by Adele Hart
“Just a trim?” I came to the same guy each month. He knew who I was and didn’t care.
“Yep, that’s all I need.”
“Keep it simple, son.”
The way he always called me son made me smile. Hell, for all I knew he could be my father. When people asked about my parents, I told them I was hatched from an egg. Abandoned at eight by a drug addict mom, I lived in the system until I was eighteen, and then on the streets until Felix Harper happened upon me. I was twenty-two. That was six years ago.
“Simple is the best.”
Twenty minutes later, I was back in my car and heading for home. As I pulled up to the gate, I saw her. She sat on the ground with her chin on her knees. Her long hair floated over her shoulders. When she glanced up, my heart stalled. Fucking gorgeous. It wasn’t unusual for a fan to camp out at my gate, but it was unusual for me to notice anything about them. Maybe sobriety wasn’t the best idea. At least drunk, I walked through life unaware of my surroundings. This woman couldn’t be ignored. Long hair, eyes that pierced my soul, and when she stood, I noticed she had curves for fucking days. Big tits, narrow waist, and an ass I wanted to bite.
I rolled down the window and said something unexpected. “If you’re looking for a good time, I might be in the mood.”
Eyes like brilliant gemstones opened wide. Her full lips dropped open and then closed. With a head tilt to the left she said, “Is that right?”
“Sure, baby.” I clicked the gate open. “Come on in, and we’ll get better acquainted.”
“Perfect,” she said. “Let me get my car.”
I watched her flawless ass disappear in my rear view mirror. Maybe today wouldn’t be so bad after all. A quick lay and an early night sounded like exactly what I needed before the stress of a month on the road.
When a white car pulled behind me, I drove inside and closed the gate behind us. I pulled into the garage while she parked on the circular drive in front of the door. She climbed out of the sedan and leaned against the hood. Yep, this woman was exactly my type. She’d be in my bed in minutes and out of my life forever. Perfect.
“Since you know who I am, I think it’s only fair you tell me your name.”
Her smile made my dick twitch. “Since we’re going to get really close very soon, I think it’s fair.”
I put my arm around her shoulder and walked her up the stairs to my front door. “Now we’re talking.”
She turned toward me and looked up with those brilliant green eyes of hers. “My name is Gia Simone, and I’ll be with you every minute of the next month.”
“Fuck me,” I said when it became apparent that I’d just propositioned my warden.
“Not a chance, mister.”
Chapter Three
Gia
The heat of a blush rose to my face. Abel Kincaid just propositioned me. I inhaled deeply to make sure he wasn’t doused in liquor. I looked into his eyes to make sure he wasn’t high. All I got was a whiff of pure male mixed with aftershave. Reflecting back at me were beautiful hazel eyes that were more green than blue.
“Felix said you were on your way, but I didn’t expect a home visit.”
“Felix?” I stepped back and put some distance between us. Not only did Abel smell good, but he was sex dipped in chocolate and covered with a bad attitude. “Man with a high pitched nasally voice that talks on fast forward—last name Hopper?”
He keyed in a code and the door popped open. “That would be the one.”
I nodded. “He called in a 9-1-1 to me and gave me your address.” I followed Abel inside what could only be described as a mansion. The entryway was bigger than my apartment. In the center of the room sat a large table covered with mail. He tossed his keys on top of everything and walked through double wide doors into a living room that looked over Malibu Canyon. In the distance was an ocean backdrop.
“As you can see, I’m fine.” He kicked off his shoes and walked into the adjoining kitchen. “Since you’re here, can I get you a drink?”
I lifted my brow. “Water is fine.” One of the problems I was supposed to keep an eye on was alcohol consumption. After a more thorough stalking on the internet, I found the information about the loss of his friend Debra Tyler and his fall into an alcohol haze.
“I’m not offering you a vodka IV drip. I’ve got soda and coffee and tea.” He opened the refrigerator where I saw a shelf of his favorite orange soda.
“Water is fine.”
He opened the cupboard where neatly placed glasses lined the shelves. He pointed to the table next to the window. “Have a seat.”
I did as he asked. “Seems we might have gotten off to a rough start. Would you like to begin over?”
He handed me a glass of ice water and sat across from me. The hiss of carbonation escaped his newly opened can. He stared at me for a long time. “You’re not who I would have expected them to send.”
I wasn’t sure if that was bad or good. “You mean long legged, anorexic, and preserved?” I tossed my hair over my shoulders. He may have propositioned me, but it wasn’t because he found me hot. It was probably because I was there.
His strong jaw tensed. “No, you look smart.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, that might be the nicest compliment I can expect from you so I’ll take it.”
He sipped his soda and leaned back in his chair. The soft cotton of his shirt hugged his chest like a desperate lover, showing every ripple of muscle. My insides twisted with lust. If I’d been in a different situation, I would have taken him up on his good time offer, but I needed this job more than a roll in what would no doubt be high-thread-count, Egyptian cotton sheets.
“You know, I really don’t need a sitter.”
After a talk with his manager, I knew this conversation was coming, so on the drive over here I’d formulated a plan to be honest and tell him he may not need me, but I needed him. Hopefully he was like most men and needed to have his ego stroked.
“I know, but I really need this job. So if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to stay and earn my keep. I’m good at many things. I’m organized. I’m quiet. I won’t be in your way. You’ll hardly know I’m around unless you need me or want me.”
He lifted his right brow, and I thought he might smile, but his lips never made it that far. “Oh, I want you, but I imagine what I want is off the table.” His gaze lingered on my lips, then dropped to my breasts.
My damn traitorous nipples hardened into stone. Without looking, I knew they were pointing at him like the Uncle Sam poster that read, “I Want YOU.”
I lifted my shoulders. “Sorry, those services aren’t for sale.”
“No?” He pulled his lower lip between his teeth. I wished it were my lip he was biting. Something told me that Abel would be able. Able to make my body squirm. Able to make me scream his name. Able to break my heart.
“Speaking of your proposition, I imagine you’re sitting there wondering how to apologize to me for being so inappropriate.” The only way to set the tone was to set the boundaries. “No need. I’m sure it’s a workplace hazard for you to have so many women throwing themselves at you, but don’t worry, I don’t find you the least bit attractive.” I swallowed the lie. It stuck in my throat like dried toast.
His eyes focused on my chest. He nodded and smiled. “I can see that.”
I nearly fell off my seat. I’d succeeded in my goal of making him smile within the first hour. I needed to up my game with Abel Kincaid. Maybe my goal should be to keep him smiling.
I crossed my hands over my chest. “What can I do to help make life easier for you while you’re on the tour?”
A confused look crossed his face. “That’s a first for me. Normally, it’s me trying to make life easier for everyone else.”
I never considered that he would be a giver and not a taker. My experience with Arm Candy was always that the celebrity was used to getting whatever they wanted all the time. We dealt with spoiled, entitled rich men and women who needed a dose of real
ity. What I read about Abel, however, was that he’d had a large dose of reality when his friend Deb overdosed. Though he seemed to spiral out of control, the news reports always overstated things.
“How about I take that off your plate? Are we talking about everything from food to clothes?”
There was that smile again. “I can feed myself, but if you’re offering to dress me I’ll sign up for that.”
I reached over and pinched him. Actually pinched my client and it shocked the hell out of him. “I’m talking about making sure your stage clothes are ready, your favorite foods are available, and your personal time is respected.”
“Well, damn it. You can’t blame a guy for trying.”
This time I laughed. “I appreciate the ego boost but let’s be honest. I’m not really the groupie type. Like you said, I’m smart. Smarter than to get involved with a rock god.”
I pulled a notebook out of my bag and jotted down a few items. While we spoke I glanced around his place and noticed the bags of cheese puffs on the counter. There was an open box of protein bars on the table. I made a note of the brand and flavor. Plugged into the wall was a lavender air freshener. These were the things that made life on the road more bearable.
“You’re lucky day then. I’d never be considered a rock god. I’ve been likened to James Arthur, Sam Smith, even Ed Sheeran, but never a rock god.”
He stood and walked to the counter where he leaned against the hard stone surface. I took him in from his dark hair to his broad shoulders, narrow hips, and long strong legs that fit his perfectly worn jeans. Maybe not a rock god but Abel was definitely a god—a damn sexy one at that.
“Felix told me to meet the crew at the recording studio at eight.” I tucked my notebook into my purse. “Do you have any special requests?” I hung my purse from my shoulder and stood.
“You’re traveling on the buses?”
“That’s what I’m told.”
“Where will you sleep?”
I thought about what I told my father. “I’ll sandwich between the lead guitarist and the bass player.”
“Bullshit. Those two would eat you alive.”
Again, my cheeks heated. “Oh.”
“Oh, is right, and I’m not talking about the pleasurable kind of oral activities between consenting adults. They’d tear you to pieces.”
“I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself.”
“You better hope so. You’re going to be the only female traveling with a group of musicians and roadies.”
“How many buses do you have?”
“We travel heavy because I’m not good with sharing. I have a private bus. The band has a bus, and the roadies travel in rigs in advance to set up.”
I glanced over my shoulder as I walked out of the room. “I bet you share a lot while you’re on the road.” How many women had experienced Abel’s ability to share while he was on tour? My eyes drifted to the bulge in his pants that hung right. “A lot.”
I hurried to the entryway and stopped at the table. “What about all this stuff?” I pointed to the piles of mail.
“I haven’t had the time or the desire to go through it. I’m sure most of it is junk.”
I started to stack the envelopes in a pile. “How about I sort them and weed out the junk. I won’t open them, just sort them by what I can see.”
“I used to have an assistant.”
I gave him a curious look. “Got tired of your generous personality? Were you trying to share with her too?” I made three piles of mail, each about a foot tall.
“No, she had a baby.”
“Yours?”
“No. I don’t share with just anyone.” He dumped out the toothpaste and toothbrush from a grocery bag and stuffed it full of the envelopes. “Knock yourself out. You can open what you want. My life isn’t that interesting.” He held out the bag.
My fingers brushed against his as I took it. I swear his touch burned. It heated me all the way to my practical cotton underwear.
“Anything else you want me to do?”
He gave me a look that told me exactly what he wanted me to do, and it had nothing to do with going through his mail.
He let out a heavy sigh. “See you tomorrow, Gia.”
“That you will, Mr. Kincaid.”
He rushed forward and opened the door. His voice and breath neared my ear. “I'm Abel.”
I brushed past him. “I bet you are.”
I left with his laughter echoing behind me.
Chapter Four
Abel
I didn’t sleep much last night with thoughts of Deb and Gia racing through my head. My thoughts of Deb always made me melancholy, but when I thought about Gia, I smiled. Smiled so much my damn jaw hurt.
She was in so far over her head, but I loved her spirit. She gave as much as she took. That would get her a long way with this group.
When I arrived at the buses, she was standing there holding at least a dozen bags. The crew was lined up in front of her.
“I’ve got ham and cheese, ham and cheese with egg, cheese and egg, plain and sausage.”
Toby the bass player called out, “I’ve got a sausage for you.”
She stepped out of the line and handed him a bag. “Perfect, then it’s a plain bagel for you.”
“But I wanted—”
“Want in one hand and stick your sausage in the other. Next time mind your manners and you might get a choice.”
Toby walked away murmuring something about the trouble with prickly women.
The rest of the crew fell in line. They weren’t used to being treated this well. Usually they showed up to a box of granola bars and a case of canned orange juice.
The last man filed past Gia.
“Anything left for me?” I let my eyes float over her body. She was back in black. This time jeans and a button down shirt that hid too much of what I was certain would be beautiful breasts.
“What do you want?” She held up two bags.
“Do we need to clarify that again?”
“Eat,” she huffed out. “What do you want to eat?”
A smile took over my face. I loved seeing her get flustered. Maybe having a babysitter wouldn’t be so bad.
“You offering, baby?”
She shoved a bag into my chest. “No sausage for you either.”
She walked toward the band bus. I reached out and grabbed her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“All the help travels in that bus.”
I looked over her shoulder at the band. I didn’t like the way they were looking at her. Not that they’d do anything, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to share her with anyone.
“You got my mail sorted?”
She straightened her shoulders and stood tall. “I already told you I’m efficient. It’s sorted and on the table in your bus.”
“You’ve been on my bus?”
“Yes. It’s a nice bus. I’ve set things up to make your life easier.”
One of the reasons I traveled alone was because I liked things the way I liked them. “What did you do?”
“Stop worrying and take a look.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and walked her to my bus. The boys in the band hooted and hollered until I flipped them off.
When I walked inside, I was shocked. What once smelled like diesel fuel and stale beer smelled like lavender. Small baskets dotted the tables and were filled with my favorites like cheese puffs, peanut butter protein bars, and red licorice.
“How did you know?” I walked down the aisle toward my bedroom. I was afraid to walk inside. This woman had already blown me away. If she had anything else for me in there, I might never let her leave.
“It’s my job to know.” She followed me into the room.
My bed was made and in the fridge was an array of drinks from my favorite orange soda to a selection of everything from sugar free to energy drinks.
“Really, how did you know? The people closest to me don’t get it right.”<
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She stood in the doorway and leaned against the jamb. “Most people see what’s on the surface. I tend to look deeper.” She pulled her phone out and scrolled through at least a dozen photos of me. She expanded one to show me holding an orange soda. There were four more with the same brand.
“Thank you, Gia. I don’t need a sitter but …” I walked over and grabbed the still cold can and popped the top. The spray of carbonation bubbled into the air.
“I imagine you need someone to pay attention to the important stuff.”
Maybe that was what was missing from my life. Since Deb died, no one had been genuinely interested in me. Sure they liked the music, the money the music brought me, or in the case of my manager and crew, what the music brought them, but no one had truly had taken the time to dig into who I was until Gia.
“I’m happy to ride with the crew. They seem like a good bunch of guys.”
The bus lurched forward sending her falling into the room. I managed to step forward in time to catch her from hitting the floor, but I stumbled back from her momentum and we both landed on the bed. Me under her. Her body pressed me into the mattress and I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel fabulous.
“Sorry.” She squirmed on top of me.
The press of her hips on mine made my cock jump with excitement. My hands gripped her hips and held her close to me. “I wanted you in my bed, but I expected it to be different.”
Her hands pressed against my chest. “Sorry to disappoint you.”
She wiggled out of my grip and fell to her knees between my legs. I immediately sat up. “This works too.”
Seeing her big eyes look up at me from her place between my legs caused an immediate reaction. Her eyes grew bigger as I did.
She bolted to her feet and stepped backward. “Are you always so bold?”
“You bring out the best in me.”
She retreated to the door. “Or the worst. Behave yourself.”
“Or what? You’re going to take away my sausage?” I looked down at my hard length pressing against my jeans.
