The secluded part of the garden has an amazing view over LA. I lean against the railing and enjoy watching the sunset over the city skyline. Closing my eyes, I suck in a couple of deep breaths to center myself, hoping to dispense the champagne fog.
The sound of a branch breaking has me spinning around, and the last person I thought I would find standing there is Hendrix Mayer. My heart is beating uncontrollably in my chest, and I can’t tell if it’s from him surprising me or from him standing there before me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he says.
The deep gravel of his voice sends vibrations through my body. Damn, he’s hot in real life.
“You’re fine. I was watching the sunset,” I tell him.
His dark brows pull together. “I don’t know the last time I stared at a sunset.”
“You’re busy being a rock star.”
Hendrix’s hazel eyes narrow on me. “Don’t tell me you’re a groupie?”
Where the hell did that come from? Did he think I scaled the fence to watch the sunset at Christian from Dirty Texas’ house?
Now it’s my turn to raise a disappointed brow in his direction. “You have a high opinion of yourself, don’t you?” I turn my back on him.
They say never meet your celebrity crushes because they will only disappoint you, and they aren’t wrong.
“Who are you then?”
“Don’t think it’s any of your business who I am,” I grumble as I ignore the brooding rock star behind me.
“Kind of think it is. You’re at my boss’s house. Can’t trust groupies,” he states accusatory.
I swing around quickly. “I’m sorry … what did you say?”
“You heard me.”
“You’re a dick.”
“Sounds like you know me then. And yet I still don’t know who you are,” he teases.
“Someone who isn’t interested in getting to know you,” I bite back as I turn toward the valley and the sunset that’s slowly setting in gorgeous hues of pink and orange.
“Aw, did I hurt the little groupie’s feelings?” He chuckles darkly.
I flip him off. Which makes him laugh louder, the deep guttural kind that makes the hairs on your skin stand up begging for attention. Screw you, body. Why are you betraying me like this?
“I like my women feisty,” he states from behind me. I hadn’t realized he had walked up so close until his breath slid across my neck. My body stiffens at his presence.
“Please move away from me,” I ask through gritted teeth.
“Am I making you uncomfortable, groupie?”
“Yes.”
“Then no.”
“If you don’t move back, I will make you,” I warn him.
“You’re five feet fuck all. I’d like to see you try,” he says, goading me.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you, pretty boy. I close my eyes and center myself. I take a couple of quick deep breaths, and in a flash, I have him on the ground beneath me straddling him.
He looks at me with wide hazel eyes as if he can’t quite figure out what happened. Hendrix shakes his head, and a broad smile falls across his pouty pink lips, which makes me frown as I stare down at the cocky rock star.
CHAPTER 6
Everly
Next thing I know, he reaches up and wraps his hand around my neck and crushes my mouth to his in a blinding kiss.
What the hell is happening?
Why am I kissing him back?
I feel the long sweep of his tongue against my own, the taste of beer against his lips, and the feel of his hardness against me.
“What the hell!” I scream as I push myself off him and scramble to get up, dusting the dirt off me. “Who the hell do you think you are kissing me like that?”
Hendrix jumps up and glares at me. “I thought that’s what you wanted, groupie. That it was the reason you got me on my back.”
“Ew … no. You got into my personal space, and I wanted you to back off,” I yell at him as I wrap my arms around myself.
“You kissed me back.”
“By mistake,” I argue with him.
“That kiss wasn’t a mistake. You wanted it. You wanted me. Why are you playing hard to get?” he questions.
“Oh my god, how full of yourself are you? You interrupted me while I was trying to enjoy the fricken sunset. Which now, thanks to you, I’ve missed. I’m not some groupie who will fuck you on a mountain of dirt on the grounds of my friend’s home.”
“Could have fooled me,” he mumbles.
“Ugh, you are such a jerk,” I say, throwing my hands up in the air as I walk away from him.
“Hey, groupie, wait up,” he says, calling out to me.
“No. And stop calling me that,” I say, trying to ignore him.
Hendrix reaches out, grabs my arm, and turns me around.
“Don’t touch me,” I sneer, pulling my arm from his reach.
“I’m sorry,” he says, holding up his hands. “I honestly misread the signs.”
“A girl telling you to go fuck yourself means she wants you?” I scoff.
“You’d be surprised,” he says as his fingers glide through his dark brown hair.
That action shouldn’t look hot, but it does, and my lips tingle at the memory of his against my own. Stop it, Everly.
“I’m not a fricken groupie, okay?”
“Okay, okay, I get it. You’re not a groupie,” he says, giving me a flirtatious smirk.
Fuck him and his hotness. That’s not playing fair.
“Then who are you? I should at least know your name after having my lips on you.”
“Everly.”
“Everly …” he says my name with a deep growl as if testing it out against his lips.
I hate that it makes me shiver. Maybe I am a groupie by the way my body is betraying me.
“My brother is best friends with Jackson and is dating a friend of Dirty Texas,” I explain to him.
Hendrix stills. “Jackson scares the shit out of me,” he confesses.
His comment is so random that it makes me laugh. “He’s like a brother to me, so watch out,” I warn him jokingly.
“I don’t think you need his help. The way you dropped me like that earlier surprised the shit out of me.”
“I’ve got more tricks up my sleeve if you don’t behave,” I say, pointing at him.
“Consider me warned,” he says, giving me a relaxed smile.
“Look, I have to get back to the party. They will be looking for me. Look after yourself, Hendrix. Try not to accost any more women in the bushes,” I say with a warm smile.
“I’ll try not to,” he replies, smiling in return.
I give him a small wave, turn on my heel, and then head back toward the party.
“Everly …” Hendrix calls out my name. “I’m sorry I made you miss your sunset.”
“It’s all good. I’ll catch it tomorrow,” I say, and with that, I leave the rock star behind.
“Hey, there you are. I thought you’d left or something?” Jackson says, pulling me from my thoughts. “Vanessa and Christian want to have a chat.”
Do they know what just happened in the garden? Am I in trouble?