“Pretty early for a rock star,” I said. “I would’ve figured your wake-up time would be in the PM hours.”
“Nah,” he said as he turned his attention back to the cooking food. “Maybe ten years ago you would’ve been right. But these days I’m all about getting up early. Well, early-ish.”
“That right?” I asked, surprised at his answer.
“Yeah,” he said. “Day goes a lot more smoothly when you get can up at a decent hour, maybe start it with a run. Better for the creative process too, believe it or not.”
“I’m finding you’re full of surprises,” I said.
He flashed me another grin. “Got some coffee going, too.”
“Now, that’s about the best possible thing you could’ve said,” I told him as I marched over to the coffee maker, my eyes locked on the outlines of his muscles.
I poured myself a cup and sat down. “So, what’re you cooking?”
“Just something simple with what you had in the fridge.”
“Can’t even remember what I had in there, now that you mention it,” I said. “There was meat?”
“There was meat,” he said with a smirk.
My eyes moved over Johnny’s form again. There sure was.
After another minute or two, he loaded up a couple of plates and set them down on the table.
The food looked…pretty amazing, actually. The eggs were fluffy and scrambled, topped with melted cheese and a dusting of oregano. The sausages were cooked to crispy perfection.
“Go ahead,” he said. “Dig in.”
I took a bite and was pleased to see it was all as delicious as it looked.
“You look surprised,” he said before loading up a forkful of his own and wrapping his lips around it.
“I’ll admit,” I said. “It’s a little surprising to see that the lead singer of a hard rock band can make the best scrambled eggs that I’ve ever had in my life. But then again, I suppose cooking’s just another form of art.”
“You can thank my mom for all this,” he said. “She’s a damn wizard in the kitchen.”
“Your parents are still around?” I asked.
“Yep,” he said. “Still living in Pine Bluff.”
“And you’re close with them?”
“I am,” he said.
Then his expression fell.
“Something wrong?” I asked.
He shook his head, getting rid of his frown.
“Nah,” he said. “Just thinking about how damn long it’s been since I’ve been able to see them. I always tell myself I’m going to see them at least a few times a year, but once the tours get going, the months just fly by.”
“Doesn’t help that they live out in the sticks, too, I bet.”
“Nope,” he said. “I keep offering to buy them a place in Portland, or somewhere at least a little closer to civilization. But you know how old-timers can be.”
“Not my old-timers,” I said.
“That right?” he asked.
“Yep. I told you how they were musicians, right?”
“You did.”
“And they’ve got the opposite problem as you—I couldn’t get them to settle down if I tried. As soon as I moved out, they sold all their stuff and started traveling the world. Last I heard they were in Thailand playing music for tourists on some beach.”
“Worse ways to spend your golden years,” he said.
“True, but I miss the old farts sometimes,” I said.
I looked down to see that my plate was totally clean. “This was so good.”
“There’s more,” he said.
“Don’t mind if I do.” I helped myself to seconds and sat back down.
“I never get to eat like this,” he said. “When I’m on tour, it’s all venue food or whatever junk I can wolf down on the way from the arena to the airport. Forgotten how good something simple and hot and home-cooked could be.”
“You’re right about it being good,” I said. “I need to be careful about eating too much, or I’m going to pop.”
He let out a dry chuckle.
I was pleased to see how easy it was to sit and chat with Johnny. Part of me last night had been worried about what the morning would be like, if things would be awkward in the bright light of day. But it wasn’t like that at all—we’d settled into pleasant conversation like we were old friends who were catching up.
Then a tinge of sadness ran through me. As fun as this might’ve been, it was going to end any second. After all, Johnny was on tour.
I decided not to let the question linger in the back of my mind.
“I bet you need to get going soon, huh?” I asked.
He raised his eyebrows, his mouth in a slight smirk. “Why, trying to get rid of me?”
“No,” I said. “Not that at all. Just trying to figure out how much time we have left together before you need to leave to Portland or LA or wherever you’re going next.”
He set down his fork, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“What?” I asked, curious as to what was on his mind.
“What if I told you that I didn’t have to leave today?” he asked.
“I don’t even know,” I said. “I’d just assumed you’d be off after breakfast.”
“Not so,” he said. “We’re heading to Salt Lake next, but we’re not due in until tomorrow.”
I allowed myself to become cautiously excited. “That right?”
“Mhmm,” he said. “So, if we did happen to decide to spend the day together, would you have anything in mind that you’d want to do?”
“Depends,” I said.
“On?”
“If you feel up for some nature.”
“Always,” he said.
“You heard of Cougar Mountain?”
“Nope,” he said. “But it sounds ferocious.”
“It’s one of the best parks in the state. And very close to the city. I’m thinking that you and I could head out there, go for a nice, long walk, maybe bring along a little something to eat. Then once we’ve been rejuvenated by the majestic sights and sounds of nature, we can figure out something else fun to do.”
“That sounds absolutely perfect,” he said.
“Then it’s settled,” I said. “Let’s finish up and clean the kitchen and then…”
I trailed off, the sight of Johnny’s sculpted body now too much to bear.
“And then?” he asked.
“Then I can take you back into the bedroom and properly thank you for making breakfast.”
He laughed before taking a bite of his eggs. “You’re on.”
Chapter 10
Johnny
The fresh air had been just what I’d needed. I stopped in my tracks and closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun on my face through the towering branches of the pines around us.
And it was so freaking quiet. There was lilting birdsong here and there, along with the occasional rustling of a woodland creature running across the forest floor. But other than that, there were no sounds aside from our footfalls and the cool, refreshing breezes that gently rocked the branches above.
“You okay back there?” asked Kendra, stopping a dozen or so feet ahead of me.
“More than okay,” I said. “I feel like I’m in heaven.”
She smiled, her gorgeous eyes locked onto me. “Happy to hear it.”
Kendra was dressed in tight blue jeans and a flannel shirt which she’d long removed and tied around her waist, revealing a sleeveless white shirt. Her blond hair was up in a ponytail, and she looked the perfect blend of outdoorsy and sexy as hell.
We continued along, making our way down the trail.
“So,” she said. “What would you be doing right now if we weren’t hanging out?”
“Hmm,” I said, considering the question. “Probably out with the guys. They’ve probably taken advantage of the fact that we don’t have anything to do today, so they’re all craving the hair of the dog right about now.”
I went on, w
atching her body move.
“We’d be in some dingy dive bar doing some day drinking and getting ready to drunkenly wander around the city and figure out what kind of trouble to get into.”
“You don’t sound too thrilled by the idea.”
“That obvious?” I asked.
“That obvious.”
“I mean, don’t get me wrong—I love hanging out with the guys. They’re like brothers to me. But…”
“The rock star lifestyle wearing kind of thin?”
“At least the hedonistic parts,” I admitted. “I still love playing music, still love sharing my art with my fans. But the boozing and the groupies and the parties… Yeah, I’m getting a little tired of all that. Not to mention what I was talking to you last night about what our manager wants to do with us. That new direction.”
“That’s too bad,” said Kendra. I could tell she meant it.
“And the worst part is that it’s not just him. It’s Marcus, too.”
“‘Marcus’ as in ‘Marcus Thorne’? Your rhythm guitarist?”
“That’s right,” I said. “He’s all about trying to push us to the next level of fame. Though I’m starting to wonder if it’s more about money at this point. He’s all about our manager’s ideas. It’s freaking weird—never in a million years would I ever have thought any of us would care about anything other than the music.”
“People change,” she said as we both stepped up onto a tree that had fallen over the trail. “You’re proof of that.”
“I suppose you’re right,” I said. “I’ve changed in one way, him in another. Still weird to think about.”
I shook my head, realizing that I was rambling.
“What about you?” I asked. “How would you be spending this insanely nice Saturday afternoon?”
“Hmm,” she said as we continued on. “Probably lazing around the apartment, recovering from last night. I’d have some delivered bagel-and-egg sandwich in my belly instead of your awesome breakfast. Then I’d check in with my bands, make sure their schedules were all lined up for upcoming shows. Then maybe swing by a few local clubs later in the evening, see if there’s any talent sneaking around the city that I don’t know about.”
“Working on a Saturday,” he said. “That’s dedication.”
“I love it,” she said. “Don’t even really consider it work. I just know that one of my bands is going to make it big one of these days, and each day I work brings me closer to that.”
Between this and what she’d already said about letting her artists play the music they want, I was starting to wonder if I had the wrong manager. I grinned as I pictured the look on Marcus and Rick’s faces if I were to tell them that Redemption was done, that I’d found some local girl to take over from here on out.
We kept on down the trail. Before too long, my stomach started to grumble.
“I’m right there with you,” she said, glancing at my belly. “What do you say about stopping for lunch here in a minute?”
“Sounds good to me,” I said.
We continued on along down the trail, eventually coming to a clearing, the grass bright with sunlight.
“Looks perfect to me,” I said.
“Yep,” said Kendra. “Good place for some vitamin D.”
I slung the pack off my back and began taking out all the things we’d brought. There was a small bag with some sandwiches we’d picked up from a place on the way, along with some fruit juice and chips. Kendra got the blanket all spread out and soon we were ready to eat.
“Roast beef or turkey?” I asked, holding up the sandwiches.
“Roast beef, please,” she said. “Turkey doesn’t have any place outside of a Thanksgiving table, in my opinion.”
I smiled and handed the sandwich over to her.
“Can’t say I agree with you there,” I said. “Turkey’s a damn good meat for any occasion.”
She grinned. “Then gobble, gobble. And bon appétit.”
I unwrapped my meal and set into it, the sun warming my face. Kendra and I chatted as we ate, occasionally sneaking kisses from one another. I couldn’t get over how easy it was to talk to her, how effortless our conversations were. That spark that I’d felt between us when I first saw her backstage hadn’t been nothing—there was really…something between us.
Something that scared me and thrilled me all at once.
When we were done, we cleaned up and let the food settle. I sat back on my hands, Kendra laying her head on my leg and looking up at the sky. I could’ve stayed there all day—hell, all weekend—just Kendra and me and the calm woods around us.
And that’s when the realization hit me—this was all going to end, and sooner than I’d want. Tomorrow I’d be back on the road, my day with Kendra only a memory. This was just a brief vacation from reality, and as much as I was enjoying it, I knew I needed to keep that in mind.
I felt like I had to say something.
“Listen,” I said.
“What’s up?” she asked, the light of the sun making her eyes the same color as the grass around us.
“I don’t want to kill the mood or anything, but I don’t think this is going to last any longer than today.”
Her expression sank a little bit, and I went on.
“I’ve been having a great time with you, and if things were different, there’s no damn doubt that I’d want to see where this thing between us might go. But…things aren’t different. I’m on tour. I’m going to be gone tomorrow, and I just want to make sure we’re both on the same page about this.”
My stomach tightened, which was strange as hell—I’d never been one to be afraid of laying things out for girls like this. And I’d had to do it many, many times over the years. Plenty of one-night flings woke up in the morning thinking our evening was going to result in my making them Mrs. Johnny Maxton, and I’d gotten used to letting them down.
Kendra was different, though. My words weren’t lies, and I was genuinely worried about making her upset.
She sat up and brushed her hair out of her eyes. “I get it.”
“You do?”
A small smile took hold of her features.
“Yeah,” she said. “I do. You are talking to a label owner, remember? If anyone knows about the lifestyles of musicians, it’s me.”
She looked away for a moment before turning her eyes back to me and going on. “And I’ve even dated a few of them, so I really, really, know how it is.”
Relief spread through me.
“Good,” I said. “Because I want to be honest with you. Like I said, maybe if things were different, but as it stands right now, I’m not exactly boyfriend material.”
“Oh,” she said smirking and raising an eyebrow. “Hadn’t even considered the possibility that I might not be interested in being the girl of the great Johnny Maxton?”
I chuckled. “Didn’t mean it like that.”
“Oh, please,” she said, clasping her hands together and speaking in a theatrical tone. “Please, Mr. Maxton, don’t leave a poor maiden like me behind! Surely, our lovemaking meant something to you? Why, whatever will I do without your powerful, masculine presence—I am but a woman after all!”
I laughed and gave her a playful shove. “Okay, okay. I get it.”
She let her hands drop to her sides and spoke normally.
“I get it too,” she said. “And I’m just busting your balls. I appreciate it, I really do. But yeah, like you said, this is all going to end soon, so let’s just enjoy it while we can. And at least we’ll have some nice memories.”
“I like that,” I said, leaning in and kissing her again.
She put her head back on my leg, and we sat in silence again.
But, for all my talk about this being a transient moment, a part of me wished that the day would never end. As good as it felt to be honest with each other, I knew a part of me would always regret leaving Kendra behind.
Chapter 11
Kendra
We were back in the city,
and I was behind a small shopping cart, pushing it down the aisles of my local natural foods store. Johnny was back at my place, waiting for me to come home with ingredients for the dinner I’d promised him that night.
“Don’t worry about that,” he’d said. “I’m happy to make some more food.”
“Nah,” I’d said right back with a smile. “And have that debt hanging over my head? No way—I’m going to get us nice and square for those killer eggs you made this morning.”
Just like I’d hoped, he hadn’t put up too much of a fight. So, there I was, shaking my hips as I picked out ingredients. I’d been pretty darn crafty about what I was going to make tonight, too. On the car ride back, I “happened to” bring up our favorite meals. He went on about the chicken parmesan his mom used to make, and lucky for him, that happened to be one the few dishes I knew how to prepare.
I grabbed the breadcrumbs off the shelf and tossed them into the cart. After I did, I decided that some music was just what my shopping trip needed. I slipped my phone out of my pocket and opened my streaming music app.
And, of course, Memphisto was right there in my “recommended” section. I knew how corny it was to listen to the music of the guy I was seeing. Or spending the weekend together. Or whatever we were doing.
But I didn’t care. I pulled up their first album and hit play, the grinding but melodic guitar riffs of “Cold Wind,” the first track, filling my ears.
It was good, just as good as the first time I’d heard it all those years ago. The guitar intro slowly melted into Johnny’s voice, his tone passionate yet tough at the same time. I closed my eyes and let myself get swept away in the pulsing beat and his beautiful words, the music coming to a lull right before the explosive chorus.
Right as the chorus hit, however, I felt a poke in my back. I turned to see an irked-looking older woman stuck behind me and my cart in the narrow aisle. I realized that I’d gotten so carried away with the music I’d forgotten where I was.
“Sorry,” I said with a sheepish smile as I took out my earbud and shimmied over to the side.
The woman made her way past as my face turned a deep shade of red.
Rock 'n' Stroller - A Rockstar's Secret Baby Romance (Baby Surprises Book 4) Page 6
