Avery pushed her chair back and forced a smile. She’d met Ella Shaw when they were both at Miami Children’s Hospital, donating bone marrow. Avery was nine, Ella had just turned ten. They’d bonded, shared summer and holiday visits, and claimed each other as best friends. When Avery’s sister, Olivia, had moved out and married Dylan Rhodes, Ella had moved in.
“You okay?” Ella asked.
“I am awesome,” Avery said, turning her back on the screen and alert, grateful a photo of Grey hadn’t accompanied the message. She didn’t need to see his handsome face on her screen. Bad enough he occupied so much of her thoughts.
Ella plopped down on Avery’s bed, curling her legs beneath her. Her damp, light brown hair hung around her face in silky strands. “And I don’t believe you.” She pinned Avery with a knowing stare.
“Okay, I’m not awesome.” Avery had never been able to lie to Ella, not since the day they’d met.
On top of Avery being easy to read, Ella had an intuitive sense, in addition to her warm, giving personality, and Avery adored her. Meeting Ella was one of the good things that had come of that painful time in Avery’s life.
“I’m guessing Grey Kingston has something to do with you being distracted and not awesome?” Ella asked, making air quotes with her fingers.
Avery pursed her lips and nodded.
Though she hadn’t told her family what had happened when she’d gone to see Grey backstage, it was obvious to them all she’d been upset and not herself afterwards. But she had confided in Ella. It wasn’t that Avery didn’t want to tell her sister, but the time had never been right. Olivia’s life had been in upheaval. First, Dylan’s old friend Meg had been in the hospital, and they’d been busy with her troubles. Afterwards, Olivia’s life had fallen into place. She and Dylan were in love, and Avery hadn’t wanted to burden her sister with her own issues.
“Still no word from him?” Ella asked, bringing Avery back to thinking about Grey.
“No. And I shouldn’t care. I mean, I’m the one who told him to stop texting me and to focus on his tour.” Avery settled herself on the edge of her bed.
“And you only told him to leave you alone because you’re scared to start something with him again. Besides, it’s not like he listened to you.” She gestured to one of the many gifts he’d sent … and she’d placed around her room.
“But he did say he’d be in touch the next time he was in Miami.” Avery picked at a nonexistent piece of lint on her silk pants.
“And?” Ella pushed, never allowing Avery to escape into herself as she was prone to do.
She swallowed over the surprisingly painful lump in her throat. “I just read he’s been back in town for the last week or so.”
“And he still hasn’t been in touch.”
“No. And I shouldn’t care! I don’t want to care.”
“But you do.” Ella patted the space beside her.
Avery crawled up the mattress and curled against her pillows. “I’m being ridiculous. I should be relieved he’s forgotten about me. I saw him with those groupies, and I ran from everything his lifestyle represents, didn’t I?”
“You did,” Ella agreed.
“So why do I care that he decided I’m not worth it?”
“That’s not what he decided!” Ella exclaimed, shaking her head in frustration. “If I could wrap my hands around your father’s neck for all the insecurities he caused you, I would.”
Insecurities were probably an understatement, Avery thought. And truly, only her sister, mother, and brothers could completely relate to the belittlement they’d felt on discovering their father’s betrayal. They’d always believed their hotel magnate father, Robert Dare, was away from home, traveling extensively on business. And he’d always made up for what he didn’t provide in time and presence with gifts.
They’d thought he worked hard to support their family and had accepted his absence as routine. Until the day he’d informed their mother, Emma, that he not only had a mistress but another four children on the side. And one of those children, the youngest, Sienna, needed a bone marrow transplant in order to live, and he wanted his legitimate kids tested as potential donors. Bless her mother, she’d always been kind and caring and, despite her own pain, had agreed.
Avery had been the match, the child her father had used to save one in the family he’d devoted his time to. The family he clearly loved more than Avery’s. To say she’d felt used and abandoned was an understatement of extreme magnitude.
Ella pulled her in for a brief hug. “I’ve known you for a long time, and you’ve told me things your siblings don’t even know, right?”
Avery nodded. Ella had always been her safe place. Grey had too … once. She pushed the thought aside.
“Then trust me when I tell you, you can’t let the feelings of inadequacy your dad left you with rule your life. I know it didn’t help when Grey left you to find fame and fortune, and you’ve convinced yourself you’re not enough, not worthy. I’m here to remind you that you are.”
At her friend’s true and telling words, Avery trembled. As hard as she’d tried to overcome it all, some days, the inadequate feelings came rushing back.
Ella grasped Avery’s hands. “Mr. Tangled Royal would be lucky to have you in his life. Not the other way around.”
Avery blew out a deep breath, replaying her friend’s words in her mind. They helped. “You’re right. Dealing with Grey after all this time has made me feel like I’ve been abandoned all over again. Except it’s not the same. And I’ve moved on.”
Ella eyed her with amusement. “Now I don’t know if I’d go that far.”
Avery smacked her with the nearest pillow, and her friend laughed.
“But I would go so far as to say you’ve grown up a lot since you two saw each other last. With a little luck, so has he.”
Avery rolled her eyes. “Ever the optimist?”
Ella shrugged. “Can’t hurt to think positively, right? So if he does get in touch and he wants to see you, I think you owe it to yourself to meet up with him. Think closure, if nothing else.”
“When did you get so smart?” Avery asked.
“The day you became my best friend. Remember it’s easy to give advice to someone else about their love life.”
As open as Ella was with most things, she didn’t talk much about her own guy situation. She claimed there wasn’t anything to discuss, which made no sense, because Ella was pretty, sweet, and she outshined everyone around her. She deserved a great man in her life.
“Anything you want to talk about?” Avery asked, hoping for once her friend would open up.
“Nope. I actually have to get to work. I promised my boss I’d meet with a new photographer she’s considering hiring.” Ella was an assistant to an up-and-coming fashion designer based out of Miami. Another reason they were such good friends—they shared a love of clothes, makeup, and design.
“Okay, well, thanks for the talk,” Avery said.
“Any time.” Ella pushed herself off the bed just as Avery’s cell rang from across the room.
“Toss me the phone before you go?”
Ella grabbed the phone from beside the computer and squealed as she handed Avery the cell. “Looks like Mr. Tangled Royal surfaced.”
Avery’s eyes opened wide as she stared at Grey’s name on the screen.
“I want all the details later,” Ella called out with glee before heading out of the room.
* * *
Grey sat in his apartment, surrounded by warm cream-colored walls and soft brown and taupe furniture Rep had left behind. They had similar taste, and the place already felt like home, giving Grey the comfort and sense of peace he’d missed while being on the road. His gut told him the other part of home lay in reconnecting with Avery.
He’d begun the process through the end of Tangled Royal’s tour, sending her a steady stream of gifts corresponding to the things she mentioned on her blog, smartly named Avery’s Attitude. He wished he could take credit fo
r being so creatively brilliant, but it had been Lola’s idea, as a way to get back into Avery’s good graces.
The first gift and card he’d sent had contained his private cell, and he’d asked her to text him. She had. Which had started a stilted and hesitant back-and-forth dialogue between them. Lola had been right, the gifts were a good opening gambit, and he’d kept them up … until Milo had OD’d, and everything in the band’s life had screeched to a halt as they’d tried to help their friend.
The early days of rehab hadn’t been easy. Milo had threatened to leave more than once, Lola had cried, Grey had begged and done everything short of taking his best friend’s place himself to get him to stick it out. By then the band had fulfilled their concert commitments as well as announced that they were breaking up.
The timing made sense. Lola had cemented her relationship with Rep and decided to buy a place on secluded, private Star Island. Grey, in turn, had put in motion the process of buying out both Lola’s and Rep’s condo leases downtown. The board had finally approved his application, speeding things up because of his interest in the two apartments on the same floor. Lola’s side he intended to turn into a sound-proof studio.
All of which had occupied his time. Not to the exclusion of Avery. She’d never been far from his mind, but everything he did had been methodically planned out. He wanted to be settled before approaching her again. If they had any chance of seeing what could be in the future, she had to believe the life he desired now wasn’t the one he’d left her for once before. Or the one she’d seen backstage.
He picked up his cell, dialed her number, and listened as it rang and rang. All the while, he hoped he hadn’t blown his second chance with her before it ever began.
He prepared himself to leave a message on voice mail when suddenly she picked up. Relief swamped him, and Avery’s soft, dulcet tones settled something deep in his bones. “Hey, sugar,” he said, suddenly nervous about what to say.
“Grey, this is a surprise.” She sounded distant. Cool.
“I told you I’d call when I got to town.”
But she obviously hadn’t believed him, and now he knew just how much of an uphill road he had ahead of him. Good thing he wasn’t afraid of working for what he wanted.
She cleared her throat. “So when did you get back?”
He bent his knee and settled into the sofa. “I’ve been back for a little over a week. I wanted …” He trailed off, at a loss. Fuck. “I’d rather fill you in in person.”
She hesitated and then, “I’m really not sure it’s a good idea.”
He glanced heavenward, praying for opportunity. Something he could work with. “Give me a chance to just talk to you. If, after that, you don’t even want to be friends, I’ll back off.” He was lying through his teeth, but that was okay.
All he wanted, needed was for them to spend time together and both experience their old chemistry. He trusted in their long-ago connection. Thinking of her had gotten him through many lonely times. He refused to believe that bond was gone. He wanted to feel it again and needed for her to see that what they’d shared as teenagers could be even more solid as adults.
The silence on the other end of the phone nearly killed him, but he let it go on. Though it wasn’t his nature to let life dictate to him, he sensed she needed the illusion of control. He’d start by not pressuring her.
“Okay, we can get together,” she finally agreed.
He released a long breath. “I already made a reservation at Tino’s,” he said, knowing she’d recognize the restaurant. “Saturday night if you’re free.”
“Pretty sure of yourself,” she muttered.
“Pretty hopeful,” he corrected her. “Can you make it?”
She hesitated before answering. “Yes.”
He refrained from pumping his fist in the air.
“What time?” she asked.
“Eight.”
“That works. I’ll meet you there,” she said in an obvious attempt to keep things short and distant.
That wouldn’t work for him. “I’ll pick you up at seven thirty.”
“Grey—”
“Avery—” he mimicked, like he used to every time she’d tried to argue with him.
Her light laughter eased the heavy weight on his chest.
“Fine,” she said, giving in. “I already know you don’t need my address.” Her tone softened at the unspoken reminder of the many gifts he’d sent over.
“No, I don’t. I’ll see you at seven thirty on Saturday. And Avery?”
“Hmm?”
“I can’t wait to see you,” he said, hanging up before she could answer … or worse, not say the same.
Chapter Two
Saturday night, Avery tried on a fourth outfit, finding something to criticize about each and annoyed with herself for caring so much about impressing Grey. But the fact was, it had been years since she’d seen her ex up close and personal, and she wanted to make an impact. She wouldn’t be a normal woman if she didn’t.
Finally, she decided on a bohemian-looking dress, baby-doll style with kimono-draped sleeves in a variegated array of blues, accented by her favorite silver necklace. She slipped on silver gladiator sandals and styled her recently highlighted hair in loose waves. A spritz of her favorite perfume, a new one with vanilla and amber undertones that Grey had sent her, and she was ready to go with—she glanced at her watch—no time to spare.
Just as she finished, the doorbell rang. She drew in a deep breath and headed to answer it, grateful Ella was at a business dinner with her boss and a designer in town for the weekend. Avery didn’t need her friend watching her first interaction with Grey in seven years. She was nervous enough without an audience.
She opened the door and stared at the man standing in front of her. When she’d seen him at the venue, she’d barely had time for a long look, not when he’d had a groupie clinging to him, and prior to that, the last time they’d been together, they’d both been kids.
The guy standing before her was all grown up.
He braced a hand against the frame and grinned at her. “Hey, Very,” he said, using the nickname he used to call her.
“Hi,” she managed to answer, taking in his hotness as she realized the years of seeing him on magazines and the Internet hadn’t begun to capture the changes time had wrought.
His features were the same but more mature. He’d grown into himself in a really good way. His jet-black hair was cropped short at the sides, a little longer on top, the rocker-like style suiting him more than the shaggy look he’d preferred when they were younger. She used to run her fingers through the long strands of his hair when they made love. She swallowed the pained sound that threatened to escape her throat along with the memory.
Instead she refocused on him. He was still lean, his faded jeans hugging his body, but now he was well built too. Muscles defined his forearms, and his pecs protruded from beneath his fitted black tee shirt, while drool-worthy tattoos wrapped around his skin, emphasizing those same muscles. The urge to trace the ink in his flesh, to feel the heat and bulk of those muscles overcame her, and she curled her hands to prevent herself from acting on the crazy impulse.
His body was powerful, and she understood how he had the stamina to sing, play his guitar, and grace the stage, running from one end to the next while enrapturing the audience. And she’d be a liar if she claimed to be immune to the masculine strength that exuded from him now.
Her gaze traveled up to his face, and she would have apologized for staring, but she caught his green eyes devouring her much as she’d done to him.
“You look fucking gorgeous,” he said, a sexy smile on the handsome face that women swooned over.
She pushed the thought of other women … groupies aside, reminding herself this was Grey. Her Grey once upon a time, but those days were over. “Thank you.”
“How about a hug for an old friend?” His voice, deep and gravelly, scratched over her already-sensitized nerves in a wholly seductive w
ay.
Her heart dipped, disappointment racing through her at his use of the word friend. And she hated herself for the brief reaction. Still, she stepped forward, and before she could prepare herself, he enfolded her in his strong embrace.
His raw masculine scent with only a hint of cologne enveloped her, heightening the sexual awareness she’d promised herself she wouldn’t feel. But her body didn’t lie. Her nipples tightened, and a coil of need twisted in her belly. He felt familiar … yet not as she hugged him back, noting he was hard everywhere, from his tight stomach to his solid arms. That insane urge to touch him returned, and she eased back before she could feel or do anything else.
“I’ll just get my bag and we can go,” she said, her voice too raspy, threatening to betray her. She was eager to take them to neutral, public territory.
“Good by me,” he said, his gaze never leaving hers.
She locked up her apartment, and he led her to the parking lot. Before she knew it, he paused by a black convertible. A black Aston Martin DB9 convertible.
Avery’s mouth dropped open at the sight of the beyond-luxury vehicle. “Holy shit, Grey, is this yours?”
She didn’t blink at the unladylike words coming out of her mouth. Her brothers knew and had taught her cars, and this was a car.
A sexy, proud smile lifted his lips, making him look like the much younger Grey she remembered. Boys and their toys, she thought. Although in Grey’s case, she understood the fascination. Unlike Avery, who’d grown up with luxury, Grey’s past hadn’t been nearly as easy, and he’d worked damned hard for every dollar he’d earned as a musician.
“Couldn’t resist.” He gestured toward the car. “For the last few years, I’ve been touring so much I didn’t bother with a ride.” He shrugged. “I figured I owed myself.”
He opened the car door for her, and she climbed inside before he joined her from the driver’s side. Plush leather surrounded her. Not even her BMW came close to this kind of comfort, and she wriggled her behind into the seat and groaned. “God, it’s like heaven.”
Dare to Rock Page 2