THE BIGGEST STAGE (A Brothers of Rock - WILLOW SON - novel) (8 page)

Colby looked back at her twice,
smiling each time.

Tessa still couldn
’
t believe all this was happening.
It was just a couple days ago she met Colby. And it was just a couple days ago
she left the hotel with a little sting of loneliness in her heart that she
didn't get to finish the night or the morning together the way he wanted and
the way she fantasized.

If there was one thing Tessa truly
believed in, it was fate. Her mother taught her about fate a long time ago. And
after everything that happened in Tessa
’
s
life she could only believe in fate. Even with it didn't make sense. Like right
then, holding hands with a rockstar, being led toward a stage.

When Colby let go of her hand,
Tessa made a fist, as though she could savor the moment and memory of holding
his hand. She watched him climb up on stage and grab the mic. The rest of the
band took to their instruments, and in a matter of seconds, Willow Son was
ready to perform.

Tessa hated to admit it to herself
but she was crazy turned on. Just the fact that in her mind Christie was far
more beautiful
–
and
willing - yet Colby couldn
’
t
stop staring at Tessa. The fact that Colby helped to make sure Christie was
safe meant something to Tessa. He cared. He had a decent heart. It made her
wonder if all the rumors and stories she read about Colby weren
’
t as true as they seemed.

"We're back,
”
Colby said into the mic.
"Is that okay with everyone?"

Everyone in the room started to
cheer louder than before. That also included Tessa.

"The louder you all get, the
louder we are going to play," Colby said.

Everyone clapped and cheered.

Colby looked down at Tessa, pointed
to her, and smiled.

Tessa couldn't believe the rush of
heat that went to her cheeks and quickly flowed down her body. Her mind paused
racing for a moment just to flash some wicked images of her and Colby together.
She couldn't help but wonder what it would be like in his bed. After all,
everything was just casual, right?

Before Tessa could think of
anything else
–
naughty
or nice
–
Willow Son
started to play.

It was a surreal moment because
Tessa knew the song they were playing. It wasn't the first time Tessa had been
to a concert, but it was definitely the first time she had garnered attention
from a guy like Colby. A rockstar. The lead singer of Willow Son.

She quickly started to move with
the music, getting into the awesome sound. She hoped whatever was happening
with the band, it would all work out to their benefit. They were crazy talented
and within a minute into the song, it was obvious they were meant to be
together as a band, and to be on stage in front of people.

Colby kept looking at her as he
sang. There was something killer sexy about him when he ran his hand through
his hair. He was definitely a true rockstar, singing as though he was in front
of a much bigger crowd than what was in the banquet room.

The guitar solos were loud and
awesome, and at the end of the song, while the guitars faded out, the drummer
–
Brantley - his own little solo.
Then the band came back together and finished the song.

Just like that, they were done.

Colby yelled
“
GOODNIGHT!
”
and jumped from stage.

The stage was only a couple feet
off the ground, so it wasn't that dramatic of a jump. What made it dramatic
–
to Tessa - was that Colby went
right for her. With his hands touching her waist, he pulled her close. She felt
the heat from his body, something hotter from his eyes. Everyone around was
cheering loud, but the voices inside Tessa's mind were cheering louder.

She promised herself in that moment
she would not hold back
…
No
matter what.

That's when Colby got even closer,
his lips barely an inch from touching hers.

He said, "Let
’
s get the hell out of here, I've
had enough of being a rockstar to all these people. I want to be a rockstar
just for you."

Tessa lost her breath, lost feeling
in her legs, and bit on her bottom lip.

I'm never going to forget
tonight
…

(8)

Colby held Tessa
’
s hand again. He pulled her
through the crowd of people. They were cheering louder and getting braver this
time. Colby blamed the booze for loosening everyone up. Everyone wanted a piece
of Willow Son.

Rightfully so.

Portis would be a smart man to
learn that and scoop the band up as soon as possible.

“
That
was pretty awesome,
”
Harry
said with open arms, wanting to hug the band.

Colby slipped by Harry without
hugging him and went straight to the bar.
“
What
would it take to get a bottle of vodka?
”

“
Excuse
me?
”
the bartender asked.

“
Quickly,
”
Colby said.
“
I have to get out of here.
”

“
I
can
’
t
…”

“
You
can do anything you want. Name your price.
”

“
Sir
…”

“
Fuck
it,
”
Colby said. He reached
into his pocket and took out a single hundred dollar bill. He put it on the
bar.
“
Take this. Put the
vodka on the counter and turn your back. Now.
”

The bartender nodded and actually
listened.

Colby then had a bottle of vodka in
one hand and the hand of a pretty woman in the other. The night was shaping up
just fine right now.

Just as Colby was about to bust
through the open doors and give a quick goodnight wave to the banquet room,
Harry appeared from nowhere.

Hands out in defense, a worried
look on his face.

“
Colby.
”

“
Harry,
move,
”
Colby said.

“
You
can
’
t leave. What about
Portis?
”

Colby looked back and saw Portis at
the bar. Laughing and drinking, pointing to his swollen lip. It pissed Colby
off that him punching Portis was going to become some kind of story now. It
wasn
’
t meant like that.
What Portis said was a shit thing and he deserved more than a smack in the
mouth.

“
I
’
m not on his time,
”
Colby said.
“
You could be. I promised the
beautiful woman a night.
”

As he passed Harry, Harry grabbed
him.
“
Please
…”

“
Look.
You have the demos and CDs. You have the history of Willow Son. He
’
s seen and heard what I can do.
He
’
s already made his
decision on the band. Now he
’
s
just trying to be a prick. I don
’
t
have time for it.
”

Colby shook Harry away and left the
room.

“
Sorry
about that,
”
he said to
Tessa.

“
Are
you in trouble?
”

“
I
’
m always in trouble, pretty
eyes. It makes me charming.
”

“
You
punched that man
…”

“
He
had it coming.
”

“
Why?
”

Colby eyed Tessa. He really wondered
how much she already knew about him.
“
Tell
you what. When you tell me about yourself, I
’
ll
tell you anything you want to know about me.
”

“
I
’
m seriously boring compared to
you,
”
Tessa said.

Colby led the way through the
parking lot. They were skipping cars and everything tonight. They were walking
right to the edge of the world. At least Colby
’
s
version of it, which was the ocean.

The night was a little warm with a
soft breeze. The sky wide open with stars.

A perfect night with a beautiful
woman.

“
If
I
’
m boring to you then that
means you
’
ve read about me,
”
Colby said.

He helped Tessa up over a small
barrier that separated the parking lot to a side street.

“
Do
you know where you
’
re
going?
”
Tessa asked.

“
Not
a clue. Just following the sounds and smell.
”

“
Where
are we going?
”

“
To
the water. Hope you
’
re not
afraid to get that dress a little wet.
”

Tessa laughed and tugged at Colby
’
s hand.

They stopped walking, somewhere
between two buildings.

“
What?
”
Colby asked.

“
What
’
s your stance on fate?
”

“
Fate?
I don
’
t know. I believe in
this.
”

“
What
’
s
this
?
”
Tessa asked.

“
Whatever
I
’
m looking at and
enjoying. Right now, that
’
s
you.
”

Colby watched Tessa nibble on her
bottom lip again. He wasn
’
t
having it this time. The first time watching it was damn torture. This time he
slipped his hand to the small of her back and pulled her close to him. He
pressed his lips to hers. Their first real kiss
…
and it was, in a weird romantic way, kind of fitting. They were almost
strangers in a strange town between two strange buildings.

They kissed for a few seconds, and
then Colby pulled back.
“
Let
’
s finish that up on the beach.
”

“
I
think I can handle that,
”
Tessa said.

“
Oh,
pretty eyes, you don
’
t know
what you can handle just yet.
”

Colby watched Tessa gasp and then
he started to walk again.

They got to the beach a few minutes
later. Tessa took two steps in the sand and then stopped to take her heels off.
When she bent to take them off, Colby watched the way her dress tugged up her
body. The way it inched up the back of her legs. Her calves looked smooth and
sexy.

Calves?
Colby thought to
himself.

He had no idea he had interest in a
certain part of a woman
’
s
leg. Then again, no woman he
’
d
met in a long time was as interesting so far as Tessa. Just the fact that they
met up again by accident meant something.

Yeah, fate. Right.

Tessa held her heels and stuck her
hand through Colby
’
s arm.
They walked up over a sand dune and onto the beach.

Colby took Tessa right to the
water. He kicked off his socks and shoes and put his feet to the wet sand in
the water. They stood there, letting the water splash up to their ankles.

“
This
is my favorite,
”
Colby
said.
“
Of all things,
right? A guy like me who loves the road, the noise, the fans. This
…
this just works.
”

“
The
ocean?
”

“
The
everything. The end of the world for me. Something about it is cool to think
about.
”

“
You
know this isn
’
t the end of
the world,
”
Tessa said.
“
The world is round, rockstar. It
just keeps going.
”

Colby looked down at Tessa.
“
You know, when I usually give
that line, most women lose their mind. It
’
s
romantic, isn
’
t it? The end
of the world. And you
’
re
standing here with me. You want to kiss me again.
”

“
Your
taste in women is wrong.
”

“
What
does that say about yourself?
”

“
So
I fit the bill?
”

The breeze tried stealing a few
pieces of Tessa
’
s hair.
Colby reached out and tucked the hair behind Tessa
’
s ear. He then touched her cheek.

“
Actually
…
you
’
re the opposite of fitting the bill. And it
’
s driving me mad.
”

“
Well,
there is one thing that
’
s
right,
”
Tessa said.

“
What
’
s that, pretty eyes?
”

“
I
want to kiss you again.
”

Colby smiled. He turned and faced
Tessa. He pulled her right in. Never a man to miss an opportunity or hesitate.
Especially when he finally tasted Tessa
’
s
sweet mouth. Her thin lips pressing to his lips, her tongue trying to dart into
his mouth, but only losing control to Colby
’
s.
He was in control and would stay in control.

But Tessa was fierce. She fought
back, turning her head, groaning. She moved to her toes and dug a hand to the
back of Colby
’
s head.

Colby had to admit it to himself
how much it turned him on. To have a woman try and take charge like Tessa did.
Normally women just went along for the ride. The only time they took any sort
of control was when he told them to do so.

Tessa was damn different and it was
intriguing.

As Colby felt his hand sliding down
Tessa
’
s back over the curve
of her ass, she pressed forward to him. Her other hand touched his chest and
clawed. But then she started to push at him.

Ah, hell no, pretty eyes
…
I
’
m not having that
…

Colby reached up and grabbed Tessa
’
s hand and tore it from his
chest. He interlocked his fingers to hers and he was the one who broke the
kiss.

“
You
pulling away from me again?
”
he whispered.
“
Leaving me
hanging?
”

Tessa looked at him, her lips
looking so beautifully delicious. She then looked down and around.

“
Shit.
My heels
…”

Colby looked and then pointed to
the water and laughed.
“
Sorry,
pretty eyes. They
’
re going
for a swim.
”

Tessa groaned.
“
I
’
m
going to get them.
”

She took a few steps into the
ocean. Colby considered the sight of Tessa in that black dress, soaking wet.
How it would hold to her body, showing damn near everything.

He stopped her.
“
You
’
re going to ruin your dress to save your shoes?
”

“
I
don
’
t know what the hell I
’
m doing right now.
”

“
Do
they mean something to you? Those shoes?
”

“
They
’
re not shoes. They
’
re heels. And yes, they mean
something.
”

Colby shook his head. He then tore
his shirt up over his head and tossed it to Tessa. He took out his cell and
wallet, putting it in her hand. He dove headfirst into the water, through a
small wave.

What the hell am I doing right
now? Jumping into the ocean for this woman
…

Behind him, Colby heard Tessa yell,
“
Wait! I was
…”

**

“…
just joking
…”

But it was too late. Colby was
already in the water. He grabbed the heels, turned, and stood up. He could
easily reach the bottom from where he was. The water was just below his
waistline, leaving the top half of his body -
no freaking shirt on
-
glistening with water against the moonlight.

Tessa begged to not let her jaw
literally drop.

Colby walked from the water with a
sense of confidence that made him impossible to refuse. The way water dripped
down his body was like a dream to Tessa. It was like he had been cut from
stone. His chest perfect, his stomach muscles endless. They darted down into
his jeans, leaving Tessa
’
s
eyes and imagination running wild.

Colby stuck his hand out and said,
“
Here. They
’
re soaked but they
’
re not lost.
”

“
You
know what I paid for these?
”
Tessa asked.

Colby ran a hand through his wet
hair. If he looked sexy on stage doing that move, it was ten times hotter with
him shirtless and soaking wet.

“
I
don
’
t know,
”
he said.
“
How much?
”

“
Five
bucks,
”
Tessa said.
“
I was just kidding. I didn
’
t think you were going to
…”