Manhandled: A Rockstar Romantic Comedy (Hammered Book 2) by Cari Quinn, Taryn Elliott Read Free Book Online

Oh, here we go with the waterworks. “Mom, don’t start.”
    “How can you be so calm?” she wailed.
    I pulled her into a hug and fought back my own wash of tears. I wasn’t calm. I was going nuts, but crying about it wasn’t going to help anyone. But I also had a tendency toward sympathy tears. If she started, I would probably dissolve into a full-fledged sobfest myself.
    Not good.
    I stood up and dragged her over to the sideboard. I opened the tall crystal decanter with bourbon in it.
    “Faith…”
    “Don’t argue with me.”
    “It’s too early to drink.”
    “It’s never too early for a good bourbon.” I splashed a mouthful into two tumblers. I slung a glass over to her.
    She wrapped her shaking fingers around the glass and slowly sipped. Her eyebrows went up.
    “I know. It’s like chocolate had sex with alcohol.”
    My mom huffed out a small laugh. “I don’t know if it’s more horrifying that you talk like your band, or that I find it funny.” She took another drink. “Don’t tell your father.”
    I lifted my glass to clink with hers. “Secrets to the grave.”
    “I don’t really appreciate this dark sense of humor you have.”
    I finished off the glass. “You never did, but if I don’t joke then what the hell am I going to do?”
    “Take it seriously?”
    I whirled on her. “Of course I am.” I held my arms out. “I have a huge house and it’s never felt so small in my life,” I shouted. My mom’s eyes filled again and I tipped my head back. “Dammit.”
    “Keys?”
    I jumped at Patrick’s voice and spun around.
    “Sorry.” Patrick stood at the entry of the hallway down to the front door with Noah and another man. His lantern jaw was locked and a scruff of red hair covered his cheeks. His eyes were exhausted, under the worry.
    I rushed over to the men and gave Patrick a quick pat on the arm.
    He stiffened and backed up. “I’m going to check the perimeter.”
    I sighed, waiting until his boots echoed and the door slammed behind him. “He’s just worried,” I said to Noah.
    He dragged me in for a tight hug. “How’re you holding up?”
    I pulled away and looked over my shoulder at my mother staring out the window at the mountains. “We’re doing okay.”
    Noah frowned down at me. “No, how are you doing?”
    I gave him a wry grin. “Going stir-crazy.”
    “That’s what I thought.”
    I peeked over at his friend. He wore a crisp white shirt and black suit. His hair was military short, but his skin was tanner than I’d have expected for someone so…suit-ish.
    But man, his eyes.
    Arctic blue and assessing.
    His gaze surveyed every corner of my living room, and he frowned at every damn thing. Before I could open my mouth and introduce myself, he walked away and checked my dining room, then walked into the kitchen.
    I stood in my living room watching him, my hands on my hips.
    Really?
    Not even a “Hi, my name is”?
    “Don’t mind Quinn. He’s just thorough. He’s been studying your blueprints on the flight.”
    I turned to Noah. “How the hell did you get my blueprints?”
    “You don’t really want to know.”
    I crossed my arms over my middle and followed Quinn down the hall and up the stairs to the second level.
    “Keys,” Noah called after me.
    I ignored him and trailed Quinn into a guest bedroom. “Make yourself at home.”
    He glanced over his shoulder at me. “Your house is a nightmare.”
    “Why, thank you. So glad you could share your opinion.” My house was the one thing I was incredibly proud of, besides my collection of instruments. It was the first thing I’d bought on my own, without anyone’s help.
    Okay, so the bank helped, but no one had co-signed with me and the payment came out of my personal account every damn month.
    And I loved my house.
    He ran his hand along the sill of the huge window in the second bedroom. “These will need to be replaced.”
    “Hell no.”
    He looked down at me. “So, you don’t mind that anyone could look