Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1) by Michelle Jo Quinn Read Free Book Online Page A

suite was also a two-bedroom, just in case Harley decided to spend the night there instead.
    Cade felt she should be grateful to have such a privilege, living in the lap of luxury, flying first class, staying in elegant locations. What was the best part? She would be attending some of the band rehearsals, meeting the rest of the crew, and enjoy LA as much as Harley wanted. Harley had given her a list of places they could visit. Although the girl was born there and had spent eight years of her life in LA, she hadn’t been allowed to travel around the city—not when her mother had often been sick or passed out from intoxication.
    Cade unpacked her suitcase, hanging all the standard black and grey suits she owned in the closet. The rest, her pyjamas, favourite jeans, and a few t-shirts were stuffed in the drawers, along with her underwear and socks. Harley came bounding in from across the hall and into the living area of the suite when Cade finished.
    “Dad said we’ll have lunch, and then go with him to rehearsal so you can meet the band,” Harley announced. “Aren’t you excited?”
    “Thrilled.” Cade had to hide her anxiety. She had studied and memorized everything and anything about Jax’s band mates. None looked threatening, although she expected indifference from the lot, and from their wives, girlfriends, and/or groupies.
    “Is that what you’re going to wear?”
    Cade glanced down at her usual getup. Harley hadn’t asked with malice. The girl was just curious. “What’s wrong with this?”
    Harley knitted her brows together. Was she scrutinizing her? “It’s too formal.”
    “I’m working.” Fact.
    “Do you have to wear a suit when you’re working?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “Because it’s in the rule book,” Cade quickly replied.
    “What rule book? I checked your contract. It doesn’t say what you have to wear while watching over me.”
    Cade’s jaw dropped. She blinked furiously, trying to come up with an answer. She could almost tell that Harley was up to something. “I’m more comfortable in this.” Cade smoothed her hands down to her hips.
    Harley screwed up her face. They had a silent stand off until Harley shrugged. “Suit yourself.” And laughed. “Get it? Suit? Yourself?”
    Now this was the type of girl she should be, not a girl who browsed contractual agreements. Cade kissed Harley’s head and pulled her onto the sofa.
    “Let me braid your hair, Har.”
    “Okay.”
    Harley sat, humming a tune, which was familiar only to the child. Cade wondered where she had gotten it. The melody was serene, calming.
    “What song is that?”
    “Hmm?” Whenever Cade played with her hair or braided it, Harley would turn into a purring cat. “What song?”
    “The one you were just humming.”
    “I was?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’m not sure. It’s always been in my head. I think Dad sang it to me when I was younger.”
    Cade’s heart swelled. Jax might come off as the bad boy rock star, but when it came to Harley, he was sweet and loving. He really was trying to be a better father, Cade had witnessed it. On the flight over, Harley had told her what they’d done when Cade had pretended to have an emergency and asked Zee to find her a replacement. The little girl’s eyes brightened as she recalled the lunch and quiet walk by the sea wall.
    A sharp pang of jealousy rocked her as Cade wondered what it would have been like having a father who actually cared for her, who took her to lunch, who sang to her, who loved her. She pushed the feeling aside. It had no room in her mind at the moment.
    “All done.” Cade swung Harley’s braid over a shoulder. “We should see if your father wants to go for lunch now.”
    “M’kay.” Harley jumped off the sofa and ran across to the other room.
    Once the door closed behind her, Cade widened her stance as she stood by the sofa in the living room. Jax’s suite was bigger and a lot more elegant than hers. She itched to adjust something, the collar of