Falling Star

by Olivia Brynn

  "And you'd be right," she whispered back. "I'll explain later."

  "You lied. No way he benches three fifty. I can take this guy."

  Jade laughed. "Well then, flex those sexy muscles, and let me introduce you." She took him by the hand and led him across the room, where Dean stood by the teddy bear display. His wide eyes coasting down then back up Adam's body in a fascinated awestruck movement that gave Jade a little surge of pride. She knew Adam was gorgeous. She knew Dean would agree, and now she knew she'd be on Adam's boat for the weekend.

  "Adam, this is my friend Dean Chambers. Dean, Adam Herlihey."

  Adam put his hand out, and Dean automatically reached for it, but his mouth opened for a second, then closed with a snap. His eyes went down then back up. "Adam…"

  "Herlihey," Adam finished. "Thanks for covering for Jade tomorrow."

  Jade attached herself onto Adam's arm as she watched Dean interact with this new man in her life. "Uh, yeah of course," Dean stammered. "It sounds like you'll have a…uh…" Dean shook his head. "I'm sorry, what did you say your name was?"

  "Geez Dean. His name is Adam and you know it!" Jade harrumphed. "Now, give me your keys. I'm going to get my bag from your car."

  Dean dug in his front pocket without tearing his eyes away from Adam. At least he didn't check out Adam's package, Jade rolled her eyes and snatched the keys from his hand. "I'll be right back."

  Dean didn't stop her, so she took that as her permission to go. She grinned all the way through the stockroom and out the back door.

  * * * *

  "Shit. You know who I am, don't you." Adam ran one hand through his hair, and turned away from the other man. Dean Chambers could easily blow this whole thing in the next five minutes. He knew there was a possibility of recognition, but he had hoped Dean would be just as much out of the loop as Jade. They were in the middle of nowhere for six years, the height of his career for Christ's sake.

  "You're Adam Nash." Dean said it the same way he'd heard those words for years. Like he was surprised Adam Nash was a real live human being. Like Adam Nash didn't walk around in shorts and a tee shirt. Like Adam Nash would have to be crazy to pretend to be anything other than Adam Nash.

  Adam faced the other man, resigned to the impending discussion. "Yes I am."

  "You're the Adam Nash? Looking Glass? Friends Before Lovers? Karina?"

  Dean knew his CD titles? Adam couldn't help but smile. "Yeah, that's me."

  "You're fucking kidding me."

  "Look, Jade—"

  "Has no idea." Dean laughed. "Oh this is great. She told me you played guitar. She said you were in the entertainment business."

  "I haven't lied to her," Adam pointed out. "I just haven't…" told her the truth, he finished silently. That would make him sound like a bastard, wouldn't it?

  "Herlihey?" Dean asked pointedly.

  "That isn't a lie. I was born Adam Herlihey."

  "But…why? Why haven't you told her who you are?" Dean leaned against the teddy bear shelves, then crossed his arms in front of his chest.

  Here comes the big brother act. Dean must have been wowed long enough. "Because with her I am just Adam Herlihey. I don't have to be anyone else." As Dean lifted his chin in understanding, Adam rushed to continue. "I want to get to know her, and I want her to get to know the real me. Not what Opinion Magazine tells her; not what the tabloids write about me. Understand?"

  Dean looked at him long and hard. "Yeah, I get it." His eyes narrowed, and for the first time, Adam thought he might find out the validity of Dean's strength. "You've got a hell of a reputation."

  "Yeah, I know I do."

  "You gonna tell me it's all a lie?"

  He'd like to. He'd love to say that person wasn't him. He wanted to be the kind of guy Jade could see herself dating. The kind of guy her warden here would approve of. Jesus, he hadn't been drunk for over three months, and he still talked like a sap. "Don't believe everything you read."

  "You mess with her, and you'll find yourself in a world of hurt. I don't care who you are. She's got people who care a lot about her."

  "I'm not going to mess with her; I don't want to hurt her either." For the first time in years, Adam feared his chances with a woman he wanted were at risk. He shoved his hands in his pockets, and tried to breathe evenly.

  "Just being who you are can hurt her. Your track record with women sucks. Only an idiot would let someone they care about go anywhere near you."

  Adam really couldn't argue that. "This is different. I won't hurt Jade. Give me this weekend. I'll tell her everything, and she can decide for herself. I'm not the man you read about in the papers." Anymore, Adam added silently, just to be honest.

  "I don't know." Dean thought long and hard, and Adam actually started to worry that he wouldn't give his blessing. Not that he gave a shit what this guy said, but Jade did. Dean looked Adam up and down. "All right. I'll give you one chance. Just one. I won't tell her who you are, but she's gonna kick your ass when she finds out. She loves your music."

  "She does?" Adam hadn't realized how much he worried about that. One constrictive band snapped from around his heart, and it beat just a little more wholly.

  "Yeah, but her favorite song is 'Strawberries and Sunshine', and your picture isn't on that CD cover."

  His hair was a lot longer on the pictures inside the Looking Glass CD jacket too. Adam took a deep breath, and ran a hand down his face. "I'm gonna tell her." He leaned against the counter beside Dean. "I just want one weekend, then I'll tell her. I promise."

  "I won't let on that I know," Dean lifted one eyebrow, and gave Adam a pointed look, "but you'd better tell her by the end of the weekend, or both our asses'll be in a sling."

  Adam nodded, taking a deep breath in relief. They both looked through the shop, and out onto the sidewalk, where the five o'clock pedestrian crowd had dwindled to almost nothing. No one bothered to look inside to find the hottest country music star having a casual conversation with a botanist. Still, Adam was always on alert, especially without Tyrell around. Crowds had a way of getting dangerous in a hurry.

  "Well, I guess I don't have to worry about you doing something fucked-up with her. You've got cameras on you all the time." Dean shook his head. "Man, I'm still surprised you've kept it secret this long. How'd you do it?" He was now as comfortable with Adam as Jade. Adam found it refreshing, and he relaxed even more.

  "I've been avoiding the general public for the most part. And I told her to stay off the internet." Adam joined Dean's laughter. "Shit, you don't even want to know what I went through for dinner that first night. I made my assistant call—"

  "I'm ready." Jade emerged from the back hallway. Adam closed his mouth with a snap. Fuck, that was close.

  He tried not to look too relieved when he approached her to slip the strap of her duffle bag from her shoulder and onto his.

  "Did you and Dean have a nice little chat?" Her eyes bounced from one man to the other.

  Dean pushed away from the counter and joined them. "Yeah we did. He's all right I guess. Don't call me to come and get you when you get seasick all over the poor guy."

  Jade's eyes sparkled when she smiled. Dean's approval must mean a lot to her. Adam put his arm around her shoulders, pulled her against his side, and kissed the top of her head to hide his silly grin.

  "I owe you, man." Adam shook the other man's hand, and they exchanged a meaningful look. "Thanks a lot."

  "Don't make me that idiot, Adam." Dean's eyes blazed, and Adam understood.

  Jade grabbed Dean's head and pulled him down for a kiss on his cheek. "Yes, thanks, Dean. I owe you too."

  "Oh I know it," he winked, "and I'm not afraid to collect either." He ruffled her hair. "Alright kids. No one likes long goodbyes. Get the hell out of here, so I can close the place down."

  Adam kept his arm around her shoulders until they reached the taxi which he'd kept waiting. Once her bag was stowed in the trunk, and they were both in the back seat, Adam cupped her chin in one
hand and kissed her.

  "Dean seems like a good guy."

  "I hoped you two would get along. He didn't say anything embarrassing did he?" The way she looked up into his eyes made him jealous of everything else she laid her eyes upon.

  "Nothing too bad. I'm glad he takes such good care of you."

  "You know," she huffed, "I can take care of myself, I'm a grown woman."

  Adam's gaze dropped to take in her curves. Another polo shirt, today's version was a lemon yellow with a green Earth Scents logo. "Yes, I see that you're all grown up."

  By the time they reached Marina del Rey Jade had all but slipped off the seat, with Adam climbing on top of her. He looked down and shook his head.

  "Jade, why do you let me manhandle you like that?"

  "Do I look like I mind?"

  No, actually she didn't. Her pupils had dilated, her cheeks flushed, and those luscious lips were now swollen and moist from their kiss. "You look damn sexy, if you ask me." He licked her lips, then used his teeth to pull on the bottom one enough to let him inside.

  "Meter's runnin' mister."

  Adam pulled back only far enough to see her blush. Damn, that's cute. "Can you blame me, man? She's sexy as hell, don't you think?" He laughed when she slugged him away.

  Jade scrambled out the door before the unimpressed driver could answer while Adam paid the fare. He retrieved her bag from the trunk, and he led her down toward his boat.

  "That's it, up to the right. Her name's Aquadesiac."

  "Oh my God." She stumbled, and he tightened his hold on her hand to steady her. "It's…huge!"

  Adam tried to look at his boat through her eyes. It was a forty-five-foot craft; white with navy blue pinstripes on the molding. He had the same graphic artist who designed the cover for Looking Glass paint the boat name on the stern. Each curving blue letter looked like a three dimensional body of water. The chrome rail that surrounded the deck gleamed in the sun. "No," he laughed, "if it was huge, it would be called a yacht. This is a cabin cruiser."

  "Adam, I've lived in apartments that were smaller than this." She faced him, and narrowed her eyes. "How can a man who doesn't even own a car have a boat like this?"

  He laughed, hoping it didn't sound too nervous, took her hand and helped her step on deck. "I told you I have my own car. The reason I borrowed Henry's sedan for the last few days is just a long story, and I won't bore you with it. As far as the boat," he followed her aboard, "when I first moved out here, I bought this instead of leasing an apartment."

  "You lived on board?"

  He glanced around the marina. The clusters of people didn't seem to pay them any mind, but he could be recognized any minute. He tugged his cap lower over his forehead. "For a while, yeah. You know what they say about boys and their toys."

  "Oh. That almost makes sense. Probably lower payments than rent around here."

  "Yeah, but I grew out of it pretty fast. Let me show you around." He switched her bag to the other shoulder.

  "I've never been on a boat like this. It's beautiful." He followed her down the stairs below deck to the living area. The L-shaped sofa looked out over the narrow windows, and just beyond that room was the tiny kitchen.

  He stuck his sunglasses on top of the visor of his hat. "I've got the refrigerator stocked with drinks and snacks, so help yourself to anything at any time." At least he assumed those orders were carried out. He waved toward the kitchen, walked through it to point out the head, then he opened the door to the stateroom. Carley had sent a cleaning crew in this morning, and he could still smell the lemony scent of furniture polish. He watched her reaction carefully. There was only one bed, of course. A queen-sized thing that took up most of the room. He hoped she wouldn't be uncomfortable about the implied sleeping arrangements.

  Sleeping? Hell. His cock twitched when she stepped across the threshold into the bedroom and laid one long slender hand on the foot of the bed. There wasn't a hint of unease in the smile she gave him.

  "It's a very nice…boat Adam."

  Fuck. When she spoke in that low sexy voice, it went straight through him to center in his loins, which already began swelling with need. Still, he didn't want to assume anything. He dropped her bag near the bedside, and took her shoulders in his hands.

  "You know I didn't bring you here expecting anything from you, Jade. I can easily sleep on that couch."

  Her brow wrinkled, and those luscious lips pursed. "I don't think we'll both fit on that couch, it looks pretty narrow. We'd better stick to the bed."

  He groaned, pulling her against his body in one movement. "Jade, this is all happening fast. I know."

  "You need to quit treating me like some vestal virgin." She took a bite of the skin by his neck, making him jump in surprise. Damn, that was hot. "If I was worried about spending the night with you, I wouldn't be here."

  "Ah, that's good to know." He didn't even have to take a kiss, she offered it to him first. He loved the way she tasted. Like a rich creamy dessert he was only allowed to sample on rare occasions. She sure as hell didn't kiss like a vestal virgin. Although he didn't really want to know who taught her how to move her tongue inside his mouth like that. The thought of her with any other man twisted his gut.

  Where the hell had that come from? He had no claim on her, or she on him…maybe.

  Maybe this weekend would change all that. This weekend might change a hell of a lot in his life. He'd be damned if he screwed it up. He nipped her lips gently. "I left the top drawer empty for you. Why don't you unpack your things, and pour us each a drink. I'll get this puppy out to sea."

  He deserved a goddamned medal for walking away from her, where she stood almost boneless at the foot of his fucking bed.

  He took the stairs in two leaps, replaced his sunglasses out of habit, and jumped back onto the dock to release the dock lines, hoping no one walked up to talk to him now. His erection was an obvious outline behind his shorts.

  It was a good thing the guy from the marina already checked Aquadesiac that morning, but he'd still have to go through his little checklist. He tried to concentrate, but he was so damned ready to be out in the middle of nowhere with Jade underneath him.

  Chapter Six

  Not a whisper of wind. He'd never seen a more perfect night for boating. There was just enough of a gentle rise and fall of the ocean to soothe his sea-hungry soul. About fifteen nautical miles out, he shut off the motor, allowing the craft to coast to a stop. He dropped anchor, reversed a bit to allow it to take hold, then secured the helm and left the wheelhouse to find Jade.

  He hoped she wasn't in the head vomiting with seasickness.

  She wasn't. She sat in the horseshoe-shaped dining booth on deck, two bottles of beer in front of her, secured in the swinging cup holders near the table. She'd changed into a pair of denim shorts and a pink tank top. She grinned up at him from behind a pair of amber sunglasses.

  "I didn't want to interrupt your concentration, so I got started without you."

  His eyes took another sweep down her body. Bare feet. There was something extremely intimate about those toes, each one tipped with a shade of pink polish that made him want to lick on them like ten pieces of strawberry candy.

  He could easily have sat down across from her, where there was so much room, but instead he sat beside her, trapping her in the booth. He took one of the bottles and took a long draw.

  "Damn, that tastes good. Nothing like a cold beer on deck."

  "That was mine." Her face pinched in a playful glare.

  "Oh, sorry." He put the bottle back, picked up the other, and took three large swallows. "Damn, that tastes good."

  She laughed, and he put his free arm around her shoulders.

  "So you have an alcohol problem. I knew you were too good to be true." She tilted her now half-empty bottle to her lips and drank.

  Ouch. An alcohol problem. He set his bottle down, and watched the condensation gather on the glass. That hit a little too close to home. The innocent comment from her m
ade him see how stupid he'd been acting. Stupid was the word, too. He couldn't blame addiction, because he hadn't had any withdrawals. He drank to get stupid. No, he used to drink to get stupid. He glanced at her as she took another draw on her beer. The sunset reflected in her eyes, leaving a brilliant gold rim around the green.

  Adam swallowed, and brushed back the strands of hair that blew against her cheeks. Jade's down to earth honesty and integrity showed through in just about every expression. It made him feel like more of an asshole for withholding information from her.

  Soon. She'd know the whole truth about him by the end of this weekend.

  "To tell the truth, I used to drink. A lot. I did some pretty stupid things in my life. I'd like to think I got all of that out of my system now." He was surprised at how good that felt to say. He dropped his hand from her shoulders to the curve of her waist. "Too good to be true, huh?" he teased.

  "Yes. Besides your obvious good looks, you aren't cocky or conceited. You are intelligent enough to hold a conversation, Dean likes you, you play guitar—which by the way I found stored in the closet, so you'll have to play something for me."

  He smiled against her temple. He'd been complimented before. He wasn't shy by any means, but coming from her those words meant a hell of a lot more. His heart kicked up to a staccato. "Anything else?"

  "Hmm." She turned toward him and put those cool juicy lips on his cheek. "I changed my mind. Maybe you are a little cocky."

  "And don't forget that I'm a gentleman, or I'd make a dirty comment on your choice of words instead of offering you a meal."

  She laughed, and he realized that he made it a point to make her laugh. Her laughter made him happy. And hot. "Come on. You can keep me company while I get dinner on the table." He helped her out of the booth and only released her hand to put both of their beer bottles on the kitchen counter, and he lifted her up to sit beside them.