Rocker Boy

by Wendy Knight

  It hurt too much to look at him. It hurt too much to not look.

  She'd kept herself so busy trying to get that dang song in her head onto paper between school and her jobs that the only time she had to think was between music and sleep. But in those few seconds, Levi waited.

  Always, Levi waited.

  With a force of will she wasn't aware she possessed, she looked away from the Levi look-alike and searched instead for her grandmother's driver, keeping her eyes studiously away from the broad shoulders and dark glasses that made her heart race.

  That might have been why she didn't find the driver, but the driver found her. "Ms. Lee," he called. She jerked her head toward the sound of her name. Of course. Her grandmother's driver just had to be standing right next to the look-alike. And also of course, Harli's gaze wouldn't stay away from the Levi guy. She met his eyes and her heart stopped.

  It wasn't a look-alike. It was Levi.

  Every cell in her body reacted. Her lips tingled, her blood swirled. Her body wanted him. So did her heart. But her mind — her mind saved her, because she was two steps away from throwing herself into his arms and sobbing with relief.

  Instead, she raised her chin and tried to force her throat to work. "What are you doing here?"

  "JoAnn called me. Asked if I could meet you at the airport because she couldn't make it."

  "What?" she asked flatly, sounding like every confused super-villain she'd ever seen in the movies.

  Levi dug his hands into his pockets and glanced at the driver. "I'm playing with JoAnn tonight. Didn't she tell you?"

  "No. She forgot to mention that."

  Levi shrugged. "Sorry. Let's get your bags. You must be exhausted."

  "Actually, I just have one carry-on," Harli said holding up her small suitcase.

  He smiled, that devastatingly beautiful smile that melted Harli every time — but it wasn't aimed at her. It was at the driver, who couldn't help but smile back. "Even better. Let's go." Levi led them down the hall, down the escalator, down more wide hallways, pausing only when they got to the doorway, and she couldn't even stand to blink because her eyes were devouring him. The driver disappeared to get the car, and Levi stood in the sun like a Greek god, unbelievably perfect. He didn't say a word, which confused the heck out of Harli because the last few times she'd seen him, he'd been smooth-talking as fast as he could.

  He really had let her go.

  So why did every breath feel like it was freezing in her chest?

  They stood in silence although Harli's brain was running out of control. Was there someone else? Had he forgotten her already? It had only been a little over two months since she'd seen him last. But he'd told her he was letting her heal. And she'd thrown herself into every activity she did — keeping her mind and body busy and exhausted.

  And yet, with him standing so close, within arms' reach, she was going absolutely crazy not being able to touch him. Not being able to lean her head against his shoulder and feel those strong, tattooed arms she loved so much pulling her close. Feeling his body react to hers…

  The car pulled to a stop in front of them and the driver got out to open their doors. "Thank you," Harli murmured as she followed Levi into the warm interior.

  "You look good," he said, his voice low, not quite looking at her, not quite looking away.

  He didn't look like emotional havoc. There was no pain in his voice. "Thank—thank you. You do, too."

  "Thanks."

  She couldn't remember a time when conversation had been awkward with him. She wanted to tell him everything he'd missed, and she wanted to tell him about her new song, and talk to him about his new one. The one she'd written the music for. The one about her.

  "How's school? Couple of months until graduation, right?"

  She nodded, fighting tears. Never let them see you cry.

  "And prom? Just around the corner, right?"

  "Yeah," she said softly. Remember when you promised you'd take me to that?

  "Are you going?"

  And she wanted to sob.

  But she didn't. She felt Angela take her hand, felt her sitting next to her, and she raised her chin. "I'm not sure."

  "Have you been asked yet?" Was that his voice cracking? She looked up at him quickly, and his brown eyes were searching her face so intently, she felt like he was reading her soul. But as soon as she raised her head, his gaze dropped to the seat next to him.

  "Yeah." Four times. She would have said it, but there had been pain in his eyes. He was hurting too.

  He wasn't over her.

  Please, heaven, say he's not over me.

  She wasn't sure when things had changed. Maybe when she'd seen him standing there in the terminal. Maybe when she'd gotten on the plane.

  Maybe when she'd left him last.

  I can't live without you. I don't want to do this anymore.

  His phone rang. He sent her an apologetic smile as he answered it. "Hey."

  It was a girl on the other end. He frowned, shaking his head. "Calm down, Angel. I'll be back in time for the concert tomorrow. This is for charity, remember?"

  Pain shot through her heart. It was similar to all the times she'd seen him in pictures, with girls kissing him or having him sign places no stranger should ever sign. Except thirty thousand times worse. Inside, she curled into a ball and sobbed, but on the outside, she blinked once and turned her attention back to the window.

  Ouch. Ouch. Ouch. Ouch.

  "Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow." He hung up and she saw him turn toward her in the reflection of the tinted windows. "Sorry."

  "I've never been to Georgia before," she said, so proud of her voice for not shaking or catching.

  "It's beautiful."

  "Yeah. I saw your pictures last year."

  "Right. You were supposed to come out for that concert."

  She nodded without looking at him. It hadn't happened. He'd had to leave too soon after, and she hadn't been able to make it in time.

  "What else have you been up to?"

  "Nothing. Work. School. I started a new song."

  That caught his interest, and he leaned toward her with his elbows on his knees. "Oh yeah?"

  "Yeah." She finally turned toward him because she couldn't seem to keep her eyes off him for more than a couple minutes at a time. "It's a tough one, though. I can't quite get it right."

  "Maybe you could run it by me. All night brainstorming session like the old days?" His grin was so adorable, the way his lips quirked and his eyes… oh good heavens, had he winked at her? He hadn't done that in so long.

  She tried to say no. But she failed, instead saying lamely, "Yeah. Maybe. If there's time."

  "We'll make time. I don't have to be back in Florida until tomorrow afternoon. We have all night."

  Why did the sound of that send delicious shivers up and down her spine?

  "Some of us have bedtimes," she said with a smile.

  He nodded. "Some of us. Not you if I remember correctly."

  Well, I take turns sleeping at my grandmother's house, the school janitor closet, and your apartment. So, yeah. Not so much with the sleeping.

  "I haven't done a concert since The Last Chord. I might be tired."

  He shook his head, closing his eyes briefly. "No, you finish a concert and it's like… it's unreal. You can feel it, the energy, the music; you can feel it in your blood like a drug." His face shone with some internal light she'd never seen before. For all his talk of walking away, he loved it. Obviously. It was there, written all over his face.

  The car stopped and the door swung open. Levi sighed, as if frustrated. "Ms. Lee?" The driver held out a hand, helping her to her feet. "Your grandmother is anxious to see you."

  She glanced from Levi to the hotel lobby and back again. She had one day with him. Rehearsal and a concert took a lot of time, and she suddenly didn't want to waste any more than she had to. But she hadn't seen her grandmother in so long.

  Levi made the decision for her. He got out of
the car and strode past, sliding his sunglasses back on. "Ready?"

  She nodded, her hand aching to reach out and take his, to feel his thumb smooth the skin across her palm. To feel the strength in his hand and to run her fingers over the tattoos snaking up his arm.

  Instead, she clasped her hands behind her back, and she followed him quietly into the hotel.

  "THIS IS THIRTY THOUSAND times harder than I thought it would be. I can't keep my damn hands off her."

  Colin's reply came back by the time he'd hit the button for JoAnn's floor. "Stick to the plan, dude. Stick to the plan."

  "Thanks, jackass," he muttered, shoving his phone back in his pocket.

  "What?" Harli asked, those dark brown eyes peering up at him. He wanted to brush her hair back. Well, hell, if he was thinking about what he wanted, then he wanted to push her up against the elevator wall and kiss her until she melted into him. And then he would take her to his room and remind her why they were so good together.

  But that wasn't the plan. Stick to the plan.

  "Nothing. Colin thinks he's funny."

  "How is he?" she asked, glancing down toward his pocket and then back up to his face.

  His blood roared in his ears, and he had to swallow three times to get his voice to work. "He's good. Trying to quit drinking."

  Wow. Wasn't he a witty one?

  "I didn't know he had a drinking problem."

  Levi ran a hand through his hair, wondering when it was he'd reverted back to the nervous kid terrified of this girl. "He doesn't."

  She sent him a quizzical glance before the elevator opened. "Hi there!" JoAnn said, waiting anxiously in the hallway. Harli left him behind and rushed to her grandmother, throwing her arms around her.

  "I missed you," he heard her say, her words muffled against JoAnn's shoulder.

  "I missed you. You're so tall. And beautiful. Look at this hair!" She pulled Harli back so she could see her properly, eyes shimmering with tears.

  He followed them into the elevator silently, listening to Harli chatter about life and school and music and work and friends, things he'd specifically asked her about, and he'd gotten one word answers. It was like she couldn't talk fast enough, and JoAnn was happier with each passing second. He could practically see their broken hearts beating.

  They got to their floor, which, thankfully, only had the two suites. His and JoAnn's. Harli was sharing with her grandmother, and he knew damn well he wouldn't sleep at all knowing she was so close and being unable to touch her.

  Before he'd left on tour, he'd had her in his bed every night. He could protect her there.

  But he'd left her.

  Worst decision he'd ever made.

  They didn't even notice when he went to his room instead of with them. They had a lot of catching up to do, and he hadn't slept in…

  Well, he couldn't remember the last time he'd slept.

  But sleep didn't come. He lay on his bed with his eyes closed, but she was there.

  Always, she was there.

  He replayed every second at the airport, the way she looked when she realized it was him. Had there been hope in her eyes? And the whole awkward car ride over. She'd shut down as soon as he'd gotten the phone call. But maybe, maybe he'd made some progress with her song. They'd made a great team, before life had fallen apart.

  Frustrated, he threw the blanket off and padded around the room, finally winding up on the balcony staring out at the city. Why couldn't she see how sorry he was? Why couldn't she see that they were meant to be together? She was his angel, for hell's sake. His sunshine. Did she really want him to live in the dark?

  There was a quiet knock on his door. He turned and stared at it for several long seconds, sure he was imagining things. But it came again, even quieter.

  He sprinted across the room, nearly killing himself on the coffee table. Rubbing his shin, swearing, and hopping, he somehow made it to the door.

  She raised her eyebrows, dark eyes sweeping him from head to bruised shin. "Are you okay?"

  "Yeah. Evil furniture. What's up?"

  "JoAnn has some famous person stuff she has to take care of, so I thought I'd—" She bit her lip uncertainly. "I thought I'd come check on you. Clearly you need supervising."

  He straightened, sure she could hear the way his heart was trying to erupt in his chest and the way his blood sang. She came to him.

  She was still standing in the doorway.

  Looking like she was about to run.

  "Sorry. I think the pain dulled my brain." He gave her his best lopsided grin, and she smiled back. He wanted to dance around the room, throw flowers in the air. Click his heels. Whatever the hell it was they always did in the movies.

  He stepped back and she followed him in, sitting carefully on the couch. "Is that the furniture that got you?" She nodded toward the coffee table that he was certain still held most of the skin from his shin.

  "Yeah. Stupid table."

  She giggled. "Yes. Very stupid."

  He sat down across from her, rolling his pant leg up to inspect the wound.

  "Oh. You're serious. Do you need some ice?" she gasped when she saw the blood running down his leg.

  Smooth, Levi. Real smooth.

  "No, it's okay. I'll just—"

  But she was gone, moving so fast he barely saw her. He heard her feet — barefoot — padding down the hall to the elevator. The second the doors shut behind her, he felt empty. The room was darker. The colors were muted. He wanted nothing more than to chase her down and beg her to never leave his hotel room again.

  He was pretty sure that went against the plan.

  Instead, he went to the bathroom and tried to clean his leg up. "Most embarrassing relationship recon mission ever," he muttered. It wasn't the first time he'd left blood in a hotel room, but this had definitely been the least amount of fun. He'd grown up having to fight for every little thing. Sometimes, even now, his fists said it better than he ever could. He just needed a chance to 'talk' to Graham. And Michael. And maybe the paparazzi.

  She breezed back in, bringing with her the smell of lilacs. And light, and color, and happiness. "I found ice."

  He didn't have the heart to tell her he had ice in the freezer.

  She wrapped it in a towel and pushed him to the edge of the tub. Settling herself on the floor, she lifted his foot onto her lap and held the ice against his shin. "That's gonna leave a mark." She grinned up at him.

  "Awesome. Hey, we have four hours until rehearsal. Wanna go sightseeing?" He'd been trying to figure out how to ask her that since the limo ride here. When it finally came out, it was a sad and hopeless little question.

  But her face lit up. "We can do that?"

  He chuckled. "We can do whatever we want. If we have a good enough costume."

  "I have a skirt you could borrow."

  He nearly choked on his tongue. "I—no thanks. I've got a hat and sunglasses."

  "That doesn't fool anyone, you know. My skirt would. And I have really cute black boots." Her smile literally lifted his heart. He'd forgotten the effect it could have on a guy. Instantly smitten, with one look. Sexy as hell and sweet as sin.

  He forgot how to talk.

  Laughing, she set his leg down. "I'll be right back."

  "I'm not wearing your boots!" he called after her. She grinned over her shoulder, rendering him speechless yet again, and disappeared.

  His phone buzzed.

  "How's it going? Did she get there okay?" Jace. Of course he was worried about her. Because he thought he loved her just as much as Levi did.

  "Yeah. She's here safe. I tried to bust my leg on a coffee table, so she thinks I'm an idiot. But at least she's talking to me."

  "I have a bandage. Sit still." She appeared before him and he tucked his phone away.

  "Jace says hi," he said when he noticed her watching it, gorgeous eyes narrowed. They widened, thankfully, in surprise.

  "You and Jace are talking now?"

  "Yeah. We're working through our
issues."

  To his immense relief, she smiled. "Good. He missed you. A lot."

  "I missed him, too. Forgot how much, for a while. I remember now."

  Her hands stilled on his leg and she glanced up at him. If he hadn't been sitting awkwardly on the edge of a tub, unable to lean forward at all without testing the limits of human flexibility, he would have kissed her.

  Which was strictly against the plan.

  But those eyes. Her face. Holy hell, she was beautiful. Her mouth, so soft, and the dark waves tumbling across her shoulders.

  This was by far the most exquisite torture he'd ever been in.

  She stood up, breaking his gaze, and offered him her hand. "Ready?"

  "Ready?" He blinked stupidly. "For what?"

  "You offered me a sightseeing tour. Remember?" Again, with the mischievous smile, almost like she knew exactly what she was doing to him.

  And she liked it.

  "I did. Let me find some shoes—"

  "And your elaborate disguise, don't forget."

  "Yes. My elaborate disguise. You need one, too, you know."

  She tipped her head to the side, watching him in surprise. "Me? Why do I need one?"

  He stopped, tugging his hat low over his forehead. "You're an Internet sensation, Sunshine. People know you now."

  Her lips pursed in thought and she was so damn adorable it nearly killed him. "Well, I have a skirt and black boots. Think that'll do it?"

  He rolled his eyes. "Only if we want to get me killed fighting southern guys off all day."

  He'd just left himself wide open for rejection. He expected it, braced for it — the coldness in her eyes, the emotionless face when she told him she wasn't his to defend. But she didn't.

  Instead, she emerged from JoAnn's wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses. Just like him. And grinning proudly.

  The cutoff jeans, though, might have been worse than the skirt. Her legs — long and tan and flawless…

  He swallowed hard.

  Keep your hands off her. Keep your hands off her.

  Stick to the plan.

  Chapter Twenty

  YES. YES, SHE KEPT RUNNING TO him and then running away. Yes, she was going against everything she said she wanted. Yes, she knew nothing had changed and that when she went home, it would break her heart all over again.