Page 52 of Rock Hard
“Did you have someone specific in mind when you wrote that one, Rex?” another voice piped up.
He grinned. “Yes.”
“Who is she?”
Alice lowered her gaze to the ground and braced herself for his answer. She had always suspected he had written the song about someone special to him; the words and the music held too many feelsnotto. That didn’t mean she wanted to see the look on his face when he talked about another woman, and definitely not abouthersong.
“Someone smart and strong and capable. Someone who spends her life caring for others who don’t deserve her. Someone who is so beautiful, and yet has no idea ...”
A hush went over the crowd. Then the hairs on the back of her neck prickled uncomfortably. Alice opened her eyes to find Rex’s gaze locked on her. Beside him, Carly was grinning like a Cheshire cat.
Whispers and murmurs of “who is she?” carried along the breeze as people twisted and turned to see who Rex was looking at. Alice squirmed, uncomfortable with the attention.
“Do another one, Rex!” someone shouted.
“I will, if Alice comes up here and sits beside us.”
She shook her head, but Rex grinned.
“Come on, Alice. They want to see what inspires me.”
Alice couldn’t have been more stunned if he had suddenly gone full lion and started roaring at the crowd. One minute, he was in the gazebo. The next, he was beside her, taking her hand and gently leading her forward.
She sat beside him and Carly, feeling strangely numb as people stared and took pictures with their cell phones. Then Rex started singing again, and people turned their attention back to him. He did a couple more songs then thanked everyone and wished them goodnight.
“I think you earned yourself a few more fans tonight,” she teased.
He chuckled. “Who would have thought I’d appeal to the intellectual crowd?”
“You appeal to everyone, Rex.”
“Including you?”
She stared up into his golden eyes. “Especially me.”
Carly cleared her throat. “If you two are going to make googly eyes at each other,” she said low enough so only they could hear, “you might want to do it someplace more private.”
Sure enough, people were hovering around, hoping for a chance to talk to Rex and grab a selfie or three.
“Meet you back at the room?” Alice asked as she stepped away, only to be stopped by Rex wrapping his arm around her waist and pulling her close.
“Not a chance,” he rumbled softly against her ear. “I’m not going to risk you taking off on me again.”
The sensation of pressing against Rex made her weak in the knees. Thankfully, he had a good hold on her.
Rex was cordial and patient, signing practically everything that was thrust at him, taking pictures, talking music to young and old alike. It was much later when they finally made their way back up to the suite.
“So ...?” Alice asked Carly as Rex ordered them a late dinner. “What happened? Tell me everything.”
“I got third place overall.”
“That’s amazing!”
“It is,” Carly agreed, “but I’ll do even better next year. Dad said Styxx has some friends I should meet. One of them even runs his own lab!”
Alice flicked a glance at Rex, who smirked but said nothing.
“That’s wonderful! I’m sorry I wasn’t there.”
