I was onstage singing to a club bursting at the seams with fans. The crowd was lapping it up. Then she walked in and I forgot the words to the song I was singing. A song I’d sung a million times. Because when she walked in all my brain knew was her.
She smiled at me and I came fucking undone. I tried to focus. After all, these people had hauled their cookies out there to see us and I wasn’t about to disappoint them. But damn, that girl had me distracted.
We had three songs left in the set before we were due to take a break and in all honesty, I just wanted them over and done with so I could go and talk to her.
It was torture seeing her across the room and not being able to stand next to her. Usually I loved performing, but right now it was getting in the way of the only thing I wanted to do; be with her.
Christ, I bet she smelled amazing. I bet her flawless brown skin was smooth and polished. I bet her amazing long hair was fragrant and would feel like silk against your skin. God, I bet she felt amazing to touch. Damn, was she braless? The thought went straight to my crotch. Christ, I needed to get off stage and take a cold shower.
As she moved through the crowd she cast those big green eyes in my direction and it took everything I had not to dive in there and chase after her. She made her way towards Piper and Kelsey, who were across the room in a VIP seating area, but she swung around as a guy tapped her on the shoulder.
Recognition lit up her face and the next thing I knew, she was fucking hugging the guy. Goddamn, why did that make me feel like punching something?
In three seconds I had him pegged. Clean cut and rich. Was this her preppy ex-prince from back home?
I knew I was distracted. And it wasn’t fair to the fans. So I tried to shut her out. Tried not to think about who he was and why she had her slender arms around him. Granted, it was only brief, and it was him who pulled her into a hug. And judging by her reaction, she didn’t really know this guy too well so it wasn’t her ex-boyfriend.
But it was obvious he wanted to know her. And why the fuck wouldn’t he? I noticed how he kept her engaged in conversation for a little bit. She was trying to keep it friendly but distant. Every time she put distance between them, he would close it and step closer. That’s when I recognized him. Dean. A regular at Fat Tony’s. A regular player. Good looking. Very popular with the co-eds who frequented The Palace. And a real douche.
Damn it, Dillinger. Focus!
I ripped my eyes off them in time to belt out a signature roar into the microphone, and stomped across the stage so I’d stop obsessing about her and Mr. Handsy. Thankfully, by the time I looked back, Dean was gone and Harlow had joined Piper and Kelsey in the VIP lounge.
It seemed like it took forever to finish the set. But I was careful not to let the crowd know how keen I was for a break because they deserved better. But I was hardly subtle when I leapt off the stage and almost ran across the club towards the VIP lounge as soon as the set ended.
When Harlow smiled up at me I knew it was all over for me. She looked so damn good I just wanted scoop her up and keep her.
Yeah. I was in serious trouble.
* * * * *
HARLOW
I’d be lying if I said just the sight of him didn’t do things to me. It did. Big time. My stomach fluttered with a million butterflies as soon he came over to where I was sitting with Piper, Kelsey and the band’s two favorite roadies, Topher and Bandit. Straight away I was pleased I had come. The way everyone was looking at me in this top and jeans made me feel like I was Sandy in Grease and Heath was my Danny Zuko.
When I arrived at the club, I had run into Dean, the hottie I’d thrown beer over at Fat Tony’s. Distracted by Heath on stage, it had taken me a moment to recognize him when he tapped me on the shoulder. He was friendly and we giggled about my superior waitressing skills. He reminded me of our coffee date the following day, which kind of made me wonder what his intentions really were.
But as soon as Heath arrived at our table I pushed Dean from my mind. Heath’s attention didn’t waver from me all night. He was oblivious to the girls who tried to get his attention. Even the brazen attempt by a girl in gold hot pants who tried to wrap herself around him as he walked to the bar was met with a preoccupied rebuff. He simply untangled her with a smile and kept walking.
As soon as he finished each set he would rush back to our table. Then at the end of the night he leaned in and whispered, “Come for a ride with me?”
“Now?” I asked, trying to ignore how close his lips were to mine.
“I’m ready if you are?”
He had ridden his bike to the show and it was securely parked behind the club in a small alcove. Again, when I climbed on the back he took my hands and wrapped them around his waist.
We rode for a while before the city streets disappeared behind us and we were on the winding road leading out to the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Streetlights gave way to native plants and fragrant shrubs as we wound our way along the unlit coastal road. The moon was high and cast a silvery glow along the coastline.
Being so late, the roads were empty and with my arms wrapped around Heath’s waist, it felt like we were the only people on Earth.
I breathed in the fresh summer night air, heavy with salt, as it rushed passed my face. Despite the late hour it was still warm even with the ocean breeze rolling up from the beach below us. Being on the back of Heath’s bike seemed like the most natural thing in the world and I relaxed, and enjoyed the ride.
Heath slowed the Harley on a ridge high up over the point. He pulled over and climbed off, taking my hand in his. Guided by moonlight, he led me down a narrow trail, walking confidently over the uneven ground until we reached a small clearing.
He stopped and I gasped at the view stretching out endlessly in front and above me.
We were on the bluff, not far from the edge of the sheer drop that plummeted to the Pacific Ocean below. Above us, a velvet night sky stretched out and sparkled with luminous star shine. Away from the lights of the beachfront, a billion stars twinkled brightly like sky glitter.
We sat on patchy grass and the world seemed so big and wide above and around us.
“This is so magical,” I whispered. When I turned to look at Heath he was already looking at me. In the milky light his handsome features were magnified.
“I come here to unwind. Like after a show when I’m still too wired to sleep. Sometimes it’s nice to get away from the crowd and the noise. It calms me, you know?”
“I can see why. It’s beautiful.”
He leaned back on his elbows and his biceps stretched the fabric of his t-shirt. “I like the peace and quiet.”
I leaned back too and rested my hands behind my head. I felt so small beneath the star scatter above.
“So … you and Dean…?” Heath said, his eyes still fixed on the sky. “Are you really going on a date with him tomorrow?”
“How do you know about that?”
“Piper mentioned it in passing.”
“It’s just coffee, Heath. It’s hardly a date.”
“I know Dean. I know what he’s like.”
I leaned up onto my elbow and cocked a brow. “Oh really?”
He didn’t look at me, choosing to keep his eyes trained on the stars. In the star shine he looked almost angelic. His skin gleamed like marble. His eyes were dark and shiny like polished stone. His big arms were behind his head and his biceps flexed whenever he moved.
“He’s a player.”
As he said it the muscles in his jaw clenched.
I laughed. “Coming from you, that’s pretty funny.”
His face flinched but smoothed just as quickly.
“We’re nothing alike,” he said, his brows drawn in again. “I just think you should be more selective of who you go out with.”
“I can’t believe you of all people are giving me dating advice,” I said.
He looked mildly offended. “Just because I don’t date doesn’t mean I don’t understand the concept.”