Page 10 of Hard Rock Temptation
That age-old music industry adage had turned out to be true: You had your whole life to write the songs for your first album. You had two years to write the songs for your second.
The pressure was getting to me. I tried not to let it, but I couldn’t help it. That was why I’d been working so hard on the production side, learning from other bands and producers. I wanted to be ready when we started recording. I didn’t want my lack of skill to keep us from being the best.
Our first album had been a major success, and everyone expected our second to be the same. Expectations were high. So was my anxiety.
And then on top of all of that were Finn’s antics over the last few months and Zain’s moping before he got together with his girlfriend. Was it any wonder I justcould not dealwith my feelings for Kay with everything else that was going on?
Of course, both of the guys had eventually resolved their issues. The band dynamic was steady again. We were all working hard together. Things were back to normal.
As normal as they could be, with the ever-present tension between me and Kaylee.
I’d thought moving out into my own place would put the brakes on this…thing… between us. But it hadn’t. If anything, it had made things worse, making it stand out harshly justhow muchthings had changed between us.
I wished I could have talked to my dad about it. I wished I could have asked for his advice. He would have known just what to say, what to do. But I was on my own with this. I had to fumble along as best as I could.
I hadn’t meant to avoid Kaylee. I didn’t even consider that she would see it that way. I just… needed space. Some time apart. I couldn’t handle seeing her every day. Not in those adorable little sleep shorts at eight in the morning when she was eating her cereal. Not in those brand new swimsuits that were decidedly inappropriate for a younger sister, but were perfectly acceptable for a grown woman.
I couldn’t handle seeing her beautiful green eyes light up every time she came down the stairs and saw me there. I couldn’thandle her sweet vanilla scent every time she took hold of my arm.
And I absolutely could not handle seeing that sad, heartbroken look on her face every time I pulled away.
I just needed space.
But Kaylee had taken it the wrong way, and now she was angry with me.
Even more than anything else, I couldn’t stand Kay being angry with me.
I had to reassure her that I hadn’tmeantto avoid her. I hadn’t planned on being so absent. I just… hadn’t realized. A week of space had turned into two, then four, and then the next thing I knew, months had gone by.
I couldn’t blame Kay for being upset with me.Iwas upset with me. I’d never wanted to hurt her.
I had to find a way fix this, before it was too late.
And I hoped to hell it wasn’t too late already.
FIVE
KAYLEE
After the interview the guys crowded around the one mirror in the green room to wipe the powder from their faces. I left my makeup on because the show’s hair and makeup team had done a killer job on my eyeliner.
“Thanks guys,” Anya said as she ducked down to touch Zain and Finn on the shoulders.
“No worries,” Zain said, stretching his arms above his head to work out the muscles. “You know me, I love being the center of attention.”
“And you know I love to steal the attention from someone else,” Finn grinned, clapping a heavy hand on Zain’s back.
“Still, I appreciate you always drawing the spotlight away from me,” she said in her usual soft voice, the one she used when not on stage.
“Maybe it’s time to share that spotlight,” Finn said, calling out. “Hey Chris, you want to be the stage-hog next time?”
Our rhythm guitarist lifted his blond head up from the mirror.
“Nah,” he said with a wry smile. “Best leave it to the professionals.”
“Damn right,” Finn declared.
“I thought you were a reformed man?” I asked, lifting an eyebrow.
