“N-nothing. Just some drawings.”
Grabbing a sketchpad, I opened it to the first page. A charcoal of a city street with dilapidated storefronts, slick with rain, was so lifelike it felt like I’d stepped into the picture.
Lily nearly swerved into the median as she reached over to grab the sketchpad. “C-Cameron!”
“Watch the road, darlin’.” Turning sideways to avoid her reach, I flipped from page to page, each drawing better than the last.
“Fuck, Lily. These are amazing.”
Spotting the “L” in the corner with the little flower, I realized that the drawings in her office were hers. She glanced at the sketch with a shy smile, full of pride. “Thank you.”
“Is this your medium of choice?”
She seemed surprised by the question. “No, actually, I like oil. B-But I think my charcoals might show more promise, according to my t-teachers, at least.” Staring straight ahead, her mouth dipped at the corners. “I always dreamed of being an artist.”
Thumbing through the pages again, I studied the details. “You are an artist.”
It was the truth. Each and every one of her drawings was gallery worthy. Closing the sketchpad, I returned it to the stack.
“Did you always know?” she asked.
“Know?”
“About the music. That you wanted to be a musician?”
It was the most common question I got asked in interviews. Maybe not those exact words, but the sentiment was the same. The explanation was slightly more complicated, and something I never answered—at least not honestly. Very few people knew the truth. But something about Lily loosened my tongue. Looking out the side window, I studied the glass buildings jutting into the sky. “Have you ever heard of the Noble Ones?”
“They were a band in the ‘80s, right? I think I’ve heard their songs.”
I laughed dryly. “Song. As in, one song.” The car inched forward in the afternoon traffic, the truck fumes turning my stomach almost as much as the memories. “That was my father’s band. Music was his dream. His whole life.” My lip curled inadvertently. “And booze. Sometimes women, as long as they weren’t my mother.”
When my gaze shifted Lily’s way, I found her frowning. “You can’t choose your parents,” she said quietly. “I should know.”
The GPS dinged, shattering the silence. Lily yelped and whipped her head around to check the traffic behind us, then punched the gas and jerked the car across two lanes of traffic. The air punched from my lungs when she nearly clipped an SUV as she merged into the exit lane.
“Damn, girl,” I croaked, turning my head to make sure no one had a gun on us. “You know we’re in Texas, right? You’re going to get us killed.”
Her throaty laugh filled all the empty spaces, in the car, and in my head. It was melodic. Like a song I wanted to hear every day. My thoughts drifted into dangerous territory. Unknown terrain. My lifestyle didn’t allow for anything more than casual, so I’d never even tried.
If there was one thing I’d learned from Tyler Noble, it was never make a promise you couldn’t keep. The man was full of empty promises. Those promises led to two children and the awkward moment when he left without a word. My mama used to say we were just like him, Chase and me. She didn’t say it out of spite. She said it out of reverence. Mama never got over the bastard. Or their sorry excuse for a relationship.
The car coasted to a stop in front of the radio station, rousing me from my thoughts.
“We’re here.” Lily turned to me, a brilliant smile breaking like dawn.
My heart tugged at the sight of it. Because we were here, in a place I’d never been. Or wanted to be. But I could see myself with Lily. For a week. Or a month. Maybe longer. And that scared the fuck out of me.
Without thinking, I brushed a lock of hair off her face. “That we are, darlin’.”
* * *
The red light flickered, signaling a commercial break. Sliding the headphones off my ears, I breathed a sigh of relief as I reached for my bottle of water. The hard part was over. Christian’s accident kept most of the questions centered on his recovery so there was no talk about our upcoming album. Which was a good thing since we’d yet to sign a contract with our label. Wendy was seasoned enough to dig for the truth, and maybe if we hadn’t shared a past, she would’ve.
My gaze shifted to Lily perched on a canvas chair outside the booth, and I shot her a smile.
“What’ve you been up to, Cam?” Wendy asked, dragging my thoughts from the girl on the other side of the glass. “Are you staying out of trouble?”
Leaning back in my chair, I ignored the tugging in my chest, working its way up to my neck like a noose. “So far.”
Lies. All lies. Lily was trouble with a capital ’T.’
“That’s a shame,” Wendy cooed. “There’s no fun in that.”
My lips bent out of habit, and I tossed her a wink. “I’ve still got a few days. You know I’m all about the trouble.”
Wendy hummed, twirling a lock of hair around her finger. “I remember.”
“Sixty seconds,” came a voice through the speaker.
Affixing my earphones, I glanced at Lily. The smile slid right off my face when she cocked her head, like she was seeing me for the first time, and she didn’t appreciate the view.
“We’re back with Cameron Knight, guitarist for the band Caged,” Wendy announced. “So, Cam, our listeners are dying to know. Are you seeing anyone special?”
Wendy had to throw that one in. It was obligatory. Like asking my musical influences or my favorite color.
My lips parted, a canned response on the tip of my tongue. But then I felt Lily’s pull. “I’m very single. For the moment, at least.”
Surprise flashed across Wendy’s features. “For the moment? Does that mean that the notoriously single Cameron Knight might be on the lookout for something a little more permanent?”
My laugh was a little too quick. “Don’t go putting words in my mouth, darlin’.”
Wendy smirked, and for a second I thought she might continue the interrogation, but she let me off the hook.
“Thanks for dropping by, Cameron. Give Christian our best. Stay tuned for more of Wicked Wendy on 107.1…The Eddddggge!”
Once the headphones were off and I was on my feet, Wendy glanced me over with a bemused smile. Then her gaze slid to Lily. “I guess drinks are out of the question, huh?”
For a moment, I thought about taking her up on her offer. Showing Lily what I was really all about.
Instead, I tipped forward and pressed a kiss to Wendy’s forehead. “No drinks. But I hope you’ll make it out to the show.”
She smiled up at me. “Wouldn’t miss it, baby.”
I made my way out of the booth, a little unsteady on my feet.
“You ready?” I asked Lily, shoving my hands in my pockets.
She nodded, looking anywhere but at me when she slid off her stool.
I took a deep breath, and despite my better judgement, I followed her out the door.
* * *
It took a full fifteen minutes, crawling along in the afternoon gridlock, before Lily said a word.
“So that’s pretty much what you do all day?” she finally asked, cutting her gaze my way. “Give interviews and flirt with disc jockeys?”
I ran a hand through my hair, chuckling. “I manage to fit in some music every once in a while. And trust me when I tell you: that wasn’t flirting. You’ll know when I’m flirting.”
Her lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Wendy looked pretty flirty to me. Did y’all used to date?”
Blowing out a breath, I decided to go with the unvarnished truth. “I don’t date. I haven’t dated anyone since high school.”
Lily laughed. “Really? I don’t see you spending many nights alone, Cameron.”
Resting my arm on the console, I brushed my pinky against Lily’s. “There’s a big difference between a date and a random chick I hook up with on the road.�
�
My honesty might send Lily running for the hills, but there was no use pretending. When she didn’t screech to a stop and throw me out of the car, I called it a win.
“How about you, Lily?”
She lifted a shoulder in a half shrug. “I’ve had a couple dates since high school.”
“I figured that.” My pinky slid under hers, and I hooked our digits. “Nothing serious though?”
I tried not to squirm as I waited for her answer. It had been a long time since I had to try this hard to pry information from a chick.
She sighed. “I told you, I don’t have time to date. Between school and working two jobs, I don’t even have time to paint anymore.”
“Two jobs? You don’t make enough at The Mansion?”
“Not really. SMU is expensive. I work as a bartender a couple of nights a week so I can afford the little extras.” She shot me a quick smile. “Like food.”
I glanced over her faded jeans and the frayed ends on her sweater. Maybe we were more alike than I thought. I came from nothing. Worked my way up. The difference was, even in cheap denim and scuffed up tennis shoes, Lily looked polished. Regal.
We rode in silence until she pulled into the tree-lined driveway at the Mansion. Jerking to a stop at the hotel entrance, she put the car in park and then turned to me. “Sorry about the mix-up today. I had fun, though.”
Her eyes were soft and relaxed, and there wasn’t a hint of her little stammer.
“Have dinner with me tonight,” I said impulsively.
Those baby blues clouded with hesitation. “I can’t.” Softening her refusal with a smile, she pulled her hand away. “I’m meeting a demanding client in the morning. He purchased a very expensive package. I need to be up bright and early to make sure everything is perfect.”
Since Lily wasn’t like the girls I hooked up with, taking her to the museum, the ballet, and all that shit would probably satisfy her three-date requirement. And then we could move on to mind blowing sex. Dinner tonight wasn’t part of the plan. But I couldn’t help myself.
Lifting her chin with my finger, I looked into her eyes. “It’s just dinner, Lily.”
Her icy gaze melted into a clear, blue sky. Full of possibilities. “Okay,” she relented, looking around nervously. “But not in the dining room. We can’t… I mean…I work here, Cameron. There’s a no fraternization policy. Go to the bungalow, and I’ll be right behind you.”
No fraternization?
I wasn’t even sure what that meant, but I didn’t want to open my mouth and give her a reason to change her mind, so I pushed open the door and climbed to my feet.
When I dipped my head to peer into the car, I found Lily chewing her lip, looking anything but sure. And hell, I wasn’t sure either. About any of this.
An excuse floated to my lips, some phone call I had to take. Or a meeting with Logan. But instead of sending Lily on her way, I smiled. “Don’t be long.”
* * *
I snuck around the side of the building, my heart racing so fast I thought it might burst from my chest.
In all my life, I’d never done anything crazy. There were no drunken one-night stands in my past. No wild parties. No drugs.
I’d done enough damage to my relationship with my parents when I switched majors and broke it off with Brad. And because I hoped to one day repair the rift, I was careful not to conduct myself in a manner that would reflect poorly on my family.
Until now…
The voice in my head sounded suspiciously like my mother’s. Bitter and full of resentment. It was almost enough to make me reverse my course.
But why should I? It wasn’t like anyone would ever find out. Cameron was a rock star. This…whatever it was… meant nothing to him. In a few days he’d be gone. And I was fine with that. But for one night, I wanted to be wild. Carefree. To taste freedom with no regret.
I took a deep breath and rapped once on the door to Cameron’s bungalow.
He greeted me with a smile that didn’t touch his eyes. “Lily, what are you doing here?”
A shadow stretched onto the carpet behind him and my stomach dropped to my shoes. He had someone here. Jesus.
“I-I, um…”
My tongue twisted into a knot that no amount of counting could unwind.
Locking our gazes, Cameron said smoothly, “That’s right. Your here to drop off the itinerary for my package.” He stepped aside to allow me entry. “Come on in.”
Still unable to form words, I shook my head. Because, really, did he expect me to play along? I was about to bolt when he caught my wrist. “Dave is inside,” he whispered, giving my arm a tug. “Just be cool. He’s about to leave.”
Dave smiled at me from the kitchen when I stepped over the threshold. “Good evening, Miss Lily. I’ll be out of your way in just a minute.”
“N-no rush.”
Slamming my mouth shut, I shifted my feet and tried not to look guilty.
After stowing a plate of fresh fruit in the fridge, Dave lumbered our way. “Have you decided on dinner, sir?”
Cameron’s eyes darted to mine and I felt my cheeks go up in flames.
“Um…no,” he said, patting the valet on the back. “I’ll call room service if I get hungry. You know… later.”
Dave’s gaze volleyed between the two of us. “Well, then, I’ll be on my way. Y’all have a good night.” He smiled as he brushed past me. “See you, Miss Lily.”
My shoulders sagged when the door slid shut behind him.“You t-think he suspects anything?”
Cameron flipped the deadbolt, then pulled me into his arms. “We haven’t done anything.” His lips grazed the shell of my ear. “Yet.”
Tipping my head back to allow him access to my neck, I sank my fingers into his long hair. With agonizing slowness, he traced a path across my collarbone with his tongue. And then his lips found their way to mine for one chaste kiss.
“You want that dinner I promised? Or can we start with desert?”
* * *
A soft moan passed between us. Lily’s or mine…I wasn’t sure. But I had her off the ground, my face buried against the curve of her neck a second later.
“Fuck, Lily, you’re sweet,” I groaned. “So fucking sweet.”
Hooking her leg around mine, she pressed closer, a silent assent that stilled my heart. She held on tight as I carried her to the bedroom. But when I eased her down onto the mattress, uncertainty painted her features.
Don’t think.
I rushed through kicking off my boots, shedding my shirt, and unbuttoning my jeans. With a smile, I dug a condom out of my wallet and tossed it on the nightstand. If I didn’t get inside her soon, I was afraid I might explode.
Letting my jeans fall to the floor, I kicked them aside and dropped on my knees in front of her.
“I think you’ve got too many clothes on, darlin’.” I slid the Converse off her feet. “Let’s see what we can do about that.” Her lips parted as if she wanted to ask me something, so I straightened up. “What is it?”
She didn’t answer, just laid her palm flat against my cheek. The touch was unexpected. Intimate. And not something I was used to. Before I had time to think about it, she eased onto her back, her eyes glued on mine. I tugged at her zipper. And when I kissed the smooth skin below her belly button, I was gone. So gone for this girl. Lost in the moment. A couple more tugs and her jeans flew across the room.
Confused when she slipped out of my grasp and scooted to the top of the bed, I sank onto my heels.
“Come here, Cameron,” she said, holding out her hand.
Twining our fingers, I crawled on top of her, my lips claiming hers. I tangled our tongues, my desire to get close, closer, driving me to distraction.
Breaking our connection abruptly, she blinked at me. “What’s your hurry?”
The words lodged in my throat. Because I didn’t have an answer. Sex was something that came with the territory. A perk that went along with having a song on the charts. But usually there
was not much touching, just a mad dash for the finish line.
Lily leaned in and pressed a kiss to my bottom lip. And there was no frenzy. No promise of wild abandon. Just a lingering taste of honey and her fingers in my hair. It was the sweetest kind of torture. And I knew that I could spend weeks lost in her touch. Exploring every part of her body. But we didn’t have weeks.
The thought sobered me like a bucket of cold water, and I rolled onto my back.
“I didn’t want you to s-stop,” Lily said quietly. “Just… you know… slow down.”
Finding her hand, I laced our fingers. “I’m not stopping. Just catching my breath.”
For years, every woman I’d been with knew what she was getting. Or whom they were getting. Cameron Knight. For an hour, maybe longer. No expectations, no repeat performances. It was a song I knew as well as any I played on stage.
I never had to explain it.
But when Lily rose to her knees, her cornflower orbs digging into mine, I realized this was real for her. More than a random encounter. She hadn’t snuck into my dressing room or cajoled her way onto my tour bus. And she wouldn’t disappear in an hour when we were through.
Tangling my fingers in her hair, I tried to find the words to let her down easy. But the selfish prick who didn’t want this to end seized control at the last second. “Stay with me tonight, Lily.”
My heart sank when she froze, but I understood. At least one of us had the self-control to realize that this was a bad idea. Letting my arm fall to my side, I watched as Lily climbed off the bed.
In one swift motion, she stripped off her shirt and peeked over her shoulder at me. “Can you help me with this?”
More confused than ever, I pushed to my feet. “With what?”
“My bra. It’s a little t-tricky.” She turned to face me, the sparkle in her eyes faint at best. “Unless you just want a quick fuck, and then I s-suppose you can leave it on.”
She’d given me the perfect out. I could bend her over right here with a clear understanding that once the sun came up, we’d be nothing but a memory. A passing thought.