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Rock Her(10)

By:Liz Thomas


“It’s okay, Annie, really. Everything is fine.”

Annie sat down. “Why?” she asked.

Kip raised his eyebrows at her and shook his head.

“Why did he try to kill you?” she asked.

Kip shrugged. “Deranged fan? Maybe he was incredibly pissed that I refused to sign his autograph twice. Who knows?”

“But, you took it so calmly,” Annie said. “Even now, you’re taking it so calm.”

“Annie, it’s okay,” Kip said. “It’s not the first time.”

“Do you mean it’s not the first time someone has tried to kill you?”

“Well, actually no. It’s not,” Kip said tilting his head. “Nor is it the first time I’ve been shot.” Kip bared his chest at her showing his bullet hole tattoos. Annie looked at them and then tilted her head, about to scold him for making a joke out of something so serious.

“No, Annie, look closer.” Kip said. Annie did, and then it hit her like a bullet itself. The tattoos were covering actual bullet wounds. Annie gasped and recoiled onto the couch. Tears formed in her eyes.

“My God, Kip, what has happened to you?”

Kip shrugged. “I was shot.”

Annie just stared at him.

“Let me try to get this straight. You’re some kind of super wealthy rock star ninja assassin? And you’ve agreed to let me write a biography about you, but all you’re going to give me is the rock star part?

“No.”

“No, that’s not all you’re going to give me?” Annie asked.

‘No, I mean I am not a ninja assassin. If I were a ninja, there is no way I could have gotten shot tonight, or have these scars from the past.”

“Kip, this is no time for humor!”

The hell it’s not. This is the best time for humor!

“Okay, Annie,” Kip said, “I made a deal with you at the bar before this night went crazy. I’ll keep the deal. You want to whole story I’ll give it to you. But on one condition.” Kip checked the wound for bleeding.

“And that is?”

He looked up at the ceiling and tried to figure out the best way to explain it. “I have… hang ups, Annie. I have done and seen some truly incredible things in my life, but some of the ones closest to home are, well, close to home, you know. Yes, I agreed to let you write a book about me, but even as I was agreeing, I was thinking there were things that I wasn’t going to want included in it. I have been trying to figure out a way to tell you all of the really great, incredible stuff I have seen and done without including the stories that got me there. But, frankly, I can’t think of a way. So, maybe… maybe the best way to do it is lay it all out for you, and let you help me edit the things out that I don’t particularly want to share with the world.”

“But you said yourself, you thought it was impossible to leave out the things that got you to where you are,” Annie said. “And Kip, we really should get you to the hospital.” She pointed to his bloody T-shirt that he gripped to his chest.

Kip pulled it away and looked at the gash again. “Nah. Bleeding stopped. There’s no bullet. Tomorrow I’ll just have to get another tat.” He smiled at her. Her jaw dropped again.

Oh damn, what a sweet mouth! How I would love to have my lips on that. How I would love to have my cock in that! Stop thinking about her and be serious. Stop thinking about her and be serious.

“Actually, no. What I said was that I couldn’t think of a way, because I wanted you to understand what you were writing. But you, as the professional writer that you are, should have no trouble pulling it off, right.”

Annie could not take her eyes off of him.

“So, do you agree?”

“Agree to what?” Annie asked.

“That you leave out what I don’t want in the book, even though I agree to tell you everything.”

Annie reached out and touched one of his bullet hole tattoos. She ran her finger over the raised skin that circled a small depression, hidden by ink from all but only the closest observers. Then she touched another. She started to count them.

“How can I not agree? Anyone who has four bullet wounds in his chest…”

Soft fingers. Fight the temptation.

“…must have a pretty incredible story to tell. I can’t refuse. I agree,” Annie said.

“Great,” Kip said. “This makes things so much easier, don’t you think?”

“I think I need a drink,” Annie said wiping her brow and kicking off her shoes.

“Me too!” Kip said. “I’ll pour.” He walked over to the counter and picked up the half empty bottle of crown that Jack had not finished off earlier.