Rock Radio (23 page)

“Dana!” she heard Cody call as he ran towards her.  She kept running.  “Dana, stop!”

She turned around and he was there, inches from her.  There was undeniable electricity between them.  Cody cupped Dana’s head in his hands and kissed her hard on the lips.  She melted in his arms.  His warm tongue met hers and she could feel her whole body respond.  The rain fell faster, but they were oblivious to the elements around them.  Dana ran her hands down Cody’s chest feeling his hard muscles beneath his shirt.  She felt his hands slowly move down her hips then back up toward her face gently grazing her ample curves.  She moaned only encouraging him further.  The rain soaked her white shirt that now clung to her like a second skin, revealing her lacy bra.  He ran his fingers through her hair as his kisses became more insistent.  His mouth moved down her neck stopping just before he went past the point of no return, though he realized he was so far beyond that now.

“Cody...don’t stop,” Dana said breathlessly.  She had never experienced passion like this.  Her body ached for him.

He pulled her close, his breath tickling her ear as he spoke.  “God, I want you…but you’re involved.”  His words belied his actions because he didn’t let go of her.

“Not anymore...I left him, for good,” she said to him and to herself.  In that moment she realized she was truly over Sam.  When he first broke up with her, she was heartbroken.  But this time, she felt nothing about him, only sadness for being a fool.

And she never experienced passion like this with him.  Ever.

“I never stopped thinking of you,” he whispered.

She looked into his eyes and saw the depth of his emotions.

“I didn’t either,” she said, taking the initiative and kissing him again.

He scooped her up in his arms and brought her through the back stage door into his dressing room, locking the door behind him.

He star
ted kissing her again, pulling her shirt up over her head.  Cody unclasped her lacy bra and let it fall to the ground.  He moved his hands slowly over her curves. His touch sent shockwaves through Dana’s body as she felt herself tilting toward him with need.  Her hands worked the buttons on his shirt until his chest was exposed.  She ran her fingers down his firm body wanting to touch him everywhere.  He did the same, exploring her first with his hands, then with his mouth.  She cried out in ecstasy.  He moved her gently to the couch touching her, kissing her, making love to her.

When they were spent they lay in each other’s arms.  It felt so natural.

It felt real.

*
                                                                     

Dana went
back to Cody’s hotel and spent the night, though there wasn’t much sleeping.

They woke up the next morning tangled in each other
.

“Tell me you can stay for a while,” Cody said pulling her closer.

“I’m yours for the weekend,” she replied, so thankful she had the time off.

“Good, ‘cause we have another show here tonight which means I have the day free.”

“Perfect,” she said, rolling on top of him.  “What do you have in mind?”

“I’m thinking something by the water,” he said.  “I grew up in the middle of the state, the beach is still a novelty for me.”

“That’s funny I did, too.  I’m from Orlando.”

“Oh...not far from me.  I grew up in Pinetree.”  The truth slipped out unknowingly.  Even though he was years removed from his troubled past, Cody still could never admit to anyone where he really came from.  It would open the door for too many questions...possible digging.  And now he just told a woman
he barely knew the truth.

“That’s ironic.”

“Yeah, but I don’t like to tell anyone where I’m really from...I don’t want anyone bothering my family and stuff,” he said, trying to clean up his mistake.

“I can appreciate that.  Don’t worry my lips are sealed.”

Cody was thankful for his quick save and hoped he could trust her.  He had a feeling he could.

“So that still leaves us with the question...where to go?”

“Why don’t we drive and see where the day takes us.  I have my convertible.”

“Awesome.”

Dana and Cody hit the road and headed to the Gulf of Mexico.  They cruised down the highway under a cloudless blue sky.  Dana put down the top and let the wind and sun caress their skin.

They parked by the beach and strolled the shore holding hands learning more about each other.  A one man steel drum band had set up on the sand playing one Bob Marley tune after another, the Caribbean rhythm providing a perfect soundtrack to their afternoon.

Cody twirled Dana around on the sand, ignoring the bemused stares.

“Whee...” she laughed.

“You look beautiful.”

“Thanks.”

He spun her into him and kissed her on the lips.

“What next Miss Drew?”

“You know Drew’s not my real last name...”

“No?” he said in mock shock, “Next you’re gonna tell me there’s no such thing as the tooth fairy.”

“Oh, no...I’ll only dispel one myth at a time.”

“So who are you mystery woman?”

“Dana Hill.”

“That’s a nice name.”

“Okay, that’s cool you think so, but this is the part where you tell me who you really are Cody Blue.”

“I really am Cody Blue,” he said with a straight face.

“Don’t put me on.”

“No, I am Cody Blue Smith.”

Dana laughed hysterically.  “You’re funny.  C’mon I told you my real name, what’s the big deal to give up yours?”

“Dana,” he said seriously, “I really am Cody Blue Smith.”

“Oh God,” she stopped laughing, “You really are.”

“My mother is Jane Smith...can you imagine?”

“What a normal name.”

“Well, Jane Smith wanted to make sure she didn’t have a son named...

“John Smith.”

“Exactly.”

“I can honestly say you’re the first Cody Blue Smith I’ve ever met.”

“One of a kind.”

“Yes, you are.”  She squeezed his hand.

“So then, what’s next Dana Hill?”

“Oooh...that’s sounds weird.  No one calls me that except my dad.”

“Sorry,” he grinned sheepishly.

The afternoon was winding down. They walked toward the shore, taking off their shoes to wade in the water.  It was almost time for sunset, Florida’s best free show.

Dana looked over at Cody trying to figure out what this was.  They clicked.  But then what?  He was leaving for a new city tomorrow.
What was she doing?

Falling in love with a guy she could never really have.

Dana knew a bit about the rock star life.  She’d met so many bands over the years...she knew they never really kept up relationships.  It was hard.  Bands were pretty much always on the road, never really making roots.  Then there were the groupies.  Cody’s band hadn’t even really made it big yet, but already Dana could see the women in the audience looking for one night with a rock star-to-be.  This wouldn’t exactly lead to the white picket fence life she wanted. 
Have your fun,
her mind reasoned,
enjoy yourself, but don’t let yourself fall for him
. 
This relationship is not going to end up the way you want it to.

That was logic.

In her heart, though, she’d never been so exhilarated, so excited in her life.  She and Cody seemed to have an unspoken connection.  The mere thought of him sent chills down her spine and her mind places it didn’t dare go with anyone else.  Sam was safe.  Cody was dangerous.

She never realized the difference could be so thrilling.

Besides, safe Sam turned out to be a failure.

“This is perfect,” Cody said about their spot on the beach.

“It is,” Dana said...answering the question in her head.

They watched the bright blue sky change.  The sun was suddenly clearly visible in front of them.  A perfect sphere of fiery light.  P
urple, indigo and orange streaked the sky as the sun slowly descended toward the water.  As it neared the horizon, the sun seemed to slip quickly into the sea, pulling the light with it.  The sky remained illuminated briefly and then began to turn dark.  A cool breeze kicked up some sand around them.

“Dana,” Cody began, wrapping his arms around her, “I don’t know what’s happening between us...”

Oh God,
she thought,
here comes the letdown.

“And I know we both live kinda crazy lives...”

Breathe, Dana, just breathe.

“But there’s something...some...I don’t know,” his voice trailed.  “I want to find out where this may lead.”

Exhale.

He continued.  “Does any of this make any sense to you?”  The words tumbled from his mouth.

She looked into his eyes.  “It does.”

“I was hoping you’d say that.”

“I’m a little scared,” Dana said truthfully.

“Me too, but I want to try.  There are phones.”

“Yes, thank you Alexander Graham Bell.”  He smiled at her joke.  “But it’s going to be hard.”  Dana was being realistic.

“Nothing in life worth having isn’t.”

“That’s true...but doesn’t make it better.”  Dana was skeptical.

“Look at me,” Cody said, gazing into her eyes, determined to fill the empty place in his heart that once belonged to Laura.  “This is possible.”

Fresh off misreading her situation with Sam, Dana slightly balked.  “It is going to be hard though, never really seeing each other.”  She played devil’s advocate, arguments against this flooded her mind. 
And you are younger...and I need to be more cautious with my heart.  I can’t deal with another Sam situation.

“I agree, but, I don’t know, maybe I’m crazy
.  I’ve only known you...what?” he looked at his watch. “A day?  Can I give us a day?”

She laughed, “Yeah.”

“Last night was incredible...today was incredible.  We both lead such odd lives with really difficult schedules, in that way, we understand each other.”

“True.”

“And I also know it’s not easy to meet someone you connect with.  I’ve never felt so close to someone so fast.  I want to see where this goes.”  He pulled her close.

Dana didn’t expect these words from this gorgeous man.  He was on his way to fame, of that she was sure, why was he so willing to commit to her?  Stop, she told herself, hating the self-doubt that entered her mind.  Why wasn’t she someone worth pursuing?

“You’re not answering.” Cody looked at Dana and saw a glimpse of apprehension on her part.  It worried him.  He hadn’t dated much since Laura and he missed the stability of a relationship in his life.  He never had any consistency before Laura...his family was a power struggle of fear.  He and his mother walked on eggshells around his father, always waiting for the bottom to drop out.  When his dad left, happiness eluded them because of an ever-present fear of his return.  When it became obvious his dad wasn’t coming back, the fear turned to disillusionment.  Cody realized he was an adult and he had no idea what being a part of a family meant.

There was a hole in his heart keeping him from being whole.

Laura changed that.  He thought Laura was the one who could make him complete, but she didn’t understand his life and wouldn’t sacrifice hers for him.  Not that he could blame her, they were so young and he so foolish, thinking when she said it was over that she really meant it.  He learned the hard way that women often don’t say what they really mean.  His one night stand ruined any chance for reconciliation.  Not that he even wanted to get back with Laura after his fling.  The fact that he had been with someone else made him feel like there was no way they could ever get back together.  The hurt of betrayal would always be present in her eyes and he wouldn’t be able to live with himself.  In these past few years on the road he’d met women here and there, but no one special.  Until now.  Dana made him feel something unexplainable and he didn’t want the feeling to end.

Cody waited expectantly for Dana’s answer.

“I must be losing my mind...” she said smiling.

He kissed her as if to seal their understanding.

“So what happens now?”

“We’re heading to Panama City, Tallahassee, Jacksonville...then up
the Southeast coast.  I should be able to steal some time in between to see you.  But, no matter what, we finish up in Atlanta end of spring, then I’ll have a break and some free time to get back to you.”

“That’s a couple months away?”

“Yeah.”

“Figures.  The station is sending me away to the Bahamas then for an appearance.”

Cody smiled.  “Oh, really?”

Suddenly Dana understood what he was thinking.  “Yes, really.”

“So tell me, Dana, do you like piña coladas?”

5:59 pm