Page 3 of Legendary Rock Star
“In a few hours we report to living right here, on this stage. My parents will bring my bags to me,” she answered quickly, like I’d insulted her. She then coughed and said, “I didn’t want to get in a car, drive all the way to the hotel, and then just have to turn around and come back in a few hours.”
My hunger for her was palpable as I said, “My driver will take us to the local pub and back.”
Her gaze went up. “You have a driver?”
Yes. Songwriting had been my one saving grace, and a decent source of income. I ignored how my muscles were tense from her nearness and said, “It’s faster than walking. And, for the record, I want to be here for the end too.”
She sucked in her bottom lip and let it out as she nodded, “I am hungry.”
I offered my arm like I was some fucking gentleman and said, “Then let’s go.”
“No touching,” she said, staring at my arm.
I lowered it, but winked as I walked beside her. “Only where you tell me to.”
As I opened the door, she asked, “And you swear you’ll listen?”
I placed my hand on my heart as my car came toward us. “I’ll be a good boy, if that’s what you want.”
“I doubt you know how,” she said, but she slid into the backseat of my car.
I followed her, wondering why I was so intoxicated with her. Women never had me this wound up. But I craved Carrigan tonight. Maybe it was her goodness. I hoped a quick bite and seeing more of her might unwind the desire she stirred in me.
2
Maggie
Here I was.Sitting with Phoenix Steel.
The poster on my bedroom wall that I used to kiss good-night was of the guy who was here now, in the flesh, sitting across from me.
The closest restaurant had been an Irish pub.
His knee was near mine and my leg had goosebumps.
Seriously.
The closest I’d ever come to a high like this was when I’d won the international color guard competition as a flag spinner, where the teachers stuck the uncoordinated ones.
But then I’d been one of thirty girls. Now I was sitting here alone with Phoenix Steel.
And I had been singing—and it wasn’t just for the local Little League game or for church as lead in the choir.
I was on TV tonight and I wowed the judges.
I never went past that moment in any dream. And I certainly had never thought my current dream would directly clash with my childhood one.
It was crazy to be sitting down in a restaurant with Phoenix Steel like we were friends.
Under ordinary circumstances, we would never be friends.
Once the waitress had handed us menus and left us alone, Phoenix asked me, “So, you have a boyfriend?”
Most of the time, I told people I was waiting for the perfect guy to show up at church, but everyone knew I was lying. The men who came to church were typically already married or pretty broken, and I wasn’t about to spend my days mending some man when I had my own life to lead.
I had always dreamed of being a singer one day, and now, finally, all those years of training and hoping and waiting all mattered. Because I was here, living the dream. I stirred the iced water left for me and asked, “Why does it matter to you?”
He settled into his side of the booth and then reached out and took my hand as he said, “Because I hoped dinner might lead to … friendship.”
