Reckless (70 page)

Instead of giving the taxi driver our address, Kellan gave him
Evan’s
address. Confused, I looked over at him. “Why are we going to Evan’s?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see the guys. I did. But Kellan and I had been living with family for the last six weeks, and I wanted a little alone time with my husband. We had had
some privacy at Gavin’s and at my parents’, sure. Dad had even let Kellan and I share a room since we were legally married. And even though we’d been warned not to, we’d
broken the doctor’s orders about restraining from intimacy. We’d actually broken that rule on week three. Kellan is hard to resist, and when he’d told me he felt fine as he was
running his tongue along my collarbone . . . well, will power still wasn’t my strong point, I guess. But those brief moments hadn’t been nearly enough, and I was ready to go home.

Kellan glowed as he answered me. “We’re not going to Evan’s, we’re going to the shop.”

I was confused for a minute until I realized what he was talking about—the auto body shop beneath Evan’s loft, the shop that was garaging Kellan’s Chevelle. I rolled my eyes at
him as I laughed.
Boys and their toys.
When the taxi let us out, Rox, the female mechanic who “knew” Kellan “very well,” was there holding his keys. Kellan was so
excited, he picked the girl up. I cringed, and not from jealousy. I just didn’t want him injuring himself. He’d been given the all clear, but still, he should be careful.

Rox was laughing when Kellan set her down. With grease-stained fingers, she indicated inside the garage, where I could see a huge Chevelle-shaped sheet on the far side of the room. It made me
happy that they’d protected the car as well as store it. It made Kellan’s eyes shine as he gingerly took the keys from her.

Walking up to his car, he lovingly removed the cover. By the look on his face, I thought maybe I should give him a minute alone with his “baby.” His smile wide, his hand slowly ran
up the edge of the shiny black vehicle, then caressed the top. And damn if it wasn’t erotic to watch; it gave me shivers, and I wanted him to finish fondling his car so he could fondle
me.

From beside me, Rox murmured, “He sure loves that car.”

I had to laugh as I watched Kellan rest his cheek on the roof. God. Really? “Yeah, that he does.”

As I started to walk away, Rox blurted out, “I never believed the rumors . . . just so you know.”

By the strange expression on her face, I didn’t quite believe her. But I knew she was trying to be nice, so I played along. “Thanks. That’s good to hear.”

Stepping up to Kellan, I extended my hand, palm up. Lifting his head from the roof, he frowned at my gesture. “What?”

Keeping a straight face, I told him, “Seeing as how you’re still recovering from a serious operation, I don’t think you should drive.”

Kellan’s jaw dropped, and his fingers possessively curled around the keys. “I’m fine, and you know I’m fine. Sex takes way more energy than driving, and we’ve been
doing that for weeks.” A playful gleam in his eyes, he added, “And it didn’t hurt at all when you rode me this morning. It felt pretty amazing actually.”

Widening my eyes, I slapped my hand over his mouth. Rox was laughing, so I knew she’d heard him over the din of the noisy shop. I could feel Kellan laughing under my fingers. I considered
punching him in the gut, just to see if
that
hurt, but I’d vowed never to hit anyone again so I contained myself. I did make him unlock the door and get inside as quickly as
possible, though. He was laughing when I climbed in the other side. “What?” he asked, starting the car. “Am I wrong?”

Giving him a sly grin, I shook my head. No, he wasn’t wrong. This morning had been pretty amazing. Kellan’s stamina was right back where it used to be. In fact, you wouldn’t
even know he’d been in such a scary accident by the looks of him. The only visible mark on him was a slightly pink scar running down the middle of his abdomen from where the doctor had cut
him open to save his spleen. But he’d been stitched together very well, and given enough time, the slight mark would be nearly invisible. I didn’t care if the scar remained visible for
the rest of his life. Inadvertently, the scar had saved his life. And, in a way that couldn’t fully be explained, it was kind of sexy.

Really wanting to be alone now, Kellan and I headed for home. When we drove up to our street, a sad fact quickly became apparent to us. Sometimes, you can’t go back home. Kellan’s
narrow, car-packed street was now so full of vehicles and people, we couldn’t pull into it. Stopping alongside the main road, we looked down the street where tons of people were milling
about. I could just make out our two story home, and I was horrified to see people taking pictures of it.

“Please tell me your neighbors are having a block party,” I whispered.

Kellan looked back at me; his face was resigned. “I don’t think this has anything to do with my neighbors.”

While we continued to stare, a couple of those neighbors stormed into their yards and started shouting at the loiterers. I’d already known Kellan was right, but that confirmed it. Somehow,
Kellan’s house had become a well-known tourist attraction. And even if we called the cops and had these people removed, it wouldn’t matter. They’d just come back. Idly, I hoped
our stuff was okay. The thought of someone breaking in and smelling my underwear, or Kellan’s, instantly flooded my brain. God, I hoped that hadn’t happened.

Sighing, Kellan pulled back into traffic. I understood. We couldn’t go back there. It broke my heart some. I had a lot of memories in that home. Some good, some not so good. But a place
was just a place. His heart was my home, and I wasn’t ever leaving it.

Kellan drove us to Matt and Griffin’s house. It was in the comparatively quiet burbs, and no one was around when we pulled up. I doubted the fans knew about this place, so we
wouldn’t be disturbed here. And since Griffin had moved into my sister’s apartment, Matt had room for us. Although, not as much room as we’d thought; Rachel had moved in over the
holidays. But the pair were quiet and reserved, so I knew living with them would be comfortable—for the time being, at least.

Matt filled us in on what had happened with Kellan’s house. Apparently, Joey had spilled the beans about where he lived in an interview with a skeezy online tabloid. Showing absolutely no
ethics, the magazine had actually posted his address, and it had spread like wildfire around the Internet in just a few hours. After Sienna’s confession of manipulating the public, Joey had
also finally confessed to the world that she was the real star of the inconclusive sex tape and that Sienna had paid her to keep quiet.

I was both shocked and not shocked by the interview. We’d suspected that Joey had been paid off. It made me wonder if Sienna had also squashed the release of any of the other sex tapes,
since no one else had come forward. Or maybe the other girls just had more self-respect than Joey. It didn’t matter too much to me either way now. Let them be released. I knew my husband in a
way that no woman watching erotic, self-made porn ever would.

While Kellan and I looked for a new place to live, I published my book as an ebook. Denny helped me prepare the manuscript and put together a classy, romantic cover that would instantly catch
people’s eye. Releasing it was scary as hell. I had no idea how people would react. I had no idea what they would say. But I had to do it. This was my dream, my career, my passion. So, with
great trepidation and excitement, I uploaded my baby into cyberspace to be judged, hopefully more positively than negatively.

After the ebook went live, a feeling of relief washed over me. I’d done it. I’d created a story, a piece of my soul, and I’d had the courage to share it. Even if it
wasn’t universally accepted, I was proud of myself for following through with it. When I made my first sale, another feeling washed through me—excitement! I felt like I was officially
an author after that moment.

While the ebook started gathering a fan base, I put my paperback together. It pained me to have to wait to hold the physical book in my hands, and I anxiously checked for my copies to arrive on
my doorstep every day. When they finally did, Kellan intercepted the package. I’d been at lunch with Jenny, Kate, and Cheyenne, and when I got back to Matt’s house, a note was taped to
the front door. It merely read,
Come find me.

Grinning at Kellan’s handwriting, I opened the door. On the ground were rose petals. Each petal had one letter written on it. I was laughing as I followed the trail that spelled out,
I
can’t wait for you to find me, so hurry up already.
The excessive trail of petals led in a loop through the kitchen and into the living room. Oddly enough, the trail ended at the
bathroom. I was hesitant to open the closed door, but I was too curious not to.

“Kellan, what exactly are we doing in here?” I murmured as I pushed it open. He wasn’t in there, though. Instead, I found a huge note taped to the toilet. In large letters it
screamed at me,
We don’t have time for mind-blowing sex in here. Focus, and come find me!

Turning around, I started laughing. “Kellan, where are you?” A sign near the bathroom light switch pointed down the hall, so I figured he was in our bedroom.

Heading down the hall, I noticed Post-its stuck to the pictures.
Are you excited? Are you ready? Would you hurry up and find me?
Griffin’s old room that we were using as ours had
a bunch of petals taped onto it. They formed a heart. In the center of the heart, a sticky note read, “
I think I’m in here
.”

Giggling, I pushed our door open. “Kellan? What’s going on?” He wasn’t in there either, though. His guitar case was open on our bed, and the story notes for my next novel
were strewn all over it. A bright pink note exclaimed, “Future bestseller!” I laughed harder and looked around for Kellan. When I still couldn’t find him, I looked in the closet.
I knew he had to be in this house somewhere. He wasn’t in the closet, though. All I found was a piece of journal paper with song lyrics written upon it. The words were beautiful, and brand
new. I could hear Kellan’s flawless voice singing them in my head as I read them.
You’ll never know how incredible you are to me, how desperately I love you. I would do it all over
again if I needed to. I’d go back to the beginning for you.

My eyes hazy, I again called out for him. He still didn’t answer me. Wondering if his lyrics were clues, I went back to the beginning and headed to the front door. Still nothing. Just when
I was sure I’d never find him, I opened the door and took a look outside. Standing on the welcome mat, resplendent in faded blue jeans and his black leather jacket, Kellan was holding a dozen
long-stemmed roses in one hand and a copy of my paperback in his other. I didn’t know what excited me more—finally finding him, the electric gleam in his eye, the smell of the fragrant
flowers in his hand, or my name splashed all over the glossy six-by-nine cover.

Raising a brow, Kellan spoke before I could respond. “What took you so long?”

Laughing and crying, I flung my arms around him and pulled him out of the frosty air and into the house. I urged his head down to mine and thrilled in the coolness of his lips. Kicking the door
shut with his foot, Kellan managed to speak a few words around my eager mouth. “I have . . . something . . . for you.”

I was dying to finally hold my book. Letting go of Kellan, I extended my hands like a small child begging for a treat. Kellan immediately placed the roses in my arms. I frowned at him as he
laughed; the roses were gorgeous, but he knew that wasn’t what I really wanted right now. A teasing smile on his face, he pointed to the book I was aching to flip through. “You
can’t see it until you promise to sign one for me.”

I pursed my lips, but Kellan shook his head. “Nope. I want a signed copy. I want the
first
signed copy.”

Groaning, I nodded and shook my free hand at him. “Fine, I’ll sign whatever you want, just let me see it.”

Intrigued, Kellan murmured, “Really? Anything I want?” as he took back his flowers and gave me the book.

I ignored his suggestive tone as I stared at the sexy black and white photo of a woman standing between two men. The title,
Irresistible,
was sprawled across the top and the pseudonym I
was using as my pen name was in big bold letters along the bottom. I wasn’t hiding who I was anymore, but people knew my real name now, and I didn’t want the story to become a success
just because I was a rock-god’s wife. Like Kellan, I wanted to make it on my own merits, not because of the hype that surrounded my life.

Holding the book was . . . surreal. I actually did it. I actually wrote and published a novel. Crazy.

“I’m so incredibly proud of you, Kiera.”

As I looked up at Kellan, I could see that pride reflected on his face. It warmed me in places I didn’t know I could be warmed.

Kellan’s new tour, with Holeshot and Avoiding Redemption as his opening acts, was starting in April. I wasn’t sure if it was the label’s doing or
Denny’s, but the boys were going international this time. At the tail end of the U.S. tour, they had concerts set up in both the United Kingdom and Australia. I found it really humorous that
the D-Bags were going Down Under. Life sure had a way of turning full circle.

But before Kellan could go on tour with the boys, something he was really looking forward to doing, he had to do something he was not looking forward to. But, shocking the hell out of myself, I
was
looking forward to it.

Zipping up my carry-on bag, I walked across my new bedroom to find Kellan. We’d moved into a new spacious home a couple weeks earlier. It was a lot nicer than any home I’d lived in
before. It was almost too much for just the two of us, but Kellan insisted that when our family expanded, we’d eventually need the room. And the location couldn’t be beat. Griffin had
wanted us to get a place in Medina, right next door to Bill Gates if we could, but Kellan and I had opted to get out of the city instead. Traveling north, we’d found a private, secluded home
on eleven acres. Our nearest neighbor was a sweet older couple who dropped by with pie when they saw our moving van driving past. Living in the countryside, our life was going to be a lot more
reclusive than it had been in Seattle, but considering how crazy things became whenever we were out in public, a mellow home life with few distractions was exactly what we both wanted.