Gauge: Rockstar Romance (The ProVokaTiv Series Book 1) by Cara Nelson Read Free Book Online Page A

like The Duamo, which was so impressive in the daylight but from pictures I’d seen, equally impressive at night when it was lit up, making it a visual draw even in the darkest hours.  Milan was stunning; beautiful people and beautiful scenery, to be certain.
    I thought about how this place was part of Trinity’s career goals. She lived and died by the belief that if a model didn’t get to Milan, they hadn’t done much at all. She was twenty-two, like me, but unlike me she was past her prime for achieving her goals.  I loved it that she didn’t surrender to the desire, though. I could imagine her down there, strutting her stuff with Jessie and me clapping and cheering, saying, “That’s right. We’re her dearest friends.”
    An involuntary sigh escaped my lips. I was feeling a bit homesick and missing everyone. Life was busy, but I was gaining an entirely new perspective of what life on the road was like. It was one thing to know it was different and to hear about the differences, but to actually experience it put it all into stronger perspective. My story would be better for it.
    Then there was Gauge. I’d given up pretending that I wasn’t attracted to him, because I was. There was a lot about him that I didn’t know, but I wanted to know him better—off the record.
    I heard a gentle tap at the door of the room and walked over, staring through the peephole to see who it was. I smiled as I looked and saw inviting, full lips. I puckered up and pretended to kiss them before opening the door and showing a smile—not my come hither lips.
    “Got any plans?” Gauge asked. He was leaning against the door frame. I stared at his bicep, which was bulging and made his tribal tattoo seem to move like water in a river.
    “No.”
    “Great. I’m on the list for Alcatraz. Interested?”
    “I’ll pass on a going to prison with you,” I said. I sounded serious but broke out into a smile right away. Gauge looking at me with an expression that definitely stated ‘are you serious?’ “I’m just kidding,” I said.
    Alcatraz was one of the greatest clubs in Milan, playing host to live music, awesome popular club songs, and even fashion shows. It was an up-and-coming artist’s dream to get a chance to play there. It would be amazing for me to see it, probably a story within itself.
    “When do you want to go?”
    “I’ll come by at 10.”
    “Great,” I said.
    When the door was shut, I looked at the clock. It was 4 PM. I started to think about my clothes. Unlike a guy, I had to go to the club with a better outfit on than a pair of jeans and an awesome shirt.
    A call to the concierge and a taxi ride later, I was on Via Montenapoleone, staring at some of the highest-end designer boutiques known to the fashion world. My income wasn’t high end, but I had enough saved up that it wasn’t low end either.
    Three stores later, I had some clothes that I thought would work for my club night with Gauge. We’d slowly grown friendlier with each other, always with an undercurrent of sexual energy, and although nobody had said the D word—you know, date—I felt like this was kind of like a date. Why? The answer was simple. People would know him there. Photographers were always at places like that, which meant that there was a great chance that Gauge would be in some pictures. Unless he completely ignored me, I was likely to make the digital reel, too.
     
    “You look great,” Gauge said. He smiled and didn’t hide that he was looking me up and down. I put my arms out and let him soak it all up. After all, a girl didn’t dress this way to not be appreciated.
    My black leather pants had ribbons lacing all the way up the sides. Covering my ivory skin was a sapphire halter top that plunged lower than anything I’d ever owned, showing off my cleavage. The final touch was the black stilettos, which looked good, making my legs look longer than they already were. Lastly, and a small touch that was my favorite part, were the silver