He chased Alex through the halls of the small hotel drawing stares from other guests. He followed him to the pool area where Alex finally stopped.
“I’m trying to get away from you, can’t you just leave me alone?” He was breathless.
“I’m trying to keep you from ruining your life.”
“It’s already ruined.” Alex sat down on a lounge chair and let the tears that had pooled in his eyes fall down his cheeks. He quickly wiped his face with his hands.
“You need to talk to Kylie and try to figure this out.”
“I know deep down that I should do the right thing and marry her. I don’t want my kid to be illegitimate. But, I’m not ready to be a dad or a husband. I don’t want that yet. And as far as Kylie…I’m not in love with her.”
Cody felt sorry for his friend. “I don’t know the answer, but it’s here somewhere. Give yourself some time…it’ll come to you.”
Alex dropped his head into his hands.
“C’mon, let’s go back inside. You should sleep this off before the show tonight.”
Alex turned to Cody. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.”
The two friends walked back through the hotel. Cody made sure Alex was okay, took the bottle of vodka from his room and left.
He thought about calling Dana, which was odd since he didn’t even know her that well. Reality was she was still on his mind. It felt so different that night. He trusted his instincts and didn’t think he imagined the connection. What could have happened? He hated loose ends.
He flipped opened his wallet and pulled out a piece of paper. He had copied her number down when he’d gotten back to his room in Miami.
Did he really want to get rejected again?
He shoved the paper back into his wallet and got on with his life.
Chapter 40
Larry Carter could not believe how smart he was. All those people that said he was a loser. That he had no brain. What did they know? Just because you’re quiet and shy doesn’t mean you can’t think. Larry laughed at their gross misjudgment. He had a special kind of intelligence.
He figured out that Dana Drew was Dana Hill.
He’d show them all.
He went to the white pages online and typed in her real name.
Dana Hill popped right up.
An address and a phone number.
See, he reassured himself, Dana didn’t lie about where she lived. She just mislead him about her real name, but that’s only because she’s famous. Dana would never be dishonest with him. Never.
He pulled out a yellow legal pad and took out a bright red pen. Carefully he printed her name, phone number and address. Now he could call her. Or visit her.
The thought gave him chills.
He moved from the computer into his bedroom. He had to get dressed. He was working tonight at the bookstore. He didn’t want to go, but he needed the money and he’d already missed too many days. He couldn’t afford to lose his job. All the people there thought of him as quiet Larry. They didn’t realize that soon he’d be the husband of the most famous woman in South Florida. Once they got married, he wouldn’t have to work anymore. He could just relax at home and listen to his wife on the air.
His wife.
That meant other privileges, too.
Larry pulled the picture of Dana from the night at Scully’s out of his wallet and brought it to his lips.
Soon my sweet.
Soon.
Chapter 41
Dana drove into the night, heading north on the highway to clear her head. She cranked the radio to maximum volume, mad at herself for being so naïve, for taking Sam back in the first place.
She felt stifled. She rolled down the windows of the car, letting in fresh air. It didn’t take away the weight she felt on her chest.
Dana chided herself. It wasn’t Sam she wanted back, it was the idea of Sam. The idea of the family she wanted. If she was honest with herself, she’d admit that things hadn’t been that good since he moved back. She hadn’t felt the same closeness. Little things started bothering her about him: the way he rolled the toothpaste up from the bottom, the way he sucked his fingers after he ate making an annoying smacking noise, the wet feeling on her cheek after he kissed it.
Had she never noticed this before? Or was she just blinded by her feelings? Suddenly, everything was glaring and annoying. Did she really think a weekend away would change anything?
And then there was Cody.
Why did that picture of him in the magazine bother her so much? If he was a fantasy she needed a reality check. She needed to see him and get him out of her system.
She turned onto I-75. Tampa was now only three hours away.
If she saw him she could put this teenage infatuation behind her and move her life forward.
Three more hours.
Chapter 42
The Cody Blue Experience took to the stage with a vengeance. The crowd roared, but the band was off tonight. Alex had a hangover from his afternoon with the bottle and his mind was elsewhere. He’d seen Kylie just before the show. She was putting tremendous pressure on him to get married. He really didn’t want to. The music didn’t matter tonight.
Cody walked over to him between songs. “What are you doing?”
“I’m just a little out of it tonight.”
“Well get it together.” Cody hated sounding anything less than professional.
On the next song things didn’t get any better. Bobby and Harper looked at Cody and shrugged their shoulders as if to say, “It’s not our fault.”
They finished the set to a receptive crowd, but they knew they sucked.
“What the hell happened?” Eric yelled as he entered the dressing room. He was not pleased. He wore his long blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail, black leather pants and matching leather jacket. He was the rock star manager wannabe. “I thought you all wanted this!”
“It was just one bad performance,” Cody defended, glancing briefly at Alex.
“Yeah, won’t happen again,” Harper confirmed, backing up his friend.
“The music reporter from The Tampa Tribune doesn’t know that the next show’s going to be better. He’s going to write what he saw tonight…and I don’t think it’ll be pretty.”
The band stared at their feet. Cody spoke up.
“We’re not a machine. We’ve been working hard, we’re tired. Things happen, you know, we weren’t that bad. People responded.”
“The people don’t have the trained ear of a music critic. He’ll write that CBE live is not as polished as the studio CBE.”
“Who fuckin’ cares?” Alex said. “Really. It was one bad gig, just drop it.” He stormed out of the dressing room. Eric started to go after him.
“Back off, Eric,” Cody said, following Alex out the door.
He hung back, watching Alex approach Kylie with a kiss. Soon their warm welcome turned ugly. Cody saw them exchange words and then Kylie leave, crying.
Alex turned and spotted Cody.
“What are you, my guardian angel or something?”
“Just a friend,” Cody said, putting his arm around Alex’s shoulder. “Why don’t you go back to the room, take a shower, get some sleep.”
Alex looked weary. “I’m out…thanks man.”
“No problem,” Cody said, heading back to the dressing room.
He was walking past the bar when he saw her nursing a glass of wine. He stopped dead in his tracks to focus. Yes, it was her…the long mane of dark hair, full red lips and then the flash of her green eyes.
She met his stare.
“Dana?”
“Cody Blue.” She drank him in with her eyes. He looked amazing. Tall, broad shoulders, lean muscular frame.
“So, what, you were in the neighborhood and decided to drop by?” he said sarcastically, his tone cold. The image of her kissing that guy in the parking lot flashed before him.
She didn’t miss the anger in his voice. “At least I show up. Or do you just make plans w
ith girls all the time only to stand them up?” She drained her wineglass.
“Oh I only do that to girls I see making out with some guy before I’m supposed to meet them.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“You, in a parking lot, some guys lips on yours. Pretty clear to me.”
Some guy, some guy…she searched her mind for the answer. Two glasses of wine weren’t helping.
Oh. Sam.
He saw her with Sam at Ivy’s parking lot. That’s why he didn’t show. He didn’t ditch her. She ditched him.
“I…I can explain,” she stammered, though she had no idea how. She began to regret this trip. She had no business being here.
Cody was angry, but didn’t walk away. She looked so beautiful. The air between them was charged with desire. He wanted to grab her and kiss her, but she humiliated him. She played him. “Do you fool around with all the bands you interview?”
“It’s not what you think. It was my ex…he wanted to see me. It had nothing to do with you.”
“So, this ex is still an ex? That did not look like a kiss goodbye.”
Dana felt his hurt and emotion drip from every word. She hadn’t imagined her feelings that night at Luna. What she felt was real.
“He asked to get back together,” she whispered.
“And…?”
She swallowed hard. “I said yes.”
Cody shook his head. “So why the hell are you here?”
Dana began to cry. Silent tears fell down her cheeks. “I don’t know. I…I had to see you again.” She felt humiliated. “I never should have come.”
Dana ran out of the club into the night feeling like a fool. It started to rain. She put her hands over her head in a pointless attempt to stay dry.
“Dana!” she heard Cody call as he ran towards her. She kept running. “Dana, stop!”
She turned around and he was there, inches from her. There was undeniable electricity between them. Cody cupped Dana’s head in his hands and kissed her hard on the lips. She melted in his arms. His warm tongue met hers and she could feel her whole body respond. The rain fell faster, but they were oblivious to the elements around them. Dana ran her hands down Cody’s chest feeling his hard muscles beneath his shirt. She felt his hands slowly move down her hips then back up toward her face gently grazing her ample curves. She moaned only encouraging him further. The rain soaked her white shirt that now clung to her like a second skin, revealing her lacy bra. He ran his fingers through her hair as his kisses became more insistent. His mouth moved down her neck stopping just before he went past the point of no return, though he realized he was so far beyond that now.
“Cody…don’t stop,” Dana said breathlessly. She had never experienced passion like this. Her body ached for him.
He pulled her close, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke. “God, I want you…but you’re involved.” His words belied his actions because he didn’t let go of her.
“Not anymore…I left him, for good,” she said to him and to herself. In that moment she realized she was truly over Sam. When he first broke up with her, she was heartbroken. But this time, she felt nothing about him, only sadness for being a fool.
And she never experienced passion like this with him. Ever.
“I never stopped thinking of you,” he whispered.
She looked into his eyes and saw the depth of his emotions.
“I didn’t either,” she said, taking the initiative and kissing him again.
He scooped her up in his arms and brought her through the back stage door into his dressing room, locking the door behind him.
He started kissing her again, pulling her shirt up over her head. Cody unclasped her lacy bra and let it fall to the ground. He moved his hands slowly over her curves. His touch sent shockwaves through Dana’s body as she felt herself tilting toward him with need. Her hands worked the buttons on his shirt until his chest was exposed. She ran her fingers down his firm body wanting to touch him everywhere. He did the same, exploring her first with his hands, then with his mouth. She cried out in ecstasy. He moved her gently to the couch touching her, kissing her, making love to her.
When they were spent they lay in each other’s arms. It felt so natural.
It felt real.
*
Dana went back to Cody’s hotel and spent the night, though there wasn’t much sleeping.
They woke up the next morning tangled in each other.
“Tell me you can stay for a while,” Cody said pulling her closer.
“I’m yours for the weekend,” she replied, so thankful she had the time off.
“Good, ‘cause we have another show here tonight which means I have the day free.”
“Perfect,” she said, rolling on top of him. “What do you have in mind?”
“I’m thinking something by the water,” he said. “I grew up in the middle of the state, the beach is still a novelty for me.”
“That’s funny I did, too. I’m from Orlando.”
“Oh…not far from me. I grew up in Pinetree.” The truth slipped out unknowingly. Even though he was years removed from his troubled past, Cody still could never admit to anyone where he really came from. It would open the door for too many questions…possible digging. And now he just told a woman he barely knew the truth.
“That’s ironic.”
“Yeah, but I don’t like to tell anyone where I’m really from…I don’t want anyone bothering my family and stuff,” he said, trying to clean up his mistake.
“I can appreciate that. Don’t worry my lips are sealed.”
Cody was thankful for his quick save and hoped he could trust her. He had a feeling he could.
“So that still leaves us with the question…where to go?”
“Why don’t we drive and see where the day takes us. I have my convertible.”
“Awesome.”
Dana and Cody hit the road and headed to the Gulf of Mexico. They cruised down the highway under a cloudless blue sky. Dana put down the top and let the wind and sun caress their skin.
They parked by the beach and strolled the shore holding hands learning more about each other. A one man steel drum band had set up on the sand playing one Bob Marley tune after another, the Caribbean rhythm providing a perfect soundtrack to their afternoon.
Cody twirled Dana around on the sand, ignoring the bemused stares.
“Whee…” she laughed.
“You look beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
He spun her into him and kissed her on the lips.
“What next Miss Drew?”
“You know Drew’s not my real last name…”
“No?” he said in mock shock, “Next you’re gonna tell me there’s no such thing as the tooth fairy.”
“Oh, no…I’ll only dispel one myth at a time.”
“So who are you mystery woman?”
“Dana Hill.”
“That’s a nice name.”
“Okay, that’s cool you think so, but this is the part where you tell me who you really are Cody Blue.”
“I really am Cody Blue,” he said with a straight face.
“Don’t put me on.”
“No, I am Cody Blue Smith.”
Dana laughed hysterically. “You’re funny. C’mon I told you my real name, what’s the big deal to give up yours?”
“Dana,” he said seriously, “I really am Cody Blue Smith.”
“Oh God,” she stopped laughing, “You really are.”
“My mother is Jane Smith…can you imagine?”
“What a normal name.”
“Well, Jane Smith wanted to make sure she didn’t have a son named…
“John Smith.”
“Exactly.”
“I can honestly say you’re the first Cody Blue Smith I’ve ever met.”
“One of a kind.”
“Yes, you are.” She squeezed his hand.
“So then, what’s next Dana Hill?”
“Oooh�
�that’s sounds weird. No one calls me that except my dad.”
“Sorry,” he grinned sheepishly.
The afternoon was winding down. They walked toward the shore, taking off their shoes to wade in the water. It was almost time for sunset, Florida’s best free show.
Dana looked over at Cody trying to figure out what this was. They clicked. But then what? He was leaving for a new city tomorrow. What was she doing?
Falling in love with a guy she could never really have.
Dana knew a bit about the rock star life. She’d met so many bands over the years…she knew they never really kept up relationships. It was hard. Bands were pretty much always on the road, never really making roots. Then there were the groupies. Cody’s band hadn’t even really made it big yet, but already Dana could see the women in the audience looking for one night with a rock star-to-be. This wouldn’t exactly lead to the white picket fence life she wanted. Have your fun, her mind reasoned, enjoy yourself, but don’t let yourself fall for him. This relationship is not going to end up the way you want it to.
That was logic.
In her heart, though, she’d never been so exhilarated, so excited in her life. She and Cody seemed to have an unspoken connection. The mere thought of him sent chills down her spine and her mind places it didn’t dare go with anyone else. Sam was safe. Cody was dangerous.
She never realized the difference could be so thrilling.
Besides, safe Sam turned out to be a failure.
“This is perfect,” Cody said about their spot on the beach.
“It is,” Dana said…answering the question in her head.
They watched the bright blue sky change. The sun was suddenly clearly visible in front of them. A perfect sphere of fiery light. Purple, indigo and orange streaked the sky as the sun slowly descended toward the water. As it neared the horizon, the sun seemed to slip quickly into the sea, pulling the light with it. The sky remained illuminated briefly and then began to turn dark. A cool breeze kicked up some sand around them.
“Dana,” Cody began, wrapping his arms around her, “I don’t know what’s happening between us…”
Oh God, she thought, here comes the letdown.
“And I know we both live kinda crazy lives…”
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