Chapter 6
Couple – a word that causes nervous tremors in a certain rockstar
Gibson
I scan Leia’s backyard where the party is in full swing. We’re celebrating her forgiving Fender for being an idiot and the two of them becoming a couple.
Couple. The last thing I want to be is in a couple. Except I’m supposed to be pretending to be in one. Where is my country girl anyway? I’m anxious to see her.
I pull out my phone and message her.
Come to the party.
When she doesn’t respond, I text again.
Please.
When she still doesn’t respond, I bring out the big guns.
You promised.
I’m getting annoyed – she did promise to attend social events with me as my girlfriend – when she messages me back.
Fine.
Even her texts are full of sass. Usually, I don’t care what a woman has to say. There’s no need for talk in the bedroom. With Mercy, it’s different. She’s different.
I’m here.
At Mercy’s message she’s arrived, I hurry to intercept her. As I round the house, Mercy steps out of a classic Dodge Charger. The car is black and in pristine condition. I whistle.
“Are you whistling at me or the car?”
I wink. “Can’t it be for both?”
She rolls her eyes.
I’m not lying. The car is sexy. But so is she. She’s wearing cut-off jeans showing off miles of tanned legs with a pair of cowboy boots.
I force my gaze off those legs I want wrapped around my waist and notice her black t-shirt says My neighbors listen to country music whether they like it or not. I smile. My sassy girl chose this t-shirt to piss me off but I’m not falling into her trap. She can rave about her choice in music all she wants. Rock will always be better.
She slams the car door shut. “Let’s do this.”
“You can at least pretend to be excited.”
“Excited about what?”
“Me. I am a catch, you know.” I waggle my eyebrows.
She huffs. She’s not excited today, but I’ll change her mind. Eventually.
I hold out my hand. She scowls at me and I wiggle my fingers. “Girlfriends hold their boyfriend’s hand.”
I don’t have any personal experience with the matter but I’ve watched three of my bandmates fall in love over the past year. Cash, Dylan, and Fender can’t keep their hands off their women.
“Fine,” she mutters.
When our hands meet, a spark of electricity runs from her hand to mine and through my body heating me from within. My cock twitches. He’s fully onboard with this development.
I ignore it. I knew I was attracted to Mercy when we made this fake relationship deal. I also knew I wasn’t going to act on it. I don’t do relationships and Mercy has relationship written all over her.
“Whoa!” Jett skids to a stop in front of us. “Who’s this? And why are you holding her hand?”
I push him. “Why do you think I’m holding her hand?”
“You’re afraid she’ll run away.”
Mercy giggles.
“Hi!” Jett greets her with a smirk. “I’m Jett. Dump him and I’ll show you a night to remember.”
I growl at him. “No. Leave her alone. She’s mine.”
Mercy nods in agreement, and Jett’s eyes widen. “Does this mean I won?”
Fuck. I forgot all about the stupid bet. Mercy’s going to run away faster than the V8 engine in the Dodge Charger can carry her when she learns about it.
“Won what?” She asks.
“Nothing,” I insist.
She ignores me. “Tell me more, Jett.”
Jett opens his mouth to answer, but I don’t let him. I tackle him and we fall to the ground as we wrestle with each other.
Indigo rushes over to Mercy. “What are they arguing about?”
I continue to fight with Jett. I trust Indigo to not tell Mercy about the bet. She’s too interested in me finding love, which is one of the reasons I decided to start this whole charade in the first place.
“Do I know you?” Mercy asks.
“Indigo. We met outside the bar when you were fighting with your uncle.”
Virginia and Leia join the group of women. “This is Virginia and Leia. Virginia is with Dylan and Leia is with Fender.”
Leia points to us wrestling on the ground. “What are they doing now?”
“Fighting over some bet Jett claims he won,” Mercy answers. “Don’t ask me what the bet’s about.” She sounds as if she doesn’t care. My fake girlfriend should care I’m fighting.
“Did you come here with Gibson?” Leia asks and I strain to hear Mercy’s answer.
“Yeah. We’re dating.”
Relief courses through me. She’s sticking to our story. While I’m off guard, Jett uses the opportunity to throw a left hook at me. I manage to block him before he can pummel my face. I lose track of the conversation as I grapple with Jett.
The next thing I hear is Leia saying, “Gibson and Jett have an ongoing bet on who can sleep with the most women.”
Shit. I am in deep trouble here. I shove Jett away and jump to my feet. “Not anymore. I’m a one-woman man now.”
Jett snorts behind me. “I’ll believe it when I see it.”
I stand next to Mercy and throw my arm around her shoulders. Her body is stiff so I massage her shoulder until she relaxes. There’s my girl.
“It’s true. Mercy is the only woman for me.”
“Cash, Dylan, Fender!” Jett hollers for our other bandmates, and they hurry to us.
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” Dylan asks as he stands in front of Virginia as if to protect her. The man goes to extreme lengths when it comes to protecting his woman.
Jett glares at us. “Gibson is dating a woman.”
“Mercy, these are my bandmates Cash, Dylan, and Fender,” I introduce her and she waves in greeting at them. “Guys, this is Mercy. We’re dating.”
“Dating?” Dylan’s mouth gapes open. “Do you know what dating means?”
I flip him off. “Asshole.”
“Does she know who you are?” Cash asks.
Mercy rolls her eyes. “He’s a rockstar. He has tons of fans. Women throw their panties at him. Yadda. Yadda. Yadda. Rock isn’t my genre.” She waves toward her t-shirt.
Indigo giggles. “I hadn’t noticed your t-shirt. Anyone who wears that t-shirt to a party with a rock band is going to be my new best friend.”
“Leave the girl alone,” Virginia says. “She’s ready to run as it is.”
I glance down at Mercy. Is she ready to run? Her gaze darts around the backyard as if searching for an escape hatch. Yep. She’s getting ready to bolt. I tighten my hold on her.
“Indigo’s harmless,” I tell her.
“Unless she sics her cat on you.” Cash does an exaggerated shiver.
Indigo elbows him. “Katy Purry wouldn’t hurt a fly.”
“Because she prefers to kill birds and frogs and squirrels,” Cash claims.
“I have got to meet this cat,” Mercy mutters.
Indigo beams at Mercy. “We’ll have a girls’ night out at my place.”
“I don’t know about this,” I start.
Will Mercy be able to keep this cover of us dating when she’s being interrogated by Indigo, Virginia, and Leia? Virginia’s fine. She’s shy and won’t pressure Mercy. Indigo and Leia, on the other hand? Neither one of them will hesitate to barrage Mercy with questions.
Mercy pats my stomach. “It’ll be fine.”
“Don’t you need to care for your uncle Mercury in the evenings?”
She shrugs. “He goes to bed super early.”
“Your uncle?” Indigo asks. “Old Man Mercury is your uncle?”
“Old Man?” Mercy snorts. “It fits. I call him Mr. Crotchety.”
Indigo gasps. “To his face?”
“What’s he going to do? Hit me with his cane? He can’t move very fast.”
“You know his house is haunted?” Indigo grabs Mercy and tries to pull her away. I stop her. Mercy didn’t agree to be friends with my bandmates’ girlfriends when she agreed to fake date me.
I grasp Mercy’s hand and lead her to the side of the house away from my nosy bandmates. “Are you okay?”
Her brow wrinkles. “Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Indigo is pretty pushy.”
“Trust me. I know what pushy is and she ain’t it.”
“You don’t have to stay if you don’t want to.”
“I can stay a while. I could use a break from my uncle.”
I study her face for any signs of deception but she appears sincere. “Okay then.” I kiss her forehead. “Off you go.”
She waves as she rushes off. When I’m alone, I realize I kissed her without thinking. It was the most natural thing in the world.
Is Mercy a witch? Is she weaving a spell around me?
I need to be careful before she tricks me into falling in love with her. I can’t fall in love. I’ve seen what ‘love’ does to people. No thanks. I’m opting out.
Maybe my brilliant idea to fake date her isn’t as brilliant as I thought.