Read Online Love Rock'ollection: The Brutal Strength Rock Star Trilogy, books 1-3 by Michelle Mankin - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Michelle Mankin
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back downstairs leaving them alone.
“Do you come here often?” Avery asked.
“At least once a week. When you try it, you’ll understand.”
“Does Dwight like sushi, too?”
“Hell, no. He’s a very picky eater. Meat and potatoes kind of guy. I usually come alone.”
No wonder the waitress seemed surprised to see me , Avery thought. “You can’t find any other takers?”
Marcus looked uncomfortable. His brow furrowed, and he raked a hand through his hair. His habit when he was nervous apparently. “I don’t have all that many friends left besides my brother, really. The fame is bullshit, but it seems to keep normal folks away and attracts lots of the wrong type of people. Most of the guys I used to hang out with were just drinking buddies. Not a single one stuck around after I finished rehab.”
“I’m sorry, Marcus. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s ok. It is what it is.” He leaned forward. “How about you? Do you have a lot of friends back in New York?”
“Not all that many. The weird hours we kept when we performed weren’t conducive to it. My brother is, well, he was my best friend.” She absently twisted Justin’s black wristband missing him acutely. Closing her eyes for a moment, she willed the tears back. When she reopened them, she found Marcus'gaze on her. “Guess it’s the same with you and Dwight, huh?”
He nodded, expression soft. “Sounds like we have that in common.”
To Avery’s surprise and Marcus'apparentdelight, she ended up loving the meal. In fact, she ate so much that Marcus used a chop stick to dub her a Sushi Pig.
“Yeah, right. Takes one to know one,” she teased, and he smiled.
After Marcus paid the check, they started down the stairs together side by side. Halfway down, Avery tripped and pitched forward. She would have tumbled down headfirst, but Marcus reached out and caught her yanking her back. Her back collided hard with his solid chest, and he held onto her for a moment, steadying them both.
Avery held her breath, her heart slamming around inside her chest. She wanted to remain like this, wrapped in his strong warm arms forever if she could, but instead she pulled away, squared her shoulders and mumbled thickly, “Thanks. I’m such a clumsy idiot.”
Lost in the privacy of their own thoughts, neither noticed the flash as a restaurant customer discreetly snapped a picture on a cell.
On the ride back downtown, Marcus received a text message. “It’s Dwight. I texted him earlier about the track that we laid down. He wants to meet up at Black Cat tomorrow at ten with JR and Dalton.”
After Marcus dropped her off at her hotel, Avery was way too keyed up to sleep. She went out onto her balcony and leaned against the railing, watching people rushing back and forth on Burrard Street down below. Craning her neck left, she could see a slice of the water front and the lights of West Vancouver. Not quite as swanky a view as the one from Marcus’ apartment but still beautiful nonetheless.
The scenery didn’t hold her attention for long tonight, though. Visions of Marcus danced around in her head. Her thoughts unwaveringly returned to the man who was way more handsome than any guy had a right to be and who definitely had that rock star charisma thing going for him.
Having had a front row seat to watch her father unravel after her mom died, she had always shied away from emotional involvement with men. She had never been slightly tempted to waver from that stance. Until now. When it was the least convenient.
With Marcus, she was already in way over her head. But no matter how much she wanted to lock back up her heart, she knew it wasn’t going to be possible.
Not anymore. Not after witnessing the private side behind his public persona.
Avery walked back inside and picked up her jump rope. Maybe she could burn off some energy and extinguish her impermissible desire for a certain gorgeous sapphire eyed heartthrob.
She shook her head. Who was she
“Do you come here often?” Avery asked.
“At least once a week. When you try it, you’ll understand.”
“Does Dwight like sushi, too?”
“Hell, no. He’s a very picky eater. Meat and potatoes kind of guy. I usually come alone.”
No wonder the waitress seemed surprised to see me , Avery thought. “You can’t find any other takers?”
Marcus looked uncomfortable. His brow furrowed, and he raked a hand through his hair. His habit when he was nervous apparently. “I don’t have all that many friends left besides my brother, really. The fame is bullshit, but it seems to keep normal folks away and attracts lots of the wrong type of people. Most of the guys I used to hang out with were just drinking buddies. Not a single one stuck around after I finished rehab.”
“I’m sorry, Marcus. I didn’t mean to pry.”
“It’s ok. It is what it is.” He leaned forward. “How about you? Do you have a lot of friends back in New York?”
“Not all that many. The weird hours we kept when we performed weren’t conducive to it. My brother is, well, he was my best friend.” She absently twisted Justin’s black wristband missing him acutely. Closing her eyes for a moment, she willed the tears back. When she reopened them, she found Marcus'gaze on her. “Guess it’s the same with you and Dwight, huh?”
He nodded, expression soft. “Sounds like we have that in common.”
To Avery’s surprise and Marcus'apparentdelight, she ended up loving the meal. In fact, she ate so much that Marcus used a chop stick to dub her a Sushi Pig.
“Yeah, right. Takes one to know one,” she teased, and he smiled.
After Marcus paid the check, they started down the stairs together side by side. Halfway down, Avery tripped and pitched forward. She would have tumbled down headfirst, but Marcus reached out and caught her yanking her back. Her back collided hard with his solid chest, and he held onto her for a moment, steadying them both.
Avery held her breath, her heart slamming around inside her chest. She wanted to remain like this, wrapped in his strong warm arms forever if she could, but instead she pulled away, squared her shoulders and mumbled thickly, “Thanks. I’m such a clumsy idiot.”
Lost in the privacy of their own thoughts, neither noticed the flash as a restaurant customer discreetly snapped a picture on a cell.
On the ride back downtown, Marcus received a text message. “It’s Dwight. I texted him earlier about the track that we laid down. He wants to meet up at Black Cat tomorrow at ten with JR and Dalton.”
After Marcus dropped her off at her hotel, Avery was way too keyed up to sleep. She went out onto her balcony and leaned against the railing, watching people rushing back and forth on Burrard Street down below. Craning her neck left, she could see a slice of the water front and the lights of West Vancouver. Not quite as swanky a view as the one from Marcus’ apartment but still beautiful nonetheless.
The scenery didn’t hold her attention for long tonight, though. Visions of Marcus danced around in her head. Her thoughts unwaveringly returned to the man who was way more handsome than any guy had a right to be and who definitely had that rock star charisma thing going for him.
Having had a front row seat to watch her father unravel after her mom died, she had always shied away from emotional involvement with men. She had never been slightly tempted to waver from that stance. Until now. When it was the least convenient.
With Marcus, she was already in way over her head. But no matter how much she wanted to lock back up her heart, she knew it wasn’t going to be possible.
Not anymore. Not after witnessing the private side behind his public persona.
Avery walked back inside and picked up her jump rope. Maybe she could burn off some energy and extinguish her impermissible desire for a certain gorgeous sapphire eyed heartthrob.
She shook her head. Who was she
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