Page 8 of Taming His Rockstar

Chapter 6

We get back home, and after a quick lunch, Jane takes a quick nap. I try to sleep too, but I’m too hyper to rest, so I stay in bed staring at the same page on my novel. When Jane wakes up, we get ready to go out. And right in the middle of slipping on underwear, I poke my head out of the walk-in closet to look at Jane who is already putting on her makeup.

“I don’t think I want to go out again.”

She turns around and rolls her eyes at me. “I was waiting for you to say that. And no, you’re not chickening out of this.”

“I’m not chickening out,” I protest. “I just don’t want to go through the stress of having to talk to someone. And then worrying when they recognize me and start acting weird. How about we see a movie instead?” I suggest brightly, snapping my underwear on and emerging from the bathroom in the pink lacey getup Jane “forced” me to wear. “I mean, we’re still going out. But this time I don’t get to talk to anybody.”

“Yeah,” Jane shakes her head. “Never heard of someone hooking up in a movie theatre, and that is what this night is about. Getting you laid.”

“I thought it’s about us having fun.”

“Sure, and what’s more fun than hooking up? Besides, you got Netflix here, so I don’t see the point of going out if we want to see a movie.” She sighs when I just stand in the middle of the room, giving her my best impression of a sullen teen. “Look, if I was sure this was just about you not being in the mood, I’d be out of this fucking tight dress in a hot second. We go out, have a couple of drinks, and dance a little. And if you find some nice guy who is giving you all the right vibes, then you can hook up. If not . . . I just want you to put yourself out there again.”

I chuckle uneasily. “I don’t know what you mean.”

She comes forward and leads me to the chair in front of the dressing room. “I think you do. You seem to have closed yourself off to any notion of having a relationship. You don’t even make the effort to reciprocate when guys ask you out. Remember what you said when I told you Pierce was asking about you?”

“Yeah, like I’d want to have dinner with that diva.”

“True. But he’s not the only person you’ve said no to. You don’t even give them the chance to get close anymore.” She picks up the hairdryer. “So, we’re going out whether you like it or not. You’re going to flirt with some cute guys. And if that does nothing for you, I’ll give up and register you to the nearest convent.”

I chuckle, silently admitting that she’s right. I stare at myself in the mirror, wondering how to explain to her that I don’t see the point in going out and coming back with some guy who’s happy to leave me to call the shots. Even she has been unable to imagine me taking orders from anyone, and I’m tired of it. But she’s my friend, and I know she’s genuinely worried about me. So, I’ll go out with her. We’ll have a couple of drinks. We’ll dance a little. I may even get lucky and meet an interesting enough guy. But I have no hope that this night will somehow revive my interest in having a relationship. As far as I’m concerned, that ship sailed the instant I decided to become a badass rich chick with a boatload of money and no apparent need for a man in my life.

“All right.” I give her a smile. “Let’s do this.”

* * *

Five seconds after we walk into the club, I know my dress is a success. That’s because I can feel heads turn in our direction and pause as multiple eyes follow our journey to the bar in the front of the club. Of course, that could also be because Jane has gone for a silver-sequined pantsuit that sparkles even brighter than the lights in the club. My makeup is dark and smoky, and with the low light in the club, it will be hard to recognize me unless one looks closely. Usually, I simply tell people I’m a very close lookalike. And most times, they buy it. I mean, why the hell would I deny being someone as awesome as me?

We go to the bar, and almost as if we command it, the crowd parts for us, and we immediately get to sit right at the front of the bar.

“I think that dress is lucky,” Jane whispers to me as she giggles.

I glance down at the hint of cleavage showing above the dress. “More like lucky breast,” I smirk as I try pulling the dress up.

Jane slaps my hand away. “Stop that. Remember, we want them drooling.”

I glance around me and roll my eyes as I see several people quickly look away, and several still meet my stare boldly.

“I think that task has been ticked.”

“What are you lovely ladies going to have?” the bartender asks, giving the both of us a smile that is way too good for someone restricted by the counter of a bar.

He should probably be standing in the middle of the room. On a pedestal and the lights trained on that face. Or maybe even a billboard outside the club. Yeah, his smile is that great. I bet he’d have ladies pouring into the bar nonstop. Then I notice the number of ladies standing at the bar staring at him with puppy eyes and realize the counter is probably to protect him. Realizing I’m staring dumbly at him, just like the other weirdoes at the bar, I immediately scowl and look away.

“Why don’t you surprise us?” Jane leans close to read the name on his nametag. “Dan.”

He glances at the both of us, turns his head to the side as if he’s analyzing something, and then nods. As he prepares our drinks, Jane leans into me.

“Look around, Katie. I swear I’ve forgotten how great it is to sit at a bar and bask in the adoration of the men around me. Come on, look around, and tell me if anyone tickles your fancy.”

“No.”

“No, what? No, nobody tickles your fancy, or no, you’re not looking around?”

I pretend to look around and turn back to her. “No, no one here tickles my fancy.”

---