Terri Browning - The Rocker That Loves Me

I rinsed my mouth and wiped away the small white smear on my chin. I wasn’t going to worry about them. They were not going to get to me this time.

So why were my palms damp? Why was my stomach suddenly cramping with dread?

Muttering a curse that would have had my mother going after me with a brush, I turned away from my reflection and grabbed my phone as I left my room.

Lana was lying on the couch with a pint of ice cream resting on her flat stomach. A can of whipped cream and a bottle of hot fudge sat on the floor beside her. She had a sad look in her amber eyes, and I hated that she was feeling so miserable over a guy. Ever since she had found out that Drake Stevenson was coming to New York she had done nothing but get drunk on Ben and Jerry’s.

From the kitchen I could smell that Linc was already putting the sauce together for his spaghetti. Dallas was talking in hushed tones to him, and it was all I needed to confirm that my mother and/or stepsister were indeed in town. Dallas didn’t do hushed tones, unless she was trying to protect me from something.

That was why I loved her so much. Because she was so fiercely protective of those that mattered to her.

“Want a bite?” Lana asked as she took another big bite of Chunky Monkey.

I shook my head. “No, thanks. I just brushed my teeth.”

“Harp?” Dallas stuck her head out of the kitchen.

I turned to face her. “So… Which one is it?”

Her eyes darkened. “Both.”

“What do they want?” It was a really stupid question. They had two reasons for being in New York. One was to get money out of my stepfather. No doubt they were running low on cash now that Ariana wasn’t getting modeling contracts like she once had. The second reason was to see me, to make sure I still knew that I wasn’t good enough—beautiful enough—to be what my mother wanted in a daughter.

“Monica wants you to have dinner with her and Ariana.” Dallas practically spat out the other model's name. Yeah, there was some serious bad blood between my best friend and stepsister.

Normally, even though the whole thing would just make me miserable, I would agree to have dinner with my mother. She was my mother after all. She might not think I was good enough, but I still loved her. But tonight I had plans.

And I wasn’t about to ditch Shane in favor of a night of being told repeatedly that I wasn’t pretty. Why should I have that fact rubbed in my face when I already knew it, when I could be having dinner with a deliciously sinful rock star?

I glanced down at my watch, a gift from my stepdad the day I had graduated from college. He had been the only one from my family to be there to cheer me on with my friends as I accepted my diploma.

It was already five of seven. Shane would be coming to pick me up soon. “I have plans,” I told Dallas.

Dallas raised a brow. I didn’t normally make plans without one of my other roommates being involved in them. “Where ya goin’?” Her southern accent always made my heart smile.

“I’m having Chinese with Shane,” I told her just as the phone rang.

Lana shot up on the couch, nearly toppling over her drug of choice for the night. “Shane?”

I bit my lip as I turned to look at her. “Yeah… Is that a problem?”

She was frowning, almost lost in her own thoughts as she glanced up at me. After a long pause she shook her head. “No. Have fun.”

Dallas had already answered the phone and told Shane to come up. As she put the phone back down, she turned to face me with a wicked look in her eyes.

“There is some kind of justice in all of this.” She grinned. “Bitchy and Bitchier are going to shit bricks when they show up and I tell them you went out with one of the hottest rockers in the fucking world!”

I returned her grin, but knew I was going to get an earful when my mother called me later. Picking up my keys, I made sure that my Mace was secure on the key ring before dropping it into my purse. “Enjoy that conversation for me.”

“Oh, baby, I plan on it.” She reached for my hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Dallas wasn’t into regular physical contact, mostly because her mother was even worse than my own, so I knew that she was still worried about me. “Enjoy yourself tonight. Seriously, Harp. One of the sexiest men in the world is taking you out tonight.”

I rolled my eyes at her. “He’s just a friend, Dallas. He’s fun company.”

“Baby, Shane Stevenson doesn’t have girls for friends. Am I right, Lana?”

Lana gave an unhappy sigh. “Yup!”

I laughed. “So what is Lana?” It came out sounding like a joke, but I really wanted to know. Lana and Shane made a striking couple. Sure she was in love with the guy’s brother, but it wouldn’t be the first time a girl used the brother as a substitute.

“I’m family,” Lana informed me with a small smile. “Jesse would kill him if he touched me.”

I frowned. “What’s the difference in him not touching you compared to Drake?

Lana shrugged. “About two thousand girls.”

Well, she told me! I knew Shane was a player… Wait was that the right word for a rock star? A player? Rolling my eyes at myself I grinned. “Well, he’s my friend. We got to know each other a little better over breakfast. Trust me, girls. All he could possibly want with me is friendship.”

Dallas clenched her jaw and Lana shot me a glare. “Harper…” Lana began but the doorbell cut off her scolding.

I crossed the living room and opened the door, relieved that I had a reason not to hear my friend rant about how beautiful she thought I was. I was sure she needed glasses worse than I did. “Hey!” I greeted him.

He stood there for a moment just staring at me. I felt the heat of his gaze as it traveled down my body, over my barely there chest and wide hips. He spent a little more time on my legs before making the trip back up to my face. I grinned at him as he blinked and took a step closer.

“Hi.” His voice was slightly throaty and he paused to clear it. “Are you ready?”

“Of course.” I glanced over my shoulder at Lana and Dallas. “See you later. Bye, Linc!” I called.

“Hey, Lana.” Shane waved before taking my hand and tugging me out the door.

“Hi!” I heard Lana say as the door shut behind us.

I raised a brow as he pulled me down the corridor toward the elevator. “Are we running late?”

He shook his head, causing shaggy dark hair to fall into his face. “Nope. Just wanted to get you out of there before Lana made you change your mind.”

When we were inside the elevator and the doors slid shut, he leaned back against the wall and let out a sigh, as if relieved.

Shane

I have never had a girl make me dumb before. I mean, seriously, words have never—not ever!—failed me when it comes to the opposite sex. But one look at the unspoiled beauty of Harper and I was left with vocals that didn’t remember how to work for a moment.

When I had taken her all in, I realized that I was probably standing there looking like a fool with my mouth hanging open and drool running down my chin. Of course she had to smile at me and I lost a few more seconds of brain power. Dammit!

Finally I got it together and pulled her out before Lana started busting my balls over her friend.

Typically when I was in New York I didn’t have time to see the sights. When the band had gigs here we didn’t have time to go out and explore. I only knew a few good places to eat, and none of those places served Chinese. Thankfully Harper knew of a great place, otherwise I was going to have to do what I always did—call Emmie and ask her.

Normally that wasn’t a problem for me.