Rocked to the Core Read Online Free PDF Page A

Everyone followed her off the bus to find out what happened."
    "And?"
    "And what happened was she'd been having a secret relationship with Rick for months. No one knew, but when she broke it off he went crying to Ryan and got her sacked."
    My gaze shifted to Rick, currently sitting at the end of the bar by himself like a human storm cloud, staring daggers at everyone. Which was pretty much his usual attitude. "Rick? Seriously? But he's so…and she's so…"
    "Oh, I know," Dex drawled, swigging directly from the liquor bottle now. "I couldn't believe it either. I mean how does someone who's getting laid stay so fucking moody?"
    I giggled, agreeing with him completely. Not that I had any insight into Rick's personality. He'd barely said ten words to me the whole time I was touring with the band, and not one of them had been pleasant. It was no wonder he could get Ryan to do his bidding. They probably had a miserable bastard club going.
    "So, if Beth is gone, who's keeping the schedule?"
    "No one. We're a bloody shambles. But he's interviewing replacements. I expect they'll be men. Smelly ugly men from now on."
    "I bet." My limbs and tongue loosened from drinking, I wrapped my arm around his waist and pulled him close for a hug. "I missed you, Dex."
    "Missed you too, love."
    We shared a quiet moment and then he guffawed.
    "What?"
    "I was just thinking about the time the bus got pulled over and Beth convinced the cop we were all crazy on Ambien instead of drunk."
    "Oh god, it was so hard not to laugh. Especially when you started staggering around like a zombie."
    "Isn't that what happens?" He blinked innocently.
    "I don't know. But I doubt it."
    "Well, it worked."
    "Yeah."
    In all the drama and pain of leaving Joe I'd lost sight of how much fun being on the road was sometimes. It wasn't the solution to all my problems as I'd secretly hoped, but it was an experience I'd never forget or regret. I certainly never would have made friends with someone like Dex in any other circumstances.
    "What are you smiling about?"
    "Nothing. Just remembering good times," I said.
    "Well, good. Because Joe's here."
    My mouth went dry and my hands itched to adjust something on my clothes. I looked over towards the door and there he was. The man of my dreams and nightmares. Joe Hawk.
    His gaze landed on me almost instantly and I could feel those impossibly bright blue eyes like licks of cold fire on my skin. Dex slid away as Joe walked towards me, muttering "Talk to you later."
    By the time Joe was standing in front of me everyone else in the bar and the whole world had disappeared. All I saw was him. In ratty cargo pants and a tight black t-shirt that highlighted his lean, muscular body and showed a tiny strip of his shoulder tattoo he was perfection. The short dark hair I loved mussing, his wide, soft lips, and the hands that had coaxed so much pleasure from my body.
    "Hi," I croaked.
    "Liss."
    We stood awkwardly for a moment. So close together but still so far away.
    In his eyes I saw the same roiling sea of emotions going through me and I did the only thing that made sense. I wrapped my arms around him and hugged him so tight it hurt. He froze for a second and then returned the embrace, pressing the entire length of his beautiful body against me. With my head against his shoulder I inhaled, taking in his natural scent that I missed almost as much as his touch.
    Tears dripped from my eyes and onto his shirt but I didn't care. I was in Joe's arms and like the very first time, it still felt like home. Whatever else had gone wrong, we fit together in a way that made no sense, but couldn't be denied.
    There's no fairy tale about a chubby waitress and a sexy rock star because even children wouldn't believe a story like that. But I'd lived it for a while and in that moment I wanted nothing more than to go back in time. Run away to the past with him and hide forever from the real world.
    Joe's fingers tangled in my hair and I sighed, knowing when the hug