Rocked by Clara Bayard Read Free Book Online Page B

the balcony where they stood that led behind the stage. I had to get up there.
    I pushed my way through the crowd and stopped in front of a very large man behind a velvet rope. Behind him was a stairway leading up.
    "VIP only, Miss."
    "I just need to get a message to someone up there."
    The bouncer looked me up and down. "You and every chick in this place. Sorry."
    "Please, just tell Joe Hawk that Liss is here. Please?"
    He rolled his eyes. "Send an email."
    A female voice behind me laughed. "Give it up chubs."
    I took a deep breath and ignored her. I stood up on my toes and talked to the bouncer again. "Sir, please. It is important. Just tell him that one thing and I'll leave you alone."
    He shrugged. "Fine. At least you're being polite." He turned away and muttered into his headset. A thousand years went by before he looked down at me and smiled. "Go on up, Miss." He pushed aside the rope and I climbed the stairs. My heart soared and then I laughed as I heard the crowd in front of the bouncer complaining. That's right, I wanted to tell them. My fat ass is going up to see the band and your skinny ones are staying down there.
    Giddy but not caring a bit I entered the VIP section. And there waiting for me at the top of the stairs was Joe. In tight pants and no shirt he was a vision. But before I could properly appreciate the view I was in his arms. He kissed me deeply and squeezed me tight.
    "Liss," he said after finally releasing me enough to look into my eyes. "How did you know I needed to see you more than anything in the world tonight?"
    "I didn't. But I heard your new song and…"
    "I wanted to get it perfect before I played it for you."
    "The whole world's heard it now, Joe."
    "Yeah. I'm kind of in trouble for it. But I don't care."
    I grinned and kissed him. "It's beautiful."
    " You're beautiful." His eyes scanned down my body. "That is a great dress."
    "Glad you like it."
    He slung an arm around my shoulder, fingertips grazing my breasts, and led me deeper into the VIP area. There were low padded benches and a bar. The rest of his band and a bunch of other people were lounging around drinking and talking. No one was paying any attention to the stage.
    "Let me introduce you to the guys," Joe said. He pointed at the British one I recognized. "This is Dex, our bass player. You talked to him on the phone briefly."
    "You must be the famous Liss this prat keeps going on about," Dex said with a smile. "Pleasure to meet you."
    I smiled and shook his hand, so happy to be next to Joe again. It felt like home.
    We were moving on to the next band member when a really tall guy with an annoyed expression hurried over. He scowled at everyone before speaking. "Guys, come on. You're supposed to be backstage already. The label rep wants to schmooze before you go on. Besides the whole crowd is trying to watch you party instead of paying attention to the opening act."
    Agreeable grumbles came from all sides and everyone started moving towards the door to backstage. Joe pulled me along with him as he took one last gulp of his drink, but the tall man stopped us. "No guests."
    "Ryan, this is Liss. She's coming with me."
    Ah, Ryan, the manager.
    "Joseph, please. Band and crew only."
    I sniggered. He called Joe by his full name just like Sarah insisted on doing to me. Maybe they were a match made in officious jerk heaven.
    "I said she's with me. Either get out of our way or have no one to sing Full Dark for all those people down there."
    I squeezed Joe's waist tighter, enjoying this side of him.
    "Fine, whatever. But stay out of the way, girlie."
    Girlie? Really? He couldn't have been older than thirty-five but talked like a character from an old movie.
    Joe and I laughed as he led me into the inner sanctum of the club.
    "Babe, let me go handle whatever bullshit Ryan wants us to do. I'll come say hello before we go on, okay? Just ask someone if you want a drink or anything."
    "Of course. Enjoy your bullshit."
    He grinned and kissed me on the