Sexy Lies and Rock & Roll (16 page)

She looked hot as hell in them.

Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore, so I asked her, “Will you come watch the show tonight?”

Her head popped up and she pulled the pen from her mouth. “Of course.”

I nodded. As her head started to turn back to the laptop, I asked, “Will you come with me to the VIP party after?”

She lifted her head slowly this time and looked at me. With a soft smile, she said, “Sure.”

I muttered, “Okay.”

Emma looked at me another moment, and then turned back to her work.

“Will you promise not to get tipsy so I can fuck you after without worrying about regrets?” I asked slyly.

Her head shot back to me again, and she grinned. “Yes. I won’t drink a drop of alcohol.”

“Cool,” I said casually as I slouched back down on the couch, as if it wasn’t that big of a deal, but I was already doing a football touchdown dance in my head.

“But what about Red?” she asked, and I craned my neck to look at her over the back of the couch.

“What about Red?” I asked in puzzlement.

“Well, what will he think as he’s driving tonight and you’re in my room?” she says hesitantly.

I shrug. “Why do you care?”

Her eyes lowered, and she chewed at her lip with worry.

“Emma?”

With the saddest little puppy dog look I’ve ever seen, she looked back to me and practically whined, “I don’t want anyone to think I’m a floozy.”

I almost snickered, but I caught myself and gave her a sympathetic look. “Emma… Red adores you. He won’t think badly about you. And if you have a smile on your face in the morning, he’ll be just fine with it, I’m sure.”

She blushed at the thought of Red knowing what a morning-after smile would mean, and I had to restrain myself from leaping over the back of the couch and tackling her to the floor.

I play my guitar. I follow the music. I sing my song.

I love it up here on this stage.

I really do.

But I kind of can’t wait to get done so I can be with Emma.

♦

Obviously, this whole
concert tour is new to me, but I know the schedule fairly well. I worked with Tyler and the tour management company to iron out details. After some shows, I’ll have to attend fan meet and greets. After other shows, there may actually be an after-party, usually sponsored by some major corporation and with some other celebrities in attendance who wanted to see my show.

That’s still something I’m having a hard time accepting.

Actual movie and sports stars wanting to see me perform.

So tonight is one of those parties, and it’s being held up on the top floor of the arena in a private club. There’s no telling how long this party will last, and we’re not in a rush to leave out of here as we have two days to make it to New Orleans for our next show. Regardless, I don’t have any real use for rubbing shoulders with famous people. While I know it’s expected and part of the game, I don’t plan on staying long. I plan to make my rounds and be sociable, then drag Emma back to the bus. Right past Red’s astonished face as I haul my prize back to the bedroom.

Speaking of which, I can’t help but smile as I look over the shoulder of a TV actress whose name I can’t quite place, but she’s talking to me like we’re the best of friends. I see Emma on the far side of the room talking to Cap and Dilana, and, as she promised, she’s drinking bottled water.

Good girl.

Much to my surprise, Cap, Dilana, and Jimmy all made visits to the bus and made sober apologies to Emma for waking her up the day after that debacle. She hasn’t hung out with them much, some polite exchanges during rest stops and such, but right now, she’s laughing at something Dilana says and she looks in her element.

Absolutely gorgeous in a simple pair of dark skinny jeans, mile-high pumps in black leather, and a loose black blouse that hangs low off one smooth shoulder. As I’ve figured out about Emma, she doesn’t spend a lot of time on making herself up. I can attest that her skin is soft as silk so she must use lotion every day, and that her toenails are painted a delicate pink, which is a definite nod to her femininity, but that’s about as far as she goes. Maybe some mascara on those long lashes, but her hairstyle is simple and her face is usually clear of any enhancements. She’s one of those women who have a natural beauty, and frankly… she has no fucking clue she has it.

That right there is what really makes her sexy.

The actress says a few more nice things about my performance, gives me an air kiss on each cheek, and saunters off. Tyler immediately replaces her at my side, looping an arm over my shoulder. “You were fucking amazing tonight.”

“Thanks, man,” I say before taking a sip of my beer, my eyes lasering onto Emma across the room. “It felt good out there.”

“With every performance and the reviews you get, those label execs are going to be chomping at the bit to get you,” he says enthusiastically, and then drains the last of his whiskey. I turn and take a good look at Tyler, noticing his eyes are bloodshot, but that doesn’t bother me. Tyler likes to party.

Hell, I like to party. And why shouldn’t we? We work hard and we earn the down time.

“Want to do some shots?” Tyler asks as he turns to the bar right beside us.

“Nah,” I say as I turn back and look at Emma. No way am I going to diminish my nerve receptors tonight. I want to feel absolutely everything.

“Come on,” Tyler cajoles as he nudges a shoulder against mine. “We should be celebrating after every show. You deserve this, buddy.”

“Yeah, I know,” I say halfheartedly, then get positively entranced when Emma starts laughing really hard at something Cap says to her. Dilana adds something on that’s apparently funnier, as Emma bends over at the waist and has to hold her stomach she’s laughing so hard.

And fuck… I want to know what’s so funny over there so bad that I actually take an involuntary step that way.

“What is up with you?” Tyler grumbles as he steps in front of me, breaking my line of sight.

I blink, sad not to be staring at Emma, but then focus on my friend and manager. “Sorry, dude. It’s just… I’m… uh…”

Christ, I can’t even say it, but I do lean to the side and look past Tyler to Emma again. I’m fucking powerless it seems.

Tyler turns slowly and focuses in on Emma, Cap, and Dilana. He turns back to me and in a low voice of disbelief, he says, “Are you fucking kidding me? You’re tagging that little plain-Jane?”

My head whips to face him, and I utter a low warning. “Watch it, Tyler.”

“Oh, my God,” he says with a sarcastic laugh. “You actually got it bad for the little bookworm attorney.”

“So fucking what?” I snarl at him.

Tyler thinks this is hilarious, and he throws his arm back over my shoulder. With an almost maniacal laugh, he says, “Jesus, Evan… if you need to get laid, I can find you something a little spicier than—”

I spin on Tyler, knocking his arm loose, and ask, “What is your problem with Emma? You’ve been nothing but rude and dismissive of her, and I get it… she’s offering me options contrary to your wants, but she’s also doing the job that I’m paying her to do. She’s looking out for me the way you are, and she stands to gain nothing but a measly first-year attorney salary. So what is your fucking problem?”

I expect this to cow Tyler, who will usually back down when I’m pissed, but instead, I’m dismayed to see a coldness filter in, although his voice is heated. “I am your friend, Evan. I’ve got your back better than anyone, and particularly more than someone you’ve known for all of five minutes. She might be great in the sack or whatever the fucking reason you seem fixated on her, but you better keep your head out of the clouds. You’ve got some major decisions to make, and your head better be on straight when you do. And I’m sorry, man… but if that means I might have to point out all the things that could be bad for you, I’m going to do it.”

“She’s not bad for me,” I mutter.

In fact, I have a feeling Emma can be very, very good for me.

Tyler doesn’t respond but just gives me a nod and says, “I’ll catch you later. Got a few other people here I want to meet.”

“Alright,” I say, not feeling kindly to him and not wanting to engage him further.

In fact, as Tyler turns away from me, I lean over, place my half-empty beer on the bar, and make my way toward Emma.

I’m done with this party. It’s time to go.

Emma

“N
inety-eight degrees and
it’s only the beginning of May,” Red grumbles as we walk back toward the arena parking lot and the tour bus. His bald head is shiny with sweat, and he’s huffing and puffing a little.

“Well, we are in Phoenix, Captain Obvious,” I point out to him.

“Your dog looks stupid,” Red retorts.

Looking at Sirius as he walks in front of us on his leash, leading the way with his nose to the ground, I have to admit… he does look stupid with his feet and half his legs covered with white socks that I “borrowed” from Evan. It’s so hot outside that I didn’t want Sirius’ pads to get burned on the concrete, so I may have rummaged through Evan’s clothes for some of his socks to put on my dog.

Red and I just took Sirius on a little walk for our afternoon break. We’re coming up on the end of the second week of the tour having gone from Miami, to New Orleans, to Houston, then Dallas, and finally into Phoenix. After the show tonight, we head for Los Angeles, where he has two shows scheduled and some pretty hoity-toity parties to attend with the record labels.

We’ve gotten into a good routine these last several days. One of the things Red convinced me to do was to join him on his afternoon walk with Sirius because, in his words, “No one should sit at a desk for that long and not take a break.”

The tour is going amazingly well, and by that, I mean practically everything associated with it. Evan is magic up on that stage. I’m getting extremely comfortable taking press questions about the legal issues, but really, it’s Evan who does most of the talking. And I’m actually getting some solid work done on the copyright case. I’ve spent most of my time researching the law, and I’ve even reached out to a few copyright attorneys to pick their brains. I’m now spending time on crafting all of my discovery questions to send to the other side, which will help to narrow down the issues.

The only thing that is causing me some heartburn is the fact that there truly is no reason for me to be on this bus. For the Atlanta and Miami concerts, there were quite a few questions about Keith’s death—which had nothing to do with Evan because an arrest had been made, but it was sensational fodder the reporters were going to ask about. There were also questions about the copyright case, but we were only in the beginning stages and it would be months before we had something solid to report. Since then, there are days where nothing is needed of me except to work on the copyright case and, let’s face it, I can do that from back in Raleigh.

So the heartburn is because I’m really not needed here, and I’m sort of thinking I should go back. I know I committed at least a month to Evan, but surely, he can see I’m not needed.

Okay… that may be the true heartburn.

That I’m not needed by Evan on a personal level.

I’ve got no real reason to think that. We’ve been going hot and heavy this past week and a half, and he can’t seem to get enough of me. I braved all the surprised looks I got when it became clear that Evan and I were an item, and I came out no worse for the wear. Everyone seems cool with it, except Tyler, but I’ve figured out that he’s just a natural jerk so I shouldn’t expect anything different.

“What time do you think Evan will want to pull out tonight?” Red asks casually as we walk down a sunny sidewalk about three blocks from the arena.

I shrug. “I’m guessing pretty quickly. No after-party and those meet and greets don’t take that long.”

Funny how Red comes to me with questions like this. Evan and Tyler are pretty much who calls final shots on when we leave, but Red’s figured out that I have Evan’s ear more than Tyler does lately so he knows I’m a quick source of info.

“You’re going to the show tonight, right?” he asks.

“Of course I am,” I tell him as we stroll along. I’ve shortened my pace as Red seems to be slowing down. Despite his big bulk, I’ve been impressed with his commitment to walking with Sirius a few times a day.

“Then I’ll head over to the other bus when Evan gets back from sound check and get some sleep,” he says conversationally, although it’s not really something that needs to be discussed. That’s pretty much the routine. Red and the other bus driver get their sleep in before and during the concert so they’re fresh to drive us to our next destination.

So it makes me wonder…

“Is there something you want to talk about with me?” I ask hesitantly.

Red twists his head and looks at me briefly before giving a sigh and looking away. “It’s just… you’re a really nice girl and this business isn’t so nice. I’ve been around it for a long time, and well… I’m just worried about you is all.”

My heart does a little flip-flop as I stop walking, reaching out to touch Red’s arm. He stops as well and Sirius, because Red’s been working on his manners, also stops and waits.

“That’s really sweet of you, Red,” I tell him with a smile. “But I’m not sure what you mean. Are you worried about something with Evan and me?”

He gives a shake of his head. “Nah… he’s a pretty cool dude since I’ve gotten to know him these past few weeks. Seems to have his head on straight. But he’s also new in this business and there are a lot of demands and pressures that can be tough on a relationship. I’m just saying… keep yourself a little guarded, okay?”

“But not with Evan?” I ask for clarification, because I’m still not sure what type of point he’s making.

Red leans in toward me, his expressive eyes filled with concern. “I’m not saying it about anyone in particular. Just you’re a nice girl and this industry can be not so nice. Evan seems to really like you, but that doesn’t mean everyone will. Doesn’t mean he always will. And you won’t be on this tour the entire time, so you’re looking at a long-distance type of relationship. So just be careful and try to look at things with a jaundiced eye. Okay?”