Rock Mayhem: 8 Complete Rock Star Romance Novels

by Candy J. Starr

  "You said so last night."

  That did sound like me. Shit. How hard could it be to seduce one little woman anyway? The only way out of this was through her.

  "What was the name of that florist shop?" I asked Miles. "It was vaguely dirty, that's all I remember."

  "Pink Petals," said Billy, spinning around on his chair. I thought he hadn't been listening since he still had his headphones on but he must've heard the whole conversation. "It's the only florist in town. But I've gotta warn you. If you break Sophie's heart, a lot of people in this town will turn out to tar and feather you."

  Great, just great.

  Sophie

  I'D JUST FINISHED UNLOADING the van when Janice turned up to work. As much as I hated the early starts, visiting the flower market was one of my favorite parts of the job. Who wouldn't be happy surrounded by all that color and those lovely smells? At least I didn't own a fish shop. The fish market wouldn't be nearly so pleasant.

  "I got you a coffee." Janice handed me a cup.

  "You're an angel," I told her. She always got me coffee on Monday mornings. I wasn't sure if it was out of the goodness of her heart or if she thought it was the only way she'd survive working with me for the day.

  "You definitely need it."

  Janice had offered a few times to take over the market run for me but Janice's skills were more in the creative area. When it came to flowers, she was a genius. Business stuff, not so much. She'd worked with my mother since the business began and was a total angel but Janice could be ditzy as hell. She'd be likely to come back with a van full of irises just because the irises "talked to her soul."

  "They were low on roses today." I thumbed at the few buckets I'd managed to get. "Hopefully we don't get too many orders."

  "I can work around it," she said. "Roses are overrated."

  She should try telling that to young lovers. When a guy asked for a bunch of red roses to give his girlfriend, nothing else would do.

  I leaned on the counter, sipping my coffee.

  "Do you think our business name has sexual connotations?" I asked.

  "Pink Petals?" Then she blushed, bringing her hand to her mouth. "Oooooh. Pink Petals. Oh my. I'm sure your mother never intended it that way."

  I blushed too. Damn rockers, making everything sound dirty. I wondered if other people thought that way but were too polite to point it out. We could've been a laughing stock for years.

  "Not much we can do about it." I strummed my fingers on the side of my cup. "If we changed the name, it'd mean a lot of expense. The signage, the business cards, the ribbons, everything would need to be changed."

  I didn't need to say it out loud but we both knew that was an expense I couldn't afford.

  Janice patted my arm. "I'm sure no one would think about it that way."

  No one important. Just some scuzzy rock star with a dirty mind. I had no plans of telling Janice about my Sunday night even though the gossip would be all over town. She probably knew already. It didn't take long for news to spread in this town.

  After I finished my coffee, I flipped through the orders that had come through overnight. Online orders made up a huge part of my business. Locals didn't have a lot of spare cash for extras like flowers, and most people had gardens of their own but you always got orders from family members who'd moved away. It was a simple way to deal with birthdays and other celebrations.

  Only a few simple arrangements today, and we really needed the money.

  Janice got started on the regular, standing orders for businesses around town - an arrangement for the reception desk at the local real estate agent, another one for the mayor's office and a few simple things for one of the local cafes.

  I helped her out on the simpler stuff but I had nowhere near her level of artistic flair. I wasn't born for this like she was. By midmorning, the regular orders were done and Jimmy the delivery guy picked them. Time for more coffee.

  "You could go home for a nap." Janice said that every Monday and Thursday, my market days, but I never liked to leave in the middle of the day. If I went home for a nap, I just came back in drowsy and cranky.

  Instead, I kept myself busy going through the stock reorders. As well as the usual florist supplies, we kept a few little gift items in the store. I'd thought about expanding that side of the business but I was never sure what people looked for in knickknacks. Mom had been brilliant at it. She knew exactly what would make the ideal gift for a lover or an office workmate. I just kept reordering the same stuff she'd had in.

  Once I'd done that, I dusted. No one wanted to buy dusty knickknacks.

  Even lunch hour on Mondays tended to be slow. I prepared for a day of boredom but, around twelve, a few girls from a nearby office came in.

  "Can I help you?"

  Office girls usually wanted something for a coworker's gift.

  The girls shook their heads. "Just looking," one said.

  I went back behind the counter to give them space but the girls spent more time looking at me than at the stock. They'd glance over in that way people did when they tried to look like they weren't looking.

  Then the three of them giggled.

  I got out my phone and pretended I had better things to occupy my time.

  Another woman came in. Same thing only she tried to be a bit more subtle about it. At least she bought one of our cheap posies then left. If people wanted to come in and gawk at me, actually buying something made it all the more bearable.

  Within twenty minutes, customers filled the store. Word had definitely got around town about the party.

  The pompous guy who worked at the real estate came in and stood in the middle of the store, staring at me. I wanted to run out the back and let Janice take over but that would just add fuel to the fire. Instead, I plastered on a grin.

  Janice took the scissors out of my hand. I'd shredded a heap of ribbon on the counter. I guess my attempt to act normal had failed miserably.

  The real estate dude inched closer to get a better look. Something clanged and he yelped.

  He'd knocked over a bucket of gerberas.

  People edged away as the water flowed over the floor.

  I picked up the flowers. They'd been crushed. I'd have to dump the lot now. Real estate dude rushed out of the store without even offering to pay for the damage. Why didn't people gossip about that instead of me?

  I should've known. Nothing exciting ever happened in Collinsville so those rockers would be under constant scrutiny. And a story about the crazy bat-swinging girl breaking up their party would be top of the Monday morning gossip list. I'd become a minor celebrity. The furtive glances and the whispers made that much clear. Questions burned on their lips but no one dared to ask them.

  Janice grabbed the mop and cleaned up the mess. When she'd finished, I followed her to the mop closet.

  "Can we kick them out of the store?"

  She shook her head. "You'll be the worst in the world if you do. It's a one-day wonder. Best thing to do is suck it up until it blows over. They'll be gossiping about something else tomorrow."

  "Meanwhile, they're wrecking my store," I said.

  As I said it, I heard glass tinkle. Something else broken. I sighed and went back out into the shop.

  As the time edged toward two o'clock, most people returned to their jobs and I had some peace in the store. Only four customers remained when Old Mrs. Carruthers came in. And there'd be no way any of those four would leave while she was here.

  Kind people called old Mrs. Carruthers a character but most people called her a crank. These customers didn't have to worry about their unspoken questions now. Mrs. Carruthers would make sure they were voiced.

  "Is it true you beat up that young man with a baseball bat?" She leaned over the counter and pointed her gnarled finger at me. "That doesn't seem like you, Sophie."

  Janice stifled a giggle.

  "I'm not sure how these rumors get around." I smiled, trying to look harmless. "I didn't beat anyone with a bat. As if
I'd do that."

  I hadn't lied. I'd only hit the stereo.

  "I didn't think so." Mrs. Carruthers pursed her lips. "But you just don't know about people. He seemed like a nice man, too. I haven't met him but Ruth at the store said he was lovely. He came in to buy food from her and she said he wasn't like a famous person at all."

  I repressed my sigh. Mrs. Carruthers could go on with this story for hours.

  "He's not so nice," I said. "He's rude and inconsiderate."

  I shouldn't have said that. I should've said nothing. Acted like I'd never met him. My words would be twisted as they spread around town. But it was the truth. He had been rude. There was nothing nice about that man at all. I'm sure Mrs. Carruthers wouldn't think him so nice if she'd seen him dancing on that diving board. If you could call it dancing. More like dry humping.

  "There's sparks there," Mrs. Carruthers said peering way too intently at my face. "Don't you think so, Janice? That's how it started with Mr. Carruthers. I thought he was the most insufferable man I'd ever met. But there were sparks. Wild sparks. He's still insufferable but at least he's not boring. It's about time you got married anyway, Sophie, had some children. You're not getting any younger. And a rock star. Mmm, yes. Sparks."

  I almost choked. Sparks of hatred, maybe. But I kept my head down so she couldn't read my expression. If I was going to have sparks with someone, they'd be the complete opposite to that playboy rock star. Steady, dependable and nice. I didn't want sparks. Sparks were the last thing I needed in my life. I had way too much else to think about.

  I bit my tongue, though. I knew better to get into an argument with her.

  The bell over the door tinkled. Another customer. At least I'd be able to get away from Mrs. Carruthers.

  Then I saw him. That damn rock star.

  Mrs. Carruthers would have a field day with this. He could get the hell out of my store.

  Sophie

  AT FIRST, HE BROWSED around the shop. I couldn't do a damn thing about that. Well, I could ask him to leave but that would just cause more gossip. So instead I leaned on the counter clenching my fists. That made Mrs. Carruthers glare but there's no way I'd approach him.

  He slowly made his way around the store, looking at each bucket of flowers as though carefully considering his purchases. I couldn't even busy myself with other customers since they were all more interested in what he was doing. None of them would leave the store before he did. Why would they? They might miss out on some vital gossip.

  I nodded at Janice to let her know she should deal with him.

  "Just browsing," he said.

  A couple of people had their phones out, stealthily taking photos. That was just swell. Eventually, he made his way to the counter.

  "The customer service in this store seems lacking." He leaned over way too close.

  "People get grumpy when they don't get enough sleep."

  I didn't look at him. I wouldn't raise my head. He didn't deserve the consideration of eye contact. Instead, I busied myself with a bunch of dahlias near the counter.

  "I'm sorry about last night," he said. "It was really inconsiderate of us to make so much noise."

  But the way he said it didn't sound genuine. There was no meaning to the words. He wanted something, no idea what, and he thought an apology would ease the way. I couldn't snub him but I couldn't accept that apology either.

  "Fine," I said. "If that's all you've got to say then you've said it. Maybe clear some way in the store for other customers."

  "I came to ask you to lunch. To make up for last night."

  Mrs. Carruthers didn't need to suck her breath in quite so loudly. That was the only sound you could hear since the store had suddenly gone quiet. He wanted to take me to lunch? What the hell was that about? Every bullshit detector in my body rang out loud and clear. This guy wanted something more.

  "Obviously, that isn't possible. I'm busy. I have customers to deal with."

  I forgot to fuss with those stupid dahlias and actually looked at him. His blue eyes twinkled. Damn twinkling eyes, Mocking me. Making me look like an idiot. Making me blush.

  Then he pulled out his wallet and slapped a pile of bills on the counter.

  "I'll buy it all. All your stock. Then you won't be busy and you can have lunch with me."

  I sighed. "It's not so simple. Other customers might need them."

  "You're refusing to sell to me?"

  I crossed my arms. "I'm refusing to let you buy the entire stock of my store, leaving me short for future orders. Anyway, if you buy up the stock, I can just get more in, then I'll still be busy."

  That was a blatant lie. The flower market would be long closed but I'd have to head back there tomorrow to restock. Anyway, he didn't want the flowers. He wanted to prove a point.

  "I'm pretty sure any flower emergency can wait," he said. "I want all these flowers and I want them delivered to my motel room."

  No way.

  But he ran around the store, gathering up bunches of flowers from the buckets.

  "Stop that." I rushed out from behind the counter. "Put them back."

  He shook his head.

  "These pink ones. I want those. And these other pink ones." He nodded at Janice. "Can you wrap them up for me?"

  Janice rushed to take them from him but I blocked her way.

  "We aren't selling to him."

  He didn't stop. He heaped more bunches onto the counter. I tried to return them to the buckets but he grabbed them from my arms. If I fought him, the flowers would get ruined and I'd still have no stock to sell in the store.

  "The red ones, no idea what they are called, but I want them. And these yellow ones."

  He'd stopped grabbing bunches and took the flower buckets straight to Janice. The furtive photo taking turned blatant now. That infuriating man even stopped with his arms full of flowers to posed for them with a full-on cheesy smile.

  I wanted to throw the whole damn lot of them out. If a person tried to run an honest business without being bothered by rock stars and their gawkers, surely that wasn't too much to ask.

  "Remember it's hashtag Pink Petals Collinsville when you post those photos on social media," Janice said.

  I glared at her but she just shrugged.

  "May as well get some free publicity. Those photos will be all over the internet."

  That man dumped more of the flowers on the counter.

  "Put my flowers down," I yelled.

  Instead of stopping, he shot me a cheeky wink. That wink made my blood boil.

  "This is a flower shop, right? And I'm buying flowers." He pointed to the cash he'd left on the counter. "Isn't that the point of your business? I'm paying a whole lot more than anyone else would."

  I opened my mouth to argue but Janice grabbed the notes and counted them.

  "Deal," she said.

  Her look said he wasn't lying about it being a whole load of money, and I couldn't afford to turn that down. That money would come in mighty handy to pay off some of our debts. But it wasn't honest money, properly earned.

  "The deal includes Sophie coming to lunch with me," he said.

  I tried to make my glare burn holes in his face but again my laser beams didn't work. He glared back, the two of us in a holding pattern.

  "You don't need all these flowers," I said. "You're just making a spectacle of yourself."

  He tilted his chin. "Honey, I am a spectacle. It's part of the job description."

  "Is being an annoying bastard part of that description too?"

  Mrs. Carruthers tsked. "Sophie, your mother would turn in her grave if she heard you be so rude."

  That didn't stop me glaring but that man walked away, gathering more of the stock.

  "Not that arrangement," Janice said. "It's for someone at the hospital."

  He carefully set the arrangement down but looked around, as though there was stock hidden in weird places.

  The phone rang. One of our suppliers. Our payment was overdue. Way overdue. The man's
voice on the other end of the phone became heated so I pressed the phone tight against my ear, hoping no one else could hear him. There'd be enough gossip buzzing around town without my financial woes added into the mix.

  "If you don't settle your accounts by the end of the week, I'll have no option but cut off all supply to you," the man said.

  Yikes. I had no idea how much money Janice held in her hand but it'd more than cover our bills. Not that I wanted charity or dirty money. I'd work out the real cost of those purchases and refund him the rest.

  "Okay, okay, you'll have your money," I said, turning my back to the store as though that would stop people from overhearing. "You'll get it tomorrow."

  When I hung up, that man leaned on the counter. Way over the counter. He beamed at me. Those damn eyes twinkled again. I rubbed the back of my neck, a flush of heat shooting through me.

  "So, lunch," he said. Not a question but a command.

  I shook my head but the money... I needed that money and I'd never be able to resell this stock.

  Looked like my choices were limited, but I wouldn't make this easy.

  "I'll agree on one condition," I said to him. "You come to the flower market with me tomorrow. I'll need to restock after this debacle. That means being up at 4 am sharp."

  That dimple on his left cheek twitched. He was trying to get out of this. You could see the cogs turning in his mind. He could try all he liked but I wanted him to know what it felt like. Stupid rock stars with their dimples and twinkling eyes and hard, muscular bodies.

  "No reneging," I said. "I'll bang on your motel room door until you answer."

  "You could make it easy on yourself and just spend the night with me. All the banging would be inside then."

  Mrs. Carruthers giggled. What the hell had I done?

  But it was only lunch.

  Ethan

  SHE AGREED TO HAVE lunch with me. That was a start even if it was in the most begrudging way possible. I had to make this the greatest lunch ever.

  "Where do you want to go?" Shit. I should've researched this.

  That old lady stared at me, and anyone could tell she was the town gossip. I grinned right back at her, getting her on my good side.