Erik
Holy fuck.
Casey freakin’ Hart just kissed me. Her lips sent a shockwave rocketing through me that made me want to do unthinkable things to her. I wanted to grab her by the ass, yank her against me, and stick my tongue down her throat. She’d already stepped back, though, her eyes twinkling as she waited for my reaction. Damn, she was beautiful, and mischievous, and everything I never realized I wanted in a woman. How did the wrong woman feel so incredibly right? I’d always wanted her because she was beautiful and talented, but she wasn’t the kind of girl a guy like me could marry. She was a rock star, for god’s sake, and the thought of her dressing in conservative suits and hosting tea parties was almost laughable.
Except I was never going to be king, and there was no reason to follow the rules anymore. All that had gotten me was frustrated. Maybe it was time to take my mother’s advice, push back against tradition and pursue a woman I wanted simply because my entire being reacted whenever she was near me. There wasn’t anything to lose, and now that I’d had a taste, I wasn’t as willing to repress my attraction as I’d been before.
“You shouldn’t tease a man,” was all I could think to say.
“Who’s teasing?” She winked and moved off toward a group of people that had come in.
I watched her with a private smile, wondering just what mischief she would lead me into on this trip. The look on Sandor’s face told me he was already horrified, but as an official guard to the royal family, he felt duty-bound to follow me to the ends of the earth. We’d enjoyed some interesting evenings while we’d been students at Oxford. That was one of the fringe benefits of being a protector of the royal family, as well as a cousin; my father insisted that Sandor be just as educated as I was. So, although Sandor was a couple of years older than me, he’d dutifully waited until I was ready for college before attending himself. However, what we’d thought was adventurous in those days was probably nothing compared to what Casey had in store for us.
One part of me was excited. I’d been infatuated with her for years, and she’d barely given me the time of day. Now, I was going to be in her company for an undetermined length of time, without Nick—whom I knew she dated on and off—or anyone else to distract her. I wasn’t worried about her music industry friends; had there been anyone of any romantic interest to her in those circles I would’ve heard about it. All I really had to worry about was my own perception that I’d never be the kind of man she wanted. Not that I had any idea what kind of man that was, but could a sexy, successful woman like her truly be attracted to a man she’d already called stuffy and boring?
I liked to think I was a mature, educated, respectable man who had a lifetime of public service in my future, but when it came to Casey, I felt like an inexperienced teenager with sweaty palms and knocking knees. I wanted to throw convention to the wind and marry her. Today. My parents had long since given their blessing if such an occasion ever arose, which was weird and heartwarming at the same time, and I had a gut feeling this was going to be my one and only chance to win her over. The question was how to do it. Sandor would be no help, and if given a choice, I would’ve preferred Sandor not come along at all. Hopefully, a few glasses of whiskey would put Sandor in a mellow enough mood to leave us alone.
As the evening wore on, I watched Casey make frequent visits to the bar. Each time she would down a shot of that Tennessee Fire she loved so much, and then walk away with a whiskey and Coke that she would sip as she mingled. She seemed to know everyone, from the publicity people to the band’s managers to their girlfriends and parents. She charmed the record company executives, made small talk with Keegan’s girlfriend, and unobtrusively picked up a piece of lobster dipped in butter and seductively popped it in her mouth. Every man in the room was watching her, and she knew it. I had to admit, I’d never seen this side of her before, and it fascinated me. I’d seen her perform live a bunch of times, and I’d seen her rare television appearances, but I’d never seen her so alive. She was a star, she knew it, and she had a room full of people practically salivating to get close to her.
“I must admit,” Sandor said as he came up behind me and glanced in Casey’s direction. “She’s never been my type, but she’s a very sexy woman.”
I smiled. “She’s always been my type, and it’s taking all my self-control not to go over there and throw myself at her feet.”
We were still chuckling as Casey approached, for the first time a bit unsteady on her feet. She gave us a smile and cocked her head. “You’re talking about me again.”
“Busted.” I smiled down at her.
“If you two are going to exchange drool, I’m leaving,” Sandor muttered.
Casey laughed, linking her arm through mine.
“So, what do you think?” she was asking me. “Did you like the music?”
I nodded. “Not bad. I’m more a jazz fan though.”
“Why am I not surprised?” She shook her head. “Come on, let’s do a shot.”
“Casey, I—”
“You what?” She leaned against me. “You want to play without paying first? No way. If you’re not as drunk as I am by the time we leave here, you’re sleeping alone tonight.”
I met her gaze directly, my green eyes boring into her blue ones. On the inside, my stomach had begun to churn, but I refused to let her see what she was doing to me. “I can match you shot for shot.”
“I’m about six up on you right now, so you’ve got a lot of catching up to do!” She turned and took a step toward the bar. Then she paused. “Coming?”
“Soon, I hope.”
I followed her as Sandor muttered, “You’re insane.”
“Casey!” a loud male voice shouted from across the room, and I turned to see an extraordinarily tall man with glasses and a blond ponytail open his arms. Casey ran into them, and he scooped her up in a huge hug, spinning her around until they were both laughing. They kissed, but it was without passion, and I forced myself not to react.
“Lance! What are you doing here? And you’re late!”
“I’m always late,” he chuckled. “But I was working, so I have a good excuse.”
“Likely story.”
“I’m glad to see you though.”
“So am I.” She turned then, seeking me out. “I want you to meet my friends, Erik and Sandor.”
Lance frowned slightly and looked in our direction almost suspiciously.
“Erik!”
She was calling to me, and I had no choice but to join them.
“I want you to meet Lance Baker,” she said. “He’s been our tour manager since our first headlining tour, and he’s like family.”
“Nice to meet you.” I shook his hand and was surprised to find it firm and dry. Lance was probably close to seven feet tall, and his glasses redefined the analogy of Coke-bottle lenses. However, upon closer inspection, every inch of the man was steel, and his voice was deep and sincere.
“Likewise. Casey running you ragged?”
“She’s trying,” I laughed.
“Well, then, let’s do a shot.” Lance turned toward the bartender and automatically ordered a round of Tennessee Fire.
“We’re going to die,” Sandor muttered under his breath.
My hopes that the party was dying down were dashed even though the release party was coming to an end, but the band had invited everyone to a club in Greenwich Village, and more than a dozen of the guests filed out to find taxis. Lance joined us in the SUV though.
“Casey, you really need to do a solo album and tour,” he was saying.
“I want to,” Casey agreed. She was pressed up against my side and seemed perfectly content there. I knew she was drunk, and that she might not be flirting with me like this if she hadn’t been, but tonight I didn’t care. “I’m not ready to think about the future yet.”
“Gonna let loose for a while?”
“That’s the plan.” Casey turned those gorgeous blue eyes to me and leaned in, letting her lips hover millimeters from mine.
“Oh, bother,” Sandor muttered, staring out the window.
“Kinda sucky to be the third wheel, ain’t it?” Lance asked him. “I hate it, too, but since I rarely get to hang with Casey, I guess I’m willing to put up with it.”
To my surprise, Sandor laughed. “I suppose, in an odd way, I feel the same way since I rarely get to spend quality time with my favorite cousin.”
“Oh, you guys are cousins?” Lance began talking a mile a minute about his own cousins, and Casey looked over at me.
“What?” I asked softly.
“Just kind of surreal that we’re here like this.”
“You’re beautiful,” I whispered. I desperately wanted to kiss her—really kiss her—but this was neither the time nor the place. Not yet.
“Not yet,” she said, echoing my thoughts. “Later—there’s time.” She looked out the window and let out a yell. “We’re here. You guys are going to love this place,” she cried, hopping out of the car before I could grab her. She linked her arm through Lance’s and called over her shoulder to Sandor and me. “Come on, slowpokes!”
It was past midnight now, but Casey didn’t seem to be tired at all. She immediately headed for the bar with Lance in tow, and Sandor and I found a table in the back of the private room the band had reserved. Unlike the recording studio where we’d been earlier, this was a nightclub where bands played, music blared, and couples found dark corners in which to make out, dance, or do any number of other things I didn’t want to think about. Casey and Lance arrived carrying a tray with shots for all of us.
“If we die,” Sandor whispered to me, “I’m going to follow you straight to hell and kick your ass.”
“At least we’ll be together,” was my response as the liquid burned its way down my throat.
“Casey, dance with me!” Keegan had appeared, and Casey was whisked off in his arms as he spun her around a raised dance floor.
For a hard rock musician, he could move, and I watched in irritation. Casey was also an excellent dancer, and they were the center of attention as Keegan dipped her over and over.
“Don’t worry about Keegan,” Lance spoke behind me. “He’s all but married, quite happily. But his girl is pregnant, so she went home. Casey’s the reason their band got discovered, so they love her—and they’re good guys. Besides, she scares the hell out of them.”
“She scares the hell out of me sometimes too,” I chuckled, starting to relax.
“How long have you known each other?” Lance asked.
I sighed. “Most of our lives, actually. My family lives in Las Vegas most of the year, but I went to school in England so I wasn’t around much.”
“And she was probably hooking up with Nick.”
“Absolutely.”
“Look, I don’t know you or what your story is, but Casey’s like a sister to me. She’s kind of vulnerable right now—don’t hurt her, okay?”
“Believe me, that’s the last thing on my mind.”
“Good.” Lance nodded at me and then strode out to the dance floor where he tapped Keegan on the shoulder and cut in on the dance. Lance, however, could not dance, and soon he and Casey were laughing too hard to move.
A rock ballad filtered through the sound system and that was my cue. “It’s my turn,” I announced, nudging Lance.
“Cool.” Lance inclined his head and moved toward the bar.
Casey let me take her hand, and we moved into each other’s arms easily. I’d never enjoyed a dance as much as this one, and we swayed in silence for a while before Casey put her head on my chest. “You smell yummy,” was all she said.
“You look yummy,” I responded. Her mouth was inches from mine, and she smiled invitingly, but then she was yanked away from me.