Hard Rock Fling: A Rock Star Romance

by Athena Wright

  That sounded a lot dirtier in my head than it was meant to.

  He scanned the room, waiting. His gaze fell on me. A sly grin crossed his face. The barista came back moments later. He took his coffee without looking at her.

  He made his way over to my table. I forced myself to breathe. He would probably walk on by. Of course he wasn't going to remember me. He'd probably flirted with dozens of girls after the concert last night.

  Ian stopped in front of my table.

  "Mind if I join you?"

  Chapter Five

  Ian's low, teasing voice did something to my insides. I swallowed hard and couldn't answer. I just stared at him, trying not to melt. He smirked and pulled out the chair.

  "What are you doing here, Ian?" The words blurted out without any input from my brain.

  He stopped in the middle of sitting down. He tilted his sunglasses down an inch, staring at me over the rim. Those green eyes were penetrating. Every time he looked at me, it turned my insides to mush. This time I felt a spark of something else. It wasn't a flirtatious look. It went deeper. Like he was peeling back my layers and examining my insides. I felt oddly exposed.

  "What?" I asked. "Why are you staring at me?"

  "How'd you know I wasn't Damon?"

  I shrugged. "I can just tell."

  "You'd be the first…" he murmured. He pulled the chair over until he was sitting next to me, our knees almost touching. "What's a pretty girl like you doing here? This place is such a dive."

  I couldn't think with him that close. I tried to shift away subtly, but he kept on inching forward. "I'm hiding."

  "Yeah? Me, too. No one ever comes here, fans or media." He stopped following me and leaned back in his chair, eyeing me up and down. "Who you hiding from?"

  It was such a normal question. The kind a fellow intern would ask. Why would a rock star care about the boring details of my day?

  "I'm trying to avoid my boss."

  "Skipping out on work?" He made a tsk tsk sound. "Naughty girl."

  "I needed a break. I've been awake for almost twenty four hours straight."

  "Had a wild and crazy night, did you? And they say rock stars party hard."

  "I wasn't partying, I was working," I stressed.

  "That's no fun. Sounds like you need to let loose a little."

  "I'm plenty loose."

  Ian laughed. I flushed.

  "Shut up, that's not what I meant." I took a flustered sip of my coffee, taking a moment to regain my balance. "And what about you? It's barely past noon. Shouldn't rock stars be nursing their hangovers this early in the day?"

  He stretched out his legs, bumping his toe against mine. "Can't get a hangover if you're still drunk."

  I debated whether I should shift my foot away or not. Was Ian trying to play footsie with me under the table?

  "I thought with your album release date getting closer, Darkest Days would put aside the crazy parties for now."

  "You kidding? The closer we get to finishing, the crazier it gets. Gotta work off the steam somehow."

  "So you had a fun night partying after the concert, I assume?"

  "I would have had a lot more fun if you were there."

  I paused with my drink halfway to my mouth. I didn't know if he was being serious or not. I thought back to the notification about Damian and a model. It hadn't said which twin they were talking about. It could have been Ian, or it could have been his brother Damon.

  In either case, it didn't matter. Everyone knew The Twins could get any girl they wanted. I wasn't anyone special.

  "I'm sure you managed to have all sorts of fun without me."

  "Sweetness, you have no idea what kind of fun I can get up to." He pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head and gave me a wicked grin. "Maybe next time I can show you. Would you like that?"

  I breathed shallow breaths, not wanting him to know how fast my heart was racing. "If you're going to make innuendos at me, you could at least call me by my name."

  "Which is?"

  "Hope."

  He snickered and leaned forward in his chair, eyes sparkling. "That's adorable."

  I wrinkled my nose in distaste. "I hate it. It sounds all virtuous and pure. "

  "Nothing wrong with virtuous."

  "That's rich, coming from a guy like you."

  "I don't mind the innocent type. Makes it so much more fun to corrupt them."

  I couldn't stop the flush of heat that rushed through my body, heading straight between my legs. I knew exactly how he corrupted the innocent.

  My phone pinged. Ian raised an eyebrow as I reached for it.

  "Sorry, I know this is rude, but I have to check it. My boss is always giving me more stuff to do." I pulled out my phone.

  One text from my sister. Thanks for the lunch. Hope your boss isn't too much of a dick today.

  "Your boss?" Ian asked.

  "No, it's my sister, Faith."

  "Hope and Faith? Really?"

  "So original, I know. She's always asking how my internship is going," I put my phone back in my pocket.

  "And how is it going?"

  "It's great. I lug boxes and guard accessories."

  "So rock star life is treating you well, then?" Ian teased.

  "I guess. It's just…"

  "What?"

  I hesitated before answering. Did Ian actually care about my answer or was he just looking for another way to needle me?

  "I'm a box carrier. Sunglasses fetcher. I'd wanted an internship where I'd be more than coffee maker and errand girl. I'd thought this would be it."

  Ian nodded in understanding. "The entertainment industry isn't all glamour and glory like everyone thinks. It was eye opening to see all the grunt work that goes on behind the scenes."

  I eyed him, surprised at the comment. "It always kind of annoyed me, actually, that you guys never seem to realize how many people wait on you hand and foot."

  The corner of Ian's lips tilted up. "You believe that old stereotype about celebrities ignoring the little people once we get famous?"

  "No! I mean, I understand. You have your own jobs to do. Important jobs. You can't be thinking about every menial staff member who helps your careers run like well-oiled machines."

  "I'm sure what you do isn't menial."

  "Box carrier and sunglasses fetcher, remember? It certainly isn't as important as your job." I leaned back into my chair with a groan. "I know I shouldn't complain. I'm lucky to have an internship at all, let alone one at Etude Entertainment, considering how much competition is out there."

  "So modest." He smirked. "I'm sure it wasn't just luck."

  "It's not modesty. I know I got lucky. I have friends who also applied, people much more competent than me. I would have been happy for them if they'd been chosen instead."

  He trailed one finger through the dark hair framing my face. "Such a sweet girl, aren't you?" My breath hitched. "Are you just as sweet everywhere else?" he murmured, low enough so only I could hear. A flood of warmth hit my gut like a tsunami, then continued downward, centering between my legs.

  I swallowed hard and took deep breaths. I needed to get myself under control.

  Ian gave me a teasing grin and continued talking as if he hadn't just nearly made me orgasm through words alone.

  "I know the feeling. Before August found me and my brother, we were playing…"

  He stopped sharply. I blinked at the sudden pause, but he continued speaking seconds later.

  "…in this shitty little garage band, going absolutely nowhere. Then here comes August Summers, saying he wants us in his band. I thought I'd fucking died on the spot."

  "You've certainly come a long way from a shitty garage band."

  "You sound jealous." Ian's eyes sparkled with humor as he leaned forward. "You had dreams of being a rock star when you were a little girl?"

  I scooted back in my seat. I couldn't be that close to him without turning into goo.

  "No. I'm just really low on the totem pole right
now. The lowest possible. I'd hoped by now I'd have a real career, but that doesn't seem to be happening."

  I rambled, not thinking about what I was saying before the words left my mouth. Being near Ian was like something flipping the off switch for my brain.

  "I hate going from one internship to another without any real job offers. I keep calling myself a perpetual intern. It's demoralizing. My sister Faith was never—"

  I cut myself off, not wanting to wallow in self pity in front of Ian.

  But he just tilted his head, waiting for me to continue. As if he was genuinely interested.

  For some reason, I wanted to tell him. I wanted to tell him all the feelings I'd been suppressing. The look on his face was understanding. Encouraging.

  "My sister got hired at an event company right out of school," I blurted out. "She's already been promoted twice. Faith is blasé about her success and never rubs it in, but I can't help feel inadequate next to her. Event Logistics Specialist sounds so much better than intern."

  "You feel jealous?"

  "I love my sister. I want nothing but the best for her."

  "But…?"

  I fiddled with my coffee cup. "I just wish I could be as good at something as she is," I confessed quietly. "That I could be as successful as her."

  "Hope, you scored an internship at one of the most sought-after companies in the country. Only a handful of people who apply get one. That in itself is impressive."

  I gave him a small smile. "The rock star is telling the intern she's impressive? Are you trying to flatter me?"

  "Just making an observation." Ian said, parroting the words I'd told him back at me.

  I sat up in my seat. "I'm not trying to wallow in self pity. I've got a plan. I'm going to work my way up. If I work hard enough, eventually someone will notice me."

  He smirked. "Someone already has."

  I flushed, heartbeat speeding up. "I meant someone important."

  Ian threw his head back, faking a pained groan. "Shit, you know how to hurt a guy's ego, don't you?"

  "No! That's not what I meant. I was talking about one of my bosses. Someone who could hire me for real."

  He examined me closely, thinking for a moment. "I could put in a good word for you."

  "You would do that?"

  "It's like I said last night. Wouldn't want to lose such a pretty face."

  My breath caught. I reminded myself it didn't mean anything. He and his brother probably said it to all the girls. "Um. No thanks. I don't want special treatment. I don't want people thinking you're doing a favor for one of your groupies."

  "Sweetheart, with the way you've been shutting me down, no one's going to think you're a groupie."

  I was melting under his gaze. If that was what he called shutting him down, I'd hate to see what it looked like when a girl fell under his spell. Then again, bottled water girl had floated off into the clouds when Damon pulled her aside after the concert.

  "Ian, with The Twins' reputation, anyone who sees me talking to you is going to think I'm just another groupie."

  He looked away. "Can't argue with that," he murmured. His expression turned dark for a brief moment, lips turning down into a frown. I wondered why. Surely he knew better than anyone the rumors about Damian and their behavior towards women.

  "Not that I don't appreciate the offer," I continued. "I just don't want any favoritism."

  "I get it. You want to prove you can do it on your own. Very noble." He grinned, all signs of his earlier frown having disappeared. "It's almost… virtuous."

  "Funny."

  "Just saying. Everybody uses their connections to get ahead in this industry. It's nothing to be ashamed of."

  "Yes it is. Can't you understand how mortifying it would be if a famous rock star told my boss to give me a job? Everyone would think—" I cut myself off, flushing.

  Ian smirked. "Go on. What would people think?"

  I stared into my coffee, avoiding his gaze. "You know exactly what they'd think."

  "Maybe I don't. Tell me."

  "They'd think that we…" I trailed off, squirming.

  Ian leaned forward until our thighs pressed together. He trailed his finger along my jaw. I looked up with a start. "That we what?"

  My inner muscles clenched from that touch. The urge to lean into it was as strong as the urge to run away. "You already know."

  "Maybe I just want to hear you say it."

  My stomach leaped into my throat. I could barely think through the haze of desire clouding my mind.

  Then the curve of his smile turned into a wicked smirk and the fog lifted. My brain snapped back in a fit of pique.

  He was playing me just like he played with all his fans.

  I looked him dead in the eyes. "I'm not going to speculate on our hypothetical sex life in public, so you might as well give up."

  Ian's eyes grew wide and stunned for a brief moment. He sat back in his chair, chuckling. "You're something else, sweetheart."

  My heart was still pumping madly. "Gee, thanks."

  "That's a good thing," he clarified. "Besides, I get it. I had to work my way up, too. I didn't get any special treatment. Damon and I went through hell to get where we are." Ian's eyes widened, looking almost startled with himself. He cleared his throat and leaned back in his chair, a deceptively casual gesture. Maybe he hadn't meant to say that. "I just mean, I understand where you're coming from," he continued, recovering smoothly.

  I wanted to ask him about it. What kind of hell had he gone through? Maybe we had more in common than I thought.

  I snorted inwardly at myself. What could I possibly have in common with a famous rock star playboy like Ian?

  Still, talking to him about this kind of stuff was… nice. It was different. He wasn't just teasing me. We were talking to each other like two regular people. "I know a lot about how Darkest Days was formed, but there's not much info online about you guys before the band." I left the question unspoken.

  He looked uncomfortable, shifting in his chair. He was silent for long moments before chugging down the rest of his coffee, avoiding my eyes. "Sorry sweetness, gotta go."

  I tried not to look disappointed. "I guess I should be getting back, too. I've got work to do."

  "And a rock star's work is never done."

  "I suppose you've got fans to seduce and hotel rooms to trash."

  "Something like that." Ian gave me one last unreadable look. He leaned forward slowly. I froze. He angled his head, as if aiming for a kiss. My eyelids fluttered closed unconsciously as I held my breath.

  Soft lips touched skin.

  My eyes flew open in surprise as Ian kissed me on the tip of my nose. He laughed as I jolted back and rubbed at my nose with the back of my hand. "What the hell was that?"

  "You're too cute." His gaze held a sort of predatory glimmer. "I think I'm going to have fun with you."

  My stomach fluttered. I ducked my head, trying to hide the flush on my face. There was something about Ian that knocked me off balance. I didn't know if I liked it, but I couldn't deny my attraction.

  He flipped his shades back down over his eyes. "See you around, sweetheart. Let's do another coffee date again sometime."

  I was still reeling from the almost-kiss when the cafe door jingled, signaling his exit.

  My hands trembled as I gripped my coffee cup. How was it possible a kiss on the nose could affect me so much?

  It wasn't just that brief touch of his lips, though. It was Ian. Just Ian.

  He's a flirt, I reminded myself. He has this effect on everyone. It doesn't mean anything.

  My body disagreed. It was telling me this meant everything.

  My heart, on the other hand, was sending warning signals.

  Don't even start, it screeched. You know what guys like him are like.

  I did. I knew exactly how Ian's type operated. They said whatever they needed to ensnare you. They used all their charm, all their tricks. Then once they had you, they threw it all away.


  I didn't want to let myself get played for a fool again.

  But I couldn't stop remembering the look in Ian's eyes every time I called him by name.

  Chapter Six

  After my lunch break — after my surprise coffee date with Ian — I went back to work.

  Or, it would be more accurate to say, I tried to go back to work. I was thoroughly distracted by the thought of a certain flirtatious rock star.

  I knew he acted like that with all the girls. I knew that.

  But the more we had talked, the less he had overtly flirted with me. He'd started to touch on something about his past before stopping. Something personal. And I'd confessed something I'd never told anyone — my jealousy of Faith, and my angst about my nonexistent career.

  I couldn't help thinking maybe there could be something deeper between us.

  My phone pinged, startling me out of my thoughts. My CHATTR app again. I scrolled through the newsfeed quickly. It was just the usual fangirl squealing and music reviewer snarking.

  Wait.

  I tapped an article shared by a popular music reviewer. I skimmed it briefly and scrolled until I found a gallery of photos. My heart sank. This wasn't good. Not for Darkest Days, and not for Etude.

  Then an idea came to me in one burst. My mind raced, ideas considered and discarded within split seconds. I could practically hear the whirring sound of my brain working overtime. One complete, perfect idea solidified into shape. I could almost see it.

  I'd just figured out how to get my bosses to notice me.

  I made my way through the hallways at Etude, my mind going a million miles an hour. I knew Janet was scheduled to be in a meeting on the seventeenth floor. I found her in a conference room, setting up her laptop to project on a blank screen.

  "Janet, do you have a second?"

  She pointedly glanced up at the wall clock. "I have a meeting in five minutes."

  "This won't take long."

  She crossed her arms. I hurried to speak.

  "When I first started here, I was told the band was working on a concept album. I've heard some of the songs and they have to do with sex and love."