The Rock Star Next Door, a Modern Fairytale by Lily Silver Read Free Book Online Page A

even being with Lex, so why should she be so worked up, unless . . . something happened between them.  “Did you two get into a fight?”
    “I wish it were that simple . The jerk told the press he knew the first time he saw me I was the girl he was going to marry. C an you believe it ? ”
    “He m ust be serious, then.”
    “ Jack . ” Jessie sank down on the bed, upsetting his tray. He scrambled to save his pancakes from a bath of orange juice.
    He lifted the plate just in time to avoid as the bright liquid flooding the tray on his lap. “Meatloaf proposed to his wife after only knowing her for nine days and they’ve been married twenty some years.”
     
    “That was back in the 80’s. Hello? They’re divorced. Happily ever after, not so much. If you’re going to quote trivia at me then at least use something from this century. ” Jessie sat on the edge of the bed with her back to him. She leaned forward to prop her head in her hands. This was going nowhere. He wasn’t getting the point. Jack was crazy if he believed she should waltz off with Lex as if they lived in fairy tale.
    “W hat’s wrong with him?” Jack’s blunt question pierced the air, making her sit up straight again to defend her stance.
    “How would I know? We just met, had two dates?” Jessie turned to face him, unable to believe Jack could so calmly accept a near stranger telling the world he wanted to marry her, witho ut asking her first .
    “You read those lame romances where Mr. Right rides in o n a white steed and sweeps the girl off her feet, carrying her away to his castle to be ravished forever: you devour them . Embrace life, Jess, stop hiding from it.”
    “ I can’t believe you’re siding with him . ”
    “I’m not siding with him . Maybe he was drunk, maybe it just slipped out. I’ve been there, gone goo-goo over some girl and made an ass of mys elf in public. Just quit freakin’ out and give the guy a chance. Maybe he’s your prince. You won’t find out hiding in my room.”
    “I’m not hiding . ” Jessie vaulted from the bed and turned to confront him with her arms crossed, her feet firmly planted on the carpet. Lex called earlier to invite her to join him for lunch next door.  S he wasn’t sure she could face him after last night. 
    Jack merely looked at her.
    “Okay, so maybe I am.” She turned on her heel and left her brother’s room. “Come on, Duncan.” The Scottie followed her to her own room.  Once there, Jessie glanced at herself in the mirror briefly. If Lex imagined he wanted to marry her, he should see her like this, hair wild, face bare, lacking even the slightest traces of mascara or concealer. She was pretty much betting the cat that he wouldn’t be attracted to a plain girl like this when his las t girlfriend had been that glitzy fashion model.
    “Hey, Duncan, time for your walk . ” The Scottie did his usual Celtic jig, jumping and turning himself about in circles. Ozzy came tromping out from Jack’s room, barking with excitement. “Okay, I guess he should meet the whole clan . ”
    *    *    *
    “It was brilliant, Lex, pure genius.” His manager’s voice crowed over the phone.
    Lex sighed, castigating himself yet again for his rash sta tement to the press.
    “It made front page news. CNN and the Today show picked it up. Our office is getting calls like you wouldn’t believe. People are tweeting it, for God’s sake! ” 
    Damn it . Lex cursed for the hundredth time today as Dave’s voice rambled on, praising his bold play at publicity, once again extolling the virtues of exploiting the press to your own advantage. It was an old lecture; one Lex never tho ught he’d paid too much mind to it , until last night.
    “So, is there goi ng to be a wedding, you old dog? Or is this just a media stunt ?”
    “ It’s real. But I have yet to convince the girl.”
    “Well, either wa y, it won’t hurt your career .”
    Just my chances with Jessie. Lex groaned inwardly.
    “I have