Chapter 1
His lips pressed into mine and my heart went soaring. It was the kind of kiss that happens toward the end of every good Meg Ryan movie. You know, the kind of kiss that makes you smile because you know everything is going to be alright, because you know the world just became a better place. It was that kind of kiss. It was every kind of kiss that I’d had for nearly two years.
What made this particular kiss so good?
For one thing, it was very unexpected. He was busy getting dressed, and I was busy watching him get dressed. Like I mentioned, it was a big day for him, and I was trying my hardest to stay out of the way. Besides, I had my own little devious plans swirling around in my head.
For another thing, the kiss was so good because I was in love with him.
Perfectly, faultlessly, and hopelessly in love with him.
Haden Cooper—the tattooed, rock star, love of my life—kissed me like there wasn’t another person in all of existence. Just the thought of it gets me all swoony , even now.
I kissed him back, stringing my fingers through the flowing lengths of his hair. His fingers curled around my slender hips as he pulled me hard against his body, against the excitement growing in his tight jeans.
My heart raced faster.
I locked gazes with him. His brilliant green eyes flashed, reading my mind.
“Do we have time?” I asked.
A grin spread across his boyish face. Boyish, despite the fact that he was all man. (Broad shoulders, big muscles, big packa… You get the idea.)
“Only one way to find out.”
Our hands became a blur as we furiously stripped off each other’s clothing. In hindsight, it would have been easier if we stripped ourselves, but where’s the fun in that? My grin spread from ear to ear. It had been forever since we’d been intimate.
At least a week.
And when you’re twenty years old, that’s practically a lifetime. Dating a rock star just isn’t what Seventeen would have you believe. It’s got its perks, but a girl can only handle so much teasing before she needs a little satisfaction.
I unbuttoned his jeans and ferociously tugged at them. Why did he have to look so devilish in those tight jeans? And why would they never come off fast enough?
We were moments from the good part when the Universe decided to throw its first rock into my day. Leave it up to the Universe to have impeccable timing.
Bang. Bang.
Two loud claps shook the tour bus seconds before the door opened and Bartlett bounded onboard. He was a scruffy, round man. Of course, his eyes went straight to the back of the bus, where we were in a most compromised position.
(Remember when I said we were about to get to the good stuff?)
I belted out a startled scream and leapt away, hoping to hide from Bartlett’s curious stares. My hands clutched at all of my exposed parts, which I probably should have done first. Heat blossomed on my cheeks with the realization that I’d just given the Road Manager a free peep show. Every roadie would have all the details within the hour.
Haden glared at him.
“What the hell, man? Can’t you knock?”
“I did.” Bartlett’s deep voice was flat. “You got five minutes, Coop. Gotta get you down there.”
“I thought the shoot wasn’t until two?”
“Hey, I don’t make the schedule, I just make sure you get where you need to be.”
Haden ran a frustrated hand through his long hair. He fixed Bartlett with another hard look.
“Give me a minute, will you? I’ll be right out.”
“Just a minute, Coop. Can’t be late, today.”
The tour bus shook as Bartlett’s heavy footsteps bounced down the steps. Haden didn’t turn back to me until the door latched shut.
He gave me a hesitant smile.
“I guess we didn’t have enough time, after all.”
“I guess not.”
My cheeks still burned as I watched him gather his discarded clothes. His bulging muscles flexed as he pulled his tight, army-green shirt on over his head. It only covered part of the tattoos snaking down
Susanna Carr
Melissa A. Hanson
Chris Nickson
Raine Thomas
Roger Landry
Rebecca King
Will Hill
Marie O'Regan, Paul Kane
Mick Farren
Victoria Christopher Murray, Reshonda Tate Billingsley