The Rock Star Next Door, a Modern Fairytale Read Free Page A

get over the hero worship quickly when they barfed on your shoes at th e galas or made lewd comments about your ass and expected you to feel flattered. Some w ere no better than the jerks in high s chool. In fact, Hollywood was an awful lot like high school with its share of jocks, stoners, cheerleaders and party a nimals.
    L ex was gorgeous. He was li ke Joh nny Depp, Elvis and Bradley Cooper all rolled into one exquisit e package . The most she could hope for was peerin g at him through the grapevine leaves of her patio deck. He was worldly and cosmopolitan , exuding raw sensuality and masculine elegance, and she was , well . . . Jessie was practically a virgin.
    “Earth to Jessie. ” Steve called through his cupped hands. The magic spell was broken . Steve was right; she was trying to reach for the moon. “I’m going to grab a shower. Le t’s leave for The Pier at noon. Y ou can fill me in on all the gory details then.” He rose and ascended the steps to the house, passing an exuberant Kyra who was bouncing her way down the steps in her red silk robe. 
    “Oh, Jess. ” Kyra crooned, adjusting her robe about her modestly before she sat down. “Sorry I was short with you earlier. I didn’t want anything to intrude on the magic.”  Kyra tossed her perfect blonde hair over her shoulder and then rested her elbows on the table, propping her chin beneath her perfectly manicured fingernails, so mething Jess could never manage. As the lead guitarist, Jessie practiced daily. She had the calluses to prove it while Kyra played when the mood struck her.
    “I have the most awesome news. ” Her friend gushed. “Mike and I are moving in together. ” She extended her left hand to display an oversized diamond ring .
    “You’re engaged?” Jessie asked, hoping to clarify things for Kyra, who had a long history of being easily seduced and then hurt when things did n’t work out as she hoped . 
    “Of course, silly. That’s why we’re moving in together, to see if we’re suited to the marriage gig. Isn’t it just the coolest thing? ” Kyra sighed, deeply moved by her lover’s sense of reason.
    “Congratulations.” Jessie smiled, hoping that this time her friend’s heart would remain in one piece. “Have you set a date yet?”
    “No . . . ”  Kyra hesitated. “But--it is official-- we’re engaged.” She sho t Jessie a defensive look to match her defensive tone .
    And after just two weeks of dating , how about that? Jessie thought, but kept silent as she offered her friend a plastic smile.
    “I have a huge favor to ask of you.”  Kyra began, giving Jessie a grave look as she paused for effect. “Our engagem ent party is next week. Friday night, a celebration, a few close friends, business associates, you know, to share the news . . .”
    “That was quick, where?”
    “The Beverly Wil shire, where else?”
    Jessie let out a low whistle. The Wil shire was exclusive, so exclusive that even the top movie stars had to go on a waiting list to get their events booked at the Wil shire Banquet Suites. “How could he get booked so quickly?”
    “He is Mike Parks . Lex’s original drummer. Maybe his face isn’t on every CD cover, but he has clout in this town, too. N ow, Mike has this friend and . . .”
    “No . ” 
    “ No? ” Kyra squeaked in surprise. “I haven’t even finis hed asking you the question. How can you say no?”
    “No more blind dates. ”
    Kyra straightened her spine. Her bottom lip jutted out in an adorable pout, a ploy Jessie had no doubt had gotten the luscious blonde her own way with many a man.
    “That is wha t you were about to ask me, isn ’t it?” Jessie insisted, recognizing the question by the tone of Kyra’s voice.
    “Just hear me out. ” Kyra burst forth, waving her lovely manicured hands to emphasize her words. “Mike wants his best friend to be there, just like I want you to be there for me. But Lex d oesn’t go out at all these days. H e just sits home and