Capturing the Heart of the Rock Star

by Nomi Summers

  Capturing the Heart of the Rock Star

  Knox Brothers of Arbor Shores Book One

  Nomi Summers

  Copyright © 2019 by Nomi Summers

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  Write from the Heart Books

  P.O. Box 66202

  St. Pete Beach, FL 33736

  Cover Design by Elizabeth Mackey Designs

  ISBN-13: 978-1-7332773-1-0

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Contents

  Dedication

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Epilogue

  About the Author

  Stay Connected

  Dedication

  To Anthony, and forever.

  Chapter 1

  “We have company,” Shane Knox announced as he entered the warehouse. The rest of the band was already there setting up for practice, but Shane had been held up once again by thick LA traffic—a common occurrence when you live out in Malibu. Sure, it would’ve been easier for him to put down roots in West Hollywood. After all, that’s where the rest of the band lived. But Hollywood wasn’t really Shane’s thing, and he needed to be near the water to keep his sanity. He never had been able to adapt to the hustle and bustle of the city, and he’d been in LA for nearly nine years. At least out in Malibu he could surf.

  “Ah man, don’t tell me.” Sulley, the band’s drummer, picked up his sticks and plopped down behind his drum set.

  “You guessed it. He followed me in. He should be walking through the door in three, two …” Shane tossed his leather jacket on the faded brown couch that he’d crashed on one too many nights, and turned toward the door just as it slid open.

  “Well, well, nice to see you gentlemen practicing.” James Hunt, the band’s manager, walked in on cue in his Armani suit. His slicked-back hair looked as if even a cyclone couldn’t disturb it, and his bronzed skin made his pearly teeth a blinding shade of white in contrast. Had to be a spray tan. Then again, with all the money he made from the success of their band, Distant Union, he spent most of his time in St. Barts or on the golf course. Except today. Today, he had made the trek out to West Hollywood to see the band in person, and Shane knew that James only visited their dusty warehouse when he meant business. A visit from their manager was never good.

  Shane sighed. This is not how he wanted to spend his Sunday.

  “What are you doing here, James?” Jax, the band’s bass player, asked without looking up from the guitar he was tuning.

  “You know why I’m here.” James looked around, as if in search of a place to sit, but the look on his face said nothing met his standards. He navigated his way through the equipment and cords strung across the floor. “You boys have a new song for me? Let’s hear it.” He stopped in front of Shane and waited with crossed arms.

  The four band members shared glances and then all looked to Shane. As the lead singer, Shane knew he would have to handle James, as usual. “We’re working on it.”

  “Working on it?” James repeated with an arched brow, one that Shane was sure had been waxed or plucked.

  “I told you to stay off our case about new material. We can’t be creative when we’re being pressured. Like I said, we have some ideas we’re working on.” Shane’s jaw tightened as he straightened his back and squared his shoulders. He couldn’t stand the heat James had been putting on them lately. Truth was, they hadn’t come up with new material in years, which made the whole topic a little … sensitive.

  Distant Union hit it big seven years ago, just two years after Shane fled to LA to pursue his music career. At the time, he had just met his band after nailing an open mic night, and they were discovered shortly thereafter by James while they were playing a regular gig at a club on the Sunset strip. For the first few years, Shane wrote hit after hit, and the band topped the billboard charts on a regular basis. They were one of the most popular bands of their time, and their three hit albums had them touring to sold-out venues across the globe.

  It was a whirlwind at first, and everything Shane had thought he’d ever wanted. But after a few years of being on the road and sleeping on the bus or in different hotel rooms each night, Shane had grown tired of the travel—travel that put distance between him and his new bride, A-list actress, Naomi Wilde. Shane had eventually caught Naomi cheating with her co-star when a film took her to the south of France for six months. They hadn’t even been married a full year when the story broke and pictures of her in the arms of Brock Knight surfaced in every tabloid known to man. The divorce was over, but it had been messy. Shane’s writing ability took the biggest hit. It was hard to write love songs when you’d lost your faith in love.

  After he discovered the affair, he poured his soul into one broken heart ballad, but it tanked, and James made it clear that nobody wanted a song that had Shane’s bitterness poisoning it. He was warned to come up with some fresh lyrics—lyrics that would make the ladies swoon like they used to.

  “Let me put it to you this way.” James took a step closer, but Shane’s six foot, three inch stature still towered over him. “Either you come up with some new hits, or the label isn’t going to renew your contract. Need I remind you it’s coming up for renewal? They are breathing down my neck, and I’m getting tired of making excuses for you.”

  “We heard you loud and clear.” Shane closed the space between them and peered down at his manager.

  “I’ll give you through the week, and I’ll be back next Monday to see what you’ve come up with.” James walked toward the door before he turned to add, “Oh, and Lori was able to get you booked on The Aftershow in New York a week from Saturday. It’s just the PR you need to put you back on the map. We promised them you’d be debuting a new song on the show.” He flashed a snide smile in Shane’s direction. “No pressure.”

  “I’m leaving this Wednesday, remember? I’ll be gone through Monday. We won’t have time to come up with a new song by the following weekend.” Shane walked away and began adjusting the microphone on its stand. “I have that wedding in Michigan. I told you about it.”

  “Do you really think this is a good time to be going on vacation? I just told you The Aftershow agreed to feature the band. That’s huge. You need this publicity right now. It’s already miraculous enough that you’ve managed to stay relevant when you haven’t released anything in ages. The world needs a single. Now. How are you going to write that single if you’re off gallivanting through Minnesota?”

  “Michigan,” Shane corrected him through gritted teeth. “I can’t miss this, James. Don’t act like you didn’t know about it.”

  “It’s fine, bro.” Sulley walked over and stood by Shane’s side. “Don’t you worry about it, James. We’ll make sure
to have a fresh song. Shane can write from the road, and we’ll learn it before the gig. Now get off our backs, will ya?”

  “Don’t let your band down.” James shot a warning glance at Shane before disappearing out the door.

  Shane picked up a half empty beer can and chucked it at the wall, the sound of aluminum on metal echoing throughout the warehouse. He didn’t need the added pressure of writing a new song this week. Not when he had his best friend’s wedding to attend and all the complications that would come with returning to his hometown.

  “Maybe he’s right. I shouldn’t be leaving you guys at a time like this.”

  “Don’t be crazy.” Axel, the band’s guitarist, walked over and placed a hand on Shane’s shoulder. “You need to go. Besides, I’ve been looking forward to the break while you’re gone. No offense.”

  “None taken.”

  “Yeah, I’ll second that. I’d love to get outta this warehouse and spend some time with my family. The wife’s been breathin’ down my neck,” Sulley added with a hint of his Scottish dialect slipping through. He’d been in the US since he was eight, but his Scottish roots had a way of coming out from time to time. Usually when he was excited or upset.

  “What about you, Jax?”

  “I booked a weekend getaway with my girl because I thought you’d be gone. I want to get some alone time with her before I’m stuck in this warehouse with you smelly guys all summer,” he joked.

  “Well, as long as you guys are cool with it, I need to get out of LA and clear my head. I’m getting tired of James pushing me to write something I don’t feel. That’s not why I started making music in the first place.”

  “The label just wants us to sound like every other band on the radio. They only care about what sells. They’re taking the artistic freedom out of our music.” Jax put down his guitar and folded his arms across his chest.

  “Ah, the ole catch-22. To write whatcha love, or write what sells,” Sulley chimed in. “Sometimes I miss the good ole days when we played small venues on the strip for peanuts. Times sure were more fun back then.”

  “I’ll try to work on something new when I have some downtime in Michigan. I won’t let you guys down.” Shane stepped back up to the microphone.

  “I’m not worried about it.” Sulley slapped him on the back. “Now, let’s get a quick practice in and get outta here. I’m tired of lookin’ at all of yas.”

  Avery Cooke was up to her ears in wedding preparations, and on top of it all, her front desk receptionist had come down with a freak summer cold and had called in sick. How was she supposed to set up for tonight’s chamber mixer, get this weekend’s wedding guests checked in, and balance the duties that come with being the maid of honor for her future sister-in-law?

  “Arbor Shores Resort, Northwest Michigan’s vacation destination. How may I direct your call?” Juggling the phone lines was not something she had planned for today. “A tee time? Sure, hold please.” She punched a button and set down the receiver. When would people learn they could call the pro shop directly?

  She let out an exasperated sigh and smoothed her hands over her khaki shorts. She could handle this. After all, she’d been running this resort with her mother for the past three years since her father had passed away, and before that she’d worked at the resort for most of her life. Unlike her brother Dax, she’d even skipped college to work at the family-run resort; her father had been training her in hotel management right up until he died. An aneurysm. Sudden, and in his sleep. Nothing had been the same in Avery’s world since that night, but she refused to let it slow her down. After her dad’s death, she’d thrown herself into work, so she was used to the pressure that came with hosting events; she usually thrived on it. But this weekend wasn’t just a typical wedding and the anticipation had her nerves on edge.

  “Hey, Ave.” Rylee Benton rolled her housekeeping cart to a stop in front of the front desk. “I just finished my rounds.”

  “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. I’m glad you’re here.”

  “You look like you could use some help. I’ve got some free time before my shift at Ripples starts. Put me to work.”

  Avery and Rylee had been close friends since they were young girls. Growing up, they were inseparable, until Rylee left for New York City just after high school to pursue a career in ballet and they’d lost touch. But Rylee recently returned to Arbor Shores, a single mother of an eight-year-old boy, and no ballet career to speak of. Rylee was the hardest working woman Avery knew, yet somehow, she always held a cheerful demeanor. Avery knew her friend was struggling to get back on her feet, so she had given Rylee a job cleaning at the resort a few days a week for extra income. Right now, she’d never been so happy to see her best friend.

  “I’m going to take you up on that,” Avery said, making her way around the front desk with an oversized basket containing a bottle of champagne, two flutes, a dish of freshly cut strawberries, and dark chocolate covered local cherries. “If you could place this in cabin number one, you’d be doing me a huge favor. Here’s the key. I want it to be a surprise when the lovebirds get here.”

  Even though the bride and groom lived in Arbor Shores, they were staying at the resort for the weekend. It would be easier to have the entire wedding party on the property, and they had friends and family coming in from out of town whom they wanted to spend time with.

  “Will do. What time are Dax and Leila arriving?”

  “They went to the airport to pick up Leila’s cousins, but they should be here soon.” Avery tried to act calm as the phone rang again. She quickly made her way back around the front desk. “Arbor Shores Resort, how may I direct your call? … Hold, please, while I transfer you.”

  Avery looked up and noticed Rylee had her head cocked to one side with a look of concern on her face. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “I’m just worried about you, that’s all.”

  “Worried about me? I’m fine.” Avery began pulling reservations from a folder and lining them up on the desk. Rylee hardly looked convinced, but Avery couldn’t blame her. She wasn’t even sure she’d convinced herself.

  “Listen, I know this place is your life, but this is your brother’s wedding weekend, and I want you to enjoy every moment.”

  “This place isn’t going to run itself, Ry.” Avery shot a look at her friend.

  “All I’m saying is I’d like to see you have a little fun. It seems like all you do is work lately.”

  “You’re one to talk!” Avery half laughed, and for the first time all day a smile tugged at her cheeks.

  “I’d just like to see you let loose, maybe date a little, get out of this resort every now and then. This weekend is the perfect opportunity.” Rylee leaned in and brought her voice to a whisper. “And since a certain someone is coming back to town for the wedding, I was thinking—”

  “Don’t even think about it. Dating is the last thing on my mind, and I’m especially not interested in him.”

  A sly smile spread across Rylee’s face. “We’ll see.”

  The phone rang again, and Avery flinched. Was it the sound of the ringing or Rylee’s words that had her on edge? “I have to get the phone.” She motioned toward the basket. “Cabin number one. Thanks a bunch.”

  Avery dismissed her friend and the burning comment that was still ablaze in her mind. This, no doubt, would be one interesting weekend.

  Chapter 2

  Shane rolled his rented convertible to a stop at the red light and looked around. Not a thing had changed since he left Arbor Shores nearly nine years ago. It was early summer, and the town was already filling up with tourists from downstate who fled north on the weekends to enjoy the popular coastal lake town and all it had to offer. As small as Arbor Shores was, it sure drew a crowd from Memorial Weekend to Labor Day—the height of summer in northern Michigan.

  Beyond the stoplight, the glistening blue waters of Lake Michigan welcomed him, with the town attraction, Ripples Bar and Grille, perched ju
st steps from its sandy shore. Ripples was packed, as usual, and an outdoor band filled the afternoon air with tunes for the crowd that had gathered on the patio overlooking the beach. On his right, Callahan’s town store was flooded with tourists. That’s where he’d gotten his first job bagging groceries when he was sixteen. He wondered if Old Man Callahan was still alive. He’d have to stop in before the weekend was over and say hello. Shane watched as families filtered out of the storefront carrying beach supplies and charcoal, children with swim floats in tow headed for the beach. Lucky kids. Did they even realize that these summer days at the lake would someday be among their best memories?

  The sun hit the water at just the right angle, and the glimmer of the lake caught Shane’s eye. As bad as the timing of this weekend trip was, he sure couldn’t wait to jump into that cool water. It would be a refreshing change from the salty Pacific he’d grown used to out in Cali. As a well-known rock star, he didn’t get much downtime to take weekend vacations, and everywhere he went people flocked to him. Finding peace was something he’d given up on long ago, so a part of him felt relieved to pull into his hometown where he’d hopefully get some privacy. Yet another part urged him to hightail it in reverse. Wouldn’t it be easier just to leave than to face all he’d left unfinished long ago?

  He’d secretly been dreading this trip since he’d received the news that his childhood friend Dax was getting married. Shane hadn’t been in Arbor Shores since he was nineteen, but Dax had asked Shane to be his best man. He had to come. He owed Dax that much.