Page 33 of Starstruck
WE MEET AGAIN
BAXTER
Five Months Until the Concert
“MY SACRIFICE” BY CREED
“So, remember when I mentioned I have an employee who has come up with the idea for a benefit concert?” Jeremy asks from across his desk.
I nod, a vague memory of him mentioning the concert at my album meeting a few weeks back replaying in my mind.
“Well, she had SON!C headlining, and now she doesn’t. They cancelled last week.” He pauses, rolling his eyes. Jeremy exhales before continuing. “She doesn’t know I’m talking to you, and she’ll probably kill me when she finds out that I did, because she said no when I suggested you last week.”
I raise my brows. “Then…why am I here?”
“BecauseI’mwondering if you’d be interested in headlining. It’s in August, so it will align with when we release your new single and it will be a good way to start promoting RND. Plus, it’ll be good for your image.”
I lean back in my chair, contemplating. He’s not wrong.
“But she already said no,” I argue, partiallybecause he just said so, and partially because even if it does sound cool, benefit concerts aren’t my typical scene.
Performing for free is something I tend to only do in bed.
“Let me worry about that. I just need to know if you’d be interested.”
I cock a brow and open my mouth to respond, but Jeremy raises his hand as I do, stopping me to add, “Before you decide, I should disclose that there won’t be any alcohol permitted at the show.”
My brows pull together. Now it’sreallynot my typical scene. What on Earth makes Jeremy think I would be a good fit?
“The concert is to raise money for Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and Lennon?—”
I whip my head up at her name. “Wait. Lennon Thorne?!” I shout, rising from my seat. There’s no way he’s talking about her. But what are the chances of another Lennon working at the record label that Thorned Roses started?
Jeremy furrows his brows at my reaction, standing as well. “Ye?—”
“You bellowed, Jere?” a soft, teasing voice calls from the hallway before the five-foot-nine brunette smokeshow in question walks through the door.
She’s dressed in a black, skin-tight leather skirt that stops about mid-thigh, an old Thorned Roses band tee that she’s tied in the front, and a pair of knee-high, black heeled boots. Her shoulder-length brown hair falls in waves, framing her perfect face just right, and it looks like it’s been darkened since I last saw her, making the gold in her eyes stand out. Her eyes are shaded dark with a blush in her cheeks, and her plump lips are glossy—still so damn kissable. She looks like every man’s fucking wet dream.
Fitting, since she’s been mine for the past two months.
Her eyes meet mine from across the room, and time stops. My heart thumps against my rib cage as everything around us fades away.
Lennon Thorne has occupied every space in my mind since the night we spent together eight weeks ago, and now here she is, standing in front of me.
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine walking into this meeting today to see her. But man, am I glad I did.
Her mouth opens and closes like she’s a fish out of water as she blinks, like she’s trying to figure out if I’m really here. She looks so damn stunning, even when she’s in complete shock. I probably have the exact same expression on my face.
“Okay…” Jeremy hums from behind me. His voice snaps Lennon out of her stupor, but I don’t turn around. “Do you guys know each other or something?”
Lennon avoids my gaze as she worries her bottom lip, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Yeah. Or something,” I murmur, unable to tear my gaze from her. I’m afraid if I do, she’ll disappear again. Just a figment of my imagination like I’ve convinced myself so many times in these past few months.
She rolls her lips between her teeth and looks up to Jeremy. “Did you need something?”
God, her voice. It sounds even better than I remembered.
