Good Girls Don't Date Rock Stars

by Codi Gary

  “Travis? Travis, are you asleep?”

  Gemma’s question broke into his thoughts, and he kissed the top of her head. “No, just thinking.”

  “Hmmm, me, too,” she said, her finger making little patterns on his chest.

  “Anything I should be worried about?” he asked, praying she’d say no.

  “No. Actually, I’m thinking if I’m going to go downstairs, I should probably get into the shower.”

  Travis turned his head to look at the clock and knew she was right but was loath to release her. “Want some company?”

  Her body shook with laughter. “Yes, but I’m afraid if I let you join me, I’ll never make it in time.”

  His chest rose with a sigh. “You’re probably right. Besides, I’m supposed to go over some things with my manager this afternoon.”

  “Ah, Big George. How is he?”

  Big George had visited her dad’s morning show, and she had apparently charmed the old boy so much, he’d been willing to listen to a demo of Travis’s music that she’d snuck out of his room. When Big George had showed up at Buck’s and approached him after his set, Travis had been floored but flattered. And when he’d realized what Gemma had done, he’d discovered exactly how lucky he was to have found her.

  “I keep losing you,” Gemma whispered, and he jerked out of his musings.

  “What?”

  “I asked how Big George was and suddenly you were a million miles away,” she said, sitting up.

  He opened his mouth to answer, but her phone started ringing. Before he could stop her, she was off the bed, leaping across the room to her purse. Admiring the sight, he smiled.

  She looked at her caller ID. “I need to take this in the other room.”

  She disappeared into the bathroom, and his mind clouded with suspicion. She’d said she wasn’t seeing anyone, but she could have lied. Or maybe it wasn’t that serious, and she didn’t want to mention it.

  Or maybe what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas?

  Travis stood up and retrieved his clothes, dressing as he contemplated exactly what he was doing with Gemma. He was tired of the bullshit; he’d always wanted to settle down and have a family, something he had missed out on growing up. He wondered, not for the first time, if Gemma and he would have made it if Emily had never pulled that crap ten years ago.

  Stop living in the past and try not to overthink this. Just see where things go.

  Travis pulled his T-shirt over his head and went to knock on the bathroom door but paused for a moment. Leaning his head against the wood, he strained to hear her conversation.

  “I love you. See you soon. ’Bye.”

  Travis backed away from the door and waited for the shower to turn on, wondering who the I love you had been for.

  None of my business. It could have been her mom.

  Funny how the reassurance didn’t stop a worm of jealousy from wiggling around in his brain. Logically, he knew Gemma owed him nothing, but it didn’t mean this didn’t bother him.

  PREOCCUPIED, GEMMA STEPPED out of the shower and wrapped up her hair in a towel.

  Charlie had called to say good night and that he was having a great time, but there had been a note in his voice she’d recognized. Something was going on, but he didn’t want her to worry or, worse, take care of the problem. Michael was constantly telling her that she needed to let Charlie fight his own battles, but it was hard to step back. He was only nine and she was supposed to protect him, to keep him safe. Which made what she was doing with Travis so much worse.

  Just one weekend that’s for me in ten years doesn’t make me a bad mom.

  Once she left for home tomorrow, Travis would be out of her life again and back to his. She had planned to keep their little tryst to herself, but could she do it? Could she just go home and pretend nothing had happened? And if she went with him to this event, how was she going to spend the evening continuing to keep a tight lid on her emotions and hiding the details of her life?

  Because otherwise I’ll be wrecking three lives that work fine just the way they are.

  If she were going to tell Travis about Charlie, she should have done it ten years ago, despite what she’d thought was going on between him and the blonde in his trailer.

  Closing her eyes, she drifted back to that night, and her stomach roiled with pain.

  “Travis, aren’t you going to introduce me to your friend?” the woman had asked, her tone sweet as honey but with a bitter aftertaste.

  Gemma had pulled away from Travis and run. She’d almost made it to the gate before he caught her and spun her around.

  “Let me go,” she’d cried, swinging her arm. Her hand had connected with his cheek and he’d grabbed her shoulders, shaking her gently until her gaze met his.

  “Gemma! Nothing happened. I walked into my tour bus and found her like that. I was telling her to leave when you arrived.”

  Did he think she was an idiot? Sobs choking her, she couldn’t even speak. His grip had loosened and he’d rubbed her arms, trying to comfort her. “I swear, there hasn’t been anybody else.”

  Even if that was true, she knew eventually there would be. Who were they kidding? He was going to spend over half the year on the road, with beautiful girls coming on to him left and right. Eventually he was going to give in to temptation. In time, he would leave her anyway . . .

  What about the baby?

  If she told him now, would he quit? Would he come back to Rock Canyon and get a job at one of the dairies? He’d be miserable and would probably hate her for it. Music was all Travis had talked about since the minute she’d met him. If she told him now, he’d give up his dream. And eventually resent her and the baby.

  “It’s over, Travis.” Her voice had been shaky but firm.

  “What?”

  She’d felt sick at the hurt in his eyes but knew it was for the best. “I said it’s over, Travis. I’m setting you free.”

  “I don’t want to be free. I just want you,” he’d pleaded, and she’d hated it, knowing what it had cost him. Travis didn’t beg anyone for anything.

  “We’re headed in different directions, so why not just end it before something really bad happens?”

  They’d stood there for what felt like hours, her waiting on pins and needles for him to say something, anything to change her mind, but instead, all he’d said was, “Okay.”

  Gemma opened her eyes, staring at her reflection, demons warring inside her as she remembered walking away from him. She had cried all the way back to the airport, praying he would come after her, but he never had. The first few months, she knew he’d asked Mike about her, until she’d told Mike to stop answering him. There had been times over the years when she’d been tempted to call him to tell him about Charlie. But once she’d made a mental list of pros and cons, she’d always changed her mind.

  In fact, the day Charlie was born, she’d called his cell from the hospital but hung up when he answered. By that time Travis already had two hit singles and was on his way to the top. It wouldn’t have been fair.

  Then she’d kept her eye on his career over the years. The tabloids had adored him for the fodder he gave: new girl every week, raging hotel parties that cost him thousands of dollars, and that was just in his early days. When they began calling him “The Hell-Raiser of Country Music,” she’d known she had made the right decision. Charlie didn’t need to be associated with that type of life.

  Taking the towel off her head, she wrapped it around her body and left the bathroom. She found Travis sitting on the edge of the bed, his elbows on his knees. He glanced up when he saw her and smiled.

  “You’re running out of time, Cinderella.”

  Heart pounding, she opened her mouth to start telling him about her doubts. The reasons why they shouldn’t do this. But his hand snaked out and grabbed her before she could form the words, pulling her into the space between his legs as he looked up at her.

  “My Gem.” His glance was so tender it stole her breath and her
heart all over again.

  She didn’t argue, couldn’t really. No matter the distance or the obstacles they had faced, Travis had always been on her mind; she had just hoped her feelings would fade with time. They hadn’t, obviously, but it didn’t matter now. There had never been a real future with Travis, and despite her own desires, Charlie was more important. His happiness and normalcy meant more than fleeting desire and an old flame that had never stopped burning.

  But while she was here, in this moment, she could take away a little something for herself, couldn’t she?

  Her arms slipped over his shoulders and she tried not to think about anything beyond Travis’s hands stroking her back and the kisses raining along the skin above the towel. For just a little while, she didn’t want to be responsible, levelheaded Gemma Carlson. She wanted to be Gem again.

  “Gemma, I want you. I want this and more. Do you understand?” he asked, his eyes lifting again to meet hers. Her vision blurred and she tried to turn away, but he caught her chin with his thumb and forefinger.

  “Gem, look at me.” When she did, his hand brushed her cheek, wiping away the tears. “This is nothing to cry over. Those SPCA commercials are something to cry over, but us?” She gave a little smile, he kissed her.

  They sat there for the longest time, their soft breathing and the meeting of their lips the only sounds in the silence.

  When he finally pulled back, he said, “Getting a second chance with you is something I don’t want to just give up on. I didn’t fight for you before, but I’m in this now. I want you. I hope you can keep an open mind and give me a chance.”

  “You don’t even know who I am anymore,” she said softly.

  “I’d like to remedy that, if you’re willing,” he said, brushing his mouth over hers. “What do you say? One more chance?”

  Chapter Four

  * * *

  TRAVIS WAITED IN the brightly lit lobby at six, anxiously checking his watch. It wasn’t that he was necessarily excited about the charity event; they really were boring. It was the knowledge that he would have Gemma by his side all evening, dancing with her and introducing her to people, that was making it impossible for him to relax and wait patiently.

  He’d been thinking a lot since running into her, wondering if this was fate’s idea of a second chance. Maybe he hadn’t been ready ten years ago—they had both been too young to settle down—but now the timing was right.

  The elevator dinged, and Gemma stepped out, her hands holding up the crinkly skirt of her creamy gown as she walked. The heart-shaped neckline and halter style of the dress showed a good portion of white skin, and Travis nearly swallowed his tongue. Her hair was pulled back loosely from her face with a rhinestone-studded hair band, and the half updo became a waterfall of brown curls around her shoulders. Her makeup was light and tasteful, but it was the smile that made her truly beautiful. Gemma’s bright, happy smile as she walked toward him, waiting for his reaction, was magical.

  Stopping in front of him, she spun around. “What do you think?”

  After a moment’s hesitation, he reached out to take her hands in his, bringing them up to kiss her knuckles. Staring into her eyes, he said, “You’re gorgeous, Gem.”

  Cheeks turning pink, she protested, “It’s the dress. And the hair and makeup. They did such a good job . . . .”

  She stopped talking when he pulled her against him and kissed her, not caring who saw. When he drew back, he held up a black square jewelry box. “Here.”

  “What is this?” she asked, taking the box hesitantly.

  “A thank-you.”

  She gave him an exasperated look as she opened it. “Travis, you already paid for my hair and . . . oh!” She stared down, and he smiled as she pulled the teardrop-shaped diamond necklace from the box.

  He took it from her and unclasped it. “I thought you might like it.”

  “I can’t accept this,” Gemma said, putting her hand over his. “It’s too much.”

  “No, it’s not,” he said, slipping it around her neck. Once it was secure, he slid the clasp up to hide it under her curls. “There. Just enough.”

  Her hand reached up to cover it and her mouth opened, but he caught her protest with a kiss.

  Releasing her mouth slowly, he said, “And it’s you, Gem. It’s not the dress or the makeup, it’s you.” Taking her hand, he set it on his sleeve and said, “We should probably get going before I forget myself and take you back upstairs.”

  To his surprise, she snorted. “Not on your life, pal. I’m running on five hours of sleep and enough caffeine to keep an elephant awake, and it took me three hours to get ready. We are going to this party.”

  Biting back a grin, he said, “Whatever you want, Cinderella. I’m at your disposal.”

  GEMMA HAD TRIED to avoid the line of reporters outside, snapping photographs, and had been thankful when Travis had introduced her to the owner of the hotel, Callum O’Shea. Callum had helped her bypass the paparazzi and come in the back way, while Travis had strutted his stuff.

  The first thing she’d asked when they’d made it inside was where the bar was. Callum, who was in his early thirties and very handsome, with an Irish brogue and laughing green eyes, had snagged a couple of glasses of champagne, and they’d made small talk until Travis had joined them, his arms snaking around her waist. There were several more photographers inside. Every once in a while Gemma caught a flash, and her stomach tightened.

  This is a public event, being covered by newspapers and magazines. I might as well just do my best to have a good time.

  They’d sat down for dinner, and Gemma had choked when she’d learned how much her plate of half-eaten rosemary chicken had cost. She hadn’t been very hungry—her nerves were too shot—but the champagne helped take the edge off.

  After dinner, Gemma had gripped Travis’s arm tightly as he led her around the large ballroom, introducing her to various celebrities and people she’d never heard of but who were, apparently, CEOs of some very important companies. Callum had introduced Travis and Gemma to his friends, Jake Warren—who owned a multimillion-dollar online dating site, TheLastFirstKiss.com—and Jesse Prince. Gemma recognized Jesse, who was the quarterback of the Boise Grizzlies, Idaho’s professional football team. Once she told him she was from Rock Canyon, it had opened up the conversation to places in the area to hike. Gemma had never been much for outdoorsy things, but she had enough friends who did to know where to go.

  A waiter walked by with a tray of glasses and she grabbed one, trying to be discreet as she gulped down the contents. She felt like a fish out of water and needed a little more liquid courage to calm down.

  While Travis talked to Callum about Ireland, he slipped his hand from the small of her back to take her hand, intertwining their fingers naturally. Gemma smiled at Travis, and the heat in his eyes caused her breath to catch in her throat.

  “So, what are y’all talking about?”

  Gemma glanced over at a thin blonde who had her eyes trained on Travis.

  “Hello, Chelsey,” Travis said coldly, and the bottom of Gemma’s stomach dropped.

  Chelsey Cooper was a newer country singer who catered to the crossover pop/country that the younger generation seemed to enjoy. Gemma liked a few of her songs, but some of her whinier stuff was grating.

  “Who’s your friend, Travis?” Chelsey’s dark eyes narrowed as they fell on Travis and Gemma’s clasped hands. She looked amazing in a strapless black dress that ended just above her knees and fit like a second skin. Gemma had to bite back a wave of jealousy.

  She’s probably one of those girls who can eat whatever she wants and not gain a pound.

  Travis squeezed her hand. “This is my old friend, Gemma. Gemma, this is my opener, Chelsey Cooper.”

  “Oh, come on, you make it sound like we don’t even like each other,” Chelsey said, her tone warm and suggestive. It was obvious something was going on between the two of them. “I have to say, that’s a very pretty dress,” she said to Gem
ma, taking a sip from her glass. “So, old friend, how well do you know Travis?”

  Gemma tried to keep her hackles from rising at the woman’s snide tone. “We were friends in high school.”

  Chelsey leaned close to Gemma and lowered her voice. “We’re not talking just friends, are we, honey?”

  Gemma could smell the alcohol on Chelsey’s breath and decided to try to excuse her behavior. “Just between us girls, your mascara is running.”

  Chelsey opened her mouth to say something else, but Jake Warren jumped in and took her hand. “Why don’t we move over to the bar and get a drink? We can see where things take us.”

  Gemma noticed Chelsey’s eyes straying to Travis again, but he had already turned back to his conversation with Callum. Gemma almost felt sorry for the woman, remembering what it was like to be in love with Travis but never think she had a chance with him. Chelsey caught Gemma watching her and, with a glare, let Jake lead her toward the bar. Gemma’s compassion dissolved.

  “So, what do you think of Redfish Lake? Good camping up there?”

  Jesse’s voice broke into Gemma’s dark thoughts, and she smiled as she answered. “It’s beautiful. You definitely want to stay there a few days and explore, but I would take some bear mace.”

  Jesse laughed, and Gemma tried not to think about what might have happened between Chelsey and Travis. Grabbing another glass of champagne, she tipped it back, emptying its contents. She wasn’t a big drinker, but she didn’t have a problem slamming a few back when out with friends. It was amazing the affects alcohol could have on a person; some became belligerent assholes, others giggly clingers, and—

  “Excuse me, gentleman, but I believe I owe this lady a dance,” Travis said, taking her glass and setting it on a passing tray before leading her over to the stage, where a band was playing. When the singer leaned over, Travis whispered to him, too low for her to hear.

  “What are you up to?” Gemma asked as he twirled her onto the wooden dance floor.