And she'd quickly moved on. To a New York suit, who was his complete and total opposite. Getting good and roaring drunk that night had been the first of many mistakes.
Soft steps sounded behind him. "Luke?"
Audrey's voice, sultry and low, spiked his heart rate into the sky. Heart in his throat, he turned.
Dark hair tumbled well past her shoulders. Light blue eyes, wide and surprised, searched his. She wore a simple black t-shirt, black shorts showcasing sexy legs, and strappy black sandals with mile high heels. The thin gold bracelets adorning her wrists jangled as she linked her fingers together.
"Hey." He managed to get out the word despite the air backing up in his lungs. Seeing her so close, something swirled deep in his core. The urge to reach out and touch her burned through his arms. He plowed his fingers through his hair and then let his hands fall to his sides.
She mirrored his stance. "What are you doing here?"
His heart fell. "I... uh... I spoke to Irisa and thought—" Shit, this was hard. Everything he'd rehearsed on the plane sounded so stupid and trite. "I thought you'd want to talk." He sighed and raked his fingers through his hair again.
"I do. I just thought you'd call."
Okay. Better. "Not my style. As you know." He paused a moment when she didn't return his smile. He couldn't talk to her here, while her assistant hovered. "So... you want to get some coffee or something? I have a proposition to discuss with you."
Her brows arched. She opened her mouth, then glanced at her assistant, and then at the slim gold watch on her wrist. "I have a client coming in soon for a dress fitting."
That wasn't a no. But it also wasn't a yes. He inhaled a short breath that didn't help the tightness in his chest. "I can wait." His gaze flashed to one of the uncomfortable looking chairs across from Blondie's desk.
Her gaze jumped from his eyes to his lips, then back again. "Can you give me an hour? I can meet you at the coffee shop on the corner."
She'd agreed. Sweet relief eased his muscles. The sunlight streaming through the window beamed brighter. "Sure. I'll... uh... let you get back to work." Tucking his hands in his back pockets, he backed up a step toward the door. "See you soon, Sunshine."
Her eyes widened again and a tremulous smile graced her lips. "I'll see you then."
Too late, he realized what he'd said. But he didn't care so much. Before, he'd been cool and too far removed. He'd never opened up about how he'd felt and it had cost him. No more.
Now, he'd do whatever he had to do for a chance to win her heart.
***
Sunshine. Five minutes since he'd left and Audrey was still replaying that endearment over and over in her mind. He'd looked... wonderful... just as she'd remembered. Tall and muscular, dark messy hair short on the sides and longer on top, and a light beard gracing the sculpted bones of his face. The face she'd conjured in her mind countless times since they'd last met. The air between them had seemed charged—nothing new there.
She'd known by asking Irisa about Luke she might be cracking open a door, but she hadn't expected it to burst wide less than twenty-four hours later. And with some type of proposition, no less.
Nerves buzzed in her stomach, more potent than the strongest cup of coffee. She ran her fingers over the garment in front of her. The pale blue silk nearly matched Luke's eyes. Eyes she could get lost in...
Stop.
Annoyed with how easily she'd lost concentration, she snapped her attention to pulling the needle and thread through the fabric. It needed to be perfect. All of her designs did. Focusing on anything other than her business was a mistake. It was all she had. The past few years had shown her that the road to love was riddled with frustration, disappointment, and heartache.
Romance didn't work.
Romance with rockers especially didn't work.
And, that fast, Luke was back in her head. Sighing, she set aside the needle and thread and crossed the room. Her desk was cluttered with sketch books, fabric swatches, and her agenda and to-do list for her upcoming show. Behind it all, tucked into a design book, was her backstage pass from The Fury's last concert in the city. She pulled it out and ran her hand over the glossy plastic card.
The first time she'd met Luke, a connection so strong had slammed through her like she'd known him forever, even though they'd never met before. When their gazes had locked, her head had skipped a beat, but she'd been dating Rob and cheating wasn't in her make-up. Not even when their relationship hit rough times did she consider giving into impulse. Not even when it had ended and she was free to follow her heart. She'd hung out a lot with Luke on that leg of the last tour and their connection was palpable—stronger than ever. But he kept getting pulled away by the fans, the band, and the media. Just like Rob always did.
And now, Luke was here. To see her. Questions and tender thoughts swirling in her brain like thread on a spinning wheel, she placed the pass into the book and returned it to the shelf.
Renee sauntered in, blonde strands streaming over her shoulders. Her ever-efficient assistant carried a notepad and pen in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. "The caterer called to finalize the head count for the show, and the rental company needs you to sign off on one more thing."
Right. The show. The thing that she'd been throwing all her time and energy into for months. Two weeks to go, and the nerves were already building. Her first show since the breakup. Her professional collaboration with Rob Hawke had put her designs on the map and made them synonymous with rockers. Hopefully, that success would continue even though her personal relationship with him had ended.
"Thanks. I'll take care of both right away."
Renee came to a stop in front of her desk. She reached for the event checklist. "I love that you're making the show look like a rock concert."
"Putting the clothes in their element is the best way to showcase them." Everything had to go perfectly with the show. A who's who list of the top names in the music industry would be in attendance. Knocking them out of their socks was the goal. Nothing else would do.
"I'll try to keep from fan-girling all over the place. I still can't believe the bands that are coming."
Audrey stifled a groan. The last thing she needed was her assistant bouncing up to people and hounding them for an autograph. "I know you're excited. The first time can be overwhelming, especially if you're a huge fan of a certain band, but we need to be professional. This isn't just about the rock stars. If we impress the director of the domestic violence program, we'll be able to partner up with them to provide clothes for women and men starting their lives over. That means so much to me. I really want to work with them."
"Don't worry, boss. I won't embarrass you or myself. I promise." Renee held up her hand, thumb crossed over her palm. "Scout's honor."
"Thank you." She wasn't too worried. Renee might be young, but she was damn good at her job. Audrey turned back to the blue silk and picked up the needle. A peek at her watch revealed a fifteen minute wait until her client was due. Keeping busy would make the time pass faster. As she pulled the thread through the fabric, she took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.
"So." Renee raised her brows and shifted her cup from hand to hand. "I realize I've only been working with you for a few months, but are you going to clue me in on Mister Tall, Dark, and Brooding?"
Audrey smiled at the apt description and leaned against her desk. "Luke and I have been... friends, I guess, for a while. The last time I saw him ended awkwardly."
"Sounds juicy. What happened?"
"He asked me out but I turned him down. I refuse to date another rock star."
"From what I could tell, sparks were flying between you two."
"Sparks aren't enough. It's... complicated. I hadn't heard from him since then. I have no idea what he wants to talk to me about."
"Proposition sounds intriguing. He looked pretty determined when he walked in. I guess you'll find out when you see him." Renee gathered scraps of extra material into a pile. "I can h
andle the fitting if you want to head over to him now."
"That's all right. I'm not flitting off anywhere. Business comes first." Audrey glanced at her watch and tapped her foot against the frustration flowing through her muscles.
Speculating about Luke was going to dominate her thoughts no matter what.
This time, she wasn't getting her hopes up.
Chapter Three
The coffee shop buzzed with music and murmured conversations from the other patrons. Luke leaned back in his chair and tapped his fingers on the table. A cup of coffee sat untouched in front of him. His seat gave him full view of the window and the busy street outside. He couldn't help glancing up at every passerby.
To help distract himself, he checked his messages, sent texts to Irisa and the guys, reconfirmed his flight information for Nashville, then did his afternoon social media sweep, dropping several responses to fans' comments. He loved seeing their excitement over his interactions.
Then a tag of his name popped up.
Owen Riess Fan Page: Just heard Excite Records will be releasing a greatest hits album for The Fury. Greatest hits??? Anyway, a little bird told me the label feels the band is waning and dropped their asses. Told you, Luke Thompson. Your band is a bunch of overrated S.O.B.s. So long, suckers!
Goddamn Owen. Luke's hand clenched around his phone. He and the lead singer of Swindle Ox had never gotten along. Mutual hate was a better term. Owen had caused a lot of headaches for him and his band over the years. Someday, he'd get his. The guy was asking for it.
Within seconds, Luke's own page blew up with questions from fans begging for more information. After drumming his hands on the table for a few minutes, he crafted his reply.
Guys, The Fury has a HUGE announcement coming up soon. Something special is in the works. Stay tuned.
After making sure the band was aware of Owen's announcement, he went back to people-watching. And waiting for Audrey.
Minutes ticked by. Thirty... forty-five... a full sixty. Then fifteen more.
Unease edged through him.
She'd show up... right?
Wishing for something stronger than the coffee growing cold in front of him, he fisted the cup and swallowed some undiluted caffeine to ease his parched throat.
Finally, the door swung open and Audrey walked into the shop. She pushed her sunglasses into her hair like a headband and met his gaze. A smile flickered across her face. She waved and then turned to place her order with the barista.
His phone buzzed and he tore his eyes away from Audrey for a second. Irisa—wishing him good luck. He'd need it. He tucked his phone into his pocket as Audrey glided toward him.
"I'm sorry I'm late. My client was late and she likes to talk. A lot." She settled into the other side of the table and her perfume teased his senses. Floral with a hint of spice. He wondered if she'd taste the same.
"I'm just happy you showed up."
Tiny lines formed on her forehead. "I wouldn't stand you up."
"Good to know, Sunshine."
Slim hands clutched her iced coffee. Inches from his. "So..."
"Irisa said you broke up with that suit."
Her brows rose and he winced. Smooth, Thompson. Damn it. Not the way he'd intended to start.
"Dante? Yeah. I couldn't go through with it." Her thumb rubbed the base of her ring finger. He could easily picture the square-cut diamond that had once resided there.
"Why did you end things?"
She released her hold on the coffee and leaned forward, gaze direct and voice lowered. "Why are you here?"
Business first, and maybe he'd get himself together enough to talk about the rest. "The band is forming our own label."
"Did something happen with Excite?"
"Let's just say we don't see eye to eye anymore. Anyway, we're forming our own label, and we're running a contest where we're auditioning fans for a chance to win a spot in a new band that will be under our label."
"That's pretty exciting." She offered him an encouraging smile.
"We're unveiling the label news on Jett Hale's TV show in two weeks, so we'll need clothes for that, and a logo. Then, in six weeks, we're having a party in Vegas where we're announcing the winners and the new band's name. So we'll need clothes for that, too. And finally, the new band will perform on Jett's show two weeks after that, and we'll need a set design, the new band's logo designed, and clothes for the four of them and for us."
"And you want me for the clothes?"
"We want you for everything."
"Everything?" She blinked, eyes widening.
"Clothes, set design, and logos."
She sat back in her seat and blew out a breath. "I have to say the project is intriguing. I've never done set design before. Or logos, except my own."
"We know you're talented but most importantly, we can trust you. I'll be honest here, you're our first choice."
"Whoa. That's a pretty big compliment."
"So, what do you say?" He pulled out the proposal and a separate page with their payment offer. He'd researched well enough to know what would be considered fair, and then increased it by twenty percent. "You can take time to think it over. The payment amount is negotiable, too."
She read over the details and her brows arched when she looked at the amount they'd offered to pay. Then she leaned forward. "I'm in. I'm definitely up for the challenge."
"I'm glad." He extended his hand for a formal shake. When her palm pressed against his and her fingers curled around his hand, he wanted to stand up and cheer. Instead, he released her. "The guys all submitted ideas. We thought you could work off of those."
"Send me everything and I'll get started. I can have the logo for you in time for Jett's show. The timing for everything else you need should be fine once I'm finished with my own show."
"You'll be working with me. I'm handing most of this."
"That's not a problem."
"Good. Then that moves me on to the other reason I'm here." He took a deep breath and laid his hands, palm up, on the table. "I screwed up before. Big time. I was an idiot not to tell you how I felt, and I didn't want to lose another chance. As simplistic as it sounds, I like you—a lot." He reached across the table and grabbed her free hand in his. "Too damn much for me not to say anything about it. Too damn much for me to want to be with anyone else."
"Oh." Her fingers stiffened in his, but he couldn't let go.
He was already this far in—might as well finish the rest. "I'm not pulling any punches. I want to be with you. I want a relationship. With you."
Her eyes widened like saucers. A light came into them and he hoped he wasn't imagining what it meant. "You're serious."
"But what I want doesn't do any good unless you're feeling it too. I thought you were before. But maybe I was wrong." For the second time, he wished for something stronger than coffee. Alcoholic truth serum would make this easier.
Her head shook a quick no. "You weren't wrong."
He tightened his fingers around hers and stroked his thumb in small circles over the top of her hand "No?"
"No."
She pressed her lips together for a moment. Vulnerability flashed across her face a second before it settled into the blue depths of her eyes. "You've been on my mind since the day we met."
Hearing the exact words he wanted to hear damn near made him high. A lump swelled in his throat and he had to swallow hard to speak. "You too."
"Luke..." The corners of her sweet smile drifted down and she carefully extracted her hand from his grip. The warmth in her gaze cooled. "I was serious when I said I didn't want to date a rocker again."
Even as he witnessed her barriers slide up, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You're crossing me off because of my career?"
"Rob was always touring, always recording. You are, too. He always put his fans first. So do you. He—"
"I'm not him."
"No. But you're always pulling out your phone to chat with the fans, or being pulled away bec
ause of the band. You've been doing that every time we've met. When we hung out during your last tour, you did it all the time."
"We owe everything to our fans. I can't ignore them."
"I'm not saying that you should ignore them, but... Damn it. That last night, you and I were having a moment in the dressing room by ourselves. Moving closer and closer together, and I really thought we'd end up kissing, but instead when Irisa knocked on the door and yelled for you to greet the fans, you pulled away then, too. If you pull away at that moment, what am I supposed to expect to happen in the future?"
"I'm sorry. I was an idiot. The first of many occasions where I messed up." He paused as an idea formed. "That's why you began seeing Dante, wasn't it?"
Her shoulders lifted and then fell. "He has a regular job, a regular life, and he made me feel like I was an important part of it. Everything I thought I needed, but..." Her eyes met his, needy and hungry and denying them both. "I couldn't stop thinking about you."
"I like that. I like being on your mind. I was pretty messed up for a while, thinking I'd lost you." Taking a chance, he laid his hand over hers again. Her fingers immediately curled around his.
"The three years I spent with Rob were the loneliest times of my life. I can't pretend that I don't want you, but I also can't pretend that I don't have concerns." Her bracelets clinked as she pushed her other hand through her hair. "I lived with being an afterthought with Rob for too long. I need a partnership. I want to be a priority. And I'm going to be completely honest here: I don't know if you can give me that."
Love Song (Rocked by Love #2) Page 2
