Once Upon A Rock Star

by Yessi Smith

  Once Upon A Rock Star

  Copyright © 2017 by J.L. Berg, Kathy Coopmans, Molly Mc Adams, Erin Noelle, Jessica Prince, Yessi Smith, Rachel Van Dyken, Jennifer Van Wyk and Kristin Vayden.

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  This book is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations and incidents are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, things, living or dead, locales or events is entirely coincidental.

  Cover Design by Dana Leah of Designs by Dana

  Photographer: Eric David Battershell

  Models: Tessi Conquest & Burton Hughes

  Formatting by Jill Sava, Love Affair With Fiction

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  A Note From…

  About Once Upon A Rock Star

  The Realtor and the Rock Star

  Also by J.L. Berg

  About The Author

  The Right Direction

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Also by Kathy Coopmans

  About The Author

  Rebel

  Maxon

  Libby

  Maxon

  Libby

  Maxon

  Libby

  Also by Molly McAdams

  About The Author

  Rocking the Racer

  Also by Erin Noelle

  About The Author

  Play Me

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Other books by Jessica

  About the Author

  Find Jessica at

  What About Us?

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Also by Yessi Smith

  About the Author

  The Song

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Also By Rachel Van Dyken

  About The Author

  To Feel Loved

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  About the Author

  Cardinal Sins

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue

  Other books by Kristin Vayden:

  About The Author

  Acknowledgements

  For Jill...

  you kick our asses every day and we couldn't love you more for it

  A Note From…

  One of the best things about the book community being what it is today is that we build relationships with fellow authors, readers, bloggers, all around bad-ass individuals who help us learn and grow and become not only better authors from their incredible advice but also simply better people.

  Each of the contributing authors have been touched by one special person in a way that has changed our lives for the better. Jill Sava is as beautiful as she is brave. Her character, her personality and sense of humor, her very presence is greater than anyone we know. She is the kind of friend that encourages us to do better, that celebrates the good and sits with us in times of darkness.

  Many of you may know her. If you do, I imagine you’re nodding your head as you read this. If you know her, then you know why we wanted to come together for this anthology to honor one of our greatest friends.

  This foreword is Jill. Her story in her words.

  This has been hard for me to write. I don’t have a hard time talking about, well, much. But the one thing I do have a tough time with is when it comes to talking about me… it makes me a bit squirmy. But I believe strongly in being open about my disease, there is nothing to be ashamed about having an illness. No matter how chronic, how devastating, or how much it may sometimes affect your life, and certainly not out of fear of how people will treat you. And there WILL be people who treat you differently. It will open your eyes to the world around you… the good, the bad, the ugly, and the absolute beautifulness that people possess inside them.

  I have a couple of chronic illnesses (which is common when you get to be as sick as I am) but the one that is most serious and the one that we are concentrating for this ROCKIN’ Anthology on is Gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is a disease that affects the GI system — literally meaning a paralyzed stomach. There is no easy way to explain what it is like to live with Gastroparesis — it is an awful disease… the best I have for you is this: close your eyes and think back to the last time you had the stomach flu. You felt nauseous and achy and everything hurt. Everything took extra energy to get done and the thought of food was revolting. Maybe you could keep the food down, but maybe you couldn’t and you were vomiting non-stop. Now picture having that 24/7. That is Gastroparesis (well at least for those that can STILL manage any food). For many, it can be controlled by diet and meds, but for others, it gets so serious they must be on a feeding tube. I was on one for over 4 years. Then for some, like me, even that stops working and they need to go on TPN (intravenous feedings). Like ANY disease this too runs the spectrum. And I have been from one end to the other!

  I will say that I have met people that have handled my illness awfully and told me how pretty I USED to be when I weighed more, and couldn’t I just eat a cupcake so I could gain more weight — trust me I would LOVE to! I LOVE cupcakes!!! Food just doesn’t love me!!! And I have also met amazing people like the men and women who put together this anthology. They did this without saying a word to me and SURPRISED me. They ended up telling me earlier then they meant to when I came home from the doctor’s this summer and was told some particularly horrifying news. I tend to be very optimistic about everything going on… but when the doctor tells you your body is shutting down… it gets hard. And my authors… MY authors saw this and shocked me! They showed me this GORGEOUS cover for a project they put together to honor me and raise awareness for a disease that too many people don’t know about. It was the greatest gift anyone could ever give me. And along the way people who didn’t even know me jumped on board to help with the cover to raise awareness for Gastroparesis!

  One of the reasons this anthology is so very important to me is that when I was diagnosed, I didn’t know anyone else who had Gastroparesis and so, as a result, my first few years I was given shitty advice and treated completely incorrectly! Since then, I have spoken about my disease in this Romance Book Community over the last few years, and I have been able to connect with numerous people who have been newly diagnosed with Gastroparesis. Hopefully, they don’t feel quite as alone as I
did 15 years ago. My hope is that with this anthology we can not only raise money for G-Pact and not only raise awareness for Gastroparesis, but also connect some of those people WITH Gastroparesis so they don’t have to be alone.

  Xoxo,

  Jill Sava

  Starving for a Cure

  But Books Feed the Soul

  For more information on Gastroparesis and the non-profit that all of the proceeds from this anthology are going to visit G-Pact please visit G-Pact’s website!

  If you have Gastroparesis and love romance books or are a caregiver for someone with Gastroparesis and love romance books ploease join our facebook group Books & Bellies!

  The Realtor and the Rock Star by Jennifer Berg: Finally making it big in the music industry means only one thing for Kennedy Kade — a coastal dream come true. Hell bent on finding the Malibu home of her dreams, she hired top realtor to the stars, Ryan Rhodes. He’s arrogant, hot as sin and has Kennedy wondering just what she’s gotten herself into. A rockstar and a realtor? Crazier things have happened!

  The Right Direction by Kathy Coopmans: “Our someday will come soon, Joslyn.” Those words were the last words I heard from Roman Nixon before I walked away. After years apart, our opposite worlds collide. This time, we may get our someday. But first, we have to find a way to steer us in the right direction.

  Rebel by Molly McAdams: The rock star who frequented my dreams and haunted my sheets.

  The boy who vowed to be my forever.

  The man who shattered my world.

  I hated him.

  Rocking the Racer by Erin Noelle: A second chance encounter between rock star Ashlynn Templeton and F1 driver Milan Barcelo leads to sparks flying even hotter than their first rendezvous, this time racing the clock and the chance of getting caught.

  Play Me by Jessica Prince: I was the responsible one, the care taker, the girl who made all the right decisions. Until I met Maddox Sheppard. Now he’s turned my world upside down, and I’m loving every minute of it.

  What About Us? By Yessi Smith: We were a fleeting moment that passed too quickly.

  A spark, a sizzle that faded with her.

  When chance brings us back together, I'm set on showing her sometimes life does give us a fairy tale.

  The Song by Rachel Van Dyken: Even rockstars have tender hearts--especially when it comes to building a family.

  To Feel Loved by Jennifer Van Wyk: One look at her and I knew one night wouldn't be enough.

  One look at him and I desperately wanted something I lost long ago... to feel loved.

  Cardinal Sins by Kristin Vayden: Cardinal has many sins.

  Wrath: Because she stole what belonged to him.

  Envy: For every other man that’s known her touch.

  Greed: For wanting her back—against his better judgment.

  But even the wicked can find redemption—and sometimes it starts with revenge.

  The Realtor and the Rock Star

  by Jennifer Berg

  "Shit, shit, shit. I'm late," I muttered under a ragged breath after barely catching the elevator up to the seventy-ninth floor.

  "You're in LA, sweetheart," someone chuckled behind me. "There's no such thing as late."

  I raised a brow, noticing an older man, dressed in khaki shorts and a floral shirt. He reminded me of my father's old Beach Boys albums. Hawaiian shirts, happy carefree smile and always on beach time.

  Hell, maybe this guy was a Beach Boy.

  It was California after all.

  California. I said the word to myself, feeling my mouth curve into a small smile.

  It was a long way from Columbus, Ohio and I'd worked my ass off to get here and every place in-between. But now I was finally about to make my childhood dream a reality.

  All I had to do was find the perfect place.

  My fingers tapped against the strap of my handbag, to the tune of something I'd heard on the radio on the way in. My manager said it was a nervous habit, something I did before every performance. My mother would have seriously disagreed, arguing that I'd drove her nuts with this particular skill since the day I emerged from the womb and I hadn't stopped since.

  Maybe they were both right. Perhaps it was a little of both.

  As the elevator rose, stopping at nearly every floor, letting people in and out, I continued my personal drum solo, doing my best to keep to myself while most chose to do the same. I checked my phone one last time.

  Five minutes late.

  Great.

  This guy wasn't easy to get into. My manager, Corbin had to make several calls, but he'd made it happen. I was what they called a property virgin. Having never owned a home in Columbus or on the west coast, I wanted to make sure I got the best real estate agent money could buy, since I planned on spending a lot of it.

  Rylan Rhodes was just that. He sold houses to some of the wealthiest people in Los Angeles including A-list celebrities. But he had a waiting list a mile long and his standards were quite high.

  Thankfully, my up and coming name had piqued the interest in the house hunter and he'd agreed to meet with me today.

  As in right now.

  I let out another frustrated puff of air. I hated being late. As we climbed higher up the building, most everyone vacated, off to appointments or back from lunch. All that remained were two.

  Just me and a sexy guy in a suit I'd been eying since the twentieth floor. He'd swaggered onto the elevator, looking like God's gift to women, carrying a large cup of overpriced coffee. Every female cramped within the small space seemed to melt in his presence.

  Everyone except me. Spending a good portion of my young adult life on the road with various versions of guys like him had made me immune.

  I watched him with a steely observation, recognizing his type almost immediately.

  He was known by many names — player, manwhore, sower of oats — okay, maybe not that last one, but really, he was just a dick — the kind of guy who used and abused, who messed around and left others to clean up his mess.

  No amount of sexy abs and good looks was worth all that. I had the battle scars of one too many encounters to prove it.

  I stared straight ahead, focusing on the floor numbers as they lit up one by one, doing my best to ignore the Suit and his megawatt smile turned toward my direction. Suddenly there was a jolt, and the elevator lurched to a stop.

  My breath caught, remembering all those movies where people either got trapped or died in these tiny little boxes hanging in midair. Why had I thought it was safe to use them?

  Why didn't I take the stairs?

  Stairs were safe. Stairs didn't dangle from the heavens like a freaking fishing line waiting to drop you to your death.

  "Easy there sweets, this old thing does this all the time," the Suit called out, a surprising southern drawl on his lips. "She just needs a bit of a rest and then she'll get back to business."

  "You and her seem familiar?" I said, straightening a little. I hadn't realized I'd reached for the railing like a life preserver the moment the elevator shook, my knuckles so white, I could nearly see the bones poking through my skin.

  "Been working here a while," he smiled, taking a smooth little swagger forward. "She’s fairly reliable. Just a little old."

  "I was under the impression that was a taboo word around here."

  "What? Old?"

  "Yeah, isn't LA constantly on the hunt for the fountain of youth? Always upgrading, adapting, modernizing?"

  A sly smile spread across his lips. "I guess, but there's something to be said about the classics, you know? Maybe it's the Georgia boy in me, but I've always had a soft spot for the simpler things."

  He checked his watch. "You new to the area?"

  I nodded, falling for his charm far more than I expected. I cleared my throat, putting my blinders back in place. I was here for a reason.

  One reason only.

  And I had zero time in my life for a player in an expensive suit.

  None.

  "Well, I'
d be happy to show you some of those simpler things I'm referring to — the classic charms of Los Angeles if you have time." He held his hand out for a friendly handshake. I took it, feeling all sorts of uncomfortable under his steady gaze. "Ryan Rhodes, nice to meet you."

  All the warm and fuzzies I was starting to feel about the guy vanished.

  My mouth fell open. "The realtor Ryan Rhodes?"

  He gave me a lazy smile, still holding my hand. I snatched it back causing a bit of a disturbance to that perfect, stupid smile on his face.

  "You've heard of me."

  My arms wrapped around my waist as I took a step back, needing some space. "Yeah I've heard of you. I have an appointment with you," I said, before adding. "Right now."

  Without missing a beat, he took a causal sip from his coffee, probably something overly complicated with zero carbs, as he leaned against his old friend, the elevator. "Well, you shouldn't have a problem then. As soon as Glenda gets going, so can we. You like Thai food? I know the perfect place."

  My mouth was still hanging open as I tried to keep up. "Wait a minute. Five seconds ago, you were asking me out—"

  "I'm still asking you out."

  "Yes, but five seconds ago you didn't know my name. So, what were you planning to do about your appointment — the one you're currently late for? The one that is with me?"

  He shrugged. "My assistant would cancel or reschedule it, or depending on who it was, maybe give it to someone else in the office."

  The nonchalance of his words, the laid-back demeanor he had about the whole thing.

  It made me mad.

  No, it fucking pissed me off.

  "I've waited weeks for this appointment with you. It took several favors and a call from my manager to make this meeting even possible and yet, you see a pretty girl in an elevator and just like that, it's canceled?"

  He took another sip of coffee from his cup, like he had all the damn time in the world.