Page 3 of Breaking Free (Guarded Hearts)
Nicole goes to grab my hand again, I’m assuming to lead me up there. I decide to just go myself to spare the pain of her taking me. As I walk toward the stage, everyone moves out of my way, almost like the sea parting. When I get to the side of the stage where the steps are, a security guard stops me and pats me down, I guess to check for weapons.
“Here you go.” He hands me a microphone and then moves out of my way. I look at him in confusion. “Listen, don’t be nervous you’ll be fine.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
He laughs. “I’m guessing you weren’t paying attention when your fiend volunteered you.” I shake my head no. “Every show they pick a girl to come up on stage with them and sing their newest singleLove and Hate. It’s a duet, so I hope you know the words.”
Before I can say another word, a girl dressed all in black with a headset on goes to reach for my hand and I jerk away from her. She gives me an annoyed look. “Let’s go, you’re holding up the whole show.”
Fuck.I’m not a horrible singer, but I definitely don’t want to do this shit. I think about walking away, but I know the girls will freak and insist on me telling them what’s going on. I take a deep breath and walk up the steps.
The lights are blinding when I first get on stage. I walk to middle and stand there, but the lead singer is nowhere to be seen. There are two other guys on stage—one at the drum set, and one off to the side playing a guitar. I know there is a third one, though. Nicole is always talking about how the singer is gorgeous.
Everyone is cheering, and I would love to think it’s for me, but I’m not that naïve. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up and I’m about to turn around when I hear, “We meet again, James.”
Oh my God. It’s him.
The music starts the song that I’ve been singing along to on the radio for the past couple of months. I’ve never seen a picture of the band and had no idea that the asshole in the parking lot was actually the lead singer. My cheeks flush with embarrassment and when I look over at him he’s smirking at me. That damn smug bastard.
He starts singing and I have no idea how I’m going to be able to do this now. I mean, I was nervousbeforeI knew I would be singing with the guy that almost made me come in the back of a building with all of my clothes still on. While I’m getting lost in my own thoughts, he sneaks up behind me.
I wanna take you away
To a place where you’ve never been
Do you like to play?
I’ll show you how good it feels to sin…
He moves toward the front of the stage, running his hand over my butt as he does. I get goose bumps all over.How can he do this to me?My hands are shaky but I raise the microphone to my mouth. I’ve heard this song a thousand times, I can do this. I put on my best sexy siren face and strut toward him.
I’ve never met anyone like you
Never needed anyone before
I want to see what you can do
Come on baby, rock me to the core…
The lyrics are so cheesy, but singing them to him and having him look at me with his hooded eyes is so erotic. By the end of the song, the sexual tension between us is suffocating. I leave the stage and head straight for the exit. My mind is running a million miles a minute and I can’t believe everything that just happened. I’m about to hail a cab when I hear someone calling my name.
“Holly!” Christen is running toward me. When she finally reaches me she’s out of breath and panting. “Why did you leave? You were absolutely amazing!”
I don’t even know what to say to her. Before I get the chance to reply, a black SUV pulls up next to us. The window rolls down and he’s looking out at me. He doesn’t ask me to get in, nor does he even say a word to me. I stand there, staring, trying to figure out what to do.
This is crazy.There isnoway I’m getting in his car. I wave a cab down and jump in. As it pulls away, Christen is looking back and forth between me and the SUV with her mouth open. I probably should go home with her and the girls but I just need to get away and clear my head.
I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes. The music on the radio stops and the DJ starts talking. “Here is the newest hit that has been blowing up the charts from the group The Renegades.” The song that I was just singing with…it just dawns on me that I don’t even know his name. I let him feel me up against a wall and never even got his name.Real nice, Holly, can you say hoe?The cab pulls up in front of my house, I pay the driver, and then make my way in. Jason and Shawn, Nicole and Christen’s boyfriends, are sitting on the couch in the living room. I’ve grown up with them because they’re Carter’s best friends.
I flop down on the couch and they’re both staring at me. “What?”
Jason just looks at me and shakes his head. “You know Carter was flipping out ‘cause you went home on your own, right?”
I’m just about to tell him off when the door flies open and everyone else walks in. “What the hell, Holly?! I told you I was picking you up. Anything could have happened to you.” Carter looks pissed.
I let out a groan of frustration. “Like what, Carter?! Plenty of people take cabs every day, it’s not like I walked home. I’ve told you before that you’re not my father!” He opens his mouth to say something else but I cut him off. “No!Iam going to make myowndecisions and I’m done with you trying to micromanage me.” I storm past him and intentionally bump into him on the way. The doorbell rings, interrupting my dramatic exit.
When I open it, my jaw drops. Standing in front of me is Mr. Rock Star.How the hell did he find me?“Hey there, James, long time no see.” He smiles at me and I want to punch him right in his smug face.
