(Complete Rock Stars, Surf and Second Chances #1-5)

by Michelle Mankin

  “Good luck.”

  “Thanks.” I didn’t think I needed it. I was pretty sure of my plan. Well, the logistical parts at least.

  Leaving Koa in the living room, I strode through the hallway. I paused at the entry table, my gaze landing on the key-holder art she’d bought. “Make sure the things she bought stay.”

  “Got it, man. You wrote it all down. Get going, or you’re gonna miss your flight.”

  I ducked out the front door, hit the driveway at a good clip, and opened the driver’s door to Koa’s van. As I slammed it shut, my gaze snagged on the Ninja. I almost went back inside to tell Koa again that he’d better take good care of it, but made myself let it go. Time was running out. I had a flight to catch, and one more stop to make before the airport.

  Grabbing my cell from the center console, I backed out of the driveway and called Hollie en route.

  “Hey, babe.” I couldn’t help but grin that she’d picked up on the first ring. I loved the fact that my girl wasn’t a game player like my ex had been.

  “Diesel.” She sighed longingly. “When are you coming back? I miss you.” She shot straight from her sweet heart when it came to the emotional sharing stuff, which made up for a lot of deficiency on my end.

  “I miss you too.” Something in my eyes made them tear up. The same thing tightened my throat, making my voice gruff. It had been too many days since I’d seen her. “How did the OB appointment go?

  “It went well. I heard the heartbeat.”

  “I’m really sorry I missed that.”

  “It was pretty cool.”

  “I bet it was. Did Fanny go with you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you like her doctor?”

  “Yeah. She’s a woman and has had a baby herself. She gets being an expectant mom, as a woman and as a physician, but she’s far from LA. I’m not sure why you wanted me to get established with her.”

  “Do you trust me?”

  “You know I do,” Hollie said softly, but sounded sure of herself.

  “Love that you don’t even hesitate.” I put on the blinker. “Listen, I’m turning in.”

  “Turning in where?”

  “Huh-uh. Let me surprise you.” I wanted to show her in a way she would never forget that she was my everything. She and our baby. I was all the way in. “Gotta get off the phone. I’ve got shit to do.”

  “Okay. Will you call me tomorrow?”

  “You know I will. Tomorrow’s the premiere for the Valentine film, right?” I asked the question, but I already knew the answer.

  “It is.”

  “You doing the glam thing with Ernie?”

  “Yes. Mani, pedi, hairstylist. The works. Too bad you’re going to miss it. I’m going to be gorgeous.”

  “You’re already gorgeous.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me for telling the truth.”

  “Don’t flatter me when I can’t show my appreciation properly.”

  “I’ll hold you to that when I see you.” I bit back a groan. I’d had an erection since her sigh at the beginning of the phone call. Hearing Hollie’s throaty purr only made me harder. “Gotta go, babe.”

  “Okay. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” I couldn’t wait to show her how much.

  Chapter Sixty-One

  * * *

  Hollie

  “Why are you acting so strange?” I narrowed my gaze on my bestie.

  “No reason, darling.” Behind me, Ernie put his hands on my bare shoulders, peering over my coifed and star-encrusted hair at the reflection of the two of us in the full-length mirror in his entryway. “Just nervous for your big debut in my gown.”

  “It’s perfect.” I loved the halter top that reminded me of the beach and the dramatic plunge between my breasts nearly to my navel. I might be a mom before too long, but moms could still be super sexy.

  Smoothing a hand down my hip, I pivoted, marveling at the way the iridescent fabric reflected light and changed color. Right now, with the sun setting in the Hollywood hills, it appeared to be an elegant champagne rose.

  “You’ve designed a dress for me before.”

  “Not for such a big night. Not with everyone watching.”

  “It’s a bigger night than most.” Olivia spoke up from her spot, perched on the end of Ernie’s L-shaped leather sectional. The images on her iPad screen glowed in the lenses of her readers. “Are you sure you want to announce the pregnancy at the premiere?”

  “I think it’s best.” It wasn’t obvious yet, and the full skirt hid my rapidly developing bump. Sure, my skin glowed, but that could be attributed to my recent Hawaiian vacation.

  “You want to redirect the press from their frenzy about the nude pictures of you and Diesel on the beach.”

  The thought had crossed my mind. Diesel said he didn’t mind in the least. He certainly had handled the paparazzi’s questions well. Well, not at all, actually. When asked about it, he hadn’t said a word, just gave them his double-crescent grin.

  “I want to get it over with so they can move on to gossip about something or someone else.” I placed my hand on my stomach, speaking to our baby in my mind.

  Nothing matters but you, me, and Diesel, and the love we share.

  Ernie’s cell pinged.

  “Is that him? The driver, I mean?” Olivia asked, removing her glasses to place them on top of her head.

  “Yes,” my bestie replied. “I mean no. He, her driver, is stuck in a forty-minute slowdown on the five.”

  “Oh no.” I stiffened. “I’m supposed to be at the press junket in half an hour.”

  “I’ll take you.” Ernie reached around me and grabbed his keys from a hammered bronze bowl on the marble-topped entryway table.

  “Thank you.” I gave him a grateful smile.

  “Not a problem.” He offered me his arm before opening the door. “I always wanted to pull up to a premiere among all the gas-guzzling stretch limos in my Prius.”

  The winding route out of the hills was surprisingly light on traffic. We hit some bumper-to-bumper action on Outpost Drive, but it freed up when we turned onto Hollywood Boulevard. Luckily, it was early, and only celebrities, a dozen or so eager diehard fans, and a handful of paparazzi were present when we pulled up. I gave Ernie an air-kiss so I wouldn’t mess up my makeup.

  As soon as I turned away from the car, the shouts started.

  “Holliewood!”

  “It’s her!”

  “Hollie!”

  Policemen and security guards were in position, too many for the few standing behind the barricades, but it eased my tension to know I was unlikely to be crushed by a mob.

  Along the red carpet, I stopped, signed a few autographs, and posed for the cameras before I swept inside.

  “There you are, my dear.” Chester Valentine appeared, looking dapper in his custom tux. He crossed the red-and-gold carpet and met me in the center of the lobby beneath the chandelier. “You’re enchanting in that gown.”

  “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. It would be my pleasure to escort you back to the room where the others are.”

  Valentine offered me his arm like Ernie had. Very kind and gentlemanly, a director who encouraged instead of criticized, he wasn’t at all like my stepfather had portrayed him to be.

  “Here we go.” The director squeezed my fingers, and I removed my hand from where it had rested on his sleeve. “Ahem.”

  When he cleared his throat, I paused in front of the door with my hand on the knob.

  “Yes?” I glanced back at him over my shoulder.

  “You did well on the film. I have a project coming up that’s very hush-hush, a comedy. If you’re interested, I could send the script over to Olivia for you to look at.”

  “I’m very interested. I’m honored you’d consider me.”

  “The honor’s mine.” He smiled, nodded once as if confirming his own decision, and walked away.

  I took a deep breath, f
ortifying myself for the torturous questioning to follow.

  An hour later, I headed straight to the table of refreshments in the lobby and grabbed a canapé. As I popped it into my mouth, I wished it were sunshiny pineapple instead.

  “Whoa there, Holliewood.” My costar, Zachary Flynn, emerged from the same hallway and set of rooms that I had. He appeared to be just as wrung out by the questioning. “Those have a million calories.”

  “I’m eating for two.”

  “I heard. Congrats.” He stepped up to the bar. “Champagne for me. Sparkling apple juice for the lady.”

  “Thank you,” I said, taking the flute he offered me.

  “You’re welcome.” He ran a fingertip down my arm. “Are you going to sit by me inside the theater?”

  “No. She’ll sit by me,” a familiar voice said.

  Chapter Sixty-Two

  * * *

  Diesel

  “Diesel!”

  When Hollie turned to face me, she took my breath away. She looked incredibly gorgeous in a sexy gown and with glittery stars in her upswept moonbeam hair.

  “I don’t believe it!” She launched herself at me, nearly knocking me over. Literally.

  “Babe,” I said with a grin, catching her.

  “When did you get here? How did you get here? You’re staying, not disappearing again, aren’t you?” Her arms tightened around my waist.

  “I’m staying.” I breathed her in, my cock hardening to painful proportions from her curves and her strawberry-sunshine scent. “Staying super-close, as in scram.”

  I scowled over her pretty glittery head at her costar. Dude had the hots for her, but she seemed to be oblivious.

  “I get it.” Flynn shook his head at me. “Seen the photos of the two of you on the beach. I’m chill. See you inside, Hollie.”

  She didn’t answer. I wasn’t even sure she heard him. Her delicate hands on my forearms, she was too busy gazing at me as if I were a god worthy of her.

  “You look so handsome in your tux.”

  “It’s the same one you saw me in the last time I put it on.”

  “I didn’t love you then.”

  The effortless way she said those words blew the lid off my control. I yanked her into me and laid one on her. A big one, tongue deep in her sexy mouth and everything. She was hanging on to my lapels when I eventually, regretfully, pulled my lips from hers.

  Looking dazed, she blinked up at me a couple of times.

  “Are you all right?” I lifted a brow.

  “Diesel-effect. You’re going to have to give me a minute to recover, or we’re going to have to find a private room.”

  I burst out a laugh.

  Her gaze dipped to my mouth, and then rose. Fuck me if she didn’t look dazed all over again.

  “I like the way your mind thinks, pele. I have plans to get you in a bed and keep you there for the next week or so, at least, but I know this is important to you, and you’re important to me. So, shall we?”

  I turned to offer her my arm. She took it, and we strolled into the theater.

  Hollie was as poised as royalty as cameras flashed all around us and video cameras recorded. I slipped into rock-star mode, glancing disaffectedly at everything and everyone around me, except her. Even rock stars have kryptonite. She was definitely mine. Fuck of it all was I just didn’t care. With her, it was okay to be weak, because somehow at the same time that I was weak, I was inexplicably strong.

  Love was a fucking mystery.

  Once the curtain parted, I was the one completely dazed. She was absolutely amazing.

  From her initial appearance in the film to the last frame, Hollie was the character she portrayed. She lit up the screen, her charisma palpable. The emotion of her character shone in her eyes. Her talent was obvious. She was a star, and her star was only going to get brighter.

  “You nailed it,” I told her as the lights came up.

  “Thank you.” Her eyes glowed like polished chrome. I could tell my praise meant something to her. “Do you think we could sneak out of here without anyone noticing so you can nail me?”

  “I think it’s highly probable you’ll get lucky tonight.”

  I felt like the lucky one.

  Later, with her on my arm, we circulated among the cast at the after-party. She whispered tidbits about each person before she introduced me.

  They weren’t my peers. I’d never been one for the celebrity glitz-and-glamor scene. Mostly, I did the required minimum at the Grammys and the other award shows I was contractually obligated to attend as a Dirt Dog.

  But everything was different with Hollie beside me. Because of her, I didn’t feel like an outsider in my own life anymore, or an interloper in hers.

  But as good as it was, and as much as I wanted to be supportive, once we’d worked our way around the after-after party room, I called it quits.

  “Babe, it’s late, and you and I have plans for the rest of the night.”

  “Yes, of course.” The creamy soft skin over her cheekbones turned a pretty pink, and she let me lead her back through the mostly inebriated throng.

  The setting might be glamorous, and the clothing glitzier than leather and denim, but the level of intoxication and the increased lewdness of the behavior of the attending guests made it seem more like a backstage party with groupies than a fancy celebrity affair.

  “Does it always get that crazy late in the night?” I asked her, throwing my arm around her slim shoulders in the fresher, cooler air outside.

  “I was too young when I started acting to be invited to stuff like this. Then with Max . . .” She shrugged. “He didn’t care for the parties. We did what was necessary, but mostly we stuck to ourselves.”

  She made L-brackets of her first fingers and thumbs and stopped to lean back into my shoulder, holding her arms out and pretending to take a selfie with us in it.

  “At the time, I thought it was romantic, us living inside the frame.”

  “He isolated you in your own life.”

  “I didn’t see it that way then, but yes, after being with you tonight, I can see that he did for sure. There are a lot of differences between you.”

  “I sure as fuck hope so.” Dude had lied to her. Manipulated her. Used her sweetness to control her and keep her to himself, or at least that was the way I saw it.

  “You make me feel strong. Valued. I . . .” Hollie tensed, moving closer to me as an older guy suddenly appeared. She recognized him immediately and gasped.

  I’d never met the man before in person. It took me a moment to place him.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked Samuel. He had to have been waiting and watching for her in the dark to ambush her so perfectly.

  “I came to see you, dearest daughter.”

  I felt the whip of denial rip tension through her slight frame.

  “I’m not your dearest, your daughter, or anything to you.” She lifted her chin.

  “Deny if you must.”

  When her stepfather stepped closer, I placed my hands on her shoulders. With just my touch, I reassured Hollie that I was there, backing her up, but not intervening unless needed.

  This was her showdown. Her power to wield. Her chance to take back the control he’d stolen from her.

  “Paternity tests were already completed. You have no claim on me, no rights where I’m concerned whatsoever.”

  “You keep delaying the trial. You’re afraid. My lawyers—”

  “I’m not afraid of you.” But she was. She overcame it, though, barely trembling beneath my hold.

  Samuel smirked. “You look as frightened as you did that night.”

  That was it.

  “Step back,” I growled. Moving Hollie behind me, I came forward, inserting myself between them. “She made herself clear to you.”

  I towered over the guy, though he wasn’t short. That he’d used his greater size over her and his relationship to terrorize her made my blood boil. My entire body vibrated with the desire to pummel him
into the pavement.

  “Who the hell are you?” Samuel cocked his head to the side, the glow of the streetlight casting features that some might call handsome in an unflattering light.

  “Hers. Which you are not. A fact that you seem incapable of accepting.”

  “Now wait a minute—”

  “No. We don’t have a moment to waste on scum like you. We have family and friends waiting on us.” I cast a purposeful glance around. “Who do you have on your side anymore?” I threw my hands out. “Not even any paid supporters, apparently.”

  “How dare you. Do you know who I am?”

  “I do. You’re pathetic. Possessive. Grasping after scraps. Alone to ponder your sad life and your even sadder fucked-up shit. You have no clue what love is. Trying in every warped way you can think of to get back what you never had. With her mother, her sister, and her. Go away.”

  I inclined my head to the darkness he’d bled out of. “Go very far away. The only place you get to see her is onscreen or across a courtroom when she tells the world what you did to her, and everyone else learns how fucked up you really are.”

  I turned my back, dismissing him, which I knew would piss him off. Then I gathered Hollie close, which I knew would piss him off further.

  But he needed visual proof of all he’d lost, all he would never have and could never intimidate again.

  “Thank you,” she said, sounding surprisingly steady as she snuggled closer into my side, giving me a half hug as I steered her toward the parking lot.

  “Don’t thank me for giving it to him real like you were. He’s a bully. Proud of the way you stood up to him.”

  “I barely stood up to him.” Her brows dipped.

  “You let him know he doesn’t control you. There’s no barely about it. He’s in your past.” I stopped in front of my newly acquired vehicle. “One better forgotten. Like Lalana for me.”

  Hollie cocked her head to the side. “Your ex isn’t as bad as my stepfather.”

  “Probably not. She did give me my son. For that, I put up with a lot of shit from her. But it’s a useful comparison. Lalana and Samuel are the losers in our lives, outcasts as a result of their own wretched behavior. Alone, both of them, while we stand together triumphant.” I lifted my hands to frame Hollie’s beautiful face.