Needing Forever VOL 1: Part of The Rocker... Series Universe

by Terri Anne Browning

  She had too much time on her hands, got bored easily, but apparently never had enough time to take care of her special-needs daughter. From the time Paula came home from the hospital, that job had fallen to the nannies—and me. I was the one to take care of my baby sister, and I would always make sure she was looked after.

  “Of course,” the receptionist said with an understanding nod, but she didn’t understand shit. No way would she understand our family dynamic. Few people did. It was…complicated.

  A visitor’s badge was produced, and I clipped it to my belt as she unlocked the doors that led into the heart of the facility. A Place for Nora was one of the best assisted-living homes in the state of Tennessee. I did a full background check on the place before even talking to Paula about her moving there. The place she’d lived while I was on my summer tour wasn’t to her liking anyway, so she’d been all too happy for the change.

  I still felt a little guilty for uprooting her so suddenly, though. She was too independent to want to live with me, but I still needed her close for my own peace of mind. And if I was going to be in Knoxville for the majority of the year for the foreseeable future, then I wanted her in the same city.

  That she would be living in the same facility where Kenzie worked was only a plus.

  I walked into the main room, a kind of activity room. A large television sat off to one side of the room, with several sofas and chairs sectioning off that area. To my left, there were tables where residents were sitting together playing checkers or chess, a few even playing Chutes and Ladders. A few of them lifted their heads as I walked past, smiling up at me with their kind, innocent smiles.

  I smiled back and even waved at a couple. I didn’t know any of them—yet—but they all reminded me of Paula.

  The administrator had given me all of my sister’s information when I made the arrangements at the beginning of the week, so I knew where Paula’s room was. It was a nice facility with individual rooms and a full medical staff to take care of the residents around the clock. Paula had some heart issues that needed to be monitored twenty-four seven, so I made sure the medical team was top-notch.

  Reaching her room, I knocked but got no answer. Frowning, I opened the door to find the room pristine but empty. Her bed was made up with her favorite comforter set—hot pink with poodles all over it. A sofa by the window had matching pink pillows, as well as a tan one that simply said PARIS across it. Her favorite books were in place on the small bookshelf beside the sofa, pictures and other odds and ends already in place the way she liked them.

  But no Paula.

  She was so shy, she rarely left her room at the other facility. I hated that she didn’t want to make friends, and I was constantly worried she was lonely, but Paula enjoyed her own company and escaping into her favorite romance books rather than having to make small talk with strangers. Stepping back, I closed the door and listened, hoping to hear my sister’s voice.

  Instead, I heard the one sound I’d been aching to hear for almost two weeks now.

  Kenzie’s laugh.

  Drawn to the sound, my feet moved of their own will. Past other residential rooms, a nurses station, and even the door to the indoor swimming pool where a few people were having swim lessons. The sweet laugh grew louder, making it hard to breathe, while the rest of my body strained to be closer to the source of that beautiful sound.

  Rounding a corner, I found myself in a huge media room. A projector was set up in the center of the room, pointed straight at the blank, white wall. The online tour of the place said this was where they showed movies every Friday night. A popcorn machine was already producing the buttery snack, and that was where I found the pixie-size angel still laughing with Paula.

  I stopped mid-step, my eyes drinking in the sight of Kenzie as she threw back her head and laughed at whatever story my sister was telling her. Her blue eyes were alight with amusement and kindness as she gave Paula her full attention. She was wearing simple jeans and a plain white T-shirt, her face makeup-free, and her hair was pulled into a messy ponytail at the back of her head.

  So damn beautiful.

  “Bishop!”

  Paula came running toward me, but my eyes were still glued to Kenzie. She stiffened at my name, her face paling as she turned her head and met my gaze. Her amusement died a quick death, replaced with confusion and hurt.

  My gut clenched because I knew I’d fucked up that last night I was in California. I shouldn’t have sent her away, but when it came to Paula, it was hard to share anything, even with the woman I wanted to share every part of myself with.

  My sister threw her arms around me, her softly rounded body nearly taking us both to the floor. I locked my knees and hugged her back, forcing myself to tear my gaze from the little beauty across the room. “Hey there, Polly-Pocket.” I kissed the top of her dark head. “How’s my favorite girl doing?”

  Paula pulled back to grin up at me, her upward-slanting eyes crinkling at the corners. “I met Kenzie. She’s so nice. She introduced me to Margo, who works in the library. Margo and Kenzie both say there are a hundred romance books they think I will like in there. Even paranormal romance books, Bishop! Then Kenzie let me help her make the popcorn because we’re going to watch a movie soon.”

  “Kenzie sounds like fun,” I told her.

  “She is. She’s my best friend.” Her face lost some of its excitement as she looked at Kenzie over her shoulder. “Right?”

  “Right!” Kenzie told her with a warm smile. Her kind heart shone out of her eyes.

  That was the first thing that had drawn me to this little pixie. I’d had beautiful women thrown in my face all my life simply because I was Phillip Bishop. My family was richer than God, and all of the women were only after one thing. But Kenzie was different.

  I caught her gaze again, and that smile disappeared.

  Fuck.

  Walking toward us, she clasped her hands together in front of her. “Paula, you didn’t tell me your brother was a rock star.”

  Paula gasped. “You know that? It’s supposed to be a secret.”

  “I think the secret is safe with me,” she assured her with a wink. “Remember when I told you I’m adopted?” Paula nodded. “My adoptive dad was on tour with your brother this summer.”

  “Really?” She looked up at me for confirmation. I nodded, and Paula started dancing from one foot to the other with giddiness. “That means we are family!” she exclaimed. “Kenzie is my rock sister.”

  Kenzie laughed softly. “I’ve never had a sister before, but I’m not going to turn one down now.”

  Fuck, that laugh. It did crazy shit to my body, making me wish like hell my shirt was longer so I could hide the hard-on currently trying to drill through my suit pants. But it was what her laugh did to my heart that had kept me away from this woman for so long during the summer tour.

  For someone who’d only ever felt love for his baby sister, being confronted out of the blue with that emotion for someone so pure I shouldn’t even be thinking about her, let alone wanting her, was scary as hell. Kenzie deserved a man who would worship the ground she walked on. I wasn’t sure I was that man back at the beginning of the summer tour, but now I knew the truth.

  After that kiss behind Axton Cage’s tour bus, I knew I would do anything just to be touched by Kenzie’s sunshine every day for the rest of my life. I bought a house here in Knoxville just to be closer to her while she was going to school. I would buy another one close to the Cages if she wanted me to. I already had a home in California and a penthouse in New York, but if she wanted to visit them in Nashville when they were there, I’d buy her a house near them too. Whatever the hell she wanted, I would give her, as long as she laughed like she was now, often.

  The sound of loud voices and uproarious laughter reached us, and I glanced over my shoulder to find the residents I had seen on my way in entering the entertainment room.

  “Excuse me,” Kenzie murmured politely as she went to greet the newcomers. “Are you guys
ready to watch the best movie ever?”

  “You say that every week, Kenzie,” a boy with dark-blond hair said with a shake of his head.

  “And am I right every week?” she asked with a laugh.

  “Yup!”

  “Find your seats. Once everyone is settled, Paula will help me pass out the popcorn.” She gave everyone a firm look. “And I expect you all to be polite and use your manners, or I’m going to be very disappointed in you.”

  “That’s my job,” Paula said, suddenly going shy on me. She glanced at the growing crowd, her face filling with pink. “I-I don’t know if I want to watch a movie, Bishop. Maybe I will just go back to my room and read.”

  “Whatever you want, Polly,” I assured her.

  She linked her arm through mine, and I was ready to walk her back to her room, but Kenzie saw us and moved back over to us. “Where ya going, little sister?”

  Paula lowered her head. “I-I don’t want to watch a movie.”

  “Oh. Okay, but could you still help me pass out the popcorn?” she asked hopefully, not trying to push. “It would be helping me out a lot because I still have to set up for the games after the movie. Sisters help each other when they need it, right?”

  Paula’s head snapped up, a grin teasing at her lips. “Yeah, we help each other.”

  Kenzie’s smile could have lit up the world as she offered Paula her hand. “Great. You’re the best sister ever.” But when she glanced my way, her smile dimmed again. “Will you be staying, Mr. Bishop? You’re more than welcome to watch the movie with us or play games later. This lot are competitive as heck, so they might kick your butt at The Game of Life.”

  “I’ve never played that game,” Paula told her. “Is it hard?”

  “Real life, yes.” Kenzie turned away from me before I could answer, going back to the popcorn maker with my sister at her side. “The board game, no. You should come back out and play with us when the movie is over.”

  “You’re going to play too?”

  Kenzie shook her head. “I’m more the referee for when everyone starts arguing and claiming someone else cheated. I set up a few stations with The Game of Life and Monopoly Junior, and in the other corner of the room, I turn on music and everyone who wants to dances. It’s one big party around here Friday and Saturday nights. Usually, I only do movies on Friday and games on Saturday, but I was gone all summer, and then you surprised me by moving in, so it’s turned into a welcome home party for the both of us.”

  “Both of us?” Paula sounded shy again, but she didn’t duck her head like she normally did.

  I stood there watching as Kenzie lit up the room again with her sunshine-filled smile, telling my sister this was her home now, so of course, it was a welcome home party for her too. Effortlessly, she put Paula at ease. I’d noticed her doing the same to a few of the other residents who’d been a little reluctant when they were walking in. Chatting to make them feel welcome, bestowing some of that magical Kenzie kindness on them and making them bloom.

  While Paula handed out the popcorn, Kenzie slipped away. I stood off to the side for a few minutes, watching my sister carefully to see if she was going to shy away and abandon her promised job, but the other residents were all cordial to her, and soon she was smiling and laughing with them when they spoke to her. They were all welcoming and kind. I didn’t know if that was because they didn’t want to disappoint Kenzie or because they were nice in general, but I was thankful they were being good to my baby sister.

  For eighteen years, Paula was all I really had. Our dad died when she was three, leaving us more money than we knew what to do with, but more or less orphaning my sister and me since Becca only wanted to travel and blow through her own share of the pot. I became Paula’s only parental guidance, and she became my world. It was hard to switch off all my overprotectiveness now that she was a legal adult, but I knew I needed to so she could have her own independence and find her way.

  Once I was comfortable that she was okay, I slipped out of the room.

  I needed to find Kenzie and set things right.

  Chapter 3

  Kenzie

  Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t cry.

  I gulped in one deep breath after another as I shut the employees’ bathroom door and leaned my back against it.

  My moment to cry came and went earlier, and I’d cried all the tears I was allowed to cry over this stupid day. I wasn’t going to shed more just because Bishop popped back into my life for a freaking minute. He acted so calm and cool, like nothing even happened between us, which was like another direct hit to my heart. Meanwhile, I’d struggled to so much as breathe as I forced myself to smile and pretend like I wasn’t dying a little inside.

  What was he doing here, of all places?

  I didn’t even know he had a sister, let alone someone with special needs in his life. If I was honest, I didn’t know a lot about Bishop’s personal life. He hadn’t been forthcoming, and I wasn’t the type to pry. People normally confided in me easily, but not him.

  We’d spent a lot of time together over the summer, hanging out on his bus with both his band members and the Trance guys in their downtime. The stupid crush I’d had on Bishop from the first moment I set eyes on him turned into something more, and after two near-kisses, I was sure it wasn’t all one-sided.

  When he kissed me, I was so sure there was something special between us. A person’s soul didn’t sing for just anyone, damn it.

  But then he sent me away and…

  “Kenzie?”

  I lifted my head at the sound of my name, realizing I wasn’t the only one in the bathroom. The stall door was now open, and one of the nurses stood there staring at me with wide eyes. It was only then I realized I’d lost the fight on my tears once again.

  Scrubbing the wetness away, I straightened and crossed to the sink. “Hi, Kim,” I murmured with a smile that was so tight, I was sure my face was going to shatter.

  Kim was one of the younger nurses who was hired while I was on tour with my family. From the few conversations we’d had in passing, I liked her. She was friendly and compassionate with the residents.

  “You look like you need a drink,” Kim said as she came up beside me and washed her hands in the other sink.

  “If only. I’m not twenty-one, so no drinking for me.”

  Her lips twisted as she met my gaze in the mirror. “Who cares if you’re not twenty-one. You’re in college. Live it up, girl.” She grabbed a few paper towels to dry her hands. “Come out with me and my friends tonight. I know a place that won’t card you. We’ll have a few drinks and unwind. Lord knows I need a little buzz going on after the craziness of this week, and I don’t have to work tomorrow.”

  I bit the inside of my bottom lip, considering her offer. I got drunk on cold medicine, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to hold up against liquor. But I didn’t have to drink to go out with Kim. A night out sounded like fun, and I just wanted to unwind a little after all the insanity that had been going on in my life lately.

  “Sure,” I said with a nod. “I get off at nine. Is that okay?”

  “No problem.” She tossed the paper towels and opened the door. “Let me text my boyfriend and let him know the plan. He can meet us there with my friends.”

  I kept my smile on until the door closed behind her. Once it did, I turned to examine my face, making sure no outward signs of my newest meltdown were visible. Damn. My eyes were once again going to give me away.

  Blowing out a frustrated breath, I washed my hands. Opening the door, I wasn’t expecting the hall to be occupied, and I walked right into someone.

  His scent hit me at the same time his hands caught me, stopping me from falling back. “Easy there, Sunshine.”

  I closed my eyes as I soaked up the feel of his hands on me for a moment. Just ten seconds, I promised myself, and slowly counted down the time by counting the beats of my heart. When time was up, I forced my lashes to lift and glared up at the man I’d been missing like a lost lim
b the past two weeks.

  “What are you doing here, Bishop?” I demanded quietly.

  He lifted his brows. “You don’t know?”

  I pushed at his chest, and he released me. “A Place for Nora is an amazing facility. Your sister will be safe and comfortable here. I know that. What I don’t know is why you picked Knoxville or even Tennessee in general when I know you live in California.”

  “Everything that will ever matter is in Knoxville,” he said with a shrug of his shoulders, as if that should answer my question.

  It didn’t, but I wasn’t going to force him to spell it out for me. Maybe before he’d sent me away that last night and then disappeared without so much as a goodbye. Before that call that I shouldn’t have eavesdropped on because it had only broken my heart a million times more.

  Now I couldn’t bear to know. What if the woman who called him that night was in Knoxville? What if he brought her to visit Paula while I was working?

  No.

  Just no.

  I couldn’t handle that. It hurt to even think about.

  “I need to get back to work,” I muttered, moving so I could walk around him.

  “Have dinner with me later,” he ordered as I passed, making me pause.

  I glanced up at him, wishing my heart didn’t break every time I looked at him. Bishop wasn’t classically handsome. His face tended to be on the plain side, and sometimes he was so completely expressionless, it could be intimidating. That was one of the first things that drew me to him. I wanted to know why he hid himself behind that blank expression.

  But when he grinned, his entire being seemed to light up. And God help me, when he sang, he could literally make me weak in the knees.

  “I already have plans.”

  He went completely stiff beside me, the muscles in his jaw flexing. “Cancel them. We need to talk, Sunshine.”

  “As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to talk about. I’m not in the market to be anyone’s side chick.”