by Jennifer Ann
Licking my raw lips, I climb off her and adjust the painful hard-on trying to make a hole in my jeans. Anger burns through my gut when I realize how close I was to releasing Charlie Walker the Rockstar—the prick that enjoys using women for nothing more than a good time. The Danny Hogril way. Evelyn doesn’t deserve that kind of shit.
I tip my head at the loose strap on her dress. “She’s going to know what we were doing.”
“Believe me, she already knows.” Evelyn’s cheeks flush even darker as she sits up and smoothes her hair. “Why do you think she left in the first place? Knocking is her way of checking in to make sure I’m okay with what we’re doing.” She offers me one more small, innocent smile behind fluttering lashes.
Another rush of need swells through my groin when I glance down at the soft curves beneath her dress. I’ve never wanted anyone this way. But I can’t sleep with her this soon either. It would ruin everything.
“Don’t mind me,” Sharlo yells from the other side of the door. “I’ll just wait on this stoop until you’re ready.”
“I better…go,” Evelyn says quietly, glancing at the door. “This could get really awkward with her in the room when all I want to do is tear your clothes off.”
The declaration grabs my dick’s attention once again. Nothing would make me happier than to rip that dress off her tight body to have my way. So fuckin’ do it already, ya pussy, Danny’s voice taunts.
Lips drawn in a straight line, I stand and look away from Evelyn’s body before my eager dick changes my plans. “I want to know more about you. Say you’ll go on a date with me.”
“How would that work?” she asked in a surprised tone. “After what happened tonight—”
“There are ways around it,” I snap, turning to face her again. Eyes wide, she’s obviously hurt by the anger I’m trying so hard to contain. My lips tilt with an apologetic grin. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way, right?”
She gracefully rises off the couch and steps close enough that I’m once again filled with her tempting scent. Big brown eyes search mine before narrowing. “Do you see me as another notch in your bedpost? Because if that's the only thing on your mind, I’m not going to let you jerk me around.”
“You think I’d bother with a date if that were true?” I reach out to draw her in until our hips are pressed together. She’s so small and delicate inside my arms that I have to swallow down another growl of pent-up frustration. My thumb traces the curve of her lower lip, swollen and red. “Whatever this is, I want more.”
Her jaw tightens. There’s a fair amount of doubt in her hard gaze, so I kiss her again, hoping to erase it. Soon she gives in, biting my lip as I tug on her hair. The moment’s so sizzling hot that I have to make myself stop before my other persona makes an appearance. I dust one more kiss over the thick of her freckles between her nose and cheek before pulling back. Her gaze is drunk with lust as I grab my phone from my back pocket to add her name into my contacts.
“Last name and address too,” I demand, handing my phone over. “I need to know where I’m picking you up.”
Taking it, she gives me a sideways glance. “You always this bossy?”
“Only when it comes to the thought of losing you again.” I tighten my jaw and mentally run through my daytime schedule for the week. Now that I’ve been dropped by the label and can’t get past a creative block, there isn’t much going on in my life that can’t be rearranged aside from my afternoon boxing sessions, and I’m eager to see Evelyn again. As soon as humanly possible. “Come back here tomorrow night. I’ll cook you dinner.”
“I work at Leona’s until close.” She looks up from typing. Her freckles dance when she scrunches her nose with a sour face. “I really don’t know if I’m up for this. The way tonight went, it’s obvious we can’t be alone if you’re serious about ‘dating’.”
Damn it. How can I prove to her this isn’t about sex? I mean yeah, I’d love to seal the deal, but for some reason the need to be with her goes beyond that. “Can I stop by Leona’s for awhile? I’ll stay out of sight this time and we’d be forced to behave.”
Her eyes flicker up to the side as she considers the question. It seems like a lifetime passes before her shoulders roll forward. “Fine. I have an hour break for dinner around ten. Wait for me by the double doors in the back.”
“I’ll bring food,” I say, impatiently waiting for her to finish.
A small smile tugs at her lips and her shoulders drop a little. “Fine. Hold on. It takes me a minute to remember my new address,” she admits with a giggle. Finally she hands my phone back with a weary smile. “Don’t make me regret this, Walker.”
When I glance down at my phone to make sure she filled everything out, I grin. Under the notes section, she wrote NON-GROUPIE.
“I won’t let you down,” I promise as my eyes lock with hers.
She takes a step back and blows out a long breath, her alluring gaze never leaving mine. The funny way she stands I can tell she’s torn between kissing me again and bolting. “Why do I get the feeling that getting involved with you is a really, really bad idea?”
I don’t say anything back as she heads for the door because I’m not totally convinced it’s good for either one of us. All I know is I want her any way she’ll let me have her.
Her sudden exit leaves the apartment cold and silent, my dick hard and angry. Serves ya right for not having you way with her, pansy ass, Danny snickers.
* * *
Early the next morning, Lorenzo delivers a new MacBook. I’m still in my boxers when he comes barreling inside, box tucked under his arm. “I don’t suppose you’ve been surfin’ the web on your phone yet today.”
“Now what?” I ask, scratching my ass. It was a long, restless night as I relived the way Evelyn tasted when I kissed her, the small noises she made, and how soft her body felt beneath me.
“That hot little brunette you were seen with last night just about broke the internet, that’s what.” He sets the laptop on the island and fires it up. “Your fans are losing their fucking minds trying to figure out who she is. Someone even opened a Twitter account launching a search for anyone who may know her. I don’t know what it is about this chick, but her picture has gained a ton of attention. They fucking love her. Chicks want to know where she got her dress. Guys want to know if she has a calendar. The gossip rags are desperate to find her for an interview.”
A rush of irritation sweeps through my gut. It was bad enough someone tried to pull out her goddamned hair, but now they’re plastering her picture all over the web? The idea of thousands of perverts sitting behind their screen, jerking off to her image makes my stomach roil.
Lorenzo’s fingers peck across the keyboard and the home page for Celebrity Insider fills the screen. The top article features a series of pictures where Evelyn was reacting to the crowd. In the first, her mouth is open and her already large eyes are even bigger than seems possible. In the second she’s holding Sharlo’s hand, dark hair flowing behind her as they attempt to flee. In the final picture, a painful grimace lines her face as she reaches behind her head where the psychotic fan yanks her hair.
Thrashtag’s Lead Heartthrob Spotted With Mystery Woman in Brooklyn Heights
KENNA CYPHERS - 5 hours ago
Late last night outside of Leona’s, the trendy bar in Brooklyn Heights, notorious bachelor Charlie Walker was spotted cozying up to an unidentified brunette. Witnesses say the rockstar, sporting a short haircut beneath a low Brooklyn Nets cap, was briefly intimate with the stunning young woman on the sidewalk before she returned to the bar. After a user on Twitter alerted fans of the Thrashtag singer’s whereabouts, Walker posed for pictures until the crowd became out of control, forcing the rocker to flee with a bodyguard.
Minutes later his mistress returned outside, looking perplexed as to Walker’s whereabouts. After being accosted by one of Walker’s rabid fans, the mysterious woman left with a friend, refusing to answer any questions.
Walker has
n’t been linked to anyone since the Spring Break incident and has reportedly sworn off dating. Sources speculate whether the woman is either an up-and-coming model or one of Hollywood’s newest rising stars. Either way, it seems in light of his recently stunted career, Walker has been busy focusing on jumpstarting his once nonexistent love life.
Subscribe here for all the latest updates as we attempt to uncover the identity of the mysterious woman.
In the sidebar there’s a decent shot of me posing with the group of women, but my eyes keep returning to the photograph capturing Evelyn in pain. Rage for the gossip site and everyone there last night who exposed her makes me dizzy enough that I have to sit down on one of the island stools. She wouldn’t be in this fucking mess if I hadn’t pursued her like a psycho.
“That bitch had no right to lay a hand on her like that,” I snarl, wishing I could locate the woman and make her apologize for hurting Evelyn.
“So you do know her,” Lorenzo says with a low snort. “Who is she? Another model?”
“She’s just some girl who moved out here from a farm in the Midwest,” I mutter. I suspect she’s a world away from being just “some girl,” but I’m not going to spill my guts to Lorenzo like some kind of pansy ass. The inherent drive to protect her kicks into full gear when I imagine what the paparazzi would do to her if we really were together. Money hungry pricks.
“You’re telling me this hot piece of ass is wholesome and not another new actress you snagged?” Lorenzo shakes his head and laughs. “Don’t bust my balls, buddy. I’m trying to look out for your best interests. It’s my job. These days you’re making it an incredibly tough one.”
Jesus, I should knock him on the floor for calling her a “piece of ass.” But when I remember Evelyn insisting she’s ‘tough,’ I laugh to myself. “Look at her, man. Does she look cheap-and-easy to you?”
Lorenzo’s eyes narrow onto the screen. “She looks like the type that could wrap you around her little finger, then eat you alive. Those big eyes are filled with trouble, brother. I’ve seen it a million times. How long have you been hooking up with her?”
“Lorenzo. We’re not together.” Not yet, I silently add to myself. “We just met last night. She’s new to the city and she’s authentic. Real. Not another groupie. She didn’t seem to give a shit that I’m famous. We had fun hanging out. That’s it. End of story.”
“Listen,” he tells me, crossing his arms over his chest. “This chick could either boost your flailing career or put the final nail in its coffin. Give me her name and I’ll have that PI you hired to find Danny run a background check.”
“No way,” I growl, cringing with the thought of anyone prying into her life. “She’s good, Lorenzo. Midwest wholesome. I don’t want anyone poking their nose into her business.”
“Good luck with that. You know how it is. The media won’t stop until they know everything about her.” He shuts the screen on the new laptop and frowns. “If you’re going to use her for a little fun, at least treat her right so you don’t have rabid fans pounding your door down when you break her wholesome heart.” Clapping me on the shoulder, he gives me nearly the same damn stern look my father did when I was a kid. “It’s been a long time since you’ve been monogamous, buddy. America wants to know why this one got your attention. If you’re smart, you’ll wine and dine her like a gentlemen so her new fans have something to salivate over. Milk this thing for as long as you can—social media will eat it up. Maybe it will even make up for the shit you pulled with that reporter and make Rick reconsider backing the album.”
Using Evelyn to get my career back on track is out of the question. Having her in my life for a long time to come is a different story and stirs something foreign in my chest. But am I ready to put her through a media shit-storm that could forever change her life?
Chapter 11
EVELYN
Sharlo sits cross-legged in front of me on the couch, unmoving. I was able to hold her off when we got home from Charlie’s by saying I was exhausted, but in reality I was still unable to think straight after what happened. My mind had been reduced to a blissful haze and all I could think about was our steamy kisses and how badly I wanted to take it further for the first time in years. This morning, however, she ambushed me when I sat down to have a bowl of cereal in front of the TV. From her dead serious stare, it’s clear she isn’t going to give-in anytime soon.
“Okay, fine!” I blurt, setting the bowl down before throwing my hands up at my sides. “We made out and it was hot as hell!”
“I knew it!” she cries, snagging a pillow off the couch and hurling it at me. “What was it like? Is he a good kisser? Is his body as splendid as in the videos or is that just the magic of Hollywood?”
“I didn’t see him naked,” I scold, tossing the pillow back. “There was a lot of heavy kissing but the only clothing removed was the strap on my dress.”
I shudder with the memory of his hot tongue in my mouth and his big hands exploring my body. It was hands-down the hottest make-out session of my life. If Sharlo hadn’t interrupted us, I don’t know that either of us would’ve had the willpower to stop.
“Everything about him is so…intense,” I continue. “You did a stellar job of getting him worked up over that incident outside the bar.”
Her blond eyebrows rise. “Why do you suppose I told him? I could bloody well feel the heat between you two. The way he was making eyes at you I was afraid I wouldn’t make it outside before your tongues were down each other’s throats.”
“Yeah, well, thanks for that, I guess. Next time you may want to think twice before poking a grizzly bear with a stick.” A wide smile creeps over my lips. “He’s bringing dinner tonight over my break.”
“Get out!” she roars, violently slapping the couch. “If I didn’t adore you so much I’d completely despise your hot arse right now! Dinner with Charlie Walker! Who would’ve ever guessed he’s actually the type to date?”
Not me, that’s for sure. “I told him I’m not interested in being one of his conquests. He says he wants to get to know me better, but he is a rockstar. I’m worried hanging out with him will be a complete waste of my time.”
“Would you stop worrying already and let yourself have a little fun? I don’t feel one bit sorry for you. Having American’s most eligible bachelor stick his tongue down your throat is better than winning the bloody lottery.”
Snorting, I realize “most eligible bachelor” is just another way to describe him as being a total player. I glance at the metal clock on the wall and grab my bowl of cereal. “I have to get ready for work.”
When I stand, she wraps me in a strong hug. “I do hope you’re ready to have your world properly rocked.”
“I’m not so sure that I am,” I answer in all seriousness.
* * *
Leona’s is the busiest it’s been during any of my shifts, which is perfect. It doesn’t give me much time to dwell on the fact that Charlie will be stopping by to see me in mere hours. Not only am I nervous about whether or not we’ll kiss again, but it freaks me out that my coworkers or someone at the bar might recognize him and have a hundred questions.
After the flow of customers grabbing an early dinner finally eases up, I’m cleaning off a table when I catch a teenage girl a few tables away snapping my picture. Her friend’s eyes widen and they begin to whisper to each other behind their hands.
Tilting my head, I stroll over to them and set my hands on my hips. “Can I help you ladies?”
“You’re her, aren’t you?” the skinny one with a pixie haircut asks. Her lips twist in amusement. “The chick kissing Charlie Walker last night.”
Wincing, I look down as heat fills my cheeks. I almost forgot about that woman from Celebrity Insider. Did she post a video? Charlie was so upset after Sharlo told him what happened that I’m afraid if he sees the woman pulling my hair with his own eyes, it’d send him over the edge.
I look back up at the girls and shake my head. “We didn’t kiss.�
�� Not at that point anyway. I look over to make sure the only other patron isn’t paying attention before stepping closer to her. “Did someone post my picture?”
“You really don’t know, do you?” the heavier girl with a ton of piercings asks. “Pictures of you are everywhere.” She taps on her phone a few times before smirking and handing it to me. “You’ve been trending like all day.”
Through her cracked screen, I see a Tweet with three pictures of myself and Sharlo from last night, including one of my hair getting pulled.
About time #CharlieWalker found himself a hottie! Ten bucks says she’s an actress. #whosthatgirl
I click on the second hashtag and my jaw drops. There’s a microphone with the words “top news story” above one of the Tweets about me. I scroll down to find hundreds more, all talking about me and what I was wearing or guessing my identity. There are a few snide comments from fans like the hair pulling bitch, but most are actually pretty nice and complimentary.
“This has to be a joke,” I mutter while gaping at a side by side of myself and Mila Kunis, suggesting we’re somehow related.
“You’ve totally gotten your fifteen minutes of fame,” pixie cut girl tells me, giggling. “They say you have to do something big while it’s happening if you want to stay famous.”
“What are you going to do?” her friend asks, eyebrows raised.
“This is crazy,” I say, shaking my head. With shaking hands I hand her phone back. “What were you going to do with that picture of me?”
“Post it, of course,” pixie cut girl answers. “Unless you wanted a better one of the three of us together.”
“That’s crazy,” I tell them. “I’m no one, I swear.”
“Twitter says otherwise,” pierced girl answers. She shrugs. “You’re really pretty. You should look into modeling or acting. Everyone thinks you’re one or the other already anyway.”