Southern Rocker Boy (Southern Rockers Book 1) (18 page)

When I got back to my dressing room, it was filled with the ten ladies who had secured their place in the limited M&G by standing in line all day. Several were girls who were up front while I sang, so they had no problem leaning into me to take selfies as they reached for kisses on my cheek while they ran their hands over my torso.

More than one I had to l block from their hands drifting any lower to the prominent bulge I was still embarrassed to display.

Champagne flowed, which kept me mellow. I was able to cuddle close, secured by the notion that there were four burly bouncers ready to intervene if things got too out of hand. “
It’s all part of the game
,” Gay’s voice kept ringing in my ear.

So I played it. I called them ‘sweetheart’ or ‘darlin’,’ as I hugged them tight, thanking them for coming out to see little ol’ me. It was the safest flirting I’d ever done. Once I realized that, I can admit that I threw myself into it.

All it really did was amp me up for when I could get Lacy alone. These girls were pretty, in all shapes and sizes, ages and personalities. Some were forward, some were shy. But none of them were her, and because of that, I had no interest in taking any of the flirty interaction to the next step.

I didn’t know when or how it happened, but I had become a one-woman man.

I was able to laugh off the innuendo and shrug off the lingering hugs, or shy away from the wandering hands. I had no interest in keeping anyone backstage for one-on-one fun.

If they were disappointed, they didn’t show it. They seemed thrilled with the attention they got.

It took about an hour to finish the M&G, which was more than enough time for each girl to get a photo or a signed flier from the club. After the photo shoot, I’d have stills to sign and give away (or sell, depending on Gay’s angle,) but until then I signed whatever was available.

For a couple of gals, this included the brand new Southern Nights T-shirts they bought.

By midnight, I collapsed in the hired car. I was asleep before we reached my apartment. I lumbered up the stairs, let myself into the darkened apartment and collapsed onto my bed fully clothed.

All I wanted was to get some sleep and get the photo shoot out of the way so I could be with my baby.

Tyler Tisdale was a proper British bloke who decided, promptly, that I needed to be photographed in natural surroundings. Gay tagged along as we headed to Lake Travis, where she and Ty just happened to have a boat we could use.

Leah came with us because she threatened to throw a Texas-sized hissy fit if I left her alone with some home health care aid while I lived the life of a “rock star.” She wanted to be a part of it and I didn’t have the heart to refuse her.

Fortunately Gay and Tyler welcomed her, adopting her as our photo shoot’s mascot for the day. Ever the charmer, Tyler asked Leah what kind of photos she thought he should take. She felt very important as she listed her preferences.

From the moment we arrived at the location, however, Tyler’s vision was clear. It was all about the body. Whether I was standing on a sloping green next to river rock or a trickling stream, he wanted me in bare feet, with the tight jeans that had become my calling card, and a dark shirt opened to reveal my chest.

My skin had a bronze look from years of hard work in the sun, so they mussed my hair and sprayed my skin for a sheen and just left it at that.

By the time we got on the boat, I was instructed to ditch the shirt, unbutton the jeans and lay on the cushion like I was beckoning someone to join me with nothing but my eyes. “Make me believe you, mate,” he said until I gave him what he was looking for.

Finally I summoned Lacy in my mind’s eye, rather than the skinny guy in front of me. The shoot went much faster after that.

Finally they let me put my shirt and shoes back on. We headed into town so he could photograph me around different Austin landmarks. That was mostly Gay’s idea, who wanted to make sure I kept Texas as an integral part of my brand.

“Everything’s bigger in Texas,” she added with a lascivious wink.

It was nearly six o’clock by the time we were done. Gaynell insisted that we join her for dinner. Leah was much too excited about it to refuse. Tyler was full of exciting tales of fabulous, larger than life people. It had only taken eight hours, but she had developed quite the crush on the tall, skinny Brit with a headful of unruly brown curls and wide blue eyes.

We didn’t get back to the apartment until nearly eight o’clock in the evening, which was a much later start than I wanted for my special night with Lacy.

Even worse, she wasn’t responding to any of my texts.

“She’s probably just sleeping off her cold,” Leah said. I nodded, but I didn’t think that was it.

When I got back to my room, I finally unpacked the new computer that Gay had generously, and strategically, provided. I signed on to one of my new social media sites, where I saw that Gay had followed several of the guests from the M&G from the night before.

The responses were glowing, thanking me for a wonderful night. They couldn’t wait to see me again the following week. Gay had tagged each response as a “favorite.” There were also candid photos from the shoot, including pictures from the boat, posted on a photo account where I already had over a thousand followers in the very first day.

I figured Gay had ninja’d the photos for just that reason. Each one showed a lot of skin and a come hither look I really didn’t even know I had.

Out of curiosity, I searched for Lacy. She had several accounts across most major platforms, but they were set to private.

That was my Lacy. As closely guarded as Fort Knox.

I sighed as I sent her another text. “
I thought we had a date
.”

She didn’t answer, so I decided I had nothing more to lose. I called her. The minute she answered I could tell she felt better. Her voice was stronger and clearer, though her tone was quiet.

“Why didn’t you answer my texts?” I asked.

“I thought you were busy,” she said.

“I’m never too busy for you,” I said. I could almost feel her soften on the other end. “Tell me you’re feeling better and I can come pick you up right now.”

“I’m feeling better,” she started.

“But?” I asked.

“It’s kind of late. It’d be a waste to get a hotel room for a few hours.”

“I don’t care if it’s five minutes. I want to be with you, Lacy.”

She hesitated and I could tell she was battling herself. “Fine,” she said finally. “I’ll text you the address.”

I hopped into the shower, slipped into my nicest shirt and jeans, and raced across town. The closer I got to her place, the rougher the neighborhoods became. Finally I pulled into a trailer park and slowed to a park next to a tiny single-wide that looked about twenty years old. I walked up the creaking wooden steps and knocked on the door.

It was opened by a thin woman with brown hair sprinkled with gray. “Yes?”

“I’m Jonah Riley. I’m here to see Lacy.”

She looked me up and down through the dirty screen door. Finally she opened to let me into the cramped living room with brown shag carpeting. “Lacy!” she screamed before she turned back to me. “She’ll be out in a minute.” She pulled the toys from the battered sofa. “Make yourself at home. Can I get you something to drink?”

There were hard lines in her face, put there from years of hard living. Her cold, dark eyes seemed to put everything through a filter of what was a threat to her existence and what wasn’t. At that moment, I couldn’t be sure where exactly I fell.

“Iced tea if you have it, ma’am,” I said with the tip of my head.

“Ma’am,” she sniffed. “Please. I’m not that old. Call me Jules.”

I reached out my hand and we shook. “Nice to meet you, Jules.”

Lacy emerged from the back hallway, holding Cody on her hip. She wore jean shorts and a button-down shirt, with her hair in pigtails. It was sexy as hell, even though I knew she wasn’t trying to be. Maybe that was why. I focused my attention on Cody. “Hey, little man. Remember me?”

“Free Bird!” Cody exclaimed, trying to flash the horns with his fingers but not quite getting it.

“That’s right,” I said as I chuckled.

He scrambled down from Lacy’s hold and raced toward the corner of the room, where he withdrew a plastic toy guitar. I sat on the couch while he proceeded to entertain me.

Lacy sat next to me as though I was some kind of dog she wasn’t sure would bite. I had the feeling the way her mother was studying both of us had something to do with that.

Jules brought me a glass of tea before she sat in a recliner near the TV, which she muted. “So I hear you’re the new big star down at the club.” She glanced me over. “Looks about right.”

“Mama,” Lacy warned.

“Please,” she sniffed again. “This boy has Gay’s fingerprints all over him.”

Her disdain was palpable. “I’m proud to be a part of the band with your daughter, Jules,” I said. “She’s really talented. I know she’s destined for great things.”

“Too bad she’ll never see them working at that club.”

“Mom,” Lacy said again, this time sharper.

“He should know who he’s working for. Haven’t you told him?”

Lacy hopped up. “We should probably go.”

I stood, placing my untouched tea on the coffee table. “It was really nice to meet you,” I told her mother. I held out my fist so Cody could knuckle me. “Great job, big man. I can’t wait for your next concert.”

The little boy giggled before he climbed into his grandmother’s lap. “When are you coming home?” she asked Lacy.

“Early,” Lacy promised.

“Good,” Jules replied as she smoothed Cody’s hair. “I have that double shift. I can’t be late.”

“I know,” she said. She reached down and kissed her mother’s head before she practically dragged me out the door. She didn’t say anything as I climbed into the cab and pulled out into the street.

“You look better,” I said as I stole occasional glances at her. There was a slight flush in her cheeks but her eyes were clear and her nose wasn’t nearly as red as Rudolph’s.

“Thanks,” she said without looking at me.

“Your mom seems nice,” I offered.

She snickered. “You don’t have to live with her.”

I cocked an eyebrow so she quickly walked back her statement.

“She’s great, don’t get me wrong. But she’s… a force of nature sometimes.”

I grinned. “Sounds like someone else I know,” I teased. Finally she smiled. “There it is,” I said as I took her hand in mine. Despite the lateness of the hour, I still drove to the hotel where I had already made reservations. We were barely through the door of our room before I took her into my arms and kissed her hard.

It was like taking the first breath after being held underwater. “I’ve been waiting for this all weekend,” I muttered against her mouth as I unbuttoned her shirt.

“Jonah,” she said as she pulled away.

Immediately I was confused. “What’s wrong?”

“We should order some food or something,” she said as she moved into the room, grabbing the room service menu from the table by the window overlooking the Colorado River.

I walked up behind her, placing my hands on her shoulders as I rubbed myself against her luscious backside. “Whatever you want,” I said as I kissed the curve of her neck. I wanted her so bad I thought I might split in two.

She took a deep, ragged breath as I kissed the sensitive area around her ear. She had difficulty finding her voice. “They have appetizers if you’re not that hungry,” she offered softly in that rasp I loved so much.

“I’m starving,” I growled against her ear as I slipped my arms around her, my hands cupping each breast. She gasped but then she inched away.

“I’m surprised,” she muttered. “After your buffet last night.”

That stopped me cold. “What does that mean?”

Her eyes met mine. “I saw the photos, Jonah.”

“So?”

“So it looked like you were having a great time.”

“I was,” I said without apology. “I did. But what does that have to do with us?” She rolled her eyes and walked away to stare out the window. “Lacy,” I said in a firmer voice.

She sighed before she turned to me. “I’ve been down this road before, Jonah. I know how it ends.”

I folded my arms across my chest. “You mind filling me in? Since you seem to have figured out our whole relationship without me.” She said nothing. “So was this a date or some kind of a goodbye?”

She looked away. I had my answer. And it pissed me off.

“Let me get this straight. Because some other asshole screwed you over, you’re not even going to give me a chance. Is that it?”

Her eyes flashed at me. “Not just
some
asshole.
The
asshole. It started this same way. He invited me to perform in his band. He thought I had ‘it.’ That I could be a star. Meanwhile I played backup while he got to soak up the spotlight. And Gay was right there the whole way, making sure he got the opportunities I didn’t.”

“Why would she do that?” I asked.

Her eyebrow cocked. “You don’t believe me?”

“I didn’t say that,” I corrected at once. “But it
is
in her best interest for you to do well. Why would she play favorites?”

Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me, as if she was trying to piece together a puzzle. Finally she looked away. “Because I’m a harder sell, that’s why.”

It echoed what Gay had said to me. It didn’t make sense when she had said it, and it didn’t make any sense when Lacy repeated it. “Why are you a hard sell?”

“Because I won’t play the game,” she said. “I don’t care to wear slutty outfits or flirt with all the boys in the crowd. I just want to sing, get paid and go home. That’s it. I never wanted to be famous, Jonah. That’s not my scene. Fame changes people. When the people around you stop telling you no, it’s that much easier to stop telling that to yourself. So it’s no holds barred. Real life rules don’t apply. Look at us. We’re reduced to some booty call in a hotel because it would hurt your brand new image as a bad boy to be seen with a steady companion. At least one who isn’t somehow more famous than you.” My eyes narrowed as she went on. “You know that’s why you’ve gotten all this recognition right? It’s because of Ariel Acardi and Jasper Carrington.”

That immediately rubbed me the wrong way. “Gee. And I thought it had something to do with me being talented.”

“That’s not what I mean,” she snapped.

“Then what do you mean?” I snapped back.

“You’re not an artist, Jonah. You’re a paper doll that Gay can dress up, or strip down, just to fill her club.”

My heart dropped as I stared at her. Was this really what she thought of me?

“I see,” I gritted through clenched teeth. I buttoned my shirt, which had come unbuttoned when I tried to seduce her. It was clear that was no longer on the agenda. At least she had the decency to look chagrined and turned away.

“I’m sorry,” she finally said. “I’ll pay you back for the room.”

“I don’t care about the fucking room.”

“Then what do you care about?”

I stomped over to stand almost nose to nose with her. “I cared about spending some time with the Lacy I thought I knew, not this cold-hearted bitch that comes out to play every time your pride gets a little wounded.”