Page 23 of Rockstar Daddy's Second Chance

The quiet of the spa feels more like a sanctuary, a hidden retreat where time seems to pause and every worry melts away, leaving behind only a quiet, luxurious calm.

The calm doesn’t last long as Emily leans confidentially toward me. “So, Kendrick,” she begins, her voice soft but inquisitive, “Iknow it’s probably not my place, but… I can’t help wondering about you and my brother.”

I glance over at her, seeing curiosity but mostly kindness in her gaze. I consider brushing her off but decide against it. Something about Emily makes me feel comfortable as if she genuinely wants to understand, not judge.

“It’s… complicated,” I say, choosing my words carefully. “I discovered I was pregnant the same day Cass was offered a recording deal. I thought I was doing the best thing for—well, for all of us.” I glance over Emily, and her eyes hold only understanding, so I continue. “I’ve spent a long time just trying to forget about Cass and instead focus on raising our daughter and giving her a normal life.”

She nods, thoughtful. “I get that. Cass never opened up to us about what happened back then. We knew he had a thing for you because he always mentioned you when he called home. When the record label signed him, he was all excited—felt he was finally on his way.”

Emily gives me a sad smile. “A few days later, he phoned, and he couldn’t hide his heartbreak… we always wondered what happened, but he refused to talk about it.”

Nodding, because my throat feels thick. Her words cause a sharp pang in my chest.

She glances over at me, her eyes probing but kind. “What about now?”

Acting confused, I state, “What do you mean?”

“Do you still have feelings for my brother?” Emily asks bluntly.

Hesitantly, I answer, “I didn’t leave because I didn’t love Cass. I left because I did.”

Nodding, she states. “Then who knows? Maybe things can still work out. Cass is not one to love lightly or to forget people he cares about.” She glances at me, her eyes gentle. “He’s never forgotten you, Kendrick. I know that much.”

Her words sink in, bringing a strange sense of comfort. It’s a relief to hear that I wasn’t forgotten and that perhaps I still matter in some small way.

After a massage and a facial, we’re in the salon area, getting our hair styled. But as I stare at my reflection, I wonder if it’s time to let go of the dull brown camouflage.

“Have you ever thought about going back to blonde?” Emily asks as if reading my mind.

I meet her gaze in the mirror, hesitating. “I’m not sure… It feels like that was a different life. I was a different person back then. A girl, really.”

She gives me an encouraging smile. “That girl’s still in there somewhere, isn’t she?” Her eyes see more than most. Sheshrugs. “Why not try it? It’s just hair. Besides, I think Cass would lose his mind if he saw you back to your natural color.”

Her words make me smile, and before I can second-guess it, I nod to the stylist. “Okay, let’s do it.”

As the stylist works her magic, and after deep conditioning, the dark color is finally gone for good, revealing a shade of blonde that feels both familiar and new. When she’s finished, I can barely recognize myself. The woman staring back is someone I haven’t seen in years, yet I feel a renewed sense of self.

“You look amazing,” Emily says, her grin wide. “Cass is going to be speechless.”

Her words give me an unexpected thrill, and as we head back to the penthouse, there’s a lightness to my steps. Yet, I can’t help but feel a mix of nerves and excitement. When we walk inside, I hear laughter from the living room, and Cassidy’s voice carries through the suite, full of joy and excitement as she excitedly chats about her experience at the sound studio.

Cass looks up as we walk in, and the instant his eyes land on me, he freezes. His gaze locks onto mine, a mixture of surprise and something warmer, something more intense, filling his expression. His mouth parts slightly, and for a moment, he seems to forget how to speak.

“Kendrick…” he finally breathes, his voice husky.

Cassidy’s eyes widen as she takes in my new look. “Mom, you look… fantastic!” she exclaims, her face lighting up with awe as she practically launches herself into a hug. “You look so pretty!”

I laugh, hugging her back. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

But when I look up, I find Cass still staring, his gaze fixed on me as if he’s seeing me for the first time all over again. There’s a heated intensity there that makes my pulse race, and for a second, it feels like the years have melted away, leaving just the two of us standing on the edge of something fragile yet real.

Emily, ever the observant sister, clears her throat, breaking the moment. “Well, I’d say that was a successful makeover,” she teases, winking at me. “Cass, you okay there, big brother?”

Cass blinks, a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Yeah, just… um...” Searching for words, he takes a step closer, his eyes dark with emotion. “You look incredible, Kendrick. Like the girl I first met. The girl I remember.”

I feel my cheeks warm under his gaze, and I’m suddenly aware of the air between us, thick with a sexual tension, a magnetic pull. We both feel the longing; it’s a yearning we can’t ignore, and as we stand there, it’s as if the years of separation never happened.

Cassidy’s voice breaks the silence, her tone bright and full of innocence. “Dad, you’re staring,” she says, an impish grin spreading across her face.

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