Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1)(5)

 

Harley, still facing Cade, turned around to face her father. "I understand."

 

"Jax, I've got Bruno," Tina Joyce's voice interrupted. She was holding out a phone to Jax.

 

"Finally. I've gotta take this, folks." Jax twisted his frame to reach behind him. His shirt lifted to expose a peek of taut ab muscles and a curve of a hipbone. When Cade peeked, her mouth dried up. "Tin, why don't you show them around the place?" His PA nodded once.

 

"May I give Miss Williams a tour?" the little girl quipped, surprising all of them.

 

Jax's face brightened. Cade's heart hitched upon witnessing his killer smile. "That's the best idea I've heard so far! Go ahead. I'll catch up later."

 

Harley turned back to face Cade, with a bright smile and an excitement that Cade couldn't understand. Cade was happy that the girl seemed to take to her well. Her hand held the girl's as they proceeded to walk up the stairs, leaving Zee with the surly Tina. Without looking back, Cade knew Jax was watching her every move. The little hairs on the back of her neck stood as though Jax himself had blown a warm breath of air onto her skin. The thought sent magical tingles all over her body.

 

 

 

        

          

        

         

 

What had she gotten herself into?

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Two

 

 

 

 

 

Neither one of Harley's parents were present in her first happy memories. Au pairs, nannies, sitters, whatever they were called … they had shared those memories with her. Her mother had been wary of their presence, always finding each one lacking. Harley hoped that it was for her sake but that had never been the case. Fiona had always been a selfish woman. Having Harley had never been part of her plans and a fact that Fiona never forgot to impart on Harley. "The rubber broke and the pill made me feel loopy," she constantly told Harley. Parties and men were Fiona's current favourite hobbies. There was always plenty of both.

 

As soon as she heard Cade's voice in the living room, she had been drawn to the woman. Peeking over the staircase, she wondered how someone like her ended up in the bodyguard business. She didn't look tough enough, unlike that big man who came with her. He didn't look friendly at all. Harley thanked her lucky stars Cade was chosen for her.

 

She brought Cade right away to her bedroom. An overly sweet room, it reminded her of a pink cotton candy explosion. Harley didn't have the heart to tell her father that she'd grown out of pink everything. She hadn't liked the colour since she was four. Cade had a sweet smile on her face once Harley drew her in.

 

"My father thinks all girls like pink." Harley waved her hand around-pink chandelier, pink linens, pink side table, pink padded headboard.

 

Cade nodded. "I gather you're not a fan."

 

"Oh, I don't mind it. I think I might get used to it somehow. One day … hopefully." Harley bounced on her bed. "It's comfortable." She waited for Cade to sit beside her, but she seemed to be following a certain protocol: don't move until you're told, don't talk until you're spoken to. Much like what Fiona had taught Harley.

 

"It's okay. I won't tell if you don't want me to." Cade smiled and winked.

 

Harley felt she had to defend her father. "It's just that … he hasn't been around me much. I've only started living with him full time three months ago. My mother finally got married but she didn't want me dragging her and her new husband down so I've been sent off to live with my father."

 

Cade knitted her eyebrows. She casually leaned against a light pink linen wing chair in the corner of the room. "Why are you so formal with him?"

 

"Do you mean why do I speak the way I do?" It was a question people often asked Harley. Oftentimes she never bothered to answer. Shrugging made people think she was stupid, an explanation made them think she was a smartass, and keeping quiet meant defiance. Cade was different. Harley wanted to open up to the woman, a stranger. She wondered what Dr. Herring, her current shrink, would think of that.  

 

Before Harley could answer, Cade guessed, "Is it because you want him to treat you like you're older?" The woman looked at Harley with intensity. "You're smaller than I thought."

 

Like Harley had never heard that before. "I am. I have a congenital heart defect. It has affected my growth."

 

Cade didn't appear shocked, or sympathetic, like she had seen from other people. Cade simply understood. "I'm sorry. I didn't know."

 

No adult had apologized to her before. Most of the time she was put aside, forgotten by her mother, made fun of by other children, and treated like a delicate porcelain doll by her father. None had ever apologized to her for not having known a completely hidden fact. Fiona made sure her condition never surfaced. Fiona wanted to be free to party and have fun-not be judged because of a daughter born with a hole in her heart. Like her own child was born incomplete. Thankfully, Harley had a wonderful grandmother. Along with a slew of nannies, Harley was well cared for by her maternal grandmother. Unfortunately, Nan's age and ailing health took a hold of her. The feisty and lovable Nan passed away too soon.