Page 129 of Rock Out Together
“What are we looking at?” he asked.
“I just caught these two about to do the dirty on your kitchen counter,” Marcie joked.
Russ looked at me with a cocky ass grin on his face and said, “I knew it!” He pointed between Storm and me. He hadno idea how true a statement that was. She was under my skin now, and I planned on getting to know her a little better. A whole lot better.
“Cleaner is under the cabinet. Be sure to tidy up when you finish whatever you were doing.” Russ snickered.
I cleared my throat and said, “We’re going to take our coffee by the pool.” I walked out the door with Storm following close behind. We sat at one of the tables close to the pool and let the early morning sun warm our skin.
“Well, that was a surprise.” I chuckled.
“Sorry about that. I’m going to admit something to you. Something that I’ve never done before.” Her blue eyes sparkled beneath the morning sun. “I’m very attracted to you. Does that make you uncomfortable? I’ve never been able to control myself. When I see something I want, I go after it. Does that bother you?”
I chuckled and said, “Maybe a little warning next time would be good.” I gave her a lopsided grin. She gave me a nod in understanding, her cheeks a lovely shade of pink.
We drank our coffee and spent time getting to know more about each other. She told me she could play the piano and wanted to play keyboard in a band, but her father wouldn’t hear of it. He wanted her to play classical music. None of that metal shit. He had told her. I watched her smile and her eyes light up as she talked about music.
“He never wanted me to join Paper Hearts. That was my first act of defiance. I thought he was going to cut me out of the family will.”
I wanted to know her, spend time with her, if she’d let me. I also wanted to know the second act of defiance.
I held out my hand and said, “Give me your phone.”
She arched a brow and said, “Give me yours.” We exchanged numbers and she told me that she didn’t call guys. They called her or they weren’t worth her time.
We spent time together for the next few days, but not without Marcie and Russ. They’re like a couple of chaperones at a school dance. Looking to be sure you keep your hands to yourself. Before I left for LA we made plans to fly her out in the next two weeks.
ROWDY
A local station in LA was interviewing us because we’d recently been awarded the AMA award for the third year in a row. That was a great honor in this business.
We all sat on the green suede couch, impatiently waiting for the talk show director to do the countdown between commercial breaks to indicate that we were live. I looked to the audience where Storm sat in the first row with her hand over her heart. We brought her on board as our temporary keyboardist while Paper Hearts was taking some time off. Storm’s father demanded that she come home, and she denied his wishes despite her father’s threats. So many that Storm had stopped speaking to him altogether. I looked around this group of bandmates and my chest expandedwith pride. I didn’t have many friends growing up, because I wanted things done right, and by right, I meant my way. You could say I was a little anal about it even.
When a dark-haired man behind the camera pointed in our direction, Peyton, the talk show host, flashed a perfect white smile that would make any cosmetic dentist proud. She turned in my direction and fluttered her long, false lashes. Okay, so she was starting this interview with me. I don’t know why. I hadn’t been caught by the media, punching the paparazzi or throwing things off the balcony of a hotel. I was, however, caught leaving Storm’s room naked as I ran down to Paulie’s room to grab a condom because like a dumb ass, I had forgotten mine at home. The next morning my picture was on the front of Rockstar Mania cupping my balls while I stared on in disbelief. The first few years Styx and Stones was mentioned, it was because one of us had gone to jail for drugs or fighting. Quite possibly both. The conversation turned to a more serious topic, my relationship.
“Is it true that you’re dating Storm Halsey? Daughter of the famous conductor at Halsey music academy?”
She really knows how to hit below the belt. Storm and I wanted to keep our relationship out of the media for this very reason. It was why we didn’t have her on stage today. Her father would demand that she come home and focus on her dreams. Or should I say his dream for her. I have never understood why parents don’t want their children to do what makes them happy.
When I looked to her in the audience, her bottom lip wasbetween her teeth. Something she only did when she was nervous or when she comes.
“We’re just good friends, just like the rest of us in the band.”
I was being hounded by the media enough without bringing my relationship into it. That always spelled disaster. And usually meant the end for whatever had been built. It’s in the news every day. People who have been together for years were now single all because pap hounds invaded their privacy.
“We were both enjoying ourselves. No pressure for anything more.”
When we were together, our bodies were in perfect rhythm and our song was beautiful. Sure, I would like to settle down at some point and have a couple of kids, but not until I was ready to retire and no way in hell would I interfere with Storm’s dreams.
“So, Rowdy, tell me the story of how the band formed; how you worked your way up from small dive bars to playing on the Grand Opry stage.” I crossed my leg over my knee and nervously ran my fingers through my shaggy hair. It was something I did when I was nervous. It calmed me.
“We bought an old rusted out van that we hauled our equipment in. When I say rusty, there was a hole in the floor on the passenger side floor. We would load up every Friday and Saturday night and play any dive bar that would let us play. We were desperate and played on the corner by the MGM and were discovered by our label there. And here we are today.”
“Marry me, Rowdy!” someone from the crowd shouted. I threw up my hand and laughed. “I want to have your baby,” was shouted from more than a few ladies in the audience.
Peyton grinned and crossed her long legs. Very slowly. I could feel my face heat. She knew what she was doing, and I knew what she was doing. I’d seen it before. It’s called a crotch shot and I had no interest in seeing it. My eyes flew to Storm sitting in the front row. Her face was getting redder by the minute.
“Tell me, Rowdy, are any of you guys dating a special someone?”
