Never Say Never (10 page)

            “Believe
it or not,” Luc said, brushing my cheek lightly with his hand. “None of that
matters. What matters is you. I wanted to make sure that you were okay – that's
my priority right now.” He smiled into my face, holding my hands tight.

            “Hello
– Neve?” The voice sent tingles down my spine as Danny approached, a strange
expression on his face as he looked me and Luc up and down. For a moment I saw
something strange in his eyes – a flash of darkness, a moment of pain. That
brooding expression that made me think, again, of Lord Byron.

            “Oh...”
I realized how it must look – me and Luc in each other's arms – and I swiftly
pulled away. “Danny...” Danny was the only one of us who didn't know just how
adamant my dad was that I stay out of the rock scene – let alone be in a rock
band. Who didn't know just how afraid my dad was that I'd fall into the same
traps he fell into – a life of meaningless sex, drugs, and booze that had
nearly killed him. “Great job, Danny!”

            “Thanks,”
he flushed slightly. “I should say the same for you and the rest of the band.
Not that I have to. This guy looks like he's going to say the same thing...”

            Mr.
Slayton approached us.

            “Mr.
Slayton!” I tried to sound bright and professional. “You're here. Thank you so
much for coming back, for checking us out again...”

            “You
really have improved,” he said, nodding approvingly. “Already I could tell the
difference in the sound, and it's only been a week.”

            I
looked over at Danny. “We've got a new lead,” I said. “I think he's done a lot
to inspire all of us to work harder.”

            “Yes,
I know Mr. Blue,” said Mr. Slayton. “We've met before. I'm glad you have him on
board – his style really does add something to your performance. This is a step
up from the Veridium, for sure...”

            “Thanks,”
I said, looking at Danny, feeling the excitement radiate from my eyes.

            “But
that stunt with the camera...” Mr. Slayton continued. “It really made me aware
of just how cautious I have to be signing a band like yours. You're not just some
ingenue, Miss Knight; you're Keith Knight's daughter, whether you want to be or
not. And that means that when do you break into the business, the attention on
you will be huge. Expectations will be higher – you'll naturally invite
comparisons, scrutiny. And I'm not willing to put you out there, to sign you,
unless I've got complete faith that you're not going to be just a passing fad.
I want you to be more than just a rocker's daughter, Neve – I want this band to
stand or fall on its own merits. And that means I'm going to have to be
cautious. I'm not saying “no,” Neve – but I am saying I want to wait a while
before putting you – or any of your band mates – into the spotlight.”

            He
held out his hand to me and I shook it. “Thank you for your faith, Mr. Slayton,”
I said. “We'll only improve.” I looked over at Danny. “We're sure to.”

            “You're
on the right track,” said Mr. Slayton, “keep it up.” He shook everyone's hand
and left. No sooner had he gone than the club manager, looking flushed and
apologetic in her black dress, came up to us. “I'm so sorry for what happened
tonight – that guy was clearly high; he should never have made it past the
bouncers. Our security had – uh – a talk with him afterward, and he's been
banned from this hotel. His name is John Flint – and he won't be bothering you
anymore. But we here at the Imperial Hotel want to make up for it anyway. We
hope that this will go some way towards making up for the trouble. If you'll
just follow me...”

            She
led us out of the night club and into the hotel upstairs of which the club was
part, into a gorgeous lush VIP lounge filled with buckets of ice, steaming
bottles of champagne, and a tantalizing looking wine and cheese spread. The
room was filled with women – a few I recognized as the wives or daughters of
some of the biggest record execs in the business – all of whom had eyes only
for our band members. Kyle and Steve, eyeing girls they knew, were soon lost in
conversation with a pair of stunning models.

            “Pity
they didn't bring some guys for you,” Danny laughed in my ear. “Gender equality
and all that.”

            “I've
had enough strangers kiss me for one night, thanks,” I said.

            The
manager turned to me and Danny. “We're also happy to put you up in some of our finest
rooms tonight,” she said, glancing at Danny. “If you'll just tell me how many
you need.” Her eyes traveled from me to Danny, and back again, her question
implicit:
how many rooms? Are you two sleeping together, or separately?
I couldn't help but catch Danny's eye, knowing all the while what it felt like
to sleep with his naked body against my own...

            “Neve,”
Danny started. “I wanted to talk to...”

            But
before he could finish his sentence, a gaggle of girls let loose a cry. “There
he is!” Immediately Danny was swarmed by a crowd of gorgeous women – all asking
for his autograph, giving him their numbers. Among them was Amber, the
drop-dead gorgeous blonde from our class.

            “Amber,”
Danny gave her his trademark dazzling smile. “So good to see you.” He leaned in
close and whispered something into her ear, which made her in turn chirp with
laughter. I couldn't help it. White-hot jealousy surged through me. I had to
restrain the impulse to leap onto Amber, to claw at her, to pull her off
Danny...

            I
had to get out of there. I couldn't let my emotions compromise me – compromise
the band. Not when Slayton was keeping us under such close tabs.
This is why
you promised never to date anyone in the band
, I told myself.
No
complications.
If I started a relationship with Danny – with anybody – this
jealousy, these feelings, would only get worse.

            I
left the champagne and elegance behind and walked off onto the hotel's veranda.
I needed to be alone.

            But
I felt hopeless, trapped. I'd spent so long trying to keep my feelings and
personal life out of the band. But now, I knew, I had no choice. I was head
over heels for Danny Blue.

            And
that meant we were all headed for disaster.

Chapter
11

           
T
he moon was full and the night was cold. As I
stepped out into the shadowy night, I had never felt lonelier. I should be feeling
great about tonight – everything had started off so well. Slayton was
impressed; we'd played better than ever; the audience was eating out of our
hands. But instead I felt exhausted, hopeless. My feelings for Danny were
messing with my head – and with those photos of me headed straight for the
Internet, there was no way in hell I'd be able to escape my dad hearing all
about the Never Knights in a matter of hours. I still felt furious about that
stalker, John Flint. Violated, even. I'd put on a brave face in front of the
guys, but deep down I was disgusted – disgusted and ashamed. By getting up
onstage to kiss me, by filming it for all the world to see, he was saying out
loud what I'd always been afraid of hearing, what I'd told myself in my darkest
moments: “don't take her seriously – she's just a celebrity's kid. She's
tabloid fodder, not the real thing.” Was that what Slayton thought of me now –
just another “famous for being famous” wannabe without the talent to back up
her blind ambition? I sighed, looking up at the moon mournfully. “If I were a
wolf I would howl,” I muttered sadly.

            Did
my father ever have to deal with crazed stalkers like that? Did my mother? If
my dad thought the rock and roll business was no place for his daughter before,
he'd certainly think so after...I decided. I had to call home right away.
Better they hear about what happened from me directly than read it in the
morning papers. I picked up my phone to dial, but a rustling sound from behind distracted
me.

            Danny
was emerging from the shadows, the moonlight making his gorgeous smooth skin
shine incandescently before me as the shadows vanished from his face. In his
black leather, in this moonlight, he looked a little like a vampire, I thought.
One sexy vampire at that. Well, if he was, I thought to myself grimly, I wasn't
doing a good job of running away. I knew that he meant danger, and yet here I
was, standing – waiting for the kill.

            “Hey,”
he said softly. “I wanted to talk to you after...what happened. But that horde of
women came after me and by the time I got away you were gone.”

            “Poor
baby,” I rolled my eyes and tried to laugh. “Getting surrounded by a bevy of
gorgeous women. I see you had no problem leaving them behind.”

            He
shrugged and smiled that self-deprecating smile that seemed to shoot right
through my heart.

            “Been
there,” he said airily. “Done that. I directed them in Kyle and Steve's
direction. That sort of thing's not my scene. It hasn't been my scene for a
long time. That part of being in a band doesn't interest me.”

            I
was surprised to hear it. If my dad – not to mention my band mates – were
anything to go by, that was precisely the most interesting part of being a
band. “You're a surprise, Danny,” I said. “I figured all rockers liked having
groupies around.”

            “Not
me,” said Danny. “I'm a one-woman kind of guy. Or was.”

            “Good,”
I said, automatically, before realizing what I'd said and turning scarlet. “I
mean – after what happened to Geoff. The last time he hit on a girl he ended up
falling through a glass coffee table. One less potential casualty for me to
worry about.”

            “Neve,”
Danny said softly, looking worried. “I've been meaning to ask you – you know,
if you're okay and everything. I saw what that guy did to you. I know you're
putting on a brave face, but if you feel shaken or upset – I just wanted to
talk to you about it. But I saw Slayton coming over to you and figured I'd
distract him while you got your composure back. Didn't want him to see you at
anything but your best.”

            Danny
was being a lot sweeter than he'd been earlier that morning. Did he care about
me after all? “Thanks,” I couldn't resist smiling. “I didn't think you'd do
that.”

            “Do
what?”

            “Worry
about me.”

            “Why
wouldn't I?” Danny fixed his blue eyes on mine. “I'm part of the band now, aren't
I? So I care about being part of this team; I care about everything that
affects the band, one way or the other.”

            I
bit back my disappointment. So this wasn't about me – or caring about me. Danny
cared about the band, which meant he cared about me as long as I could sing. He
probably wasn't interested in me at all. Maybe he was into blondes like Amber –
or else his heart belonged to the mysterious Peyton, whoever she was...

            “Oh,
well,” I said, trying to sound casual. “That's nice.”

            Danny
smiled softly. “Nice?” he said. “Or bland?”

            “What
do you mean?” He was standing so close that we were practically touching.

            “Neve,
I'm not blind, you know.”

            “What
are you talking about?” I could feel the heat rising to my face.        

            “Every
time we're in the same room together – this weird...thing we need to resolve,
you and I. To get past it. So we can work together.” The air between us
crackled with electricity; I couldn't bear the tension a moment longer. “Neve,
I haven't played in a band for a long time. And it feels good to belong to one
again. I don't want to jeopardize that. But when we talk – you remind me so
much of her, Neve...” he lightly touched my chin.

            “Of
who?” My mind was all over the place; all I could concentrate on was the
feeling of his fingers against my chin.

            “Peyton,”
he said.

           
Peyton
again.
“Who is she...?”

            “My...”
he swallowed hard. “My girlfriend.”

            “Oh.”
Disappointment flooded over me. “I should...I should go...” I felt furious,
repulsed. Not only was Danny taken, he was apparently the kind of guy who would
cheat on his girlfriend if the moment came up – the kind of guy who would touch
another girl's chin, looking at her all the while like he wanted to touch a lot
more than that...

            “Neve,
wait...” Danny protested. “I'm not explaining this right. It's just – it's hard
to talk about. But we need to talk about it. I don't want to scare you off,
Neve. Steve told me about what happened with Geoff, about your rules. You don't
want to date anyone in the band – and especially not Geoff. And if I'm making a
complete tit of myself and you haven't been feeling anything at all for me then
please just tell me now so I can stop talking...”

            “No,
don't stop,” I couldn't help saying.

            “I
don't want to be like Geoff. But I can't help feeling...maybe you want me to
be?”

            “It's
just a complicated time,” I said. “It's not just about Geoff. With RRR and
Slayton and everything...”

            “I
wouldn't worry about Slayton,” said Danny. “He's a great guy once you get to
know him.”

            “And
you do?” I was distracted by my shock. How had Danny Blue gotten to know the
face behind the hottest music label in town?

            Danny
turned crimson. “He used to represent me,” he said. “When I was in another
band.”

            “What
happened to it?”

            “Peyton,”
he said darkly. “Neve...”