Read Rock Star: The Contest (Book 2 of a Bad Boy Romance) Online
Authors: Kate Ward
Rock Star: The Contest (Book 2 of a Bad Boy Romance) (16 page)
Months earlier
T
he Carolina Country Music Festival
in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, was to be the first venue. It had been a week since I had agreed to go on tour with Chase Bryan. I still hadn’t forgiven him for pushing me into a corner. If I didn’t agree he would have signed away his backlog of music. It would have meant zero royalties.
Then again, there was the fact that I was eager to snap up the opportunity to sing.
Though, I had to wonder if this was the start of something bad. I despised control freaks. Their incessant need to drive the car, give directions, say what everyone else should do. The one who had to be the leader of the pack, or else everyone would pay. Was that who he was? Or was it just a way for him to spend more time together with me?
Either way it was tough to tell Spike and Sophie that I was hitting the road. When the media got wind of it, they ate it up. Luke Claybourne kind of felt a little cheated by the announcement. Chase’s management had tried to explain that it was in the best interests of his career. Having two of the contestants out on tour was liable to draw in more crowds. More venues filled meant more money in his pocket.
However, I don’t think it was because Luke disagreed with me having the opportunity, when he was the one who won the contest
.
I think it was because he had strong feelings for me. He knew that Chase and I were seeing in each other. Now he was going to be forced to be stuck on a tour bus for the next three months, traveling around the country and watching us together.
I didn’t know what to expect that morning when I lugged several suitcases of luggage out the café door and handed the keys to Sophie.
“Now you be sure to call me. I want to hear from you every day.”
Spike was beside her. While he was recovering from the stab wounds in the hospital, they had rekindled their affections for one another. In many ways it had drawn them back together. It was good to see them as a couple. Now they were going to be looking after the café while I was away. Both of them would work full-time. There was no one else I could or would rather trust than them. They knew the business like the back of their hands. They had helped out for years, doing morning, afternoon and night shifts. They were aware of how to order more stock and what they needed to pay.
Until I got back, both of them were going to stay in my apartment. I have to admit I kind of did it in hopes that it would allow them to spend more intimate time together. Though in reality, it just made life easier.
“I will. Thanks again for doing this, Sophie.”
I kissed her on the side of the cheek and gave her a big hug. I turned to Spike. He breathed in deeply. I smiled.
“You look after her.”
“I will, you know that. If you end up in any trouble, you call me, and I will be there in a flash. They lay one hand on you…” He glared at Chase who was leaning against the bus, talking to Luke.
That was one thing I could rely on with Spike. He was as loyal as they come. He would make a good father, a good husband to someone. But to me, he would always be a good friend.
“Is the witch going with you?” Sophie joked about Mia.
“Afraid so, we have to pick her up in New York.”
“Tell her to walk.”
We all laughed. Mia had been acting very strange since Chase had gone behind her back and made the arrangements for me to join him on the tour. I honestly think that she would be seeing the last of me once Luke won. The look on her face was priceless. It probably didn’t help that Chase had threatened to fire her if she tried to make waves.
A whole group of people from the community of Lakeside had come out to see us leave. The sense that one of their own had made it, I think made them feel good. In many ways we had put Lakeside on the map. It would forever be known as the town where it all began. It had inspired people online to pursue their dreams.
Now if I was honest, I couldn’t exactly say I was jumping off the ceiling about it all. I had mixed feelings. It felt awkward to be sharing the same space as Luke. He had won, fair and square. He did receive a hefty cash prize, studio time and the chance to tour. But I hadn’t won, and I was also getting to tour. It just didn’t seem right.
I gave Sophie and Spike one last hug and wandered over to the tour bus.
“Ready to go?”
“As ready as I can be.”
I glanced at Luke. I cringed again. This was going to be difficult on so many levels.
We boarded the bus and it hissed as the brakes engaged and we pulled away. Through the tinted window I watched Lakeside disappear behind us.
Talk about a sleek-looking bus. The inside had state-of-the-art technology. A beautiful full kitchen with marble counters, hardwood cabinets and leather couches for the living area. Chase led me through to where there were several beds. I was surprised to find full-size beds on the bus. I had imagined they would be the size of hammocks, or the kind of things a Navy boat would have. Where everyone is piled together with hardly any room. Not on this bus. This had it all. No expense had been held back. My eyebrow rose as I saw a double bed.
“Don’t get any ideas, buddy,” I said, and continued walking further down the bus until I came to smaller quarters. “This will do me fine.”
“Are you sure? There is plenty of space back here.”
“Share a bed with you, with Luke here?”
“He’s a big boy. I’m sure he would understand.”
“Nope. It’s not happening.”
I heaved my lightest suitcase onto the bed and began the process of unpacking. Chase gave me a hand. He pulled out a pair of panties and held them up. I snatched them from him and tossed them into a drawer.
“Staff quarters are nearer the front of the bus. There are two exits off.” He began pointing to the front and back as if he was a flight attendant.
“Bathroom?”
“There are three. So you shouldn’t have to endure the smell of all us guys.”
“Great,” I grimaced at the thought of entering a bathroom after some of the heavy guys that had been lugging equipment around.
“In fact, one is just for women. Kind of best to keep things separate.”
I nodded in agreement.
There were two living areas. One in the front and one in the back. He said I was free to use either, but that typically anyone he had toured with used the back one and left the front to the staff.
“What, are they below you?”
“No. They want their space just as much as we do. They feel the need to be doing something if we are around. This way they can relax and have a little break from us.”
“High maintenance individuals.”
“I was going to say singers, but sure.”
The next few hours were spent with Chase introducing me to the crew. All of them seemed genuine. Just your typical hard-working guys. Luke had kept somewhat to himself. I could see he felt uncomfortable. Though I wasn’t sure if it was me or just the fact that the reality of what he was going to be doing over the next three months was settling in.
He was sitting in the living area drinking a bottle of water and watching the news on the large-screen TV when I came in. Chase was chatting up front with the crew and making arrangements for the next show.
* * *
G
et Rock Star
: The Deal Book 3 - Available Now!
T
hank
you for reading Rock Star Book 2. If you enjoyed the book, I would really appreciate it if you would consider leaving a review. I can’t stress how helpful this is in helping other readers decide if they should give it a shot. Reviews from readers like you are the best recommendation a book can have. Without reviews, an author’s books are virtually invisible on the retail sites. It also let’s me know what you liked. You can leave a review by visiting the book’s page. I would greatly appreciate it. It only takes a couple of seconds.
T
hank
you for buying Rock Star: The Contest, published by Lakeside Publishing.
K
ate Ward is
the author of Rock Star the series. She lives on the East coast of North America with her husband, kids and dog.
Rock Star: The Song is the first stand-alone book in a series. Rock Star: The Contest is the second. Rock Star: The Deal is the third. It’s now available.