Once Upon A Rock Star

by Yessi Smith

  “Shit.” He raked a hand through his hair, hair that I’d made even more disheveled with my own hands. A voice inside my head let out a girly little squeal that sounded an awful lot like Keagan. “So this is what it feels like, huh?”

  “What what feels like?”

  He looked at me, and for a reason I couldn’t comprehend he actually smiled. “Getting rejected. Have to say, Green Eyes, I’m surprised you gave me a taste of my own medicine tonight.”

  I tipped my head in confusion. Sometimes being a shut-in with hardly any social life and a laughable romantic one was a pain in the ass. I’d never been good at reading guys, and I was no better at it right then. “That wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry if it seems that way, but I did warn you that I’m not good at this whole… living thing.”

  “It’s cool, gorgeous,” he said, humor laced in his words. “I get it. But we still have one problem.”

  I tipped my head back to maintain eye contact as he came closer. “What’s that?”

  “Fucking you was so good my knees buckled. You’re out of your mind if you think I’m not gonna want that again.”

  My lungs seize and my heart started beating in a fierce staccato. “I, um…” My back hit the door once more as I attempted to move away. “I totally get where you’re coming from. But as I said before, I’ve stepped as far out of my comfort zone as I’m willing to go.”

  “For tonight.”

  “What?”

  His left arm came up and rested beside my head. “You said you’d gone as far as you were willing to go tonight.”

  Oh. “Oh.”

  “Yeah, oh.” he smiled wickedly. “We’re gonna be in the city for a while, laying down some tracks at my man Garrett’s house.”

  I wasn’t sure why he was telling me that. “O-okay?”

  “Just a heads up, you better brace, baby. Because I’m going to find you. And when I do, we will be doing that again. And again, and again.” Sweet holy Moses. “For now I’ll let you run away. But rest assured, this is far from over, Reagan.” I was pretty sure my panties just went up in a puff of smoke. “You get me?

  “I—” Oh, I got him all right, and I was pretty sure I’d just bitten off way more than I could chew. I gulped. “I get you.”

  “Good. Now get out of here before I change my mind and tie you up so you can’t escape.”

  I didn’t have to be told twice.

  I twisted the knob and bolted through the door like my hair was on fire.

  Maddox Sheppard’s deep, raspy laughter was all I could hear despite the noise from the party.

  “There you are!” Keagan declared, grabbing hold of my arm. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

  I took her hand and started pulling her after me. “Come on, Keag. We’re leaving. Now.”

  She didn’t put up a fight as we rushed through the crowd toward the exit. “You’re kind of freaking me out, sissy. What happened?”

  I chanced one last look over my shoulder to find that Maddox was resting against the doorframe, tracking my every move with those beautiful eyes.

  “I’m not certain, Keagan, but I think I just screwed up. Big time.”

  *STAY TUNED FOR MORE*

  Maddox and Reagan’s story is far from over

  Other books by Jessica

  THE PICKING UP THE PIECES SERIES:

  Picking up the Pieces

  Rising from the Ashes

  Pushing the Boundaries

  Worth the Wait

  THE COLORS NOVELS:

  Scattered Colors

  Shrinking Violet

  Love Hate Relationship

  Wildflower

  THE LOCKLAINE BOYS (a LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP spinoff):

  Fire and Ice – Griffin and Pepper’s story

  Opposites Attract – Richard and Delilah’s story

  Almost Perfect – Collin and Devon’s story

  THE PEMBROOKE SERIES (a WILDFLOWER spinoff):

  Sweet Sunshine – Derrick and Chloe’s story

  Coming Full Circle – Ethan and Eliza’s story

  A Broken Soul – Quinn and Lilly’s story

  DEADLY LOVE SERIES:

  Destructive

  Addictive

  CIVIL CORRUPTION SERIES:

  Corrupt – Garrett and Gwen’s story

  CO-WRITTEN BOOKS:

  Hustler – with Meghan Quinn

  STANDALONE TITLES:

  Nightmares from Within

  Chance Encounters

  Seducing Lola

  Tempting Sophia (coming November 2nd)

  About the Author

  Born and raised around Houston Texas, Jessica spent most of her life complaining about the heat, humidity, and all around pain in the ass weather. It was only as an adult that she quickly realized the cost of living in Houston made up for not being able to breathe when she stepped outside. That's why God created central air, after all.

  Jessica is the mother of a perfect little boy--she refuses to accept that he inherited her attitude and sarcastic nature no matter what her husband says.

  In addition to being a wife and mom, she's also a wino, a coffee addict, and an avid lover of all types of books--romances still being her all time favorites. Her husband likes to claim that reading is her obsession but she just says it's a passion...there's a difference. Not that she'd expect a boy to understand.

  Jessica has been writing since she was a little girl, but thankfully grew out of drawing her own pictures for her stories before ever publishing her first book. Because an artist she is not.

  Find Jessica at

  Website

  Newsletter

  Facebook

  Twitter

  Instagram

  Email: authorjessicaprince@gmail.com

  What About Us?

  By Yessi Smith

  Chapter One

  Brandon

  I let out a warning grunt when a boy, maybe fifteen years old, slams his shoulder hard against mine. His eyes narrow into cynical slits as he stares me down. With all the vehemence he can muster, he thins his lips into a straight line, making the sides crinkle.

  “That’s cute,” I say. “You tryin’ to intimidate me, boy?”

  He growls and if he weren’t all long, gangly limbs, the guttural sound might’ve had the expected reaction. Instead I laugh and slap him on the back.

  “Asshole,” the kid mutters.

  He ducks his head down to his chin, and I watch him walk to the exit, his bookbag slapping against his back with every step. His thin shoulders seem to fold over his body the closer he gets to the door. As I make my way to the cash register, I notice the cashier, an older man keeping his attention between the boy and the exit. My gut sinks when the cashier of the small mom and pop grocery store bends down behind the register.

  Tonight, of all nights, I had to have an ice cream craving when I could’ve just joined my friends and bandmates for a few drinks at a nearby club. Because tonight, I wanted to maintain a low profile.

  As if the lead singer, sometimes guitar player, of Sava Effect is allowed a little down time.

  It’s almost laughable.

  “Hey!” I run to the kid and sling an arm around his shoulders.

  Like a bolt of lightning, the boy straightens, every muscle tensing at the contact. I hold up my hands and give him a light chuckle, all while I keep a careful eye on the old man. When he stands up behind the register, I catch a glimpse of black metal.

  Damn it.

  A knot twists in my stomach as bile rises.

  “Why don’t you let me pay for whatever you’re trying to steal?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

  “Get lost,” he grumbles.

  I lean into him, my hands gripping his shoulder and I squeeze once. “Whatever you got in your bag isn’t worth getting shot for.”

  Without waiting for him to reply, I take the bookbag from his shoulder and with a practiced smile I walk to the register.

  “Hey!” he shouts, grabbing me. �
��That’s mine!”

  With one quick jerk, I shrug him off and open the bag. I expected to find soda, snacks, even beer. Instead, I’m faced with a small bag of diapers and wipes. Shaking the bag, I peer back at the kid. His face pales as red rims his eyes.

  “Need anything else?” I ask.

  Shifting on his feet, he lifts and drops his shoulders.

  “Grab more diapers and wipes. And bottles or whatever else you think you need.”

  His Adam’s apple bobs when he swallows. “Okay,” he coughs.

  “While you’re back there, why don’t you make yourself a chili dog?”

  He hesitates, his gaze jumping from me to the back of the store. Giving him my back, I start taking everything out of the bag and place it in front of the cashier.

  “Can I get some chips, too?” he asks.

  On a soft chuckle, I tilt my head toward him. “Yeah, man. Get whatever you want.”

  His shoulders lose some of their tension and he nods once before he leaves me at the counter. I hand the items to the cashier, and the only sound that passes between us is the ringing of the two items as he scans them. When the kid stands beside me, he puts down the extra stuff he grabbed, careful not to make eye contact with either of us.

  After I pay, the cashier gifts me with an ugly sneer. “You think you just helped this kid out?” he asks, jutting his chin out. “He’ll be back next week stealing from me again an’ I already warned him I got a bullet with his name on it. Good for nothin’, just like his daddy.”

  I grip the old man by the front of his shirt. With my other hand, I hoist myself over the counter that separates us. My fingers bite into the fabric of his cheap shirt as I push him until his back hits the wall. I inch my face a breath away from his.

  “I’m good for nothing just like my daddy. Remember that next time you want to shoot a fucking kid, or I’ll be back.” I slam him against the wall again and he grunts. “Got it?”

  He nods and I let him go. With ease, I hop back over the counter and grab the kid’s belongings. “Thanks for your help, asshole.”

  Chapter Two

  Maria

  “What the hell, Gabriel?” I shout.

  I can’t believe him! Damn it, I knew better than to let him go into the store by himself.

  Digging my feet into the hard pavement of the parking lot, I keep a wary eye on the plastic shopping bags my little brother carries as he makes his way to me. Tears sting the back of my eyes and when my bottom lip trembles, I chomp down on it.

  With our baby sister cradled in my arm, I make my way to him, maintaining a watchful gaze on the man a few steps behind Gabriel. I keep my shoulders and back straight, careful not to let the exhaustion show in case it takes me completely.

  “What were you thinking?” I whisper, my eyes darting between Gabriel, the stranger, and the store. “If Mr. Mendes had seen you…” My voice wobbles so I let the rest of my thoughts trail off.

  “He did see me,” Gabriel says, his demeanor far cooler than I’d expect, but then he’s spent years stealing just to make sure we’d have something to put in our stomachs every night. “For someone so smart, you sure are dumb.” He grins and dimples dig into the sides of his cheeks.

  Undeterred, I glare back at him. The part of me that wants to yell at him wars with the part that wants to wrap him in a tight hug. A hug I know he’ll reject.

  “Geez, Maria, I didn’t steal anything. I was going to, but this do-gooder,” he points at the man a few steps behind him, “caught me and wanted to pay, so I let him and then got some extra stuff we need.”

  My lungs tighten and I let out a small breath. “You didn’t steal any of this?”

  “Yeah, dummy,” he jokes. “I stole all this crap and then bagged it before I left.”

  He gestures to the car and I open the trunk so he can set everything inside. Still unsure, my heart slams behind my chest and I hold Ada closer to me.

  “Don’t be a smart ass.”

  The man moves around Gabriel and puts more bags into the trunk. From behind them, I count the bags and my knees almost buckle. Seven bags, all full with food, diapers and wipes.

  That’s more than I could’ve wished for and for at least a week, I won’t have to worry about Gabriel or Ada.

  A gasp falls from my lips and when the world seems to tilt on its axis I hand Ada to Gabriel so I can hold myself upright. My knuckles whiten as I grasp onto the car for help. The man moves beside me, putting a calloused hand on my elbow and chills dance down my spine at his touch.

  Deep brown eyes stare back at me, patient and kind and with an understanding that makes me want to hide in his embrace until the nightmare of my life passes me by.

  “I…” I stammer out. Shaking my head to clear the fog, I try again. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I’m Maria. I mean, obviously you heard my brother call me that, but…” I trail off with a nervous laugh. “Anyway, I can pay you back for some of this now, but the rest...”

  “It’s okay, Maria,” he says my name and it rolls off his tongue like a sinful melody. It promises something wicked and forbidden. Something that for a moment I want to hope for, but reality sets in too quickly and I force myself to swallow down the desire.

  Putting some distance between us, I take a large step away from him. He runs a hand over the short stubble covering his sharp jaw and I draw my attention to his parted lips.

  “I can pay you back,” I say again. “It’ll take some time, Mr…”

  “Brandon,” he answers with a soft smile. “Just call me Brandon.”

  “Brandon.” It comes out sounding like a prayer. “I appreciate you buying us all this, and for not letting Gabe steal from Mr. Mendes. It’ll be a while, but I’d really like to pay you back.”

  Beside me, Gabriel opens a bag of chips and offers it to me. When I shake my head, he takes a few for himself and shoves them into his mouth. “I had a chili dog too,” he says around a mouthful of food. “Best damn thing I’ve ever eaten.”

  I roll my eyes skyward but smile. “Stop swearing. And put the chips down so you can put Ada in her seat.”

  “Maybe you should eat so you’re not so grumpy.” His tone is nothing but a tease, but his eyes give away his concern.

  Knowing he’ll hate it, I ruffle his hair and jump a step back when he tries to push me away. Laughter bubbles inside me and I let it out, for the moment; happy that my brother isn’t hungry and my sister has everything she needs.

  Feeling lighter than I have in years, I step into Brandon’s space and hug him. It’s unexpected but he welcomes it, almost seems to need it as much as I do. He slinks a thick arm around my waist and although I shouldn’t, I lean into a man I don’t know but who’s given my family a temporary reprieve from the hell we live in. He holds me close to him and for a little while I let myself pretend this is my life.

  A life where a beautiful man holds my embrace for no other reason than he wants to. Chest to chest, I rest my face on his shoulder. Feeling bold, I press my lips against his throat and smile when he stutters out a breath.

  “I saw bread and cheese in the bags,” I say. “Why don’t you come to my place and I’ll make you a sandwich?”

  A deep chuckle rumbles from his chest and he pulls me back, studying my face. Heat radiates from my neck to my cheeks, but rather than hide my embarrassment, I throw my shoulders back and hold myself rigid. It was a simple offer, made for no other reason than I’m grateful. He can take what he wants from it. Hell, it’s all I have to offer.

  “Never mind,” I mutter.

  With an earnest, almost shy expression, he digs his hands into the front pocket of his jeans and rocks on his feet. His lips spread apart and a breathtaking smile breaks across his face. The kind of smile that sends women over the edge. “A sandwich would be great.”

  “I said never mind.” The words snake out like poison and grip me like a vise around my throat.

  “Maria,” he says my name again and, oh God, my chest tightens just from the sound. “I wasn
’t laughing at you. I was laughing because a sandwich with you sounds better than any offer I’ve had in a while.” He lifts his plastic bag and grins. “I even have ice cream for dessert.”

  Nervous, my tongue flicks out to wet my lips and he stares at my mouth from behind dark lashes that frame his beautiful, beautiful eyes.

  “Okay,” I say and just then my stomach decides to let out a beastly growl. It comes out loud and resonates even louder through the quiet night.

  He tilts his head back and laughs, exposing strong veins that follow his throat to beneath his shirt. My heart does a weird little dance, causing it to pump faster than ever before. Pressing a hand to my chest, I return the smile. Might’ve even giggled myself.

  “I’m gonna go.” I turn to my car. “I don’t live that far from here. You can follow me.”

  Still laughing, he turns away and struts to his car, all quiet confidence, that makes my pulse quicken to the point I’m sure I’m about to have a heart attack.

  “This isn’t an invitation for sex!” I shout.

  From inside the car Gabriel laughs so I shoot him the finger. Brandon stops as if he’s run straight into an invisible wall and shifts ever so slightly to peer back at me.

  “I just wanted you to know,” I say. “This isn’t sex, just a sandwich.”

  “Sandwich, no sex. Got it.”

  Even in the darkness night grants us, I can see him smile. And God, all I can do is wish for a sudden sinkhole to form that’ll swallow me where I stand. As usual, I’m not that lucky.

  Once at the driver’s side, I open the door and slip in, hitting my head against the steering wheel a few times for good measure.

  “Stupid, stupid, stupid.”

  Gabriel snorts from the back seat where he sits next to Ada. Before he can speak, I say, “Shut it, Gabe. I just invited a stranger to our place for a sandwich because he bought us groceries. If that doesn’t scream desperate, what the hell does?”