Star Struck(BBW Rocker Romance)(18)

“Shall we listen to some music?” he asked lightly, reaching for the gadgets on the well-lit dashboard.

“How about something from your band?” Mandy suggested, settling further into the plush seats and thinking she’d never felt anything so comfortable. Damn, but these rock stars knew how to live it up.

Ethan grimaced good-naturedly. “Like most actors who don’t like watching themselves in a movie, I don’t like listening to myself either. I mean, I love each song and the music we make but…tonight, I think I’d like something different. I’m sure you’ll agree,” he murmured.

Mandy wasn’t sure how to reply; she didn’t know how thick-skinned rock stars were. Did he really want to hear what she thought about the band’s music? In her mind’s eye, Mandy could just see her boss Jessica with her fists readying to strangle Mandy if she ended up saying anything out of turn about The Strum to Ethan. He might get offended again like he had when he realized Mandy hadn’t ever heard any of his songs. But things were different now.

The truth was, his music was starting to grow on Mandy, especially since she had a special interest in Ethan. There. She’d said it. He did interest her, very much. He was undoubtedly sexy and incredibly talented. And he said he liked her. Wow. She still felt a little lightheaded from that and she couldn’t help but admit that he made her feel protected, desired, and cherished. No other man had ever made her feel that way.

It was nice to be needed – especially by Ethan. They’d barely just met, and even with all the sexual tension between them, she felt comfortable sitting alongside him, his hands fluttering over the wheel as he thumped his fingers to the beat of the music.

Maybe this was a good idea after all. Stylists often became great friends with their clients since they spent so much time together. Some even became like family, able to keep their most trusted secrets. Perhaps she could be that to Ethan.

Besides, if she was careful to do the best job possible, she could finally get Jessica Charles the coveted chance to be the full time stylist for the entire band. She knew what the opportunity meant to both her career and to Jessica’s. But it was more than that…much more. She truly liked being around Ethan. He was such an interesting person who lived a crazy, wild life unlike anything she could ever imagine. And he was frighteningly confident at times while other times he seemed so unsure of himself. The mixture of emotions was potent to a woman like Mandy, who felt the same way about herself. Confident, yet always so unsure.

But deep, deep down, she knew her job had nothing to do with it when she’d agreed to come out with Ethan.

He’d said he just wanted to go for a short drive with her to talk. Hanging out with her rock star client hadn’t exactly been in her job description, but Mandy figured Jessica would certainly approve. Anything to make Ethan happy, her boss had said. Emphasis on anything. But Mandy pushed that thought out of her head and simply focused on the moment.

Ethan let her thumb through the stations as they rode fast through the night. Mandy still couldn’t believe she was doing this. It was not like her at all. Spontaneous, even reckless. Because even though Ethan was now seemingly calm and in control, he was still the most dangerous man she knew.

Still hot, still damnably magnetic. She eyed him, a smile spread across his face when he turned to her for a brief moment before his eyes turned back to the road. He was dressed in a fitted black short-sleeved t-shirt with tight black leather pants. His hair was left in loose waves at the back of his neck. Her eyes tripped over his muscular, inked-up arms bared by the short sleeves, at his hands gripping the wheel, the wrists covered in statement bands. Mandy swallowed inaudibly and sank back into her seat, once again letting the realization dawn that she was taking a midnight drive – with Ethan Tyler. Definitely dangerous as hell.

For one thing, Ethan was a charmer; he had all that sexy, dark presence. He liked to talk and she enjoyed listening to him. He told her about the upcoming London trip and how he enjoyed playing the Wembley arena the last time. Then about his recent injury that had his arm in a cast for a month and about his latest tattoo. No deep dark secrets; just light conversation as he drove.

“So how’s the boyfriend?” Ethan asked mildly. Mandy shifted uncomfortably as she mumbled something about a business trip.

“So that’s your type, huh? The corporate mogul. I should have guessed. Girls like you always have a thing for those three-piece charcoal gray suit types. What are you afraid of, having too much fun?” he teased with a grin.

Mandy half bristled, half smiled. “We have fun! But I guess next to a rock star, a banker might seem all shades of boring. But Marcus is cool. And he’s very good to me.”