The Rock Star Next Door #1 Read Online Free PDF Page B

perfect level of scruff. His black shirt had a sheen to it and was fitted super tight. She could see every muscle in his chest.
    He definitely wasn’t the kid she remembered.
    Rage held out a hand to her, and she took it. Metal and Crash had already found a couple of girls and curled their arms around them.
    “Yo, Rage, you want to come up to the suite and party with us tonight?” Crash asked. His hair spiked out in every direction. He was lean and tall, and hunched over to keep his arm on the girl’s shoulder.
    “Nah,” Rage said. “Jewel and I have been going over the contracts.”
    Metal shook his head. “All work and no play.”
    “I’ll catch ya’ll in the morning. We’ll come up with the set list and work on that new song,” Rage said.
    “You got it, boss,” Crash said. He and Metal escorted the girls out. The room was emptying in a hurry.
    “What did you want to look at now?” Jewel asked. Arnie still hadn’t let her see any accounting ledgers.
    Her heart did a little flip when he caught her eyes. “I was hoping just to be with you,” he said. “We can go out somewhere if you like, or call some food up to the room.”
    Jewel found it hard to talk suddenly. Her eyes grazed his biceps. “Okay,” was all she managed.
    His smile was huge and genuine. He almost had the look of the neighbor boy she once knew. “Well, come on then. Let’s head up.”
    But when they stepped out in the hall, Jewel got her first taste of what his life could be like. This hotel had not been kept secret apparently. Hundred of girls screamed when he appeared, pushing up against the meager amount of crew brought down to keep them at bay.
    “Holy shit,” Rage said. “When did this happen?”
    Arnie came up behind them. “Somebody Tweeted with a location,” he said. “Let’s get to the elevators.”
    They pushed through, but Rage didn’t like just ignoring the fans. He stopped and signed things, papers thrust at him, posters and CDs. One girl whipped her shirt off so he could sign her chest. Jewel sensed his discomfort at this with her watching, and kept the pen high on her collarbone.
    Some of them got more aggressive, trying to grab him. Finally Arnie announced, “That’s enough! Let him through!”
    They made it to the elevators finally, and the crew could keep the fans back in that small controlled space. The hotel manager waited for them. “We’ve moved you to the top floor, which is only accessed with a key. We didn’t realize you would need security.”
    “Back when we booked it, we didn’t,” Arnie said. “The boy is a hot commodity.”
    “I see that.” The manager looked perturbed in his navy suit with a shiny gold badge declaring him to be Joe Mendall.
    The elevators arrived and Arnie, Rage, and Jewel stepped in. The manager handed Arnie a key. “You’ll need this to get to the top. You can get down without it.”
    Arnie stuck it in the slot inside. “Thanks.”
    They rose up through the tower of the hotel. Jewel watched Rage in the mirror. He seemed agitated, anxious. “You ready for this life?” she asked him.
    He reached down and grabbed her hand. “Don’t have a choice now.”
    “Nope,” Arnie said. “Like it or not, this is how it’s going to be for a while.”
    The elevator slowed to a stop and everyone stepped out. Jewel’s heart hammered then. She was going to be alone with Rage. And she didn’t think he was going to be walking away this time.

8. Rage: Taking Care

    The city was laid out in front of giant glass windows. This hotel was definitely classy. For the first time, Rage let himself think, I’ve made it .
    Jewel stood beside him, also taking in the view. Damn, he was happy. Even if it all went to hell from here, he’d gotten to this moment. It was worth it.
    “Tell me about your mom,” Jewel said. “I was awful sorry not to go to her funeral. She was a great lady.”
    That got him. He turned away from the lights of LA and headed for the leather-topped bar. “She