Page 26 of Rising Star

The woman brought her wineglass to her lips. She pushed her long blonde hair over her shoulder and held out her hand. “I’m Lucy, by the way.”

“Sam,” I said, shaking her hand.

“Do this often? Come to the hotel bar and drink by yourself?

I shook my head, mirroring her smile. “Not in a long time.”

“Closing in five minutes,” the bartender said, picking up my empty tumbler.

“Already? I thought I had more time. Can I get another one?” Lucy slid her credit card to the man. “Pour Sam one too and put his tab on my card, please.”

“You don’t have to do this, but thanks,” I said with a nod.

“It’s my pleasure. You want to finish your drink upstairs?” She arched a perfectly plucked brow, her chin pointing at my glass.

Could losing myself in a beautiful woman cure me of my nanny obsession?

Lucy squeezed my forearm, her touch comforting.

“No pressure. We can just talk. I’m not tired, and I could use some friendly conversation. I flew from Europe, and let me tell you jetlag is a real thing.”

“Conversation. Yeah, I can do that.”

She fetched her purse. “Follow me then.” We both grabbed our drinks and walked to the elevator in easy silence. I cast a discreet glance about the lobby. No doubt Brent, the security detail shadowing me, was somewhere around. I caught sight of him as I stepped into the car, and he joined us just in time before the door closed.

“Which room are ya?” I asked, for Brent’s sake. And to prevent him from following me.

“Fifteen-o-seven. Why?”

I shrugged. “No reason. Was wondering if we were on the same floor.”

My bodyguard gave me a subtle nod once the elevator car stopped. He’d be standing by the door of Lucy’s room before we closed it behind us.

* * *

Lucy’s hand landed on my thigh as she sat beside me on the mattress. Her touch warmed me up and sent a foreign buzz through me. My brain swam in a whiskey bliss, just enough that every tingle running through me electrified my body. Her floral scent, mixed with the wafts of red wine, spiraled around me. Her teeth left indents on her lower lip, and I leaned closer, ready to leave my own.

Her fingers locked behind my neck, and pulling me closer, her lips grazed mine. I sucked in a breath, contradictory fervors battling inside me. Right then, I decided to turn off all the warning signals screaming inside my head.

Lucy’s fingers lowered to my belt buckle. I tried to relax. To enjoy the present. To let go. But no matter how hard I tried, everything about this moment felt wrong. As if I was a guy cheating on the most precious person in his life. And truth be told, I’d never been the fuck-random-chick-on-the-road kind of rock star. All my life, I’d been in steady and lasting relationships. I wasn’t interested in those games. Up until now, I’d only slept with women I had genuine feelings for.

Lucy moaned against my mouth as she unzipped me, and I pushed back. She searched my eyes, lust filling hers. Something I couldn’t share. No matter how bad I tried to convince myself. Or what I told my entire being. No, even my body wasn’t into it.

Before her hands could reach the waistband of my boxer briefs, I moved to my feet.

“I’m sorry,” I said, scratching the top of my head.

“It’s not you, it’s me? That’s what you’re about to say, right?”

I cleared my throat. “Yeah. There’s someone else. I’ve been trying to move on, to forget about her, but I see her everywhere. Even in my dreams.”

“Lucky girl.”

I let out a half-snort. “Let’s say it’s complicated.”

Lucy sat on the bed and patted the comforter beside her. “Wanna talk about it?” I eyed the empty spot I vacated seconds ago. “I’m not gonna jump your bones. I promise. At the bar, I said we could talk. So here I am, inviting you to confide in me.”

I zipped and buttoned my pants and sat next to her. I had no one else to talk to about this. If I went to Riley, he would freak out. Devon would worry about me and the girls. Carter would tell me, “I told ya so.” And none of my other friends knew Madison, so they wouldn’t be of any help. Perhaps a stranger would be the best to confide in.