Love Rock'ollection: The Brutal Strength Rock Star Trilogy, books 1-3 (59 page)

“Yes. And like it or not, you’ve become a role model for teenage girls. You’ve proven that a woman can kick ass on the guitar. I want the public to get a chance to really know you. Accentuate the positive aspects of who you are as a person while emphasizing the success you’ve had in a male dominated profession.”

“Ok. All that sounds good, but how will taking pictures for a fashion magazine accomplish that?”

“It’s all part of the game. It’s about visibility. Image is everything in this business.”

“I know it’s important but not more than the music itself.”

“Trust me, Avery. I’ve climbed this hill myself, you know.”

Avery stared past Mary, looking out the large windows watching the sun sparkle on the water of English Bay while she mulled it over. “Are you sure Marcus is ok with all this?”

“He said it was your decision to make.”

“Ok, well that’s good. I guess it’ll be fine then.”

“Good. It’s settled then.” Mary watched her for a moment, her expression softening. “Avery Jones, I’ve had a good feeling about you from the beginning. I really believe things are just starting to take off for you, and the sky’s the limit, in my opinion.”

Avery glanced down at her feet, embarrassed by the uncharacteristic praise from the Black Cat’s exec.

“I fully expect Hollywood to call any day now. And I just want you to remember… always be true to yourself. No more lies or denying who you are.”

Avery nodded.

“How are the rehearsals going?” Mary moved back to her chair, all business again.

“Good. I think we’ve almost got the whole show blocked out. There are still a couple of issues with lighting.” She shrugged. “But Marcus seems pleased.”

Mary nodded and marked a line through a piece of paper on her desk.

Avery stifled a smile, surprised to discover that the ultra-organized owner seemed to be using a hand written “to do” list.

“A couple more things and I’ll let you go.” She rolled the pen between her hands. “I want you to seriously consider being a representative for a music related charity organization. Mr. Holland’s Opus and Fender Music Foundation are two really good ones. They raise funds to buy instruments and equipment for schools that can’t afford them.”

“I’d love to do that. Isn’t that something Brutal Strength could do together as a group?”

“Yes. But for now, I just want it to be you.”

“Ok.” Avery agreed, twisting on her arm band. “What else?”

“I want you to start working on writing some solo material.”

“Oh, no.” Avery shook her head. “No way. I’m more than happy in Brutal Strength. Marcus…”

“That wasn’t a question.” Mary cut her off with an even stare. “And Marcus knows all about this already. He doesn’t want to hold you back in any way. He believes as I do that you’re more than capable of managing both.”

“Alright.” Avery wilted back into her chair.

“Last thing.” Mary pushed a folder across the desk. “This is the information from several companies that have contacted us wanting you to endorse their products. Talk it over with Marcus and decide. Beth and I are also here to guide you.”

“Alright.” Avery felt a little lightheaded and swayed when she stood up.

“You ok?” Mary asked with a raised brow.

“I’m fine,” she said taking a deep breath. “It’s just a lot to take in.”

“You can handle it.” She gave a dismissive nod. “Don’t forget your shoot first thing in the morning.”

Avery moved to the door, breathing deeply as she exited Mary’s office. Being front and center before the Queen was about as much fun as it had been strapping down her breasts with an ace bandage when pretending to be a guy.

MARCUS JOINED HIS brother up on the set, the same one that would be taken down and put back up again at each city on the upcoming tour. They’d been coming to this airport hangar to practice on it for the past week. “Anyone else here yet?” he queried, speaking loud enough to be heard over the roar of a jet taking off in the distance.

“Nah, just us,” Dwight verified. “What’s going on? You sounded worried on the phone.”

There was no easy way to segue into this. “Avery’s father showed up yesterday.”

“No way.”

“Oh yeah. He ambushed us in the hall at Black Cat.”

“What did he want?”

“To talk to her, but she didn’t say more than two words to him. It wasn’t a warm reunion, to say the least. He did seem genuinely remorseful, though.”

“He should be.”

“I know. I know. He just wasn’t quite what I expected.” He ran a hand through his hair. “And I don’t think we’ve seen the last of him.”

“I hope for her sake you’re wrong.” Dwight shook his head, his mane of shaggy reddish blond hair falling forward over his blue eyes. “Where is our beautiful guitarist anyway?”

“She had a meeting with Mary.” Marcus glanced down at his Tag Heuer sports watch and frowned. “She should’ve been here by now.”

“You let her approach the Queen without an escort?”

“She’ll be alright.” He barked out a laugh. “Might be Mary that needs assistance. She’s gonna figure out, if she hasn’t already that Avery has a mind of her own.”

“In other words, Avery and Mary,” Dwight knocked his knuckles together, “Bam! Two unstoppable forces coming together with a keg of gunpowder between them.”

“Exactly so,” Marcus agreed, watching Dwight flick open the latches on his bass case. “And since I don’t have nearly enough stress in my life already, today’s also the day Avery’s brother is coming back in.”

“Sorry, little bro. I can feel your pain.” His brother gave him a sympathetic pat on the back. “How’s Justin doing?”

“Good as far as I know. She’s so excited to see him, but I worry…” Marcus trailed off.

“About what?”

“About him relapsing mostly. She says it was his choice to go in but if it wasn’t, I don’t know if it’ll stick. I get the impression he’s a pretty impulsive guy.”

“Really? How so?”

“Well, let me see,” Marcus began, ticking the reasons off on his fingers. “The drugs, the ill-advised affair with the mobster’s girl, and hooking up with V within thirty minutes of meeting her.”

“You think Mom and Dad can keep him out of trouble?”

“Pfft. Mom can handle anyone. When are they coming in anyway?”

“Tomorrow afternoon.”

“And Lisa?”

“She’s coming with.”

“How’s she feeling?”

“Great.” He beamed. “The morning sickness is gone and she’s eating up a storm.”

“Avery and I are happy for you both,” Marcus said, pulling a pick out of his pocket and strumming a few chords to check the tuning. “You’ll be an awesome dad.”

“Hope so. It’s a huge responsibility, a pretty intimidating one.”

“Hey guys,” JR shouted his booming voice echoing across the cavernous hanger. He set his aviator sunglasses up on his blond head. “I’m not late, am I?”

“No, man.” Dwight said. “We’re still waiting on Avery.”

“Ok, cool.” He hit his palm to his forehead. “Shit. I left my sticks in the ‘Vette. Be right back.”

“The step-child seems pretty happy lately,” Marcus observed watching him leave.

“Yeah,” Dwight agreed. “You know he’s back together with Samantha Daniels?”

“Uh-huh.”

“I heard maybe you and Avery had a little something to do with it.”

“Maybe.” He ran an irritated hand through his hair again and checked his watch again. “Where the hell is she?”

“Cool it.” Dwight bumped his shoulder. “She’ll be here. She still all psyched about the tour?”

“Yeah. Reminds me of how we used to be. I’m trying to be real careful not to ruin it for her with my negativity. The reality of it all will set in soon enough.”

“I don’t know, Marcus. With her personality, maybe it won’t be all that bad, for her or you. You’re in a different place now, a better place I think.”

“Maybe,” Marcus mumbled not so certain. The road was hard on everyone. Between the grind, the groupies, and the other temptations, trying to keep your balance was like trying to stand up straight inside a wind tunnel. He worried about their fledgling relationship holding up under the forces that were sure to buffet them.

Hearing the sound of voices, he looked toward the entrance and saw JR walking back in with his arm crooked around Avery’s shoulders. She held her guitar case in one hand and was laughing at something JR was saying. Marcus felt a squeeze in his chest. Dwight was sure right about one thing. His life was totally better with her. It was hard for him to imagine his world without her anymore.

“You’re kidding me,” JR was saying. “
In Style
magazine. Whoa.”

Marcus wondered if she’d agreed to all of Mary’s demands. As if sensing his eyes on her, Avery glanced up and smiled. He smiled back, feeling her happiness as if it was his own, warming him like the sun peeking out through the clouds on a cold and dreary Vancouver day.

She climbed up the side stairs and walked over to him. Putting her guitar case down on the wooden floorboards of the stage, her hands went to the curve of her hips. “You really ok with me doing that fashion stuff? It’s not really a hard core rock kinda thing.”

He threaded his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “Mmm,” he murmured liking the way she arched her body toward his. He splayed his fingers open low on her back and stared into her green eyes. “More importantly will I be ok with a bunch of random guys drooling over pictures of my hot fiancée?”

Avery blushed and looked down.

“Ace.” He stepped back and lifted her chin. “I’m totally cool with it. You’ll rock it. I just hope it’s a better experience for you than GQ was for me.” He made a show of shrugging his shoulders.

“What happened with them?”

“Ask me later,” he said, glancing over his shoulder as Dwight started tuning his bass. “I want a kiss before we get started.”

She smiled going up on her tiptoes and pressing her lips and her body to his. His body immediately responded.

Her long auburn lashes had fluttered down onto flushed cheeks. It still got to him how effing beautiful she was. He lowered his head, determined in advance to be satisfied with a quick kiss. Not a chance. The instant her lips touched his, he felt the familiar fire burning in his blood. “Shit,” he said tightening his grip on her hips.

He heard the sound of someone clearing his throat and reluctantly pulled away. Frustrated now, he shouted over at JR and Dwight. “Let’s get this damn rehearsal done!” Then he turned back to Avery, tapped his finger against her full lips, and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I want you naked and in our bed before we have to go out to dinner with your brother.”

She shivered and glanced up at him, her eyes sultry. “I like that plan.”

Unfortunately being the perfectionist that he was, their pre-dinner plans ended up being put on hold. Rehearsal went on for so long that they had to go directly from the hanger to the Sutton to pick up Justin. He did make the most of the drive over, managing to procure a couple of deep satisfying kisses from her in the backseat.

After picking up Justin, Ray drove them a couple of blocks west to a chic section of Yaletown and dropped them off at the back delivery entrance to Rodney’s. The manager let them in and escorted them up the iron staircase to the second floor loft. He led them to a private dining room in the back that had been reserved for just the three of them. They settled around a rustic wood table.

“You’ve gotta try the clam chowder,” Marcus insisted. “It’s made to order and it’s ambrosia.”

“Sure,” Justin chuckled. “I guess I have no choice after that enthusiastic endorsement.”

Avery held her breath when the waiter arrived and took their drink order. She was happy to see that Justin ordered a soft drink instead of an alcoholic beverage. After choosing several different types of chef recommended variety of oysters to accompany their bowls of chowder, Marcus and Justin started right in about music.

Avery leaned back and smiled as she watched them, happy to see them getting on so well. As they conversed, Avery found her mind drifting to thoughts about her father and his sudden reentrance into her life.

“Avery did you hear what I said?” Justin asked, placing his hand on her arm.

“No. I’m sorry. What?”

Marcus looked at her and frowned.

“I asked if you agreed that it was pointless to go after every person that illegally downloads music. I mean people will do what they’re going to. You just have to count on there being more people who will be honest and purchase a copy legally, right?”

Avery glanced at her brother’s earnest face. “I can see both sides.” She and Marcus had already had a similar discussion on the matter. “Marcus is right. You can’t just let it go. We’ve got to find a better way to protect intellectual property on digital files. But you’ve got a good point, too. If a person’s going to be dishonest they’re not likely to be thwarted no matter how well the files are encrypted.” She shrugged. Changing the subject seemed like it might be a good idea. “How’s your chowder, Justin?”

“Great.” He took another bite and muttered under his breath. “Always the peacemaker, huh, sis?”

She pushed his shoulder and Marcus smiled at them.