Sometimes Brooke (The ALWAYS SOMETIMES NEVER Rock Star Romance Series Book 2) (3 page)

“Did you order the Thai food?”

“Not yet. What does everyone want?”

“Just order what we got last time. I think they’ll eat anything.”

“When is Brad coming back?”

“Not until next week. I know he needs to take vacations, but it sucks not having an assistant for two weeks.”

“Especially when I get to be your pseudo assistant while he’s gone. And speaking of assistants, Brooke has agreed to be mine.”

Nic nods. “I know you need the help. Chatter has really taken off.”

When Leo, Xander and Raven come strolling into the kitchen I can’t help but notice that Leo still doesn’t have a shirt on. At least he’s wearing pants, although his jeans are tight-fitting enough to show off his sexy ass.

“Do you ever put on a shirt?” I complain when he sidles right up next to me. He’s so close I can feel the heat radiating from his body.

“Not if I don’t have to,” he jokes. He shoves his hands deep into the pockets of his jeans. “Is it bothering you seeing me half naked?”

I shake my head. “Not at all.” But we both know it’s a lie. There’s so much heat being generated between us I’m surprised the air conditioning hasn’t turned on.

Leave it to Raven to slither right between us. She makes a point of glaring at me with those scary dark eyes of hers. If we were in a fairytale Raven would be a young, evil witch. She’s tall and super thin. And she’s got the straightest, blackest hair I’ve ever seen. No one would ever mistake her for being the heroine. She’d definitely be the villain of the story.

“How long are you staying?” She looks me up and down like she’s inspecting me.

People rarely intimidate me. Most of the time I’m the one doing the intimidating. But Raven is scary as hell.

“I’m not sure,” I manage to croak out.

When she looks at Leo I notice some frost between them that was never there before. I immediately wonder if it has something to do with me.

“What do you want, Brooke?” Harper asks, cellphone to her ear.

“Whatever you’re having. I don’t care. I’m sure anything you order will be better than the disgusting food in rehab.”

“It won’t bother you if I drink, will it?” Raven gives me an evil little smirk.

I shake my head, even though I’m not actually sure. It will probably be hell seeing her drink while I can’t have a drop. I just don’t want to give her the satisfaction of getting to me already.

“Good. Want a beer?” She turns her attention to Leo.

He throws up his palms. “I’m good.”

Raven places her hands on her hips and glares at him. “You don’t want a beer? Since when?”

He shrugs. “I just don’t feel like having one, okay? Give it a rest.”

“Is this about the boozehound?”    

Even though it’s an accurate descriptor it still stings.

“That’s enough.” Xander steps in and grabs Raven’s elbow.

She tries to pull away from him, but he’s got a tight hold on her. Xander is taller than Leo, but not quite as muscular. He’s also not as dark. His hair is light brown and his eyes are hazel. Unlike his brother Xander is fully clothed.

“Let go of me,” Raven hisses.

Xander slowly shakes his head as he glares at her. To my complete surprise she actually defers to him. That could be a first, at least that I’ve seen. “Leo doesn’t want to drink. He doesn’t have to drink. End of story.”

Raven opens her mouth like she wants to say more, but then thinks better of it and shuts her trap.

I haven’t gotten to know Xander very well, but I think we may just get along. He’s a lot different than his brother. Leo is brash and over-confident, while Xander exudes more of a quiet strength.

I can’t help but laugh when several bars of Always Rayne’s biggest hit plays in chimes. “Let me guess. That’s the doorbell.”

Harper rolls her eyes. “I know it’s ridiculous.”

“It’s cool,” Nic counters.

“Somebody better answer the door,” Leo suggests. “I’m starving.”

Two

Leo 

“Fuck, Dude. What did you do that for?” I rub my calf where Xander just kicked me.

“Because you’re being a douche.”

I frown. “How?”

“You just are.”

“I agree,” Raven pipes in. She’s lying in bed between me and Xander.

The three of us sleep together most of the time. Even when we’re not fucking Raven we still all end up in bed together. I think after so many years of being together we’re just used to it.

I haven’t fucked Raven since the Wild Child marched back into my life. I can’t even remember the last time I fucked anyone, which could be a record for me. We’ve been too busy working on our new album and it’s not like there’s a lot of wool to pull in Scottsdale. I’m not into forty-year-olds with fake tits. 

I just can’t get the Wild Child out of my head. Brooke Rhodes is all I think about. And it’s not just about banging her, although I think about that a lot. She’s just so real. She doesn’t take any shit from me and she gives it right back. The girls I usually fuck never do that. They’re too star-struck to say anything but what they think I want to hear. The night we were together Brooke and I actually talked. And she really listened to what I said. She took me seriously. That was a first. Raven and Xander don’t even do that. 

“We’d better get up,” Xander suggests. “Nic’s got us on a tight schedule and he wants to get a lot of work done on the album today.”

“It’s Sunday,” Raven moans as she wipes sleep from her eyes.

“You can stay in bed,” Xander tells her. “You don’t have to get up.”

Even though she has no musical talent whatsoever Raven’s been with the band since we were in high school. She’s extremely talented in the sack and has always been very willing to give us everything we want whenever we want it. And she doesn’t care if we fuck other girls as long as they’re a one-and-done deal. That’s never been a problem until the Wild Child came along. With most chicks one dive into the kiddie pool is more than enough. Brooke is more like an ocean that I haven’t even begun to explore.

Raven gets out of bed anyway, like she always does. Where Xander and I go, she goes. It’s always been that way.

“I’ll hop in the shower first,” I announce as I head toward our bathroom. A small part of me expects Raven to follow, but she’s been acting weird and distant since Brooke showed up.

When she doesn’t make a move I realize I’m going to be showering solo. At least it’ll be a quick one. 

After I shampoo and begin to wash the rest of my body I tug on my dick a few times and bring it to life. When I jerk off in the shower I usually think about some super model or porn star I’d like to bang, but today my mind moves right to the Wild Child. I want to be inside of her again so bad it hurts. My dick gets rock hard just imagining her on top of me. She’s one cowgirl who knows how to ride a stallion.

It takes just a few quick strokes for me to explode and I quickly wash away the jizz. As I towel off I glance at myself in the mirror. The bad part about being in a well-known rock band is that I never know if a girl wants me or wants the guitar player for Always Rayne. I know I’m not as good looking as Nic. No secret there. I don’t think I’m as good looking as Xander either. So I always wonder if the girls who fuck me really want to fuck
me
. If I was just some dude on the street, like some guy who worked at the meat counter at the grocery store or some dude who dug ditches for a living, would girls even give me a second look?

It’s not that I don’t love it when girls spread their legs for me, but I have noticed over the years that the more famous Always Rayne got, the more chicks I could score. And not just concert skanks and fangirls. When we started selling out stadiums I got my choice of Grade “A” Prime. Models, actresses and porn stars actually started lining up to spend the night with the guitar player in Always Rayne.

But I wonder how many of them actually even knew my name. 

As I exit the bathroom I’m caught off guard when Raven and Xander enter the bathroom after me.

Hand in hand.

Since when does Raven take a shower with Xander but not with me?

***

“What’s going on with the three of you?” Rayne asks as I enter the studio. He converted half of his guest house into a small production studio for us to work in when we’re not on the road.

I shrug. “If you figure it out would you mind filling me in?”

Rayne runs a hand through his disheveled hair. We haven’t made as much progress on the album as he expected and I know we’re way behind schedule. As cool as he normally likes to play things I can tell the stress is getting to him.

“Hit it and quit it,” he says.

“Yea, I know. One and done. So what’s your point?”

“Brooke Rhodes?” He stares at me for a long moment.

“What about her?” I try to play it cool, but my frigging dick twitches when I hear her name.

“Is she going to be a problem?”

I shake my head. “Not at all.”

When he looks into my eyes I wonder if he can see that I’m lying. He’s not only the smartest guy I’ve ever known, he knows people. And he’s known me my whole life. We’ve always been more like brothers than cousins.

“We said we’d never lie to each other.” He looks at me obviously waiting for me to fess up.

I swallow hard. “She’s a big problem,” I admit. “The biggest.”

He raises an eyebrow. “There’s a reason they call it a one night stand. Get in, get out, and get over it. You know the drill.”

“I can’t get over it.”

“I know she’s Harper’s best friend, but the girl’s got serious problems, Dude. Relationships are hard enough without the baggage.”

“I’ve got issues too,” I remind him. “Brooke’s not the only one who’s tried the twelve steps. I’ve walked that path a few times myself.”

Even though he nods, I can still see the doubt in his eyes. “You were only with her once, man.”

I can’t help but laugh. “One time with Brooke was all it took. She rocked my world.”

“She doesn’t seem too excited about a repeat performance.”

I think about how her body responded to mine when we were in the courtyard. As I moved in close she began to tremble. And when she finally looked at me I could see pure desire in her beautiful brown eyes. We both knew she was lying when she said she didn’t want me.

“She’s scared,” I state matter-of-factly.

“Maybe you should be too,” he replies.

“Nothing scares me.”

Now Rayne is the one who laughs. “Just wait. If you realize she’s the one you’ll be scared shitless all of the time.”

I put my hand over my heart. Or at least where I think my heart is anyway. “Nic Rayne admits to being scared. Say it isn’t so.”

His eyes turn dark. “Harper scares the fuck out of me. I’m scared I’ll do something wrong and disappoint her. I’m scared that one day she’ll wake up and realize what a shit I really am and she’ll leave me. I’m scared she’ll realize she’s way too good for me and find someone better.”

“Seriously?” I’m not sure why I even ask the question because he looks dead serious. “You’re Nic Rayne. You’re the guy every girl on the fucking planet wants.”

“But the only girl I care about is Harper. She’s the one who has to want me. Or it’s all over, Dude. The day Harper doesn’t want me anymore I might as well be dead.”

“Is that why you’ve been pressuring her into getting hitched?”

“I haven’t been pressuring her.” He swallows. “Have I?”

“You’re worse than a chick with all the bullshit about getting married.” I look down at his crotch to make my point. “Did you suddenly grow a vag or something?”

Rayne normally doesn’t take shit from anyone, even me and Xander, so I’m not surprised when he gives me a cold stare and changes the subject. “Just be careful, okay? I think you’ll be playing with fire if things heat up with Brooke.”

Before I can respond Raven and Xander stroll in together, once again hand in hand. I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealously that they’ve left me out for a second time. But maybe it’s all good. I’ve already made up my mind. I’m going to do whatever it takes to get Brooke.

***

After nearly working us to death Rayne finally decides that maybe we all need a break. No shit, Sherlock. I know I don’t have as much going on upstairs as Rayne, or even Xander for that matter, but even I could figure that one out.

I decide to see if I can find Brooke.

Rayne’s estate is massive. Not only is his house the size of a small hotel, he’s got enough land for his own national park. Even his guest house is bigger than the shit box that we grew up in. Rayne practically lived with us after his mom died. His dad was on the road too much to take care of him. Not that my mom was any prize. The three of us raised ourselves.

Walking through the gardens makes me feel like I’m in one of those British movies that put everyone to sleep, but still win all the awards.

I catch sight of Brooke sitting on a bench next to a huge cactus. She’s reading a book. After I take the seat next to her, and she glares at me, I realize a little too late that I probably should have asked before I just plopped down next to her.

“What are you reading?” I ask. Not that I give a shit about books. I just need something to start a conversation.

She holds it up. The title says something about mindfulness meditation, whatever the hell that means. “It is good?”

She narrows her gaze at me. “You don’t read, do you?”

I swear the girl can see right through me. “You caught me.”

She closes the book and places it on her lap. And when my attention is drawn to the short, tight skirt she’s wearing all I can think about it hiking it up, bending her over the bench, and slipping my dick inside of her.

“What do you want, Leo?” She sounds weary.

Since I can’t just come right out and tell her I’ve been dying to fuck her I opt for, “Do you want to go for a walk?”

Her eyes narrow. “You really want to take me for a walk?”

I nod.

“Is this like a date or something?” She stares at me expectantly.

I shrug because I’m not sure what to say.

“Have you ever taken a girl on a date before?”

“Nope,” I say before I wonder if it’s a bad thing.

When she laughs my heart skips a few beats. I’m starting to understand what Rayne said about being scared shitless. She’s already doing it to me. If I make one wrong move she could completely reject me.

“I’m not surprised. You can get any girl to spread her legs for you. It sure as hell doesn’t require dinner and a movie first.”

That’s when it hits me. What I need to do to get this girl. Dinners, movies, flowers…everything that normal guys do when they’re trying to score. It’s something she’ll never expect from a guy like me.

“Come on,” I say as I stand and hold out my hand. “Walk with me.”

When she bites her bottom lip I want to bite it for her. But I can see the hesitation in her eyes, so I say instead, “I promise I’ll be a good boy.”

“Okay,” she finally agrees and hops from the bench. “As long as you promise to be good.”

I place my hand on my chest. “I swear.”

As we look into each other’s eyes I wonder how long I’ll actually be able to keep that promise. My dick is straining against my jeans screaming to be let free.

“Where to?”

I glance around. “Want to walk over to the orchard?”  

“Why not? Maybe we can grab a few oranges while we’re there.”

When I extend my hand again I hold my breath wondering if she’ll take it this time. I think maybe I’ve got a fifty-fifty shot, which isn’t very good odds when you’re used to having sure things.

After a few seconds of staring at the thing like it’s some creepy-as-shit monster hand she finally takes it.

I lace our fingers together like I’ve seen other couples do and I notice her mouth upturn ever so slightly. I’ve never been a hand-holding kind of guy, but holding this girl’s hand feels right.

“I’ve tried the Twelve Step thing before,” I tell her as we make our way over to a line of orange trees heavy with fruit.

“I heard,” she admits. “I guess it didn’t work out so well.”

I shrug. “Twelve is a lot of steps. Maybe if it was like a Five Step program I could have made it.”

“Ever been through rehab?” she asks.

“I’ve never had time for that shit. We’re usually on the road or in the studio. I can’t take thirty days off.”

She laughs. “It’s not like a vacation. Believe me, it’s work.”

“Booze is a big part of the rock life,” I tell her. “It’s not easy giving it up.”

Shaking her head she says, “It’s not easy for anyone.”

We’re both quiet for a while as we pick out the oranges we want. It feels so weird being with a girl and not being in bed. Or at the very least trying to find someplace secluded enough for me to stick my dick inside of her.

“You should have this one.” She hands me a freaky looking orange that looks like a mad scientist’s experiment gone horribly wrong.