Rock Hard by Adriana Hunter Read Free Book Online Page B

they’re totally down with the whole thing. They
loved the article you did on their client and fully intend to give you –
and in essence, our magazine, plenty of exclusive scoops. You can’t mess this
up, Kate.”
    “The thing
is…well, for personal reasons, I…”
    Ursula held
her gaze shrewdly. “I think I know where you’re going Kate. I must ask you
though how much you value your career.”
    Ursula sighed
deeply. “For months now, we haven’t really been impressed with your
productivity. This might be your big chance to finally prove yourself. Don’t
blow it. Or else I’m afraid there might no longer be a place for you at
Stardom. Just think of it as an exciting adventure that will be over before you
even know it. This is a very competitive and unforgiving industry, Kate. You
really don’t want to be messing up this far into your career. You understand
that you have to do whatever it takes to make this Gage Stevens project a
success?”
    “Yes, I
understand,” Kate said, and it was like tumbling into a fish net. Whatever it
takes…she understood that phrase quite well but had never had to actually be
subjected to obeying it. Looked like she was about to face even more
work-related as well as emotional challenges.
    Most
tormenting of all was the thought of having to face Gage again considering how
much he occupied her every free thought. In her dreams, he made love to her and
brought her to a passionate surrender. His supple, beautiful guitarist’s hands
played her fleshly strings with delicate ferocity.
    All her past
memories of lying in his arms had intensified to sense-numbing clarity now that
the years had turned full circle. How would she be able to stand being close to
him in the next several weeks? Show after show, groupie galore, the drinking,
the partying, and the wild sex? Kate knew all about such goings on, had
glimpsed a fraction of such that one night when she’d met Gage again. And now
she was going to have to go over it one more time….
     
    * * *
     
    If this is a
dream, don’t freaking wake me up.
    Gage knew he
was staring but for the life of him he couldn’t look away.
    Kate, in a
skirt. Her long, stocking-clad legs elegantly stepping out of the limo that
had picked her up and brought her to meet them where the tour bus was waiting.
    In broad
daylight, her creamy complexion and dazzling red hair made her look stunning.
    Like a perfect
cover model. Gage had dated them all: movie stars, Victoria Secret Angels, and
international beauty queens. But Kate stood out for her lushness; her obvious
cluelessness of what a package she brought to the table.
    He was
surprised to see she made it. He’d been so sure she’d refuse to do the
assignment. Why would she want to be holed up with him and his entourage for
the next one month of touring six cities? She wasn’t that much of a rock fan he
knew – and she was certainly no fan of his, he thought wryly.
    Obviously,
her employers were very persuasive to make her want to spend any more time
around him.
    Gage however
knew that though she could act like it was just his imagination, there was
still that spark between them. It wasn’t something that could be wished away no
matter how hard he tried. And God help him, how he’d tried. He didn’t want to
want this woman. She infuriated him with the way she seemed to look down her
nose at him even now, when he was worth more money than he knew how to spend.
    She had a
tentative smile on her face as she walked up to him, and he drew in a calming
breath. He was done feeling mad over Kate Preston.
    Sure, she’d
dumped him in cold blood and never looked back. He could still remember how bad
it used to be. Back in those days when he and his former band had tried to make
demo EPs that would hopefully catch a label’s attention. When they’d spent
nights opening for other bands, sleeping on the floor of tour buses of the main
acts and just doing anything to get themselves out there. Gage could