Joy Ride by Desiree Holt (bill gates best books TXT) 📗

herself. To realize the deep sensuality begging to be fully released. The awareness of self. The need to explore new opportunities. Maybe in every area of her existence. So how could she blame them for not sensing any of this?

Two weeks ago, she had no idea she’d be reliving the thrill of a joy ride and loving it. That she’d discover a world of sensuality previously unknown to her. That the new feelings would crowd out the old ones. Now she didn’t know what to do with them or have any idea where to go from here.

She dumped the remains of the tea in both glasses and stuck them in the dishwasher, then walked outside onto her back porch. Looking up at the sky, she wondered when the first stars would come out. And if wishing on one would help her get what she wanted.

Guitar Man.

Chapter Five

“Could you possibly get your head out of your ass and pay attention?”

“Huh?” Marc looked up to see Rick glaring at him.

“Exactly. We’re all here. Where are you? Obviously not with the rest of us.”

It was Monday and the band was rehearsing at Aftershock. Or at least three of them were. Marc couldn’t seem to get in sync with the others. His mind kept wandering back to the scene the day before in the grocery store. Why had Music Lady refused to recognize him? He’d spent a fruitless Sunday afternoon and evening trying to come up with answers, which totally shot his efforts to write a new song. He couldn’t remember the last time a woman had screwed with his head like this.

“Gotta be a female.” Garrett Barnes, the drummer did a soft rim shot. “Only a female could get his balls in a twist like this.”

“Yeah?” Rick was in his face. “I thought you were the guy who could take ‘em or leave ‘em. Isn’t that right, Marco Polo?”

Marc took a step back, putting space between the two of them. He hated it when Rick called him that stupid name. The guy only did it when he was angry or wanted to get a rise out of him. Right now Marc was sure it was both.

“Yeah, right,” he agreed, barely concealing his irritation. He picked a few low notes on the bass. “Okay, I’m in it. Let’s go.”

But everyone on the stage was well aware his mind was not one hundred percent on the rehearsal.

After another lackluster hour of work, Rick put down his guitar. “Okay, let’s pack it in. Guys, tomorrow at one. We can get in three good hours before we have to go home and get ready for the evening. Marc, hang back a little, will you?”

Marc knew he was going to get the third degree. Well, it was his own damn fault for letting his mind wander when he should have been concentrating on the material. He put his guitar away, carefully snapped the locks on the case, and shoved his hands in his pockets, waiting. Garret and the lead singer, Danny Chavez, left and it was just Marc and Rick. And the elephant in the room between them.

“Okay, guy.” Rick hitched his butt onto the stool at one side of the stage and folded his arms across his chest. “Let’s have it. I’m guessing this has something to do with the blonde you asked me about yesterday.”

Marc sighed, picked up the bottle of water next to his guitar case, and took a long drink from it. He capped the bottle with a slow, deliberate movement, trying to figure out how to explain this to Rick.

“I didn’t think the question was so hard,” his friend commented.

“No, it’s not.” Marc exhaled heavily. “It’s just…this will sound so stupid.”

Rick laughed. “No more stupid than half the things I’ve done myself. Come on. Let me have it.”

“Okay, okay.” Marc stuck his hands in his pockets and stared at the floor. “Usually all you can see from the stage is the mass of bodies in the crowd. You know? The lights get in your eyes and everything’s distorted.

“But sometimes when they shift, you can zero in on someone, right?”

“Right. Just as we were finishing Hard Lovin’ Man, I glanced down and there she was. Practically shoved up against the stage from the force of the crowd behind her.”

“And?” Rick prompted.

“I swear, it was like being hit by lightning. I know how corny that sounds but it’s the damn truth. The rest of the night, I felt like I was playing just for her.”

And getting her out of his mind since then had been next to impossible. She was so different than the others women, with a rare freshness to her. How could he not be so fascinated by her?

“Okay.” Rick nodded. “I get it. So you’re all twisted up about some female you saw in the crowd? That’s not like you.”

“Oh, I met her all right.” Marc looked down at his feet then back up at his friend. “She stayed until the end of the last set. And then she came home with me.”

Rick’s jaw dropped. “Just like that?”

“Just like that.”

“A little swift even for you, isn’t it?”

Marc pulled his hands out of his pockets and ran his fingers through his hair. “I never expected it. Honest to God. I followed her into the parking lot because I just had to meet her, touch her…kiss her. I was afraid she’d either smack me good or call the cops.”

He was only comfortable discussing this with Rick. Their friendship went back so many years and they knew most of each other’s secrets. He’d never open up this way to the other guys but usually Rick was able to give him perspective.

One corner of Rick’s mouth lifted in a smile. “I’m guessing she didn’t do either of those.”

“She kissed me back.” Marc was still stunned by the whole thing. “Then she came home with me. And Rick? I had the best sex I’ve ever had in my life. Even better than sex.” He paused.