Something True

by Malia Mallory

  As the last note resonated within the guitar, Maddie said, “My mom liked that song.”

  “I’m glad to hear that. It makes me happy to bring music to people.”

  “My mom is dead.” Maddie looked away.

  Liam winced. “I’m sorry, Maddie. My mum is dead as well.”

  “She is?” She seemed to perk up at the thought of having something in common with Liam, even if it was something tragic.

  “Yeah, it sucks, but I know my mum wanted me to be happy, and I imagine yours did, too.”

  Maddie nodded.

  Liam shook Maddie’s hand. “Thanks for letting us play for you today, Maddie.”

  “Will you come again?”

  Liam glanced at Shelley. “If you’d like.”

  A ghost of a smile passed over Maddie’s face.

  Shelley was elated. This was the most responsive Maddie had ever been. “We’ll see you again soon, Maddie.”

  ~ * ~ * ~

  After they settled into the car, Shelley turned to Liam. “I’ve been trying to reach Maddie a long time. You accomplished in one visit what I couldn’t.”

  “Maddie’s a sweet girl.”

  “Yes, she is. You’re good with kids. I’m ashamed to admit I wasn’t sure you would be.” The car coughed as Shelley turned the key.

  “I want to help. I see what you mean about it being hard. It’s tough to see kids in that position.” Liam rolled down his window, letting the heat escape.

  “Yes, but it’s worthwhile.” Shelley pulled out of the parking lot and turned on the AC.

  Liam reached for the control and turned the air up to max. “So, where should we go for our second date?”

  Shelley turned the AC back down and rolled up the window on Liam’s side. “Date? What are you talking about? How can we have a second date?”

  Liam turned the air conditioning up one notch and aimed his vent at his face. “We had our first date already. The In-N-Out?”

  Shelley adjusted the controls back. “Stop messing with the controls. That wasn’t a date.”

  “I beg to differ. It was a date. I asked you out. You said yes. We ate food. That’s a date.” Liam tapped the dashboard for emphasis.

  Shelley shook her head. “We shared a meal after a long day. As friends.”

  “That we did, but it was still a date,” Liam insisted.

  “Liam, we are not dating.” Shelley didn’t want to date anyone right now, especially someone who was likely to break her already bruised heart.

  “We aren’t? Why not?”

  “Because. Because we aren’t, that’s why,” Shelley sputtered.

  “We could be.”

  “Guys like you don’t date women like me.” There. She’d said it. He’d have to acknowledge she wasn’t his type.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” He sounded truly confused.

  “Isn’t there a supermodel somewhere waiting by the phone for you to call?”

  “No.”

  Shelley huffed with frustration. “Liam …”

  “I’m a nice guy. You should give me a chance.”

  “You are nice. You’re funny, too.” Liam had proved he was more than the image he projected to the world.

  “See? You do like me,” Liam quipped.

  Shelley snapped her mouth closed.

  ~ * ~ * ~

  Liam followed Shelley into her office and closed the door. He reached for her shoulder and slowly turned her around, his eyes searching her face.

  Shelley tilted her head up to meet Liam’s gaze. A soft, slow smile curled her lips. Was this happening? This was totally happening. Liam was going to kiss her. And she wanted him to—badly. In the second before his lips met hers, Shelley realized she’d been waiting for this. Her desire to taste Liam had been growing and growing since the first moment he flashed that cocky smile at her, whether she wanted to admit it or not.

  His lips were firm against hers, and the tip of his tongue sought entrance into her mouth. Shelley parted her lips and pleasure flooded her as his tongue swept inside, the tip rubbing against hers.

  She trembled and Liam moved closer. The hard muscles of his chest pressed against her breasts. Her nipples tightened and she clutched his shoulders for balance.

  Liam kissed his way down her throat and pulled her shirt off her shoulder. He nipped her exposed skin with his teeth. “You’re so kissable. I want to kiss every inch of you.”

  Liam returned to her mouth with a deep, drugging kiss. Shelley shivered, wanting nothing more than to sink right into him.

  Liam’s hand found its way between her legs and squeezed her thigh. He slid his fingers up and cupped her mound, catching Shelley’s sensual cry in his mouth. His hand scorched her through the fabric of her pants and his fingers searched out her most intimate secrets.

  As if the fabric between their skin didn’t exist, he rubbed her, gently, then with increasing ardor. Shelley shook as a jolt of molten pleasure shot through her core.

  “Liam, Liam,” Shelley whispered.

  “Do you like that?” Liam concentrated his efforts in one spot, caressing her in a slow circle. “I know you do. I can tell.”

  “Yessss …” The blaze turned to an inferno and Shelley fell over the edge, spasming inside. Heated pleasure loosened her muscles, and she held onto Liam, her anchor in the sensual storm. As she came back to herself, she rested against his chest.

  Liam kissed her forehead. “I want to be inside you the next time that happens, but this probably isn’t the time or place.”

  Shelley jerked up, whacking him in the chin with her head. “What are we doing? Anyone could walk in.”

  Liam rubbed his jaw with his fingers. “Ouch. Is that the thanks I get?”

  Shelley’s mouth opened and closed as confusion spun through her.

  “I’m sorry, sorta, that things got a little out of hand.” Liam’s apology was at odds with the satisfied expression on his face.

  “A little out of hand?” Shelley combed her fingers through her hair with jerky movements.

  “You were right there with me, and I’m not sorry about that.”

  “Yes.” Shelley blushed.

  “Don’t be embarrassed.”

  “I’m not embarrassed,” Shelley responded. “I’m trying to discourage you.”

  “That didn’t seem much like discouragement.”

  “I know.” Oh, did she know. This man knew just how to touch her to make her lose her head.

  “Why over think it? Why not roll with it and see where it goes?”

  “I’m not the roll with it type.” Shelley was a planner—organized to a fault. She arranged and scheduled, preferring to know what was coming.

  “How about not shutting me out before we know what this is?”

  Shelley smiled crookedly. “I’ll try.”

  Chapter 4

  Her phone buzzed and Shelley put it to her ear. “Hey Vera, what’s up?” Her agent was a no-nonsense type of woman and Shelley admired that. She preferred someone straightforward. Her first agent had been full of promises and reassurance, but had achieved little in the way of results.

  “Sweetie, are you sitting down?” Vera asked in her gravelly voice.

  Shelley squirmed in her seat. “Errr … yeah?” Vera’s tone gave nothing away; it was equally likely to be good or bad news.

  “Well,” Vera paused dramatically, “with the success of Dixie Dog, you received an invitation to appear on an awards show.”

  “What? Are you kidding?” Shelley was a huge fan of award shows. She loved them all and was known for her annual Oscars party.

  “Not. Kidding. The show is the 18th. They want you to perform. They can’t guarantee your segment will be televised, but you’ll get to play and, if time permits, it will be broadcast.”

  Shelley’s pulse raced. “Wow. I’m in shock. I don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you’ll be booking a ticket to New York. It’s at Radio City.”

  “Oh, no.” Shelley’s elation crashe
d to earth with a silent thud.

  Blissfully unaware, Vera breezed on. “You’d probably need to go on Wednesday to be safe. Rehearsals are on Thursday and the audience taping is Friday.”

  Shelley slumped down into her chair. “But Vera, KC’s Kidz has a charity event that week. It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year. I can’t miss that.”

  Vera’s sigh came over the line. “This could be career-changing. It would take you to the next level. I don’t recommend you bypass this. When they pull out a chair at the big table, you sit down.”

  “But Vera—”

  “No buts. I knew this day was coming. Your commitment to KC’s Kidz is admirable, but you have to think of your own career as well. Plus, visibility for you is visibility for KC’s Kidz.”

  “I suppose that is true,” Shelley murmured.

  “Surely, you have someone there who can take over the host duties at the dinner. If you don’t, find someone. It’s high time you let someone else pick up some of the load.”

  Shelley bit her lip. Vera was right when she said Shelley didn’t delegate much beyond menial tasks. The charity was her baby, and she’d always been in charge of every aspect.

  “You know what? I’m having my assistant book the ticket. I don’t want to debate this any further. You can’t pass this up. Do you want to return on Saturday?”

  “Yeah.” Shelley agreed before she could think it all through.

  “You need a hotel?” Vera asked.

  “No, I’ll call my cousin. I can probably stay with her.” Her mind raced through the list of possible hosts for the charity event.

  “Perfect. It’ll be great. You’ll see. Once you’re on the radar, you’ll be the one receiving awards, not just presenting them,” Vera predicted.

  “Presenting?” Shelley turned her attention back to Vera.

  “I didn’t get to that part yet. Not only do they want you to perform Dixie Dog, you’ll get to present an award.”

  “I don’t know, Vera.” When she performed live, Shelley could hide in the music. Patter wasn’t something that came that naturally

  “Don’t give it a thought. They have a teleprompter and they tell you exactly what to say.”

  “I don’t have anything appropriate to wear to this.” Shelley’s discomfort reasserted itself.

  “What were you wearing to the fund-raising dinner?” Vera asked.

  “The same black silk dress I wore last year.” Paired with some nice jewelry, the dress worked fine since Shelley’s dress wardrobe was limited.

  “Take it along with a few other outfits. I’m sure there will be a stylist who can help you out. You might want something different for your performance.”

  The enormity of the opportunity washed over Shelley and her stomach flipped.

  “When I have the flight information, I’ll email you. Don’t be nervous. Be excited.”

  Shelley hung up and sat motionless at her desk. She was stunned. She’d always wanted success. She’d worked toward it, but she realized a part of her never expected to achieve it. She’d never imagined a future beyond a small apartment, an old dented car, and a never-ending battle to help children through KC’s Kidz. She’d never let herself be open to the disappointment. She’d seen so many talented musicians beat themselves up over “making it.” What was that, anyway? If you had food on the table, clothes on your back and could keep the phone connected, did that count? Were you only relevant if you sold a million albums or played sold-out shows before thousands? Shelley told herself she hadn’t wanted to subject herself to constant disappointment, but maybe that was just another way of selling herself short.

  A knock sounded on her door and Liam stepped inside.

  “Hey, what’s wrong? Are you okay?” Shelley’s slumped posture gave her mood away.

  Shelley took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. “Yes. I’m fine, I just have a conflict.”

  “When it comes to conflict, I’m your boy. What’s the problem?”

  “I’ve been invited to perform at an awards show.” Shelley still couldn’t believe it. Vera’s words echoed in her head.

  “Oh hey, that’s fantastic! Congratulations.” Liam hugged her tight.

  “Thanks, but it’s the same night as the KC’s Kidz annual fund-raising dinner.” Shelley bit her lip.

  “Oh, that’s a problem.” Shelley and her volunteers had been meticulously planning the event for months.

  “Yes, it is,” Shelley agreed.

  Liam lifted his hand. “It is a problem for which I have a solution.”

  “You do?” Shelley played with her bracelet, turning it around and around on her wrist.

  “I do,” Liam replied.

  “What?” Shelley hadn’t figured out a solution yet. How had Liam?

  “I’ll stand in as host for you,” Liam suggested.

  “Liam, I don’t know about that.” He hadn’t even been on the list of people she’d been formulating.

  “I can be your special surprise host. I can do this,” Liam assured her.

  “I’d been thinking about asking my sister.” Kate would be nervous, but she cared as much about KC’s Kidz as Shelley did.

  “Have her do it, too. We’ll be co-hosts. I’ll be the surprise special guest.”

  Shelley took a deep breath. “It might work.”

  “It will totally work. Why wouldn’t it work?” Liam asked with complete confidence.

  “Liam, you’re … I mean, I’m the face of KC’s Kidz and I have been a long time.” Donors expected her presence at the event.

  “Everyone will understand. It’s a tremendous opportunity. It could bring KC’s Kidz even more attention. Who could argue with that?”

  “I could, but I guess I won’t.” KC’s Kidz was strong enough to get by without her for one night, even if it was their biggest fundraiser. There were lots of dedicated volunteers and most of the attendees would be former donors.

  “Plus, you’ll owe me big,” Liam added with a satisfied smile.

  “I will?” Shelley tried to imagine where Liam was going with this.

  “Of course you will. I’m doing you a favor, right?”

  “I suppose so.” Shelley couldn’t hide the suspicion in her voice.

  “I even have something in mind—for how you can repay me.”

  “What?” Shelley said cautiously.

  “Let me take you out to dinner.”

  “Take me out?” Shelley thought he might ask her for a kiss and shook herself when she felt a twinge of disappointment.

  “Yeah, for a nice dinner.” Liam grinned as if he knew her thoughts.

  “How is that me doing you a favor?” Shelley asked.

  “Because you are gracing me with the pleasure of your company,” Liam responded, as if it were perfectly obvious.

  “Liam, that seems unwise.” Shelley was trying to back away from Liam, not get closer.

  “What? Eating dinner?”

  “You know what I mean.”

  “No, I really don’t know what you mean. If I didn’t think you liked me, a tiny bit, I wouldn’t ask you. But I like you, a tiny bit, and I think maybe you like me, a tiny bit, so why not get to know each other better?”

  Shelley liked Liam more than a tiny bit, but she wasn’t going to give him more ammunition. He was a heartache waiting to happen and that was something she didn’t need. “Liam …”

  “Come on, seriously? Dinner?”

  Her objection seemed petty in light of his generous offer to host the fund-raising event. “Okay, fine.”

  “Wow, such enthusiasm. It might go to my head.”

  Shelley laughed.

  “So, tonight?”

  “Not something fancy, though.”

  “No problem. I’m on a budget, anyway.” Liam winked. The idea of Liam needing to be on a budget was laughable, but it was possible to overspend, even if you were a multi-millionaire.

  ~ * ~ * ~

  The driver pulled to the curb outside the latest hot spot, and Shelley w
as tempted not to get out of the car. “Liam, I said no place expensive. Plus, I’m not dressed for this place.” Her cotton skirt and matching top weren’t going to cut it.

  “I reserved a private table in the back, so don’t even worry about what you’re wearing. And this place is less expensive than flying you to Paris for dinner.”

  “Paris. For dinner.” Shelley shook her head with disbelief.

  “It’s a long flight, so maybe more like breakfast,” Liam teased.

  “Liam …” He always shot down all her objections, but maybe she wanted him to.

  “This is much cheaper.” Liam pointed inside.

  “I’m sure it is,” Shelley responded dryly.

  Liam took Shelley’s hand. “I’d like to buy you a nice meal. Please let me.”

  “All right.” Did anyone refuse Liam when he turned on the charm? She didn’t think so.

  The hostess led them through the restaurant to a high-backed booth out of the view of other patrons. Shelley tried to ignore the stares and did to some extent. Did this mean she was getting used to the crazy attention Liam garnered?

  “I hope it’s cool with you, but I arranged for the tasting menu for both of us.”

  “Okay.” Shelley was relieved she didn’t have to try to figure out the menu.

  “That was easy.”

  “Liam, I’m not being contrary on purpose. I just don’t know what you want.” Well, maybe she did, but she wasn’t sure it was what she wanted.

  “What I want is to get to know you better. Seriously. I mean it.”

  “I believe you.” She’d gotten past thinking Liam was some kind of player. He wasn’t. But he could have his pick of women.

  “I know you don’t get it yet, but I hope you will. I don’t come from a privileged background. I’m not going to lie and say I don’t like my house or I don’t like buying cool cars, but I like to spend my time with people who are real. You’re real.”

  “By LA standards, I suppose so.” She’d met her share of fakes and phonies, especially in the music industry.

  “By any standards.”

  The hell of it was, she enjoyed Liam’s company. She didn’t want to resist him.

  Their server appeared at their table. “Wine for the first course.”

  Liam swirled the wine in his glass and raised it for a toast.

  Shelley tapped her glass to his and took a sip. As the smooth, dry flavor of the wine saturated her tongue, she decided to simply relax. She would allow herself to enjoy this evening—good food and good company.