Page 7 of True Stars Collide
“If you insist, love.” He leaned in, wrapped his fingers around hers on the fork and guided the food to his mouth.
He kept his gaze locked with hers as he chewed––maybe it wasn’t disgusting after all––and licked his lips. He released the fork and traced his fingers along her bare shoulder. Goosebumps rose on her smooth skin and her nipples practically pierced through the silky fabric of her halter top.
Her pupils flared, the black almost eclipsing her golden irises.
She dropped her fork into the lake of syrup on her plate and grabbed her cocktail, her rosebud lips wrapped around the straw.
“You love the sweet stuff, don’t you? The food, that sweet tea cocktail. I bet you taste sweet.”
She slammed down her glass and waved to the waitress. “Like sugar. I need another drink.”
“It’s only 3 o’clock and our wedding isn’t until 11:30 so pace yourself.”
“Oh, I can handle myself, especially after I finish all this food. Another OMG Captain Jack beer?” She asked as a server materialized beside their table.
He nodded. Why the hell not? Some liquid courage couldn’t hurt with the path they were embarking upon. Although the more time he spent with Zoe, the more he realized acting like he was infatuated with her wouldn’t take much effort. She was hot as hell and now she’d finished her second cocktail, hints of an adorable Southern accent were slipping through her husky voice.
“So tell me why you traded in law school for rock and roll?” The flare of heat in her eyes had subsided and she merely appeared curious.
He reclined back in his seat. “Not much to tell.” Or not much he wanted to share.
She sighed. “Look, if we’re going to pull this off, we need to know real things about each other, okay? How about I share something first? We’ll trade?”
He grunted. Somehow he had the feeling she wouldn’t relent until they did.
“So, I grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina with a single mom. No siblings. She worked two, sometimes three, jobs to help me pursue music. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”
“You two close?”
She nodded. “We are. She’s incredible. I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for her. What about your parents? Your family?”
“Grew up in Manchester then moved to London when I was 12. I’ve got a younger brother and sister. My dad’s a solicitor and pushed me into law. Wasn’t for me though, so I quit and here I am.” Oversimplification but the facts were accurate.
“They must be proud of what you’ve achieved.”
He snatched up his beer and downed a mouthful. “Not exactly, but not my problem.”
“Okay. Was it always guitar for you?”
Music he could discuss all day. Family not so much. “Yeah. I can pull off some back-up vocals but don’t really have the pipes for more than that.”
“Well, you’re one of the top rock guitarists of all time, so I think your focus has paid off. I’m excited to play with you.”
“Thanks. Why didn’t you go straight into rock?”
She wrinkled her nose. “A talent scout heard me at an open mike night when I was 16. The next thing I knew, I’d signed with the Baby Dolls. I was naïve and got stuck in the contract from hell and couldn’t escape until a few years ago.”
“Yeah, but why would you even sign with them? That’s not a band, it’s a performance troupe.”
“Well, it was a lot of money and it all happened really fast.” She paused and shrugged a slender shoulder. “I did it for my mom. I was able to buy her a house, she was able to go back to school and get her teaching degree, which is what she wanted to do.”
Valid reasons. Just because he despised his parents didn’t mean everyone else did. “Yeah, this industry will take advantage. How old are you?”
She rolled her eyes. “Again, something you should know, right? 27. And you’re 30.”
So maybe he should have read the bio Ian had given him. He couldn’t afford to fuck this up and the press could be relentless.
“Liam Jones. I heard you were in Las Vegas,” a saccharine voice said.