How a Star Shines: A Pop Stars Romantic Comedy Book 2

by Eliker, Rachael

  “I knew it!” she hissed excitedly, bouncing up and down on the balls of her feet. “I knew you had a thing for Josh!”

  “Shh! The last thing I need right now is for the entire world to know about something that I’m not even certain about. I will admit that Josh is attractive. Any woman would have to be blind not to see it.”

  “Is it his dreamy eyes or chiseled jaw or sculpted bod that caught your attention first?” Ruby tantalized.

  I swung at her, like she was little more than an obnoxious mosquito buzzing in my ear. Getting onto the elevator, I pushed the button, not caring if Ruby had to wait for the next car to come all the way to the top.

  Ruby composed herself enough to realize I was leaving her behind and slipped in. Putting her hands on my shoulders, she turned me to face her. “I’m happy for you, I really am.”

  I swallowed, not knowing how to accept her approval. “Nothing’s happened. It’s been kind of evolving as we’ve become reacquainted.”

  “Nothing has to happen for love to blossom. Honestly, Kiki. It’s like you really know nothing about love. At all. How have you been so successful in an industry that’s obsessed with love without understanding at least a portion of it.”

  I shrugged and admitted, “I’ve had really good song writers. The worst part is I don’t know how it would possibly work out. It’s not a regular office relationship. It would be in violation of his contract to have a relationship with the person Harper Music hired him to protect.”

  Ruby folded her arms and tilted her chin up ever so slightly. “And since when have you ever let anything stand in your way?”

  The elevator slowed to a stop three floors down, and as the doors dinged and started sliding open, I whispered over to Ruby, “It was his smile that I noticed first.”

  “Whose smile?” Preston asked, stepping onto the elevator, with his arm draped across Monica like she was the back of the couch he was lounging on. A low, rumbling growl emanated from Cinnamon’s throat, and I adjusted my bag to the other shoulder. Just because I had to put up with Preston, didn’t mean I couldn’t give Cinnamon a break from him.

  “Nobody important,” Ruby covered for me.

  “Oh, I thought you two were twittering on about me,” Preston said, putting his hand on his chest.

  “You do have one devilishly charming smile, that’s for sure.” I put emphasis on the right words so Preston would unmistakably catch my dig.

  The hotel lobby was a cozy but ornately decorated area with marble, smooth, carved cherrywood, and several pieces of modern art that brought the decadent hotel up a notch. The four of us made our way to the entrance, where Josh and Bert stood at the door, with the rest of security keeping an eye on the sidewalk between the hotel and our waiting cars. A handful of paparazzi were already lined up, vying for the best spot to get the best shot in the two seconds it was going to take us to walk out the front door and slide into the back seat of the limo.

  “All ready then?” Josh asked. If my face looked even half as chipper as his did, then it was no wonder Ruby was able to figure out what had affected my attitude.

  “Just lead the way, pretty boy,” Preston grumbled.

  Monica smacked him in the stomach and scowled at him. “Don’t be rude.”

  Bert opened the door and held it for us. I followed behind everyone else, except for Josh, who was forever watching my back. Walking close enough behind me that I could smell the aftershave on his freshly groomed face, he leaned over and said in a low voice, “By the way, you look beautiful.”

  “You prefer this look to sweaty and makeup-less in workout clothes?”

  “I like seeing all sides of you,” Josh answered.

  I wanted to swoon into him and have him carry me off to a private lakeside picnic, filled with cheeses and fruits and mushy, lovey-dovey talk. Then, we’d have a long awaited passionate kiss for dessert.

  Ruby snapped her fingers inches from my face and I nearly jumped out of my heels, realizing I’d been daydreaming again. “Holy cow. I thought I’d lost you there for a minute.”

  I giggled stupidly and brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. “Must have gotten up too early this morning.”

  Camera shutters clicked, and I gave a few of my signature waves, but as I neared the car I noticed Preston watching me with the most sinister look gleaming in his beady little eyes. I remembered the promise he’d made to ruin me, and I’d have given anything to know what he was so happy about.

  “You’re looking rather pleased with yourself,” I said as I walked passed him and ducked into the car.

  “Oh, it’s nothing,” he said, climbing in after me and sitting between Ruby and Monica.

  It was no secret that Ruby and Monica were on rocky terms at best, but I was grateful for Ruby’s conscientious effort to let me sit by Josh, even if it meant sitting by the closest thing she had to a mortal enemy.

  “There you go, causing trouble again,” I muttered to myself as I brushed a piece on lint off my pants.

  “Huh?” Preston asked.

  “Hmm?”

  “What? I thought you said something.”

  I shrugged and avoided looking directly at him by checking my nails. “I was wondering why you’re so happy, that’s all.”

  Preston eyed me suspiciously for a moment before dropping it and turning his attention to Monica. Grabbing her hand, he kissed her knuckles before answering me.

  “Just happened to figure out a solution to a problem that’s recently surfaced.”

  My heart skidded to a halt, and it felt like I’d taken a plunge into a frozen lake. I looked out the window so Preston couldn’t see that his thinly veiled threat had had any effect on me. Josh sat down and was squashed closer as Bert took his seat and the doorman slammed the door shut. Ruby caught my attention and gave me a very conspicuous wink. I would’ve smacked my palm to my face, but I didn’t think Josh had seen. Besides, I wasn’t going to complain about the right side of my body practically being fused to Josh’s because Bert needed extra space for his massively wide shoulders.

  Looking to Josh, Preston struck up a conversation. “Tell me, Josh. How long have you been employed with Harper Music?”

  Chapter Eighteen

  Practice had been a breeze. Other than adding Monica in on background vocals and getting her choreography up to speed, the only real change to my set was adding in Only You as the climax right before my finale. Within the first few attempts, the transition was seamless.

  Practice had wrapped up, and I was ready to call it quits. I had a live performance the next day on a morning talk show, and anticipation flitted in my stomach, threatening to make me lose my Caesar salad if it didn’t settle down.

  “What do you think of this dress?” Harrison asked, holding up a layered gossamer gown that flowed like water.

  Having a longer dress could be tricky on stage—Ruby had proven in more ways than one how to trip with a dress that ran past the knees—but as I fingered the soft, lacy fabric, I knew it would be perfect for the song.

  “It’s beautiful,” I murmured. “It’s such a sacred experience when music and wardrobe blend so precisely.”

  “Yes! Thank you,” Harrison said, looking like I’d just flicked a mountain off his shoulders. “I know it’s not as, uh, haute couture as you usually do, but it seemed appropriate to soften your look a bit.”

  “True. Only You is very different than most of my other pieces. It does seem fitting that the outfit be something new, too.”

  “The best part is that it’s a tear away,” Harrison continued. “See these snaps here? You’ll be wearing your black leather ensemble underneath and we’ll just pull the dress off so you can rock the finale.”

  By the end of a long day of rehearsal, all I wanted to do was go back to the hotel and catch up on the sleep that had evaded me the night before. Morning shows were already ridiculously early, and I didn’t want Wanda having a hard time covering the bags under my eyes.

  Back at the hotel, I thanked Jo
sh for walking me to my room, after we dropped off Ruby. I squeezed his hand and shut the door, watching him leave through the peephole. I sighed. It had been a full and exciting day that had buoyed my hopes that I wasn’t as unlovable as Preston painted me to be. If Josh and I were cautious and careful, maybe we could make something work without compromising his job or my reputation…

  I woke up early again. Nervous jitters always kept me from sleeping in late the day of a performance, and though this wasn’t my first rodeo with a live morning show crowd, there was something more intimidating about the whole scenario. The people were closer, there was a very good chance sound equipment would malfunction, or the acoustics wouldn’t be good, especially since I was scheduled to perform on an outdoor stage.

  Deciding against another early morning jog outside, I opted to use the hotel’s extensive workout room. Opening the door, I found Josh already there, pumping iron in a cutoff t-shirt that left very little of his core to the imagination.

  “How are you not exhausted after yesterday?” Josh asked. “I mean, I can’t even imagine walking in high heels, much less spending hours on stage shimmying around in them.”

  I smirked. “Woman’s secret. If I told you how I did it, it might make your mind explode.”

  “Fair enough,” he said with a grin. He returned the weights to the shelf and joined me on a treadmill next to mine.

  I had set the speed at a brisk, ten-minute mile as a warmup, but I noticed Josh sideways glance at my stats, and adjust his speed a few clicks faster. Before I knew it, we were sprinting as fast as our bodies would allow until Josh called a truce.

  “I can see how you outran that guy,” Josh said, stepping off his treadmill and leaning over, putting his hands on his knees. I’m pretty sure you could outrun me.”

  “My mom was a track star in high school. I think I inherited it from her.”

  Handing me a towel to wipe my face, Josh swung his head to the exit, and we both agreed it was time to get ready. We bantered back and forth in the elevator up, casually finding reasons to touch. I showered in fifteen minutes—all the real primping and preening would happen on set.

  When we arrived, I had to give Ruby an almighty shake to wake her up so we could get out of the limo. If I didn’t need her as my guitarist, I might have tried to sneak out and leave her in the car as joke.

  “Late night phone call with Collin?” I asked.

  “What’s a little sleep when you’re in love?” she asked.

  “Ruby,” I groaned. “That’s so corny.”

  “Yet so true.” Ducking down, she whispered in my ear, “You’ll see soon enough, I think.” Gesturing subtly to Josh, he was carefully watching me. She sent me a quick wink; my mouth automatically reacted with a smile.

  Backstage, Harrison brought over a sexy black dress on a hanger and a pair of blue pumps. To Harrison’s credit, everything fit like a glove. After he had me zipped up, he draped a blue and black statement necklace around my neck that tied the whole outfit together.

  “Love the blue,” Wanda said as I sat down in my chair. “How do you feel about a dramatic cat eye, lined in a shimmery blue eyeliner?”

  “You’re the boss,” I told Wanda, making her grin.

  Casey always insisted on being last. Though he still dressed like he’d walked straight out of a biker bar, he’d found his calling as a hairstylist of all things while doing a brief stint in prison. He could come off as gruff, but he was a big softy and had incredible attention to detail.

  “I know you were thinking of going long again for the concert tour, but since I don’t have time to put in extensions, I have an alternative option,” Casey said, holding up a blonde wig.

  I raised my eyebrows, unsure of what to say. I’d worn wigs before, but they were usually short, funky things, and they had a bad habit of not staying on well if I got too into the music. The one Casey held was long and beautifully curled, with stunning blond highlights throughout.

  “I dunno…” I said, gnawing the tips of one of my nails. “I don’t want it to fall off in the middle of my number.”

  “As long as you don’t do any heavy metal head banging, this thing isn’t going anywhere.” He fixed one of the out of place curls, laying it back where it belonged. “It’s natural hair, too.”

  I scrunched up my nose. “Is that supposed to make it more appealing?”

  Casey rolled his puppy-dog brown eyes and laughed. “It’s not like they cut it off a dead person. I meant that it will look and feel like natural hair because it is natural hair.”

  “But we can get extensions before the concert?” I asked.

  “I’ve already got them. Just need a few hours to get them put in and they’ll stay through the end of your tour.” He waited for my answer, then ruffled the wig in his hand. I snorted out a laugh. “What?” he asked gruffly.

  “It looks like Cousin It when you shake it like that.”

  Casey scoffed with a smirk. “Just try it on.”

  He gathered up my hair and put a wig cap on, then secured the wig over the top. Fixing some of the hair, he spun me in his styling chair toward the mirror and asked, “So?”

  I pouted at myself and tried a few different angles of my face, ultimately liking what I saw. It was easy to feel chic, stylish, and edgy with short hair, but there was something soft and feminine about long, flowing hair.

  “This’ll be perfect for Only You,” I murmured softly.

  By the hour call, I was doing sound checks backstage and being fitted with a microphone and earpiece, so I could hear the music above the sound of the city and the crowd. Josh walked in with Bert, who carried two powdered donuts in one hand, and stopped in his tracks.

  “Can I help you?” I asked Josh smugly. More and more, I was sure of the power I had over him, and I appreciated it.

  “No. Nothing. It’s just…you look nice,” Josh stuttered.

  “You’re wanted outside for the fan meet and greet,” Bert said, shooting a puff of powdered sugar that eventually made him start coughing.

  “Right. Guess we should go find everyone else then?”

  We rounded up Ruby and Monica, and as hard as I glared at Preston, I couldn’t seem to get him to buzz off. He was practically superglued to Monica, and wherever she was, he was. Of course, George was there, too, but he did his job from the background, as a good manager should.

  Josh and Bert opened the outside door, and I was practically blinded by the brilliant sunlight after having been in the dimly lit backstage area. The light felt like it was practically stabbing my pupils, but I smiled and waved—that’s what everyone had lined up to see me do.

  There were barriers marking a narrow trail up to the main stage area, but the fans swarmed to life the instant the door opened and were pushing them closer and closer as they desperately tried to reach in, thrusting pens and paper into our hands. Some took photos and others cried and stretched their fingertips toward Ruby and me, like merely touching us might fulfill their reason for living.

  Bert marched toward the stage without having to do much—nobody tried to mess with him since he had a good foot and a couple hundred pounds on most people there. He was a brick wall. Josh was more agile and swift. He was polite and professional as he kept people’s hands off of us, and eventually, we made it to the stage, where one of the hostesses, Genevieve, was talking with crowd members.

  “Ah, Kiki,” she cooed, giving me a kiss on both cheeks. “It has been too long.”

  She was the most adorable French woman I’d ever met and was perfectly suited to be the upbeat, cheerful television hostess.

  “Several years by now,” I agreed. “Have you met Ruby yet? My new co-star?”

  She and Ruby exchanged greetings and hit it off immediately. Not to be left out, Preston shoved Monica into the conversation. Genevieve gave a sideways glance at me, undoubtedly wondering who Preston was but smiling all the same.

  “Monica’s one of my new backup singers,” I told her.

  “Ah,” Genevie
ve said, pulling Monica in for a pair of cheek kisses

  . “If you are a friend of Kiki, you are a friend of mine.”

  “And I’m Preston, her manager,” he said, slipping his hand into hers. She didn’t miss a beat and welcomed him to the show.

  “Ten more minutes and we’ll have to have you take the stage,” Genevieve said. “Please, feel free to chat with the fans. Some of them have been here all night to get a spot.”

  I walked over to the barriers, making sure I kept a reasonable distance. I’d learned the hard way that people could get grabby when they got excited. Ruby was on the other side, so people could get an equal share of the celebrity love, while Preston pushed Monica out a little further down, speaking loudly to tell everyone that she was my protégé. I didn’t have time to fill them in on the whole story, and I figured, what harm would it be in her gleaning a few new fans of her own? She was on trial with Harper Music, after all, and if she did well, she might have a second chance at stardom. If she pulled it off, she’d be the first person I knew who’d made a comeback even before they’d made it big the first time.

  After a few minutes of kissing babies and smiling for selfies and autographing posters, I felt Josh touch the small of my back to get my attention. All my nerves seemed to stand at attention, and I gave him a small smile over my shoulder.

  “I’m going to check on Monica really quick,” he said into my ear. His breath tickled through my hair, and I resisted a shudder. “Are you going to be alright?”

  “I should be fine,” I agreed. “Don’t be too long.”

  Josh winked and jogged the distance to Monica, who was eating up all the attention. Preston was leaning too close to a redhead, and I grit my teeth. I wished Monica could see him for what he was and leave him, like I had. Any man that had the audacity to flirt with another woman in front of his girlfriend was a special kind of creep.

  I noticed the leggy redhead had turned her attention to Josh and motioned to him, jumping up and down, a dangerous move in her low-cut V-neck. My hand was beginning to cramp with all the signatures I was writing, and I tried to appear serene, even though the thought of the redhead pushing herself at Josh made me clench my pen with a death grip.