Rocked All Night (BBW New Adult Rock Star Romance) (2 page)

My blood ran cold. I did not want to talk about that. “No.”

“Yes. And as your manager I still think you’re making a mistake. Think of the attention this could gain. A love affair on the road. All the shows would cover it. Magazine covers. Interviews. We could plan little dates in every city. Restaurants would pay good money to have you two sneak inside for a romantic dinner. Not to mention the paparazzi. There are a few I know would work with us. Give us a good cut of any…”

I leaned over and grabbed her wrist, hard. “Shut up. Stop it right now.”

She yanked away and stared, wide-eyed. “What?”

“For the hundredth time, there is no ‘love affair’ going on. It was one night. That’s all.”

“I know, I know, you’ve said. But it doesn’t have to be, dear. Don’t you see that? This could be your shot. Your chance at superstardom.”

“No.”

“But… isn’t that what you want? Isn’t that why we’re here?”

“Yes, of course. But not like that. Not because of gossip. If I’m going to be a success I want it to be for the right reasons. Because of my music, not who I’m sleeping with.”

“Come on,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re not that naïve. It doesn’t matter what makes you famous. It matters that you are, and what you can do with it. What
we
can do.”

I looked around to make sure no one was listening and leaned in close. “Mom, please. Can we talk about this later?”

“Fine. But in the meantime I want you to think about this. You hired me back for a reason. You know I’ll do whatever it takes to reach our goals.”

I did, and she would. For better or worse.

“Look, Whatshisname will be back in a minute. And then I need to go. We’ll talk about it later.”

“Go? Where are you going?”

“To the theater. I have to work on “Passionate Blood” a little more. With the little bit of choreography I need to make sure I can do it right. And I need a stage for that.”

“Now? I thought you’d be going out.”

“Not tonight. I just want to get everything worked out perfectly.”

She frowned, but nodded. “All right. If you need to work we can go. George will understand.”

George! That was suit guy’s name. “Okay.” I cast a glance over at the group I’d been watching before. They’d gotten settled in an area nearby and were looking at menus and laughing. I sighed and stood. “I’m off to work.”

Mom walked out with me. In the hallway she explained to George that I needed to go back to the theater. He said goodbye and was gone almost before I could wave. Busy, that suit.

I started to head over towards the theater, but noticed my mother was still tagging along. “Um, you don’t have to go with me.”

“I know,” she said, twining her arm in mine. “But I want to. We can finish that conversation on the way.”

Fan-fucking-tastic.

I groaned and trudged along beside her. Of course I wouldn’t get away that easily. I flashed a badge at the guard keeping guests away from the section of the hotel where the theater was. We’d gotten lucky that it was behind schedule because of some special marble that took a month to deliver. The hotel had given us the space to rehearse in before moving to the arena the first show would take place in. The stage was smaller, but big enough to iron out the details of our sets.

As we walked down the quiet corridor, I realized I had to have this out with her once and for all or I’d never be able to sleep. I stopped her around the corner from the theater’s entrance, in between a gleaming alabaster statue of a naked mermaid and an ornately gilded empty pedestal.

“Mom, look. I know you want to make a big deal about what happened. And I understand why. But please, just this once, look at this as my mother, not my manager, okay?”

She tilted her head to the side, lips parted. “What’s the difference?”

“I…” That was clearly the wrong road to take. I had to appeal to her in a way that she’d listen to. If I couldn’t convince her to do it for me, I had to make it sound like a bad business decision. “Okay, forget that. You said the story would be great as a romance, right?”

“Oh, of course.” I swear her eyes got a little misty as she imagined the breathless gossip reports. “It could be huge.”

“But it would be bad for me.”

“How?”

“Because it wouldn’t be an epic love story. It would be a trashy tale of me acting like a glorified groupie.”

“Impossible. You’re a star!”

“Yeah, but he’s a bigger star. And if everyone on the planet knows we slept together, and then sees him with ten girls in every city, I’m humiliated.”

She thought for a moment before answering. “Well, we could go for sympathy, I suppose.”

“Wouldn’t work.” I was getting in the groove now. Figuring out how to spin it to get her to do what I wanted. “No one would believe I was heartbroken. They’d think I was just a bitter starfucker doing anything to kickstart her flagging career.”

“Oh. Hmm, yes. I can see that bent to the story. We wouldn’t want that. Are you sure you couldn’t just date him for a few weeks?”

I wondered that myself, but didn’t mention it. Whether or not there was anything in the future between me and Rick, there couldn’t be anything in public. I couldn’t risk it. And I’d never admit I might even consider it to her.

“Nope. It was a one-time thing.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. And, as much as I hate talking to my mother about this, I gotta tell you, it wasn’t even that great. I really wouldn’t bother hooking up with him again.” That was a lie so big I thought the glittery ceiling might fall down on my head.

“Oh, I see.” She grinned like we were girlfriends giggling about boys. Gross.

“Yeah, so you get it, right? We can’t let anyone know about this.”

She sighed. “I suppose you’re right. It’s a shame, really. Are there any other boys in the band you think are handsome?”

“No. But I haven’t met all the guys in Playology yet,” I added sarcastically.

She shook her head. “No, they won’t do. It would have to be Dream Defiled. They’re the big get. No go?”

“No go, sorry. Rick just didn’t do it for me, if you know what I mean.”

She chuckled. “Oh, I do. I could tell you stories.”

“Please don’t.” I was about to add that I might puke if she continued, but looking behind her, I saw a figure turning to head in the other direction. A tall man with a long stride and a sweet ass I’d never forget. Rick. And from the tightness in his broad shoulders, he’d heard the whole conversation.

I froze, feeling conflicted. Part of me wanted to follow him, explain what I was doing. But I couldn’t. My mother had barely agreed to respect my wishes and me running after Rick like a love-sick schoolgirl wouldn’t exactly fit with the story I’d just told her. Not to mention, what would I even say to him – “Sorry about saying you were bad in the sack, I was just manipulating my mother”? Nope. Wouldn’t work. And besides, it wasn’t any worse than the things he said about everyone all the time. He could stand to take dose of his own poison for once. But somewhere deep in my heart, I felt bad. Didn’t want him to think I really felt that way.

“So, are you working or just going to stand in this hallway all night?”

My mother’s words jolted me back to reality. “Sorry, yeah. Um, see you later.”

“Don’t overdo it in there. Your voice needs to rest.”

“Uh-huh.” I rolled my eyes. She didn’t know shit about my voice, but just thought that was good caring-sounding advice. I left her and went around the corner, holding my breath. But Rick wasn’t there. And when I went inside the theater, it was empty except for a guy sweeping.

I went onstage, waved at the maintenance guy and kicked off my shoes before running through the choreography for “Passionate Blood,” mentally reviewing of things I needed to go over with my band and the stage crew.

After half a dozen runs or so, I decided to try it actually singing out to see how it felt. By the second chorus I knew there was an issue. The choreographer had outlined a section where I’d stand in a spotlight right at the edge of the stage, close enough to touch the front row, but to get there in time I’d have to run and this stage was much smaller than the ones I’d be performing on.

“Shit,” I said to myself, struggling to figure out a solution. I could start over there sooner, but would have to put down my guitar in the middle of a section I needed to play. That wouldn’t work. Sighing, I went over to my purse and scribbled down some notes. This is what I got for not hiring the choreographer for the entire time we were in rehearsals.

I tried it again, shifting the whole song closer to the end of the stage. And, finally, I was able to finish the verse, “
Knocked down, dragged down, beaten down
,” in time. I mimed placing my guitar in its stand and hummed the instrumental section before the chorus, striding over to my spot. It could work. I’d need to be careful, but it could work.

Proud of myself for getting it together and happy for the distraction, I decided I deserved the rest of the night off. And I didn’t want to spend it alone. I grabbed my stuff and slipped back into my shoes and headed out to find something fun to do.

My first stop was my favorite bar in the hotel. It was dark and fairly quiet. Mostly groups of people minding their own business in their booths, paying no attention to what was going on around them. A great place. But, tonight it was really crowded. I got a beer from the bartender, but after getting bumped into three times before I could finish it, I decided to head elsewhere.

Next I tried one of the bigger places upstairs. It wasn’t even ten yet, so things were relatively calm. I skirted the dance floor and ordered a shot, knocking it back in one go before looking around the room. I’d checked every corner before I realized I was looking for Rick.

“No. Hell, no.” I said, turning to order another drink. I was sipping that one when a hand landed on my shoulder.

“Julia!”

I wheeled around and smiled. “Hey, Joe.”

“What are you doing here all by yourself?” The band’s lead singer grinned and gestured for the bartender to make him another of what I was having. He was casual in jeans and a faded t-shirt, his spiky hair still vertical, but not as full of product as it usually was. Joe Hawk off-duty.

“Nothing, just grabbing a drink. I was feeling a little restless.”

He laughed. “I know exactly what you mean. I’ve been climbing the walls all day. It’s the tour. I just want to start already.”

“Yeah,” I agreed.

He got his drink and we clinked glasses. “To getting on with it.”

I laughed. “Something like that. So, what are you doing in here?”

He shrugged. “I was having a drink with Dex and Becca. But they decided to turn in early.” Joe waggled his eyebrows comically.

“Nice. You must be jealous. That your girlfriend isn’t here…Melissa, right?”

“Yup, my Liss. I talked to her this morning. I was hoping to sneak away this weekend back East to see her. Clear my head before the insanity begins.”

“That would be good. I know it’s hard to be apart, but it must be nice sometimes, too. To have somewhere else to be. Someplace to hide.”

He peered down at me seriously. “Yeah. I forgot you’ve been in this game a long time. You know how it is.”

“Sure do. I love it. Wouldn’t want to do anything else but…”

“But sometimes it fucking blows.”

I laughed again. “Yes. Sometimes it does.” I glanced around, smiling.

“Looking for someone?” Joe asked.

“What? No. Just uh, you know. Checking the crowd.”

“Uh-huh. Want another drink?”

“Sure, why not. I’m not keeping you, am I?”

“Nah. I’m just gonna get a little drunk, go back to my room and call my girl. She sounds so cute when I wake her up.”

“Good thing I’m not your girlfriend. Nothing cute about me cursing you out for interrupting my sleep.”

“Ha, I bet.” Joe clapped me on the shoulder and leaned against the bar next to me. “Julia, I gotta say, I’m really glad you’re here. The music’s great and all, but I’m glad you’re a cool chick. It’s gonna be a long couple of months and it’ll be a lot more fun with everyone getting along.”

I sensed there was something pointed in his comment, but couldn’t imagine what he was referring to. Unless Rick had said something. But, I doubted that. Considering all the shit he’d apparently given Joe and Dex for being with their girls, it seemed unlikely he’d mention what happened with us. Not that I cared. Or wondered if he had. Or thought about what he might have said. Nope, hadn’t even crossed my mind.

I shrugged it off and drank some more.

An hour later I was a bit tipsy and really happy I’d run into Joe. I knew he was charismatic, but he was also a really good guy. Funny and silly, and so in love it kind of made me want to cry.

So in love that he had to ditch me to call his girlfriend on the phone before he passed out. After grabbing a bottle of bourbon from the bartender – on the house, of course – he kissed me on the cheek, flashed a crooked smile and stumbled off to find his hotel room.

I followed soon after, but skipped the to-go bottle. Once in the elevator I distracted myself with plans of room service. They made a heavenly cheesecake and I needed one, desperately. But as the car climbed, I realized that was not the indulgence I really wanted. When the doors opened at my floor I pushed another button and stayed inside.

Finally, I stepped off and into a hallway, debating with myself the whole way down to the end. I knocked on the door and almost fled before anyone could answer. I hesitated, muttering to myself, unable to resolve to stay or go. But just as I was turning away, the door opened.

Rick stood there, in just a towel. His skin was wet and gleaming. So much skin.

“I…Hi,” I croaked pathetically.

He frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“Nothing. Um, just saying hello.”

The frown shifted into a smirk. “You’re drunk.”

“Little. So what?”

“So nothing. Just making an observation. Do you want to come in or just stand there staring at me?”

“I…I’m not sure.”

He sighed and ran his hand over his head. My mouth dropped open at the sight of his body in motion. Muscles stretching and contracting.