Rock Star: The Contest (Book 2 of a Bad Boy Romance) Read Online Free Page A

That was one of the things I loved about where I lived. The weather could change at any minute. When it did, people made the most of it. Tiny secluded beaches around lakes were full.
    “You getting hungry?”
    The smell of food lingered in the air. Someone had started a barbecue nearby. It wasn’t uncommon to see people picnicking, lighting fires and roasting marshmallows at all times of the year. Several families camping nearby had brought out their grills and smoke was rising and wafting over, making my stomach grumble.
    “Yeah, I could use a bite.”
    We stayed for about another fifteen minutes before I took him down to a local burger joint where I got the largest burger and fries I could stomach.
    “That’s what I like to see, a girl with an appetite.”
    I spoke with my mouth full. “What? Girls don’t eat where you come from?”
    “A whole lot of them are like rakes, afraid to get their mouth around a good bit of meat.”
    I nearly choked. He burst out laughing. “I didn’t mean it that way.”
    We both snorted and I took a sip of my milkshake.
    “Got a girl at home?”
    He licked tomato sauce off his finger. “Had one.”
    “What happened?”
    “She thought I was a big joke. You know, becoming a singer and such. Her ideal was having a guy working on a farm. Lugging hay barrels and coming in the door late at night with your hands dirty. It’s not that I have a problem with that, but we only get eighty years to live, right? Why do something if you are good at something else?”
    “I couldn’t agree more. Well, too bad for her.”
    He nodded with a smile. “Right.”
    There were several times we caught each other’s eye. I felt comfortable around Luke. He didn’t carry the large persona that Chase did. It was nice to hang out with a guy who was on the same page as me.
    “So what’s the deal with you and Chase?”
    I nearly spat my mouthful of fries on the table.
    “Like it’s no mystery you and him had a thing. It was front page news for a while in the tabloids.”
    They knew about this down in Kentucky? I chewed hard and fast on my food, partly hoping he would change the subject. But I also wanted to leave. I didn’t want to get into talks about Chase. The last thing I wanted was word to spread that we were seeing each other again. Well, actually that wouldn’t be accurate. He was obviously siding with Mia. I shook my head. Why bring his name up? I was enjoying the afternoon. For a short while I had stopped thinking about him and his rock-hard abs, and killer smile. God, I wanted to hate him, and another part wanted to tear his clothes off and go places in my mind that would have made my mother blush.
    I decided I would just take a direct approach.
    “We had a thing. It’s over.”
    “So you aren’t seeing anyone?”
    I thought about lying for a second. Maybe using Spike as a scapegoat but decided against it.
    “No. I’m too damn busy for a relationship.”
    He laughed, leaning back in his seat and taking a swig of his milkshake.
    “What’s so funny?”
    “People say that all the time. It’s such a lie.”
    “It’s true. With this contest and running my business, where do I have time to be with a guy?”
    He raised his hands as if to gesture, hello. You are with one right now.
    “Ok. Sure, here and now but that’s different. It’s too distracting is what I’m saying.”
    “Ah…” he smirked. “So I’m not distracting?”
    I shoveled four more fries into my mouth, wondering how many I could fit in so that I didn’t have to answer that.
    I took another swig of my milkshake, not caring if half of it was dribbling down my face. I saw that look in his eyes. I knew it well. It was the one guys got when they were interested. When they were even just looking to score some ass, or start something that would only end up with me in tears, and eating my way through two tubs of ice cream. No thank you.
    “You’re twisting my words.”
    “Twisting?”
    “Putting things in it that I