My Night with a Rockstar

by Mankin, Michelle

  A full body shiver rolled through me, my eyes fluttering shut as I swallowed the whimper in my throat. “I’m your assistant.”

  “Which makes me your boss. Consider this one of your assistant duties.” He flashed me a wicked smirk. “You know you want to. I’ve seen the way you watch me. I bet if I dipped my fingers into your panties right now, you’d be soaked for me.”

  “Levi...” It was supposed to be scathing, but it came out strangled.

  “Say yes... one night with a rock star.” He taunted, dangling the promise of one night of reckless inhibition right in front of me. “It’s every girl’s dream.”

  “I—” I suddenly became aware of someone in the hall.

  Shit, we had an audience, and my eyes reluctantly slid over Levi’s shoulder to find Eva, standing in the shadows watching us.

  He stepped back slightly, letting out a frustrated breath. “It’s okay, Angel,” he said, never taking his eyes off me. “It’s safe to look.” There was a hint of humor in his voice.

  “Busted.” She turned around and slowly approached us, her cheeks pinking. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were out here.”

  “It’s okay.” I sidestepped Levi, smoothing a hand down my dark locks. “We were just talking.”

  Levi frowned at that, rubbing a thumb over his bottom lip as he watched me.

  In that moment, I wanted to believe he was looking at me the way Rafe looked at Eva. Hungry and possessive. But I knew guys like Levi, and I knew how hard it was to compete for their attention.

  “I’m going to head back in.” he motioned to the hall leading to the suite. “What you did for Damon, Eva, it was a real nice thing.”

  Levi slipped back into the party, leaving me with Eva. I released a shaky breath. “You were right… he’s intense.”

  “Is everythin’ okay?” She looked at me with concern.

  “I’m fine, I just didn’t expect…” Pasting on a warm smile, I added, “It doesn’t matter. Tonight is Damon’s night. And yours. Congratulations on the tour.”

  “Thank you. It still doesn’t feel real.” An awkward beat passed. “Listen, are you sure you’re okay?”

  “Honestly? I’m not sure…” I hadn’t expected Levi to follow me out here or say any of those things to me.

  I didn’t know what to think.

  “You’re right,” Eva said. “Levi is intense and complicated, but I think he likes you. I don’t want to speak out of turn, but please don’t—”

  “Hurt him?” She had no idea what I’d been through, what I’d seen… the things I’d done. But the fact she thought that I held the power to possibly hurt Levi was laughable. “I can’t explain it, or maybe it’s just my own screwed up issues, but I feel… something.”

  “Just promise me you’ll be careful.” She frowned. “Both of you.”

  “Oh, trust me,” I laughed, but it came out strangled. “Baby steps are all I have right now, for anyone.”

  “I’d really like to hear your story one day; if you ever want to tell me?”

  I smiled but knew it didn’t reach my eyes. “I’d like that. Right, I guess I should go back inside.”

  “Okay, I won’t be long.”

  I headed back inside, but I didn’t join Letty and the band. I needed a minute to get my head on straight.

  I needed to figure out how to protect my heart from Levi Hunter.

  • • •

  I avoided Levi after that. The party was low-key compared to a lot of industry events, but then, Eva and Letty had made sure to keep it that way.

  “What are you doing hiding over here?” Letty asked as I stood over near the bar.

  “I’m not hiding, I’m… overseeing.”

  She rolled her eyes playfully. “We’re off duty, enjoy yourself.”

  “Are we ever off duty?”

  “True, but we can still make the most of some downtime.” Letty slid a glass of champagne toward me.

  “Thanks,” I pushed it back, “but I want to keep a clear head.”

  “It’s not a bad thing around these guys. Although they’ve calmed down a lot since Eva came on the scene.”

  “I’ve heard the stories.” The press loved nothing more than running story after story about the band’s latest indiscretion. Wherever they went, chaos seemed to follow. But Letty was right, things had been calmer lately. The press had been more interested in Eva and Rafe’s fledgling relationship than the band.

  “I never thought I’d see the day, you know...” She mused, watching as Eva and the guys danced. Levi wasn’t dancing though. He was standing off to the side, skulking.

  “She’s good for them,” I said. Anyone could see it.

  “Yeah. Eva is the best thing that’s happened to them. All of them. She brings out the best of the band.” Letty hesitated, sliding her gaze to mine. “You know, I’ve seen Levi watching you.”

  “He just wants to play with the new shiny intern.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. Just be careful. Levi is a tortured soul.”

  “Shouldn’t you be warning me to stay away from him? I’m the band’s assistant.”

  “Which means you should know when Levi Hunter sets his sights on something, it’s useless telling him to back off. You’re a big girl, Phoebe.” She gave me a knowing look. “I’m not going to pull an Alistair and remind you of the label’s ambiguous policy about inter-staff relations. Just be careful.”

  “You don’t have to worry about me,” I said over the lump in my throat.

  “Oh, it’s not you I’m worried about.” With that she grabbed another drink, gave me a knowing smile, and joined Molly on the makeshift dance floor.

  Maybe they were right. Maybe I did need to be careful. There was no denying the chemistry between us, it crackled every time our eyes caught across the room. But Levi was a recovering addict, fighting his personal demons day in day out. I’d sworn to myself I wouldn’t dance this dance again.

  I had a type.

  Broken. Tortured... Untouchable.

  Instead of working on breaking the cycle, I’d sworn off guys. Except, I’d landed myself an internship at Razorsharp Records and been assigned to Black Hearts. I hadn’t expected that, but I wasn’t about to pass up the opportunity of a lifetime either.

  “New girl,” Hudson called, “get over here. We’re celebrating.”

  “No, I’m okay.” I waved him off.

  “Come on, you know you want to.”

  “Yeah, Phoebe,” Molly said around a goofy smile. “Come dance with us. Levi’s going to sing again, so you have to.”

  He and Rafe had sung earlier. From the reaction on everyone’s face, it had been their way of clearing the air between them after a tense few weeks.

  My eyes found Levi, hiding in shadows. Everything grew quiet, the heat in his stare rushing over my skin. I gulped, trying to get air into my lungs. He was looking at me with so much intensity I felt it all the way down to the pit of my stomach.

  Rafe was busy talking to the DJ, the two of them messing with a microphone and some wires.

  “Pheebs,” Hudson barked, “let’s go.” His words jolted me into action, and I reluctantly went to join them.

  “This is fun, right?” Molly laced her arm through mine and grinned at me.

  It was something all right.

  Rafe beckoned his brother over and handed him a mic before slipping the strap of his guitar over his neck.

  My eyes flicked to Eva. She was watching them with so much pride. For a second, I wondered what it was like to be her. To have these four talented, famous guys falling over their feet for her.

  The music paused and Levi’s gravelly voice came over the mic. “Damon, my man, this one’s for you.”

  But Levi wasn’t looking at Damon, he was staring: Right. At. Me.

  “This is called Drown.”

  Eyes so deep I fall and fall

  Can’t crawl out, and I can’t breathe

  These feelings crash over me

  Until there’s nothing left of
who I used to be

  Eye so deep I fall and fall

  Can’t escape, and I can’t feel

  These feelings crash over me

  Until I’m numb inside and cut free

  But I’m broken now, I’m dead inside

  She can’t save me no matter how hard she tries

  But I’m broken now, I’m dead inside

  She can’t save me no matter how hard she tries

  Down we go… like sinking ships

  I’m drowning now… drowning now… drowning yeah…

  The song was more upbeat than some of the band’s stuff, but it still had the classic Black Hearts dark undertones. Levi perched on a stool as he bled the lyrics over the mic. Because when Levi performed, it wasn’t just a guy singing, it was a guy baring his soul. I didn’t know for certain—only what my research on the band had uncovered—but I knew most of their songs were penned by Levi and Rafe. And I knew enough about musicians to know they usually drew on their personal experiences for inspiration. Which meant you only had to read between the lines of some of their lyrics to know the Hunter brothers’ childhoods had been grim.

  The tempo changed as Levi clutched the mic between his fingers, seducing it with his rough voice. Rafe strummed the guitar with skill and precision, but I only had eyes for Levi. He oozed sex appeal, darkness, and danger.

  He was bad choices and good times wrapped up in a sinfully hot package. From the tattoos peeking out beneath his skinny tee to the snake bite piercing glistening in his bottom lip, everything about Levi screamed reckless rock star.

  He was everything I needed to stay away from.

  Everything I needed to resist.

  Levi Hunter lived in the dark...

  But me?

  I needed to stay in the light.

  I’d survived the party.

  Barely.

  As Levi had performed another song, I’d slipped out and returned to my room across the hall, and texted Letty that I’d had a headache.

  It had been easy to avoid him today. We’d travelled to the next venue, and I’d stayed on the second tour bus reserved for key staff.

  Part of me felt silly for hiding, but I knew myself, and I knew guys like Levi. They had a way of digging under your skin and burrowing themselves into you.

  And the last thing I needed was to be a huge cliché and fall for the broken rock star.

  My dad would love that.

  I stood there, watching Eva with her parents as the band performed to another sold out arena.

  Everyone was still riding the high of Damon’s birthday and the news of Eva joining them on the overseas leg of the tour.

  But her world was about to explode a little more.

  “Okay, Louisville, we’re going to switch things up a little.” Levi’s voice was so gravelly and seductive. It wasn’t any wonder he was a world-famous rock star at the tender age of twenty-one. He clutched the mic, his eyes fixed on the thousands of adoring fans. “This is where I’d usually bring Eva back out on stage and create a little magic. But tonight, my brother Rafe...” The crowd went wild. “He wanted to let you in on a little secret.”

  Eva looked completely dumbstruck.

  I followed Letty and Molly, as we surrounded her since she looked ready to pass out at any second.

  “What is goin’ on?” she asked.

  “Your guess is as good as mine.” Letty shrugged, shooting me a knowing look.

  Of course she knew. Letty knew everything.

  A couple of roadies ran on stage, moving around some of the equipment.

  “Give it up for my little brother, Rafe, everyone.”

  “Oh my god,” Eva breathed, reaching out for something to steady her.

  “We’ve got you, babe,” Molly said, wrapping her arm around her best friend.

  “Good evening, Louisville. You’re looking pretty fine tonight,” Rafe was a natural on the mic. He sat on a high stool, one foot on the floor, an acoustic guitar cradled in his hands. “Some of you might know this isn’t my usual style. I let my brother have the spotlight because no one I know does it better than him. But you see, there’s this girl...”

  It was hard not to feel a lick of jealousy at the way Rafe loved Eva. It was so pure, so innocent. I’d never experienced that kind of love, only the kind that was flawed and toxic and left your heart battered and bruised in its wake.

  “Evangeline Star Walker is one of the best people I know, and I don’t know what I ever did to deserve her, but she’s mine.”

  “Oh, sweet baby Jesus,” Molly shrieked. “He wrote you a song.”

  Rafe cleared his throat. “People always say actions speak louder than words, but I didn’t want to take any chances.” His eyes flicked over to where we were standing, but he was only looking at her. “Starshine, this one’s for you.”

  She’s just a lost girl, drowning in space.

  Nowhere to run, nowhere to go.

  All she needs is an anchor, someone to reach out and pull.

  Take my hand, I’ll be the one,

  You saved me, but now it’s my turn

  To lift you up whenever you fall

  Together we’re stronger, I’m not letting go

  Just give me your hand, and let me show you

  I’ll be your anchor, let me be your anchor.

  She’s just a lost girl, fighting through the dark.

  Nowhere to run, nowhere to go.

  All she needs is an anchor, someone to reach out and pull.

  I’ll be your anchor, let me be your anchor.

  “Wow, I think my ovaries just exploded.” I smiled, smothering my envy.

  I didn’t think there was a single girl in the arena who didn’t listen to Rafe’s lyrics and feel green. That kind of love... that kind of connection... deep down, we all wanted that.

  We were made for that.

  Put on Earth to find another soul the same as ours. I thought I’d found it once, but my ex had proved that sometimes love wasn’t enough.

  “Gosh, sweetheart.” Eva’s parents made a beeline for her. “We knew that boy loved you, but we didn’t realize it was quite so serious.” Her mum said as she swiped away the tears staining her cheeks.

  “I think me and that boy need to have another talk,” Mr. Walker said around a half-smile. He leaned into his daughter. “But between you and me, he gets my blessin’. We’ll make him work for it a little longer though.” He winked.

  “That’s a good thing,” Eva’s voice wobbled, even though she said the words with complete conviction. “Because one day, Daddy, I’m goin’ to marry that boy.”

  I forced a smile despite the lump in my throat. I’d said something similar once. Something when I’d been young and naïve. Before I’d learned addiction could ruin everything.

  That’s why I needed to stay away from Levi.

  There was something between us... something that would be so easy to fall into. I felt it every time he was near. Maybe he only wanted one night. But I knew if I had a taste of Levi Hunter...

  One night would never be enough.

  • • •

  After the show, we all headed back to the hotel. Eva’s parents were staying too, so everyone was keen to give them the VIP experience. Hudson wanted to take them out on the town, but the rest of the guys had quickly vetoed that. Letty had called ahead and asked the hotel to provide pizzas and beers for everyone.

  “I’m still buzzing,” Mrs. Walker said as we filed into the suite. We had exclusive use of the top two floors. The band were in the penthouse, with Eva’s parents, Letty and I, Alistair and some other key staff staying on the floor below.

  “We’ll make a fan out of you yet, Eva’s Mom.” Hudson slung his arm around her, and she blushed.

  “Jesse, please call me Jesse.”

  “Okay, Jesse, put the young man down now and come sit with your husband.”

  Everyone chuckled at that.

  “I don’t know about you,” Hudson went straight for the refrigerator, “but I need a bee
r.”

  “Ooh, me too.” Molly went over to him but hesitated as she passed Eva’s parents. “Just one,” she said.

  “Relax, Molly. We trust you,” Mr. Walker said. “Besides, I think we all need a drink after that show. Is it always so...?”

  “Wild?” Damon asked.

  “I was going to say intense, but wild works.”

  They launched into a conversation about some of the craziest shows the band had ever played, while I joined Letty in the kitchen area to serve the pizzas. My stomach grumbled as I flipped the lid on a pepperoni.

  “Hungry?” She smirked.

  “I haven’t eaten since lunch.” And that had only been a grab and go sandwich from the spread the arena had laid out for the band.

  “Yeah, things can get kind of hectic. But you need to make sure you look after yourself, okay?”

  “Yes, Mom.” I smiled.

  “Once we leave for Europe, the schedule will be twice as crazy. I can’t have you dropping down on me.”

  “Eat, got it.”

  “Good. Now grab some plates and napkins and let’s go feed our rock stars.”

  Her words made the knot in my stomach tighten. I shook off the sensation, pulling open cabinets to locate the plates. But as I reached up to grab a stack, I felt someone behind me.

  “Need some help, intern?” Levi drawled.

  I steeled myself, feeling a kick of irritation at the smugness in his voice.

  “No, thank you.” I finally managed to pull the plates down, sliding them onto the counter.

  Our eyes collided and my breath caught.

  “You’re avoiding me,” he said.

  “No, I’m not.” I grabbed the napkins, adding them to the plates, and went to move around him. But Levi stepped into my space.

  “I think you are.”

  “Levi, please...” My lips pursed.

  “The truth, then you can pass.” The corner of his mouth kicked up. “Why are you avoiding me?”

  “Fine.” I let out an exasperated breath. “Because this, us, it isn’t a good idea.”