The Rock Star And The Virgin (Virgin Erotic Romance) (2 page)

“You are so beautiful.”

Did he really mean it?

She turned back to look in his eyes again, trying to catch a lie. But she could see none.

He leaned forward just enough so his mouth drew level with her ear, she could feel his breath tickling her skin, and his nearness caused a tantalising heat between her legs. Powerless.

“Have dinner with me tonight.” He pulled back a little, now his lips were so close she knew he was going to kiss her. His lips almost on hers, she imagined his hands on her body, on her breasts. She moistened her lips with her tongue, and managed to whisper, “Yes,” before parting her lips for him to kiss her.

He pulled back, a grin on his face. “I'll pick you up at 7 then.”

She stood there as he walked away. Still swaying, feeling slightly stupid. The old Billy would have done something like that to wind her up, maybe he hadn't changed so much after all. Now she just felt confused, did he really want her? Or just want to catch up as old friends?

Sarah watched Billy walk down the road, her head filled with dizzy thoughts, and then her heart filled with dread.

Pulling up next to him in her big red convertible was Jenny. She saw Billy walk over to the car, they chatted for a couple of seconds and then Billy climbed into the passenger seat of the flash car. Jenny pulled away from the kerb and started to drive towards Sarah.

Realising they would see her staring Sarah turned around and started walking, with her back to them, hoping to remain unnoticed. It didn’t work, as they pulled level with her, Jenny tooted her horn and waved at Sarah, obviously wanting Sarah to see her famous passenger. Sarah waved back half heartedly, feeling sick and confused.

Jenny held the position of chief bitch in Cedar Falls, ever since Sarah's family lost their wealth she hounded Sarah. Often Jenny would come into the diner with the latest designer clothes and accessories and flaunt them in front of Sarah. When she left she would say something like “Oh, how thoughtless of me, I forgot you were poor now. How much does waitressing pay?” Then she would laugh with her cronies, and leave.

Most of the time Sarah managed to rise above the taunts, but sometimes they really hurt, especially if she was with one of Sarah's past friends. She had many past friends, because only a handful had rallied around and supported Sarah when things got bad. On the whole Sarah tried to look at this positively, after all they were never true friends if they had dumped her so quickly.

But Billy getting into the car with Jenny, that hurt. Sarah knew Jenny was having a really fancy party at her house tonight. Perhaps the two of them were plotting to embarrass Sarah there? Had fame change Billy so much? Now she didn't know what to do, forget about the whole thing or get ready to go on a date?

She was home now, at the front door of the little three bedroom house she shared with her family. It might seem strange a woman of her age still living at home, but for a while she had been the only breadwinner. Her father went through a total nervous breakdown after the collapse of his business, her mother nursed him and Sarah went out to work.

Only the sale of the little cabin her grandfather had left her kept them afloat for so long, and even that was because someone made a ridiculously high offer for it. Some corporate firm wanting to use the place as a staff incentive. Sarah wasn’t sure, she hadn't been near the place since the sale. It broke her heart to think of the cabin no longer being in the family. But the sacrifice meant they all stayed together, with enough breathing space to lick their wounds and pull themselves together.

“Hey, Mom!” Sarah called as she closed the door and put her keys away in her bag.

“Hi, Sarah, good shift?” Her mom asked coming to meet her.

“As good as any, I suppose,” Sarah answered, not sure whether to tell her Mom about Billy asking her out. Her parents had always thought highly of him, despite the trouble he sometimes got himself into.

“Did you have a visitor?”

“Yeah, Billy. Who would have thought he would come back here.”

“He came by and gave me this enormous bunch of flowers.” Her Mom, obviously flattered, showed them to Sarah. “They must have cost a fortune.”

“They're beautiful.” Sarah inhaled the sweet fragrance of the flowers.

“He wanted to know where he could find you.”

“Well, he found me. Not sure why.”

“He didn’t say? I asked him to dinner but he said he already had plans.” Her Mom had gone back to making dinner.

Sarah felt her stomach lurch. Her suspicions confirmed, he must be planning to go to Jenny's party. Surely he didn’t plan to drag her along just to humiliate her in some way. Or perhaps he would simply stand her up, leave her sat waiting for him. That did it, Sarah made up her mind to forget he ever came into the diner. Pretending he never asked her out, was the one way to not feel let down.

She made her excuses to her Mom and went upstairs. Flinging herself down on the bed she burst into tears. Of all the people who had changed towards her, this one hurt the most. Firstly because she had never seen it coming and secondly because she knew now she had held feelings for Billy for as long as she could remember. Although from different backgrounds they had been like two peas in a pod. Sarah kept Billy out of trouble as much as possible and Billy made Sarah see things were not always to be taken seriously, they complimented each other.

Or used to.

Chapter Two

Wiping her eyes Sarah forced herself off the bed and into the shower, glad to get the smell of the diner off her hair and body. She changed into some comfortable clothes and went to give her mother a hand in the kitchen.

“What time is Dad home?” Sarah asked. Her father had a job as a foreman at the local factory. It had taken two years for him to take any kind of work, but he soon showed he was good with people, and good at organising things, so he got promoted fairly quickly. The wage was good and the stress not too bad.

On the whole they were happy, her sister had gone off to college in the spring and they were all doing OK. Her parents offered to help Sarah continue her education but she knew it would put too much a strain on their finances, so she carried on working for now. Perhaps in a couple of years things would change, but she didn’t want to do anything that would tip her father back into the cold dark abyss of depression.

“About 6.30, he has some paperwork to do, and then he'll be home.” Her mom gave her a sidelong glance. “I thought you might have changed into something a bit nicer.”

Sarah looked down at her sweats. “It's only you and Dad, you don’t mind do you?”

“No plans for tonight?”

Sarah tried to keep her breathing steady and not to let her face flush. “No. Why would I?”

“Oh, you know. Billy back in town and asking for you, I just thought ...” her mom let the sentence hang in the air while she checked the oven.

“You just thought what? Come on Mom, why would he bother with me? He belongs with the likes of Jenny and her cronies now.”

“Billy? He wouldn’t be seen dead with them.”

“I’m not so sure, I saw him in the car with Jenny earlier, and she is having a big party tonight. My guess is that was why he couldn’t make dinner.”

Her mom shut the oven door. She turned to look at Sarah. “He didn’t ask you out then?”

“Why would he?”

“Because he said he was going to.”

“He did?”

“Yes. He told me he couldn’t come to dinner because he wanted to take you out.” Sarah's Mom looked at her daughter closely. She reached out and touched her arm affectionately. “You OK, love?”

Sarah started to sob, “He did ask me out, and then he got in a car with Jenny. I think it’s some kind of trick.”

“No! Not Billy, he’s always thought the world of you.”

“That was before.”

“Before what?”

“Come on Mom. Before he became rich and famous.” She stifled a sob, and then blurted out, “And I became a nobody who waits tables for a living. Why would he bother with me?”

Her mother held her tightly in her arms and let her sob until she was ready to calm down. “He wouldn’t do something like that to you.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I know him, and I know you. You are worth a hundred Jennies. I am so proud of you and what you’ve done for this family. I can only imagine how hard it was for you to give up your dreams for us. Now, go and put on a pretty dress, he'll be here any minute.”

“I can’t, Mom.”

“Why ever not?”

“I’m scared.”

“Of Billy?”

“Of going on a date. Unless you hadn't noticed no one ever asks me any more.”

“Of course, I’ve noticed, don’t you know how much your father and I worry about you?” She kissed Sarah on the cheek. “Now, go and get ready.” She steered Sarah out of the kitchen, reluctantly she went.

As they walked towards the stairs the front door opened, her father was home. His face was flushed and he looked a little excited, something that didn’t happen too often these days. “Look who I found waiting outside.”

Sarah's heart skipped a beat, there behind her father stood Billy. He looked the same as he had five years ago, the only difference, the cost of his clothes. She stood not knowing what to say, his gaze took in her casual clothes.

“Hi, Sarah. I’m a bit early.”

“That’s OK,” she said before bolting up the stairs to change and apply some make-up to hide her blotchy tear stained face.

Her mother, still a master at covering up awkward moments, grabbed Billy and steered him towards the kitchen. “Tell us about being a rock star, Billy. We've watched your career in the papers but we never thought we'd be honoured with a visit now you’re so famous.”

“Don't be silly, Mrs H. I’m still the same small town boy.”

“That’s just what I told Sarah.”

“Did you? Is she OK? She looked a little upset.”

“She's great, seeing you brought some old memories back, that's all.”

“Oh. I hope I haven't upset her.”

“Don't be silly, we are all thrilled to see you, isn't that right dear?” Sarah's Mom tried to bring her husband in on the conversation, he really did seem a little star struck.

“Yes. Of course, very pleased to see you. Makes us all realise good things really do happen.”

The three of them talked about old times while Sarah frantically tried to figure out what to wear. She had no idea where they were going, and Billy's clothes didn’t help, he always looked smart casual. He could have gone into any cheap diner or expensive restaurant and not looked out of place.

Eventually she settled for a mid length green dress she had brought for a wedding a few months ago. It flattered her slim figure and the colour suited her perfectly. It didn’t say “I’m easy, take what you want”, but it didn’t say “hands off either”. She quickly applied her make up and grabbed her shoes and ran down the stairs. Reaching the kitchen, breathless, she stood and watched her parents talking to Billy, happy to see them all at ease. Perhaps she had worried for nothing after all. The Billy that stood in her kitchen was the one she had always known.

His gaze met hers and her cheeks flushed red, she lowered her eyes, pretending to concentrate on putting her shoes on. Every nerve and cell of her body reacting to him, as a woman, not as a teenage girl.

Sarah's Mom caught the look too, “Well, you kids probably want to get going, not hang around with us.”

“It's always good to see you Mrs H,” Billy said truthfully. “But you’re right we should get going.”

Sarah's heart began to hammer in her chest, how was she going to last a whole evening in his company without making a fool of herself. Just because her body responded to him sexually like a woman, it didn’t mean the rest of her knew how to behave like one. She guessed Billy must have met lots of sophisticated woman in the last five years. The thought made her feel like it was her first day at school, afraid of showing herself up in front of the big kids.

Her parents walked them to the door, “See you later,” her Mom said, hugging Sarah she whispered, “Relax, you look beautiful. Enjoy yourself.”

Sarah smiled, “Thanks Mom.”

“That’s what I’m here for.” She released Sarah, and then spoke to Billy, “Look after her.”

“I will Mrs H. We won’t be too late.”

He led Sarah out to his car, not as flash as Sarah had feared. In fact it looked kind of practical, comfortable and economic. Billy watched her face, registering the look of surprise. “Not flash enough for you?” he laughed.

“No, it’s great. Not what I expected is all.”

“Got to look after the environment, I refuse to have a gas guzzler just for the sake of my image.”

Sarah laughed, “I would never have guessed you would go all environmentalist.”

“There's a lot you wouldn’t guess about me. But I’m hoping we have some fun while you try to figure me out.” His eyes twinkled with mischief, Sarah realised how much she had missed having Billy in her life. The only question was how long he would stay and into how many pieces he would break her heart when he left.

They got in and Billy waited until she put her seat belt on before starting the engine. Her parents still stood in the doorway, waving them off. At her age it should have made her cringe, but it didn’t, Billy had always been part of the family.

“You're Dad looks well. My Mom told me about his breakdown.”

“Yes,” said Sarah waving to them. “He’s is doing really well. There was a long time when I wondered if he would ever go back to being my Dad.”

“Must have been tough. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there for you.”

“Don't be silly you had your career to think of, they're very proud of you. My Mom has all your CDs.”

Billy laughed, “Really?”

“Really.”

“It wasn’t all easy. I had my own demons to fight. Now I finally feel I’ve beaten them, that's why I couldn’t come back before.” His gaze drifted off into the distance. “I know what it’s like to be in a bad place.”

“Well you look great now, and you sound like you used to.”

“That was the problem, the whole rock and roll lifestyle makes you believe you’re something you’re not. It took me awhile to figure that out. Or else I would have come back for you sooner.”