s kind of a loaded question.”

  How strange, she thought. “No it’s not.” Charlotte led him to the bed and they sat. “Gavin, sweetie, you are doing me a favor helping me, but if you don’t want to sleep with me becau
se you don’t find me attractive, I’m not going to hold it against you.”

  Gavin turned those sweet puppy dog eyes on her. “You’re beautiful.”

  Travis sat down next to him. “It’s not like we haven’t done this before.”

  Gavin pulled his hand away from her. “Yeah I know, but …”

  “But what?” Travis asked.

  He shifted between the two of them. “It’s different now.”

  Charlotte felt like she was consoling him. If he’d changed his mind, she’d understand. Did he think that they were going to force him to perform? “Why?”

  “’Cause well, it’s …”

  Charlotte patted his hand. “It’s okay, sweetie, use your words.”

  Gavin just rolled his eyes and looked at Travis, but said nothing.

  “Dude we aren’t here to judge.”

  Gavin squirmed in between them. “But you guys are… you know…”

  Charlotte had no idea what he was talking about. “I have no idea.”

  Gavin jumped up from the bed. “’Cause how you feel about each other.”

  Travis glanced at Charlotte and she shrugged. “I’m lost, dude.”

  Gavin pointed at them. “You two are in love and it would just be wrong.”

  Charlotte’s mouth dropped open.

  “What?” Travis asked.

  Gavin turned his back on them. “Travis, you love Charlotte.”

  “Umm…” Well, at least that sound came out of her mouth

  “Don’t sweat it. She loves you, too.”

  Travis turned to her. “Charlotte?”

  Her heart raced. She loved him so much she hurt. Who was she kidding? She was lost the moment he touched her. “Yes, Travis?”

  “Do you love me?”

  “I do.” She bit her bottom lip. “Do you?”

  Travis smile. “Ah, yeah.”

  She liked the way he said it, like it was just natural he would love her.

  Gavin held out his hands. “See! Bad mojo! I can’t even get wood. My dick will probably fall off if I come between this shit.”

  They found Gavin and they took the band’s limo to the mansion. When they got inside, they put on masks until they got to the private room. Charlotte couldn’t quite put her finger on it, but Gavin seemed a bit off today. He kept staring at them and his face would take on this strange expression. “Are you alright, Gavin?”