The Rocker That Needs Me(53)

“I’ll talk to her,” I promised. “But don’t get your hopes up, man. Lana told me a little about her last night and she isn’t exactly Miss Sunshine.”

“Yeah, I figured that out yesterday.” Axton grinned. “Jesus Christ! She’s hot.”

Cole snorted. “Man, we know. Not only do we have eyes, but you’ve told us like a hundred times.”

Before either of us could comment, the producer’s assistant started showing in hopefuls. The next two hours passed in a blur of tone deaf, off key, cry baby boredom. I spent more time checking my watch or phone then paying attention. Really, I sucked at this job, but I didn’t care. It wasn’t like I needed the money or anything. If they fired me—which I knew they wouldn’t because they didn’t want to piss Emmie off—then it wouldn’t bother me in the least.

At one thirty, Lana texted me to let me know she was outside, and I stood up the second the latest hopeful finished his shaky voiced attempt at some original song that he had written himself. “No,” I told him point blank.

“Dray? Where ya going?” Axton called after me.

“Lunch. Lana’s waiting outside for me,” I called over my shoulder.

“Awesome. More Lana.” I heard his chair scrape against the floor as he stood. “No way, dude,” he told the hopeful. “Wait up! I’m hungry too.”

I muttered a curse under my breath. I wanted a quiet hour with Lana. Just her and me, and maybe a little day-old Chinese food after a quickie, but it didn’t look like that was going to happen. Axton caught up with me before I reached the door, and Cole was quick to follow. “Sounds good to me,” the old rocker said as he fell into step with me and Ax. “I always did enjoy some eye candy while I eat.”

As soon as I saw her my heart stuttered in my chest. Would it always skip a beat when I saw that girl? I fucking hoped so! The smile on her beautiful face when she spotted me coming her way was breathtaking, and I pulled her into my arms, kissing her until she moaned.

“You look beautiful,” I said as I glanced down at her simple jeans and tank. The sweats that she had left my place in that morning were not something I wanted my friend to see her in. Especially since they had been hanging off her, even after she had rolled, tucked, and gathered the extra fabric into rubber bands to make them fit better.

“Thanks.” She kissed me again, quick and hard. “I’m starving, babe. Where are we eating.” Her gaze went over my shoulder and I felt her stiffen. “I assume it will be the four of us…”

Axton pushed between us, hugging her. “Yep. I’m not turning down the chance to be with little Lana.”

She wrinkled her nose at him. “Why do I like you again?”

“My charming personality? The sexy rock god persona?” He smacked a kiss against her cheek, and I had to grit my teeth before I said something I would regret.

Lana raised a dark brow. “Yeah… No, neither of those things.”

Axton pouted. “But…But…You don’t like me?” He grinned. “You know you do, sweetheart. You don’t have a mean bone in that beautiful body.”

“Mean? Maybe not. Bitchy, fuck yeah!” She hugged him before stepping back and putting her hand in mine. “And you, rock legend? Are you going to be joining us too?”

Cole shrugged. “It looks like it, beautiful. Might as well tag along. You wouldn’t deprive an old man of some company for a mere meal, would you, sweetness?”

I felt tension in Lana, but she didn’t look like she was upset. In fact, she was smiling at Cole. “No. I wouldn’t dare do a thing like that.”



Lana

What the fuck had I been thinking?

I should have told Cole, and probably Axton too, that I didn’t want them coming. I had been doing nothing but thinking about Drake all morning, and I had hoped we could have something small at a quiet café or something. Instead, I had had a moment of insanity and a plan had formed.

We all got in the back of Axton’s car, since it was the first one we came to. Axton gave his driver the address for some deli that he said he favored and we were off. I was stuck between Ax and Drake while Cole took up the seat across from us. I didn’t mind that I was squished up against Drake. I would have been pressed there even if Axton wasn’t crowding us.

A silence descended the back of the car and I started to feel tense. Not even Drake’s hand tracing little swirls on my arm could fully distract me. Sighing, I broke the silence. “So, Cole… Are you married?”

Cole snorted. “Tried that once. It didn’t work out too well.”