February Stars: Wilder Irish, book two

by Mari Carr

  “I’m aware of that, but dammit, Ailis, what you did wasn’t any better. All you did was ensure you were in the line of fire, not me!”

  “Right,” she said, her voice much quieter, proving that had been her intention.

  He shook his head. “No.”

  “So you get to risk your life for me, but I’m not allowed to do the same? You know what that’s called?”

  “Chivalry?”

  “Sexism.”

  He threw his hands up, exasperated. “Oh, for fuck’s sake. Are you seriously accusing me of sexism for wanting to save your life?”

  “All I’m saying—” she started before their conversation was cut off by another voice in the bus.

  “Wow. Experiencing some serious déjà vu.” Aaron stepped onto the bus and over Robbie’s body.

  “What?” Ailis asked.

  “Riley and I fight about stupid shit like this all the time too. Ask her about the time we walked into a dangerous redneck dive called Jacko’s in Vegas back before we were married.”

  “It’s not stupid, Aaron. She threw herself in harm’s way.”

  Aaron shrugged. “Classic female Collins trait. If you’re going to stick with this family, Hunter, you need to learn to anticipate their reactions.”

  Hunter grinned, liking the sound of being invited to stick with the Collins family. “Okay. Right.”

  Aaron gripped his shoulder. “And just so you know, they’re all crazy as hell and you’ll never guess right.”

  Ailis crossed her arms haughtily. “Are you two finished?”

  Aaron chuckled. “Yeah. I’m good. We arrested the brother a few miles out of the city on I-95. Your parents are going out of their minds with worry, Ailis. Come back to pub while we,” he glanced at the body behind him, “clean up. I’ll be along in about an hour or so. Have some routine questions I need to ask.”

  “Okay,” Hunter said, taking Ailis’s hand. She squeezed it tightly as they stepped over Robbie’s body. Once they were out on the street, he noticed the tears in her eyes. He tugged her close, so grateful to be able to hold her, to know she was safe, unharmed.

  Ailis sniffled, then she stopped trying to fight it and cried.

  He just clung to her, holding back a few tears of his own. It had been one hell of a week, a roller coaster of emotions.

  They were forced to part when the paparazzi arrived. He’d become a celebrity thanks to February Stars, and with each successive week that found him still in the competition, the cameramen flanking him grew.

  They quickly walked to Pat’s Pub, neither of them speaking or acknowledging the cameras flashing around them.

  Ailis’s grandfather appeared to possess magic pixie dust, because the paparazzi didn’t dare to seek admittance to the pub. Hell, they didn’t even cross to the same side of the street. Instead, they set up camp from a distance.

  “Between Aaron, Pop Pop, Ewan and Tris, the paparazzi have learned the safe boundaries,” Ailis said, answering a question he hadn’t asked.

  “I wondered.”

  The rest of the morning was spent surrounded by Ailis’s family. Hunter had grown up in a very small family of three, first with his parents and then, after their deaths, with his aunt and uncle. It had been a quiet, safe upbringing, and Hunter had never failed to feel loved. However, those feelings were miniscule in comparison to what the Collins family brought to the table. Every aunt, uncle and cousin within driving distance had arrived to make sure he and Ailis were okay. And the ones who lived too far away had phoned. Fiona had called twice.

  Shortly after noon, Ailis managed to extract them both from the crowd, claiming there was still a competition to win.

  That might have been a good thing if his afternoon hadn’t been as crazy as his morning, between practices, interviews, and sound checks.

  Of course, none of that held a candle to the moment that really mattered. The one that came right after he’d given his best performance ever.

  He stood under the stifling hot lights for the fourth time in one month, staring at the one X marking the spot for the winner, shoulder to shoulder with Rory. She’d had an equally trying day that started with gunshots.

  They’d joked just before the show began that no one could claim the contest hadn’t been completely fair. Equal amounts of life and death scares.

  “And the winner of February Stars…” Mike paused for dramatic effect. “By only twelve votes…” Another pause. The crowd had been silent, which made their collective gasp at how close the results were very obvious. “The performer who is going to open for The Universe on their worldwide tour is…”

  Hunter felt like throwing up. He’d performed his ass off on that stage, sung and played the guitar and worked the space and gave out a million of those charming grins Ailis swore would win him votes.

  But so had Rory. She’d been magic.

  “Rory Summit!” Mike yelled into the microphone as everyone in the place went crazy, applauding, screaming, crying. The Rory fans were jubilant, the Hunter fans sobbing. It was madness.

  Hunter turned and hugged Rory. If he had to lose, he was glad it was to her. She’d put in her time and deserved to climb on that tour bus.

  “Hunter,” she started. “I’m so sor—”

  He shook his head and gave her a big smile. “You’re a superstar, Rory. And I’m your biggest fan.”

  While she came across as a tough-as-nails chick, he knew she was marshmallow inside when she wiped away a tear. “Damn you,” she muttered as he laughed. She didn’t like that he’d made her cry.

  “Go sing an encore.” Hunter gave the crowd once last wave, directed everyone’s attention to their winner, and then left the stage.

  He’d purposely avoided looking at Ailis since Mike had called out Rory’s name. He’d been too afraid of what he’d see in her face. Devastation? Disappointment?

  Taking a deep breath, he glanced up and found her.

  She was smiling at him and her face shone with pure pride.

  He shrugged. “I lost.”

  Ailis laughed. “Yeah, I heard that.”

  “You seem really happy about it.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Of course I’m not happy about the loss, but I meant what I said last night. You already won.” As if she’d timed it, her cell phone rang. She glanced at the screen, then held it up for him to see. “SunTrust Records. They’re the fourth recording studio to call me tonight. That’s in addition to seven booking agents, three talk shows—including Ellen; you are so doing that one—and a guy from the Orioles who wants you to throw out the first pitch at their Fourth of July game. February Stars was an internet sensation and Les is already talking about making it an annual event.”

  “You got all those calls today?”

  She nodded.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Ailis lifted one shoulder, looking far too at home in her role as manager. Jesus, for a second he thought she actually resembled Les. A veritable mini-me. Which was disturbing.

  “Because I wanted your head in the competition. All you needed to focus on tonight was the show.”

  “Still lost,” he muttered, though the sting of that was wearing off really quick.

  “Somebody very wise once told me that life was about winning and losing, not one or the other.”

  Hunter recalled that conversation. “Wise, huh?”

  The two of them turned toward the stage as the crowd’s volume tripled toward the end of Rory’s encore.

  “God. They always know how to time an entrance,” Ailis said as her parents joined Rory onstage to sing.

  And then, Rory surprised him by turning and gesturing for him to join them. He looked at Ailis for approval and she was already nodding enthusiastically. Even so, he hesitated. It felt like this was meant to be Rory’s moment. At least until Les thrust a microphone in his hand and shoved him onstage.

  He hadn’t thought it humanly possible for the already frenetic crowd to get louder, but they did. Hunter stepped nex
t to Rory as Teagan and Sky flanked him and they sang the chorus together, and he knew he was living the number two best moment of his entire life.

  Number one was the night he’d walked into his apartment and found the Dear John letter that led him across town to Ailis.

  The four of them sang “Maybe Tomorrow” together, much to the fans’ delight, and then he, Sky and Teagan left Rory alone to sing just one last encore.

  Best night ever.

  And it only got better when Ailis took his hand and said, “Let’s go celebrate at the pub. I owe Colm some money. Dammit.”

  He laughed and they all rode together. Rory stayed behind with Les as reporters lined up to interview her.

  Several hours later, Hunter and Ailis sat at the bar, surrounded by friends and family. There’d been a million toasts already, and Hunter suspected there would be a million more before this group settled down.

  When cheers erupted, he glanced toward the entrance to discover Rory had entered. He grinned and started to order her a pint, but realized something was off. Ailis had clearly noticed too, because she was already off her stool and three steps toward the woman.

  Rory gave them a weak smile. “Hey, guys, would you mind coming outside with me a minute? I need to talk to you.”

  “What’s wrong?” Ailis asked.

  Rory didn’t reply, just turned and led them outside. They walked a few blocks away from the bustling pub toward the waterfront. They didn’t ask any questions until they were all three standing at the railing, looking at the harbor.

  “Rory—” Hunter started.

  “I’m conceding,” she said quietly.

  “What?” Hunter asked. “No. Hell no.”

  She turned to face him, her expression determined. “My sister collapsed earlier today. She was in ICU until,” Rory swallowed heavily, “a few hours ago…”

  Ailis reached out and took Rory’s hand. “Say it.”

  “She died.”

  Ailis winced, squeezing her eyes closed tightly, unable to hold back the tears for a woman she’d never known.

  Hunter was struck by the difference between her and Rory, who was completely dry-eyed. Numb.

  “She has a four-year-old daughter. My niece, Angel. The love of my life.”

  “Do you have other family?” Hunter asked.

  She shook her head. “Our folks were older parents. They died within a year of each other when my sister and I were in our early twenties.”

  Suddenly Hunter understood why he’d felt such a kinship with this woman. They were both orphans.

  “It’s not unheard of to take a child on the road. I grew up that way and it was a wonderful adventure,” Ailis said.

  Rory refused to consider it. “No. She’s just had her life toppled over. I’m not dragging her out of the world she knows and thrusting her into my crazy existence. I’ve already talked to Les. He knows. He’s working up a press release right now and I’m leaving Baltimore tonight. I need to be,” her voice cracked, revealing the only chink in her tough armor, “with Angel.”

  Ailis reached out, hugging Rory tightly, not bothering to stem her own tears. “She’s lucky to have you for an aunt,” she said thickly.

  Rory smiled though her face reflected disbelief. “I hope so. I don’t know anything about kids.”

  Hunter hugged her next. Though they’d only met a month or so ago, he’d become very fond of her. “We’re gonna meet again on that stage one day, Rory.”

  She laughed quietly. “I’d like that. A lot.” And with that, she gave them one last sad smile and walked away.

  Ailis sniffled quietly as she turned to look at the water.

  He put his arm around her shoulder. “Sure as fuck didn’t want to win that way.”

  A soft sob fell from her lips and she turned as he hugged her. “I know. Talk about winning and losing. Poor Rory just hit both extremes in a matter of hours.”

  “She’s going to be okay. She’s tough, determined, a fighter.”

  “Yeah. I just can’t help but think life sucks sometimes.”

  Hunter tightened his grip. “It does. It really does.”

  They were quiet for several minutes, each lost in their thoughts. He placed a soft kiss on top of her head.

  “That was a whirlwind day,” Hunter said at last. “Not sure we could have crammed in many more highs and lows.”

  She looked up at him, nodding. “I’m sort of numb.”

  “Yeah.” He cupped her cheek affectionately, wiping away the tracks left behind from her tears.

  “Hunter?”

  “Yeah, mouse.”

  “I don’t want to feel numb anymore. Spent too many years of my life just existing. I want to come to life. With you.”

  Hunter took her hand and led her back to the street. They walked in silence to his car and neither of them sought to break the solitude of the moment.

  When they entered his apartment, he locked the door and he pushed her against it as every emotion of the day simmered beneath the surface, threatening to consume him.

  Ailis reached out for him, kissing him, gripping his shirt. He deepened the kiss, pushing his tongue into her mouth. She nipped at his lower lip, drawing blood.

  “Ailis,” he warned.

  She shook him off, refusing to hear what he had to say. Instead, she reached down, grasped the edges of his shirt and pulled it roughly, tearing the fabric and ripping the buttons off.

  “Like that, is it?” he asked with a wolfish grin. He didn’t give her a chance to respond. He wrapped his fist in her long red hair and tugged until she gasped. The pleasure-pain had the desired effect. Her eyes went heavy with need.

  “Pull harder.”

  He complied, thrilled at the reaction his rough touch evoked.

  Ailis began tackling the button and zipper on his jeans. He let her go until the denim was open—God knew his hard cock needed the room—but then he shoved her hands away.

  “Hunter,” she complained, trying to reach inside his pants.

  “Bad girl,” he said, gripping her wrist in an implacable hold as he dragged her to his bedroom.

  “Take off your clothes,” he demanded as soon as they entered.

  She wasted no time, more than ready to take this to the next level. She had no idea what she was rushing toward.

  Even in the dim lighting, he could make out the fading, yellowish bruises from the hit-and-run.

  He resisted the urge to wince every time he saw them. Ailis swore they weren’t sore any longer and he believed her, but that didn’t help calm his anger, his fears, as he was reminded once more that she could have been killed. Over his dreams.

  She caught the direction of his gaze and waggled her finger at him as if he were a naughty boy. “If you go there tonight, I’ll have to punish you.”

  The alpha male in him had just enough pride that her taunt tweaked. “You may run the show when it comes to my career, Ailis, but you’re never going to be in charge in the bedroom.”

  She snorted. “Never is a long time, Hunter.”

  “Not that long,” he muttered as he pressed her back until she fell onto the mattress. He shifted her body until she was in the middle of the bed and pushed inside her without preamble. She was wet and ready for him.

  “No foreplay?” she teased.

  “I wish I had the patience tonight.”

  Ailis cupped his cheek. “I’m glad you don’t. I feel…I need…”

  He kissed her. “I know, mouse. Me too.”

  They came together in a rush, taking and giving, then demanding more. When he sensed she was close, he reached down to stroke her clit, the touch providing just what she needed. Her orgasm struck only seconds before his. Just another way the two of them were in perfect unison. She was the harmony to his melody.

  “I love you, mouse” he whispered once the sensual storm had passed.

  Ailis smiled. “I love you too.”

  Epilogue

  Pop Pop was kicked back in his comfy chair when Ailis arriv
ed. The tour was winding down after nine months of nonstop movement, and she’d decided to grab a quick weekend at home in Baltimore. Hunter had planned to come along, but at the last minute, he’d grabbed a slot on The Tonight Show. As such, the bus had dropped her off before heading on north. He’d return tomorrow, and they’d spend one night in the dorm before moving on again.

  “Hey, Pop Pop,” she said as she entered.

  He stood, a little more slowly than he would have a couple of years ago, but that didn’t matter when he wrapped her up in his seriously strong embrace.

  “There’s my girl. Where’s Hunter?”

  “New York for the night. But he’ll be back tomorrow and he’s hoping the two of you can grab a Guinness at the pub for old time’s sake.”

  “Well now, lass, have you ever known me to turn down an offer of a pint?”

  She laughed. “Never.”

  “Sit down here with me and tell me all about the tour.”

  Ailis grabbed the chair next to him and spent the better part of an hour telling him all the places they’d been, while sharing funny stories of life on the road that she knew he would embellish and retell his cronies at the pub.

  Occasionally, Pop Pop managed to get a word in or ask a question. It took her a while to realize she was worse than a damn telemarketer, and she grinned guiltily.

  “Sorry,” she said.

  “Never apologize for sharing your happiness, Ailis. I must admit, you’re a sight for these sore old eyes.”

  She started to tell another story, but her gaze landed on Pop Pop’s wall of photographs. For as long as she could remember, her frame had held a picture of her taken in the library her junior year of college. Pop Pop had latched on to and refused to change it because he said it captured her essence. And for so many years, it had. It revealed an intelligent, serious, quiet, thoughtful…mouse. She’d always thought she looked pretty in it, and she’d taken Pop Pop’s comment about her essence as a compliment.

  But now… She stood up and walked closer.

  “Where did you get this picture?” she asked, leaning forward to study the photograph. It was a fun one of her and Hunter standing together outside the pub. They were wrapped up in coats and she was curled up behind him, hugging him as he looked over his shoulder at her as if she hung the moon.