by Jennifer Ann
My heart takes on an irregular beat, and I become short of breath. When my dad and brothers see this, they’ll probably buy me a ticket for the next flight back home.
Pixie cut girl bounces in her seat, smiling. “So are you really dating him? What’s he like?”
I stick my trembling hands in my back shorts pockets. “We’re not together. We just talked.” I’m not about to tell these girls I’ll be seeing him again in a few hours. I don’t want the whole world knowing my business or following us.
“So can we get a picture with you?” pixie cut girl asks. “Please?”
I hold my hands up, motioning for her to stop. “I don’t want anything posted. Seriously. If my name or where I work got out to the public, I’d be screwed.” I glance back to where Hope is pouring a glass of beer behind the bar. I don’t want to give everyone here a reason to hate me so early on.
“I promise we won’t mention where we saw you,” pixie cut girl says. “You’ll be giving us fifteen minutes of fame too.”
Studying their hopeful expressions, I sigh and motion for them to join me. “I’ll agree to it as long as you promise not to tell anyone where you saw me. Seriously. I could lose my job.”
The girls each spring from their seats, grinning madly. They stand on either side of me as pixie cut girl holds her phone out in front of us. “Big smile!” she says. My lips spread, but my heart isn’t in it.
I’m relieved when they leave right after getting their picture. While Hope tells me and another waitress about her date the night before with a tattoo artist, I scroll through my phone to discover I’m literally everywhere on the web. It’s like I’ve arrived in some alternate world where people become famous for literally nothing. Then I remember that’s what happened to the Kardashians and cringe.
“You look as if you could use a drink,” someone on the other side of the bar says. I look up to find an older, attractive blonde sitting in one of the stools, wrapping the end of her sleek ponytail around her hand. Something about her feels familiar. “Everything alright?”
“I’m good,” I say, tilting my head. “Have we met?”
She drops her ponytail, eyes wide. “Weren’t you and that British girl standing by me the night Charlie Walker played?”
My stomach coils around itself. It’s the woman in the fuck-me-heels who claimed to be Charlie’s date. All at once I wonder if I’m going to hurl. “Yeah, that was me. You were invited by him, right?”
She waves a hand through the air. “Yeah, except he had to leave shortly after I met up with him back stage. Something about a scheduling conflict. It’s okay though. He’s not really my type.”
Ummm…rejected much?
“Bummer.” Relieved to hear they didn’t hook up, I offer a genuine smile. “I’m Evelyn.”
Her smile is far from sincere, as if drawn on with a marker. “Parker,” she answers.
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Jameson, on the rocks.” The fake smile fades when she squints her eyes. “Aren’t you the girl that’s all over the internet today? The one that was spotted making out with Charlie last night? At least one of us lucked out with him.”
Not her too. “We weren’t making out.” Moaning, I twist my fingers through my hair and shake my head. “This is insanity. I just moved out here. I have an older brother who will freak if he gets wind of this.”
Her eyebrows shoot upward. “Where are you from?”
“A small town in rural Minnesota.”
“I have an aunt who lives there,” she says, nodding. “What part?”
“Blue River. It’s in the southwest corner.”
Parker shrugs. “I wouldn’t get too worried if I were you. At least they aren’t giving out your name. This kind of thing doesn’t last long. I’m sure it will all blow over in the next couple of days.”
“Yeah, except you’re not the first one to come in here and recognize me.”
She cocks one eyebrow. “Chances are this older brother of yours won’t hear about you. Does he read celebrity gossip? Is he on Twitter?”
I giggle when picturing James trying to figure out how to send a Tweet. “You’re right, he probably won’t come across anything.”
“Then I’m sure you’ll be fine. It’s not like you’re his girlfriend or anything, right?”
Detecting a hint of jealousy in her voice, I decide it’s a good time to end the conversation. “I’ll get your drink,” I tell her before spinning around. The way she was drooling over him at the show it’s obvious she’s one of his groupies, and I’m not ready for another hair-pulling incident.
As I’m pouring her whiskey, my phone vibrates beside the cash register with a message. I pick it up to find a text from an unknown number.
Looking forward to later. Hope you’re hungry. Bringing my favorite Italian.
Knowing I’ll see Charlie again soon sends my heart racing. As much as I don’t want any more reasons to infuriate James, I can’t deny myself the right to see where this thing with Charlie goes.
Keeping myself busy, I avoid any more conversations with Parker. She only stays long enough to finish her drink.
The next several hours fly by when the place becomes packed with an early evening crowd. Before I know it, it’s almost time for the date. My date with Charlie Walker. No matter how many times I say it to myself, I can hardly believe it’s true. How in the hell did I manage to grab the attention of someone so famous, and why am I so ready to believe that he’s suddenly interested in committing himself to one woman?
Minutes before he’s to arrive, I’m bent over a toilet in the bathroom, convinced I’m going to hurl. I shouldn’t have agreed to let Charlie bring me something to eat. I’ll be lucky if I can sit in the same room as him without shaking. Since those girls took that picture, I’ve been on edge every time my phone dings with a text from my dad or one of my brothers. Thankfully they’re all still in the dark and haven’t mentioned anything unusual. I’m starting to think that I was wrong and I should shut this thing down before everything changes.
“Evelyn, you in here?” Hope calls out. “There’s some guy out here waiting for you with food. Said his name’s CJ.”
My heart skips a beat with the mention of his nickname. I guess I’m really going to do this.
Deciding my stomach won’t be coming up anytime soon, I flush the toilet before stepping out to meet her. “I hope it’s okay if he hangs with me in the break room.”
“Of course. You should have it all to yourselves,” she answers with a friendly smile. Before leaving the bathroom, she stops to nudge me with her elbow. “Your friend’s awfully cute. Take all the time you need.”
Her comment sends my stomach into somersaults. The thought of taking my time to do anything with Charlie slows my breathing. I check myself in the mirror, glad I let Sharlo curl my hair in big waves before she left for work. Taking a gulping breath of air, I head out to the hallway.
I hear the deep roll of his voice before I see him. The second I lay eyes on Charlie, wearing the same Nets hat with cargo shorts and a short-sleeved Stones T-shirt that displays his sleeve tattoo in all its colorful glory, I freeze in place. Take-out bag tucked under his thick arm, he’s relaxed as he talks with someone around the corner.
My eyes drink in the large muscles flexing across his chest when he uses his inked arm to express a point before breaking out in a delightful smile. The deep sound vibrates inside my chest and all the way down to my toes, renewing all the complex feelings that have been building since the night I saw him perform.
The hottest man I’ve ever laid eyes on is here. Waiting for me.
You can do this, I tell myself. He’s a normal human being just like everyone else. You’ve seen where he lives and it was like any other rich person’s house. He may be the sexiest man you’ve ever laid eyes on and every other woman in America thinks the same, but you’re the one he wants to see. No matter how many times you read about him being a player.
Memories of ou
r hot kisses burn a hole through my belly. The overwhelming urge to tear his shirt off his body and make him say my name in his deep, sexy voice strikes me like a locomotive.
Then his head turns and his beautiful blue eyes find me. My knees go weak. My mind may be insistent on questioning the hell out of his motives, but my body doesn’t seem to care. It knows what it wants and it wants Charlie Walker in every way possible.
Chapter 12
CHARLIE
For whatever reason Evelyn’s unmoving at the end of the hall, staring at me with eyes as wide as saucers, rosy lips parted in a silent sigh, it’s sexy as hell and grabs my dick’s attention like someone’s groping it with both hands. Like she’s holding it, getting ready to slip her lips around the head.
Once again she’s smoking hot in a little dress that shows a generous amount of golden skin without looking anywhere near easy. Dark hair spilling over her shoulder in large, touchable curls makes a soft veil around her freckled face.
How in the hell can I be expected to keep my hands to myself while we’re at her place of work? Nothing in this moment can stop me from fisting those soft curls and picking up where we left off. Except maybe for her boss who’s standing two feet away. Holding back a growl, I shake my head before turning back to Mr. All Business.
“Thanks again for the opportunity to play here last week,” I tell him, offering a hand. “The reviews weren’t what I was hoping for, but I’m confident fans will change their mind about my music once I’ve released the new album.” As far as I know, Rick hasn’t issued a statement saying the record deal’s off. There are much worse things than having to release the album on my own if it comes to that.
“I’ll always be a big fan,” he says, shaking my hand a little too hard as if trying to prove he could take me. Though we seem close to the same height, I swear he’s standing on the balls of his feet. “You’re welcome to come back anytime.”
“Thanks. I appreciate the support.” I glance down the hallway once more to see Evelyn’s mouth closed. Thin arms wrapped around her body, there’s an odd little expression pinched on her face that makes me wonder if she’s changing her mind about letting me stop by. When our eyes lock, her cheeks redden, making her freckles pop. Finally, the corners of her beautiful lips turn up and an excited light fills her eyes. Relief floods my chest.
Turning back to Nolan, I drop his hand and lift the bag underneath my arm. “Gotta run. My date’s waiting.”
Nolan leans around me, glancing down the hallway. He makes a surprised little noise as Evelyn’s eyes pop with a hand-caught-in-the-cookie-jar kind of expression.
“Evelyn? I didn’t realize you and Charlie were—”
“Friends,” I interrupt, knowing Evelyn wants to take things slow. The little smile on her lips returns. Knowing it’s solely for me, something in my gut shifts.
Nolan crosses his arms, grinning her way. “Glad to see our girl making new friends in the city.”
My hands twitch at my side, ready to take him out. Our girl? Who the fuck does he think he is? Something about this Nolan asshole rubs me the wrong way. The way he looks at Evelyn like he has a chance in hell with her makes me want to grab him by the throat.
You should beat his ass, Danny’s taunts, making my skin itch. What else you been spending all that time at the gym for?
“Break room’s in here,” Evelyn calls out, pointing to her right. From the slight look of warning etched in her freckled expression, I think she has an idea of what’s going through my mind.
“I’m sure I’ll be seeing more of you,” I tell Nolan with a tip of my chin. He grunts something in reply as I follow Evelyn into a cozy little room. She moves toward a refrigerator and I shut the door, ready to have her all to myself. “What’s with that guy?” I ask.
She shrugs one shoulder. “He’s my boss.” She grabs two bottles of water and sets them on a coffee table before returning to my side with this grin that’s all freckles and sexy as shit. “Probably doesn’t like me hanging out with friends on his time.”
“It’s not his time if he’s giving you an unpaid break. And I thought I’d help you out by mentioning the friends thing since he looked kind of jealous.” Another flare of anger ignites my belly. “Has he been hitting on you? You know you can file a lawsuit if he’s doing anything that makes you uncomfortable.”
Swiping the bag from my hands, Evelyn steps on her toes to brush her soft lips over my cheek. The sweet, unassuming kiss sparks my desire for her, making me feel more alive than I have since the band’s last time on the road. My skin buzzes with electricity when she backs away, flashing a drunken smile.
“I can handle myself, Walker,” she whispers.
With a growl ripping from my chest, I catch her elbow and bring her in close again. “I don’t want guys like that messing with you. If you have a problem with him or anyone else, you come to me, understood?”
“Okay,” she whispers, eyes wide as they flicker back and forth between mine.
I loosen my grip on her arm and wet my lips. “Shit, I’m not trying to scare you. I just can’t stand the thought of you getting hurt.” With my other hand, I take the bag from her and set it on the nearby table. Then I pull her close until the soft swells of her tits are pushed against my chest. I feel her body quiver in anticipation when I draw my mouth close to hers. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind ever since the night you came to watch me play. There’s something about you…I don’t know what it is, but I want more of you.”
Her eyes close and she shakes her head in small little movements. My name falls from her lips in a breathy voice that makes me hard enough to break through concrete. As her beautiful eyes flip open and pin me down, a tight knot coils inside my gut.
For the first time I’m able to see just how hard she’s fighting against her desire. She’s afraid I’m going to hurt her. She’s afraid I’m a player that’s going to make her fall hard and then walk away. She’s afraid my reputation will come between us and I can’t promise her that it won’t.
“Stop questioning this,” I whisper, pulling a strand of hair away from her face. “What I’m feeling for you is new to me but I’m ready to fight for it.”
I meet her mouth, wrapping my fingers in her hair and drawing her close the way I’ve wanted to again since she left my place. At first the kiss is softer than anything I’ve ever known, like a quiet whisper. Then Evelyn digs her hips into mine and her lips part, encouraging me to explore her mouth with my tongue.
Completely possessed with a blinding desire, I lower her down to the couch and brace myself above her body, claiming her sweet mouth the way I want to claim every last inch of her. Her chest expands beneath me with heavy breaths and we meld into one, her arms locked around my neck as if she has no intention of ever letting go and my fingers shaping to the fine contours of her skull like she’s made of glass.
Needing more, I move my hand down her body, stopping when I reach the silky skin between her thighs. She sucks in a sharp little breath before becoming still. Then her lips move up to my ear where she releases a breathy moan.
“Touch me, Charlie.” I dust my fingers over the warm mound beneath her cotton panties and growl. She writhes against me, equally desperate for relief.
“Charlie.” It sounds like a plea as she grinds her hips with my touch, so I don’t deny my throbbing dick the pleasure of moving the material aside to stroke her warm, slick flesh behind a neatly trimmed patch. A strangled noise of pleasure rises from her throat and her nails dig into the skin on my neck. Groaning, I quickly bring my mouth back to the corner of hers.
“You’re so fuckin’ wet,” I whisper. “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to do this.”
“Oh God,” she pants, thrusting her hips with the strokes of my fingers.
I absorb her delighted whimpers with my mouth, kissing her hot mouth deeply. Damn, I’ve missed this. Kissing Evelyn releases an innate desire to declare myself to the gorgeous woman, make her mine. Driven by a carn
al need to feel her come against my fingers, I quicken my strokes against her sensitive bud until her back is arched and she’s gasping for breath. She’s even fucking hotter like this—wild with passion from my touch. God knows how much longer I can stand watching her before I blow my load.
About the time I’m ready to take the kiss one step further, I feel her slowing down, reluctant. She braces herself against my hand in an attempt to make it still. With a growl I do my best to stop, drawing her bottom lip through my teeth before planting a small kiss on the corner of her mouth and backing away.
“We can’t do this here,” she whispers with a nervous giggle. When she sits up at my side, watching me with those big beautiful eyes the entire time, her cheeks are flushed and her lips are slightly swollen. “I don’t know any of my coworkers well enough to survive being caught in the act. And if my boss came in…”
My fists flex with the thought of that jerk seeing me touch her. As much as I’d love to make it clear to the fucker that she’s mine, I know she’d be mortified. That dude’s begging for an ass kicking, Danny disagrees.
I nuzzle my face beneath the curve of Evelyn’s jaw and steal one last taste of her skin before leaning back and offering my hand. “Dinner’s getting cold anyway.”
Her eyes spark with suspicion as she allows me to pull her up. “I still haven’t figured out what’s going on here.”
“I don’t know how to define it. All I know is you make me lose my fucking mind and I want to know everything about you.” I brush my lips over her temple. “Can’t that be enough for now?”
She covers her face, moaning. “God, I don’t usually sound this whiny.”
“You don’t sound whiny,” I assure her.
“I’m sorry.” Her fingers part and she peers up at me. “It’s just…it’s been awhile since I’ve been in a relationship and I’m still trying to figure out why a rockstar has taken interest in me when you could have your choice of hot groupies.”