Hung Out: A Needles and Pins Rock Romance by Lyrica Creed Read Free Book Online Page A

room.
    Feeling eyes on me, I lifted my chin and curved a practiced smile. This was my fourth visit. Shady Oasis was no stranger to celebrities in the form of patients or their families, but still an atmosphere buzzed around my entrance. After a quick sweep of the room, I headed to an unoccupied section, nodding as I passed at the few I’d chatted with before. Smoothing the back of my dress, I lowered into one of the two rocking chairs and waited.
    I had already sent a text before stepping from the cab, and I turned my screen on to see if any had come through during my walk in.
     
    Just pulled up
sent 1:00 PM
     
    Gage
Brt
1:00 PM
     
    “Excuse me. You’re Scarlette Conterra.” The young woman was beautiful. When she raised her hand to tuck a wavy strand of hair behind her ear, the patient band on her wrist slipped a couple of inches down her forearm.
    “I am.” I nodded, and flexed an inquiring smile.
    Anyone in here who knew music, knew who I was.
    Social media recluses who hadn’t seen headlines like
A Dead Ringer For Her Dad, Rock and Roll Lovechild Inherits Billions
, or more embarrassingly from the sex tape scandal
Blended Family Affairs. Siblings or Lovers?
still knew who I was. Girlfriend of the resident rock star, whatever his name was.
    “I’m Andrea. I just wanted to say hi. It’s great to meet you. Gage never stops talking about you.”
    “Gage talks to you about me?” With fame, I had remained grounded, solid. But I had been overexposed to distinctive personalities and mimicked some of these personas at will. Right now, I arched a brow and put on my best snooty air. I couldn’t help it. The girl was gorgeous. And thinking of Gage talking to her—shining his ‘engaging’ smile on her—did ugly things.
    “To everyone, actually. All good things. Don’t worry.” A nervous giggle expelled with Andrea’s next breath. “Anyway. Have a good visit.” The last part was accompanied by a blush, and she hurried away.
    It was nuts. I had actually thought ahead enough to imagine Gage going about his musician life while I was putting in long hours at the university. Playing in his cover band. Or joining another band. Having friends over to swim while I wasn’t home. And yes, in the last few months, his house had felt like home. But I had never dreamed I had to worry about what he would be doing in rehab.
    “Scar Dar’!” His husky voice vibrated my ear, and his breath sent a heated shiver through my limbs. He’d come up behind me, and I leaned back, enjoying his hard body. I jumped when he bit my ear, and when my head turned away in self-defense, he claimed my lips as smoothly as if he had executed the plan that way. Restraint manifested in a clench of his fingers to my arms when he respectively forced space between our lips.
    Rules. I’d only skimmed them, but I was sure they included no macking like horny teens in the common room during visiting hours.
    “How’s my dog?”
    I pulled a semblance of the face I’d shown Andréa. “Rascal’s fine. And so am I. Thanks for asking.”
    “I’m fine too.” He saw my arched brow and raised me one. “Thanks for asking.”
    A giggle bubbled to the surface, and suddenly I was laughing and he right along with me.
    Hooking a finger into the silver cuff bracelet, he tugged until I was a breath away again. Instead of kissing me, he said, “Let’s go for a walk.”
    We held hands as we took a trail around the pool area and began down the slope toward the lake in the far distance. Looking at our entwined fingers, I couldn’t help but see the symbolism of stark reality—the change from when I’d shown up at his door. My bracelet was silver, adorned with designer engravings, while his was vinyl, decorated with his patient ID and specifics.
    When we’d walked for more than ten minutes, I slowed. Looking at my feet, he stopped me and held his hand out. “Give ’em.”
    “My shoes? No. It’s okay. I didn’t know, or I would have worn something else.