The Rock Star Next Door, A Modern Fairytale Read online

  She caught herself, reaching a steadying hand against the cool white wall. “I’m not the one who turned a simple date into a media sideshow by claiming to have found the person of my dreams.”

  “And I didn’t have anyone else hanging around here, waiting for me to come home from my dates to play house.” Lex stood inches from her, watching her struggle to keep her balance with cool indifference, waiting for her response to his accusation.

  Jessie could only stare back at him for several seconds with outrage and incredulity. She rubbed her wrist where he had hurt her. “You thought . . .?” She shook her head, edging away from him warily. “Lex . . .” She began. “Why would you think Steve and I . . .” She waved her hands, unable to give voice to the idea. It was like being accused of incest.

  He moved away from her, retreating once more behind the bar. He poured himself another shot of dark liquid. Lifting the glass to his lips, his eyes studied her as he finished it on one swift gulp. A sigh escaped, typical after such a strong libation and he smacked his lips. At last, he leaned forward on both elbows from behind the counter. “I heard you the other night when I came in and was about to come up the stairs. I heard you telling Steve that you would love him forever.”

  Her jaw went slack, her mind dimmed for a brief instant. He was leaving her, running away from her, not for the usual reasons but because he believed her gay best friend was her lover? “Oh--Christ! That’s the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard.”

  “I heard you tell him that you loved him, that you would always love him.” He repeated. “I came in that night through the basement door. I saw you straddling his lap in an intimate pose and heard you tell him that you would always love him. I went back outside and came in and slammed the door, allowing you to think I just arrived. After I slammed the door, the dogs came rushing down, barking like hell.”

  Jessie approached the bar. She splayed her hands on the cool cobalt blue tiles and leaned forward, meeting his gaze. “Why didn’t you say something that night?” She reached up to touch his face. He allowed it, but stood glaring accusation at her. “Lex, listen. You got it wrong. Steve isn’t my lover. We’re friends, just friends. Really close, but friends, nothing more.”

  He didn’t believe her. He stepped back, away from the counter and from her touch. He stood with arms crossed, his face stern; a silent jury damning her for all eternity.

  Jessie straightened, determined to tell him the truth whether he wanted to hear it or not. “There is nothing sexual between me and Steve. There couldn’t be.” She waited, pleading silently for him to believe her. He didn’t, his eyes were hard, cold, wary.

  She couldn’t believe this was happening. She wanted Lex to believe her, take her at her word. Steve trusted her, she shouldn’t betray his confidence. Yet keeping his secret was costing her the man she loved. “Lex . . .” She whispered, struggling to make him understand, to make him trust her without betraying her friend. It was impossible. She had to tell Lex the truth. “Steve isn’t like you, he’s different, he’s . . .” Jessie pulled away, realizing the truth would sound like the plot of a bad soap opera, or worse, a blatant lie to cover the affair he believed they were having. “Oh--this is absurd. I can’t do this. If you won’t trust me, then screw you!”

  “He’s different, how?” The voice boomed from across the room as Jessie reached the glass patio door.

  “He’s gay.” Jessie finished, turning the latch and letting in the gentle sea breeze. “He’s afraid to tell anyone yet, especially the other guys in our band. He thinks we’ll all turn on him, kick him out of the house and the band, and there will be this big media scandal exposing him and humiliating him before he’s even had time to come to terms with it in his own head. So there. That’s why I told him I’d always love him, because he needed to hear that. And if you overheard it and misinterpreted it, then shame on you.”

  “Why all the drama? Do you think he’s the first guy to come out in this town?”

  She turned to face Lex, firm in her conviction that if it was a choice between Steve’s ten-year friendship or this bizarre three-week quasi-romance, it would be the former. “It is a big deal to him, the big tough guy from Wisconsin. It’s not like we grew up here. I was the first person he told he was gay, not five minutes before you came in. I’m surprised you didn’t catch that part while you were eavesdropping.”

  “What was I supposed to think?”

  “You weren’t supposed to pack up and leave town. You were supposed to ask me about it. I’ve been through hell these past days, wondering why you dumped me.”

  “I had business in New York.” Lex countered defensively.

  “Yeah, funny you never mentioned New York before I told my gay friend I would always love him. Steve is my closest friend, but, you’ve chosen to believe he’s my lover without asking for an explanation. You just walk out, leaving me behind to pick up the pieces, not even giving me the benefit of the doubt or asking me about it. So, adios, it’s been fun. Call me when you grow up, okay? I’m so over High School Drama.”

  Jessica Kelly turned her back on the rock icon. She turned the latch, opened the door and stepped out onto the dark patio.

  “I believe you.” The sensuous male voice followed her. “Jessie, wait . . .”

  She ignored Lex, wanting only to be away from him right now, to be alone.

  She stomped down the short steps to the beach, and hurried down the darkening shoreline. Her cell phone kept ringing as she trudged hotly down the shore. She took it out of her pocket. Sure enough it was Lex’s number. “Asshole.” She cursed.

  Winding back her arm, she tossed her phone into the rolling waves.

  Chapter Nine

  When she returned to the beach house, the landline phone was ringing off the hook.

  Steve picked it up and handed it to her. As expected, it was Lex.

  “Back off. I need time.” Jessie ground out. She was so angry the last thing she wanted was to talk to him right now. He abandoned her without asking about what he overheard. He just jumped to conclusions and left her with her heart impaled on a stake.

  “Jess. I over-reacted. Can’t we start over?”

  “How many times do we start over before we just say screw it?”

  “As long as it takes.” The voice whispered in her ear. “I’m serious about you.”

  “Fooled me. Not answering my calls. Leaving town like a pouty high school senior.”

  “I’m sorry. I did have business in New York. I just didn’t need to go right away. I used the excuse to run off. It was juvenile. I admit it. I was an ass, a douche bag. I’m sorry Jessie. I do care about you. Give us another chance.”

  She didn’t know if she could risk the pain. What did that say about him if he flew off the handle about something so simple? She knew about the Hollywood types who were 95 percent ego and went through relationships like bottled water. She didn’t think Lex was that kind. Maybe she was wrong. A person could hide the warts in just three weeks of dating.

  “Jessie . . . are you still there?”

  “Yeah. Give me some space.” She forced the words out. Her mind was working fast to shore up her weak spot. Shields up, Mr. Sulu. “I don’t want to talk right now.”

  “Can I call you tomorrow?”

  “Sure.” Jessie replied after a long silence. We’ll see if I pick up. “I have to go. Steve and I are going out for dinner. And Lex, what I told you--” she turned her back on Steve to whisper in a harsh growl, “Don’t you dare repeat it. If I see it in the papers, I’ll never forgive you. And worse, I’ll make up some bullshit story about you and give it to the press. No one knows but me and now you. No one knows until he tells the world. Understand?”

  Lex promised to keep her secret. Jessie hung up the phone and turned to Steve.

  “Well, get dressed, we’re going out.”

  Steve cocked a brow at her and waved his hands. “Where?”

  “Sunset Boulevard. The Comedy Store.”

  Lex stood at t
he bar gripping the cool tile edges.

  He felt like the biggest fool in LA, and that was saying a lot.

  He jumped to conclusions.

  It wasn’t hard. Crystal had been carrying on with her lawyer for months before she’d left him. He was taking his anger at Crystal out on Jessie. It wasn’t fair.

  Jessie was his soul mate, and he’d probably just lost her forever.

  Unless . . .

  Quickly, he dialed Mike’s number. Mike was home and Kyra was making Chicken Fajitas as they spoke. Mike sensed the need in his voice and offered Lex an open invitation to drive up to Laurel Canyon and unburden his heart.

  Mike wasn’t the one Lex wanted to talk to. Kyra was Jessie’s BFF--or--BGF, he corrected; her best girl friend. This was starting to feel like an episode of Will & Grace.

  Hopefully, the driving rains wouldn’t wash out the canyon roads. If Lex applied a little charm, maybe he could get Kyra to advise him on how to win back his lady.

  Jessie tried to forget Lex the whole evening. She couldn’t. Despite her efforts, his face haunted her. She missed him. And she was angry with him. Frightened, if truth be told. Steve drove them back to Malibu after the closing act at The Comedy Store.

  Three Margaritas didn’t dull the ache in her heart. She slipped into bed exhausted by the events of the last few days. Exhausted by her jangled emotions, and yet unable to sleep. She lay awake in the darkness, stroking Duncan’s ear and reviewing her argument with Lex that afternoon again and again.

  He hurt her by running out on her like that. He just left her, with no explanation, no promise of returning. It was scary crazy.

  Jessie grew up with crazy. She knew enough to give it wide path. She was stunned by the harshness of his confrontation when they did finally meet.

  No, it wasn’t worth the heartache. She was wise to walk away.

  But you love him.

  There was the catch. Jessie sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. She picked up the romance novel she’d started a month ago, before Lex completely swept her away. The pirate in the story reminded her of Lex with his black attire and his long raven mane. The hero climbed the tree outside the heroine’s room in the cover of darkness, entered her window and made love to her until stars faded and dawn threatened them. As silently as he’d come, he glided away, his handsome face hidden in the shadows of the rosy dawn so he’d not be recognized and hung as a criminal as he placed himself in jeopardy night after night to be with his lady love.

  Jessie tossed the book across the room in disgust. It was supposed to make her forget Lex, not fantasize about him. The author wasn’t to blame. Her works were flawless, each story a treasure Jessie tucked away to read again and again.

  The problem was with her heart. She should hate him. Seriously.

  He left. Abandoned her and it hurt more than she cared to admit. Jessie wanted someone she could trust, someone who would be there--forever.

  No man could live up to her romantic fantasies. Kyra pointed that out to her time after time. Overlook the faults, her friend counseled, overlook the maverick spirit, and enjoy what happiness you could with a man as long as he found you desirable.

  Maybe Kyra could live that way; not Jessie. She turned out the light again, seeking the numbness of sleep to help her forget the pain in her heart. Even there, his image haunted her as Lex crept into her room, and sank onto the bed beside her . . . .

  Desperate whining yanked Jessie from the silken depths of slumber. Duncan. Somehow, she’d left him in the hall last night. He was scratching to be let in. She sat forward with a jerk, ready to vault out of bed with an apology on her lips, when the black mass beside her came into focus.

  “Lex?” Jessie pulled the covers up about her. “How did you get in here?”

  He sat next to her, his black shirt unbuttoned to display his chiseled chest, his hair long and loose about his shoulders and a sexy smile on his lips. “Steve let me in.”

  The romance novel lay across the room where she’d tossed it last night. The cover displayed a bold hero bare to the waist, a pirate with an eye-patch, long flowing hair and a seductive glower. Her eyes moved from the cover to the image larger than life sitting beside her on the bed. Close, too damned close. Lex was the modern equivalent of that pirate. What the hell was he doing sitting beside her bed so early in the morning?

  “Marry me, Jessica.”

  Jessie blinked. She had to be dreaming. She pushed the covers aside and evaded the aberration before her, moving to the bathroom with speed born of sheer panic.

  She looked at her appearance in the mirror and cringed. Hung over, she looked like the walking dead. Her mascara was smeared beneath her eyes, and her hair was a tangled mess. You just woke up from a weird dream. He’s not really there.

  She tiptoed to the door, opened it a crack and then closed it quickly with a groan.

  Lex was there, all right, in the flesh, not just a figment of her imagination.

  Panic rose, bringing her to full alert status. Jessie brushed her teeth, combed her hair, carefully applied a fresh coat of foundation, blush, and eye make-up, and gazed at herself in the mirror. Desperate came to mind, as in pathetic groupie.

  After several moments of pacing the small bathroom, Jessie pulled up her courage and opened the door. She couldn’t stay in the bathroom all morning.

  “Why are you in my room?” She asked, cloaking her nervousness in authority as she stood in the doorway to the bathroom, her hands on her hips. “You scared me.”

  “I’m asking you to marry me, Jess.” He patted the bed, inviting her to sit beside him.

  Once more, Jessie peered at the offending novel, and then reached out to touch his shoulder. It was firm beneath her fingertips.

  Lex pulled her unto his lap, wrapping her securely in his arms, and kissed away any notions she might have that he was a figment of her imagination. He was an expert at kissing, she thought, relishing the taste of him as his tongue twined with her own. She wound her fingers through his silken black hair and inhaled his pure masculine scent, completely lost in his passionate embrace.

  “I consider that to be a yes.” He whispered in husky timbre.

  “No. You can’t be serious.” She replied, “We hardly know each other.” It was absurd, beyond absurd--it was like he was mocking her with her own fantasies. She extracted herself from his lap and stood glowering down at him with her arms crossed in what she hoped was a reproachful air.

  “Jess.” He stood, his dark clad figure filling the entire room. “I’m serious. I meant what I said to Ruby Star a month ago. It wasn’t a mistake.”

  “You . . . you knew back then you wanted to marry me?”

  He nodded. “I believe every soul has a mate. When I saw you, Jess, I recognized you as the missing half of my own soul.”

  She was dreaming. Lex, the object of millions of women’s fantasies, was standing in her bedroom, insisting that she should marry him. And not because of a driving physical passion--that she could shrug off, but because of some deeply spiritual mumbo jumbo she couldn’t begin to fathom.

  Hung over from too many margaritas, Jessie wore only a pair of baggy men’s exercise shorts and a faded Green Bay Packers’ T-shirt; hardly the stuff of romantic fantasies. It was almost funny. A good practical joke, that’s what she’d think, if some strange man she barely knew claimed they were soul mates, destined to be together. She’d laugh and figure Jack and Darrell were playing a trick on her--if it were any other man standing here, looking dead serious and drop dead gorgeous.

  Only, it wasn’t an actor hired to tease her for her romantic notions of how true love should be. It was the man of her dreams. “I’m a little shocked.” Jessie admitted as her fingers twined about her hair. “Isn’t this kind of sudden?”

  Inwardly, she was ecstatic and terrified by his gallant offer. As she silently studied her impassioned Romeo, Lex bent on one knee in the traditional pose, took her hand in both of his, exposing the palm to his open lips. As his lips brushed her pa
lm, she felt her entire being melt from his sensual assault.

  All her rationalizations and doubts faded.

  “I love you.” The sensual lips turned up into a smile as his eyes impaled her. “I love you, Jessica Kelly and I want you to be my bride.”

  Chapter Ten

  Jack. Where was her twin when she needed him? Out, as usual.

  Stoned, more than likely.

  He’d been at Lilly’s for days. He’d left the number, in case of an emergency.

  Well, this was an emergency in her mind. She rifled through the papers on her desk to find it. It was probably downstairs. Lex was downstairs, waiting for her, so she’d have to wait to consult with Jack about this.

  Meanwhile, she had to deal with Lex.

  Shocked by his unexpected proposal of marriage, Jessie looked about her room in a daze. She wished she could just live for the moment, embrace life, as Jack repeatedly told her. He was the one who jumped into everything with both feet, ignoring the risks, and Jessie was the one to pull Jack back, out of harm’s way.

  The day was overcast, with crisp winds blowing along the Malibu shoreline. Jessie pulled a gray Bucky Badger sweatshirt over her head, freed her hair from beneath the collar, and gazed at her reflection in the mirror. If only that reflection could talk, advise her, like a twin sister and tell her ragged emotions which course to take.

  After spending the greater part of three weeks with him, being constantly together, she could honestly say Alexander Coltrane was everything she’d hoped to find in a man. Lex was no more the predatory male of his stage persona than Heath Ledger would have been The Joker off the Batman set.

  His stage image wasn’t the problem. What worried Jessie were the realities and pressures of life in this golden city of the rich and famous. Both of them were Rockers, with concert tours and contracts to keep, exuberant fans and paparazzi wanting to intrude upon their private life. The media relentlessly stalked celebrity unions and the stars always claimed it ruined their marriage.