Cover Me (Rock Gods #3) (2 page)

2

              Katrina ran her hand over Tommy's forehead. Her mom Lucy rolled her eyes from across the kitchen table.

             
"You're going to make a dent."

             
"I could have sworn he was feverish when I got home."

             
"He's having a good day today. You need to take those and enjoy them when you can, hon."

             
She sighed. It was true she was over mothering Tommy. But his health was so fragile. And the nerves from the audition were making her more on edge than ever.

             
She needed that job. Even more than that, she wanted it. Her first real chance at the big time. Bruce Harrison himself had been watching her. When she'd heard his husky voice over the intercom she’d felt as if the floor had dropped out from underneath her. Thank God she hadn't known he was there or she would never have been able to let loose like that. With one of his own songs at that.

             
It was one of her favorite songs.

             
He'd probably hated it.

             
Still, it would have been cool to meet the legend. She had almost met him though, right? If she got the job she'd meet him for sure… fat chance of that happening now though. Not after she'd been so late.

             
She glanced at the phone. She didn't even have a cell, that's how dire her situation was. She'd had to give them her mother's landline.

             
"Staring at it won't make it ring."

             
Katrina gave her mother a look. She was right again of course. It was unlikely she'd hear from them today anyway. Still, it would be nice.

             
The phone rang.

             
Kat was up like a shot.

             
She crossed the room and snatched it out of the cradle.

             
"Hello?"

             
"Can I speak to Katrina please?"

             
"This is she."

             
Her heart was pounding out of her chest.

             
"Hey Katrina, this is Harry, from the audition this afternoon."

             
"Hi, yes of course."

             
"So, Bruce would like to offer you the job."

             
Her breath stopped.

             
"But I have a few reservations."

             
"Yes?"

             
"First, you can't be late again."

             
"Absolutely. I get that."

             
"Second, you are untrained. I'd like you to work with a vocal coach. That's an extra unpaid hour each day on top of the paid rehearsal time."

             
"Alright."

             
"You have an incredible instrument but you have no idea what kind of toll performing five nights a week can take on it."

             
"I'd be happy to- do whatever is required."

             
"Good. We'll pay for it, so don't worry about that. Rehearsal starts Monday at the studio. 9 am."

             
"I will be there."

             
"Great. See you then."

             
Katrina waited for the click of the line disconnecting before she let the phone slide out of her hand. It hit the floor and dangled from the spiral cord. She looked up at her Mother and Tommy, both staring at her expectantly.

             
"Well?!?"

             
"I got the job."

             
Katrina shook herself. She was in shock. Her whole life was about to change dramatically. She actually had a shot at making it as a professional singer. Tommy had a shot.

             
She closed her eyes tightly and then opened them again.

             
"I GOT THE JOB!!!!"

             
For a few minutes the kitchen was pure mayhem as all three of them danced around the room like kids. Well, Tommy was a kid. But even he jumped up and down like he did before he got sick. Then they all collapsed into the old kitchen chairs.

             
"So what do you think Tommy? Should we go out for ice cream?"

             
Her mother glanced at her.

             
"Are you sure we can afford it?"

             
Kat nodded.

             
"Yes we can. Starting now."

             
She reached for Tommy's frail little hand.

             
"Everything is going to be different now."

**********

             
Bruce knew he was way too early for rehearsal. He'd spent the entire weekend planning. Thinking about the show, living in Vegas, spending time with
her.

             
It was crazy how many times he'd thought about her over the weekend. He'd listened to the tape of her singing his song at least twenty times. It was hypnotic. It was stunning.

             
It was incredibly arousing.

             
Even now he could hear it in his head. He'd been trying to figure out a way to get the song into the show, to give her a solo. It was unlike him, wanting someone else to sing his music. He'd turned down countless branding and marketing deals. He wouldn't even let them use his music in a Coke commercial.

             
But he wanted to hear her sing his stuff. Really badly.

             
He stepped out of his car and looked around. The back door was open a crack. Good. At least Suze was here. He was about to go in when he noticed the beat up chevy parked farther into the lot.

             
He frowned. Nobody was supposed to be parking back here. Suze wouldn't be happy about it. He walked over cautiously and peered into the window.

             
The girl was asleep in the car. He stared open mouthed as she moved in her sleep. She looked like a sculpture- only one that was warm and alive. She shifted and her blouse got caught, pulling the neckline down. He swallowed at the sight of her luscious curves as her cleavage came into view.

             
Bruce was still staring at her when he realized something else.

             
She was awake.

             
His eyes snapped to hers and he smiled sheepishly. She looked alarmed and then annoyed, like an angry kitten.

             
She yanked her top up and stepped out of the car.

             
He leaned against the side and watched her, further irritating her. God, she was cute when she was mad.

             
"You're here early."

             
She glanced over her shoulder at him while she locked the car. As if anyone would want to steal that heap of junk. It didn't even really look safe to drive.

             
"I couldn't risk being late."

             
"Where are you coming from?"

             
"Canoga Park."

             
He stared at her.

             
"That's hours from here."

             
She shrugged gracefully. Obviously she didn't think he'd care that she was driving three hours in the middle of the night to get to rehearsal. But he did care. He hated the thought of her doing that. The risk she was taking.

             
"You can't do that every day. Get a room near here."

             
She frowned and stared at her shoes. He glanced down. Her black ankle cowboy boots were literally falling apart- barely holding on by a thread.

             
"We'll pay for it. We need you at your best."

             
"It's fine. I- I just need a cup of coffee."

             
He raised an eyebrow.

             
"No coffee. Just tea. It's too drying on your cords."

             
Her gorgeous lips opened in surprise. Harry had been right. The girl was really raw. She didn't even know how to look after her voice.

             
"Come on, I'll show you where they hide the good stuff. I'm Bruce by the way."

             
He held out his hand and she stared at it, then glanced back at his face. Finally she reached out and he closed his hand over hers. Her skin was incredibly soft and silky. The bones of her hand were delicate, like a bird’s. He felt a sudden wave of protectiveness wash over him.

             
"I'm Kat. Katrina."

             
As she pulled her hand back he felt the telltale callouses on her fingers.

             
"Kat. It suits you. So do you play too?"

             
She nodded and followed him to the entrance. He gestured that she should walk ahead of him.

             
He was doing his best to put her at ease as they walked through the darkened studio, but it wasn't working. Her narrow back was stiff and straight. Her eyes were narrowed and suspicious.

             
Crap, if only she hadn't caught him ogling her in the car. Now she was on her guard. He decided he'd do his best to counteract that by ignoring her the rest of the day.

             
Of course that was going to be easier said than done.

             
"The tea's in here- try the green it's less acidic on your cords. And above the fridge is the good honey. Suze always keeps lemons handy as well- it cuts the phlegm."

             
She nodded tentatively, looking like a lost little girl. He stared at her for a moment before forcing himself to leave the room.

             
"I'll see you in there."

             
"Okay. Thanks Mr. Harrison."

             
"Bruce. Call me Bruce."

             
“I’d rather not.”

             
“I insist.”

             
She just stared at him, unsure how to respond.

             
“Alright… Bruce.”

             
He smiled and left. He didn't want her to see the effect she had on him- just saying his name had sent a hot spiral of lust straight to his core. Hell, he was acting like a teenager. He grimaced and adjusted himself.

             
If he didn't get ahold of himself, he was going to spend the next two weeks of rehearsal in a state of constant arousal.

             
Not that he minded.

             
As long as there was a payoff at the end.

**********

              Katrina stood with the other two backup singers, Betsy and Linda. They were nice enough but they were already good friends with each other. There was a small group of elite singers in the Los Angeles area and they all knew each other. She was the interloper in their world and they didn't bother to hide it.

             
Still, she had to admit they could wail. When Harry singled out Kat for the solo in the first song the other two raised their eyebrows. But when they heard her sing, she could tell she'd earned their grudging respect.

             
That still hadn't meant they were going to invite her to lunch. Not that she could afford it anyway, but it still stung to watch them head off arm in arm to some local restaurant. A different one each day from what she could gather. It was the third day this week that Kat had spent her lunch hour sitting in the break room nibbling on the free crackers. If you dipped them in tea, it almost tasted like soup.

             
She was sitting there working on her third package of saltines when Bruce came in. He looked a bit startled to see her. After that first day, he'd kept his distance. All her direction had come through Harry and Scott, the lead guitarist. He was the de facto band leader. Plus Clarice, the older woman who came in after rehearsal was over to put Kat through her paces.