WOLF
Chapter Two
I’m surprised.
My life has been so full of twists and turns that it takes a hell of a lot to shock me.
I’m used to the incredible highs of being on stage and then trying to recreate that high offstage, using whatever - whoever - I could get.
It was exciting at first, and then it was boring, and then it was deadly.
I’ve been clean for two years now. It’s all been done in private; my manager Jael checked me into a discreet place while the band was taking a hiatus for personal projects.
I still have a bad boy image but I know I’ll never use again.
I’m freer, clearer and my writing is better. The band has never been bigger.
But that gorgeous, curvy girl had no idea who I was.
I smile as I shampoo my hair. Jael had me convinced that we had the 20-30 year-old demographic completely saturated. Even the ones who hated our kind of music. Maybe the Disney contract is a good idea.
The way her big blue eyes stared at me, at first in shock and then with utter defiance was so cute.
Sex has been off the menu while I’ve been getting my head in order.
But one glimpse of Madison’s hourglass curves in that skimpy vest top has me intrigued.
I would have thought she’d be scared to find some big guy in the shower but she was outraged.
And that voice! Throaty, full of emotion - it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
I hope she hasn’t left already. I turn the water off and leap out, grabbing a towel to dry myself off.
I’m tempted to go downstairs in a towel, but even with the underfloor heating Snowflake Falls isn’t like LA and I probably need clothes.
I head into the main bedroom and grab a T-shirt and jeans.
The noise of vacuuming comes from downstairs, Good, Madison is still here.
I head downstairs, toweling off my hair as I go so it doesn’t drip all over my clothes.
Madison is in the living area, pushing the vacuum cleaner back and forth with force, as if she’s trying to smooth out every wrinkle. Her back’s to me and I take a second to appreciate her wide hips, long legs and curvy butt as she moves.
Her head whips around and I feel like a pervert standing here staring at her. “Madison. Let me make you some coffee. Least I could do for scaring you like that.”
I smile. Not the cheesy, cover of the magazine smile but a genuine one. This girl is lovely and I’d do a hell of a lot more for her than make her a coffee.
Her cheeks flush again. It’s adorable. “Okay. I mean, thanks Mr. Tyler.”
“Call me Wolf. Join me when you’re finished.” I head into the spacious kitchen and try to work out the coffee machine.
Ten minutes later I’m still struggling with how the basket thing is meant to connect to the De'Longhi machine when there’s a giggle behind me. Madison moves past me to the counter and I catch her musky vanilla scent when she grabs it from me.
She glances over at me and raises her eyebrows.
“Like this.” She turns the basket over, fills it with ground coffee and attaches it to the slot that I totally missed.
I’m not concentrating, I’m too busy gawping at her silky dark hair and the freckles on her upturned nose.
She switches the machine on and steps back.
I grab the milk from the fridge. “Thanks. I’m not really a coffee machine expert.”
Madison shrugs. “I guess I have an advantage. I’m a part-time barista as well as a cleaning lady.
My boss at Gingerbread is pretty particular about how we make our coffee…
so I know how to work most machines. There’s also one of those pod ones over here.
” She walks around to the breakfast bar and taps another glossy black device.
“I’ll rely on takeaway coffee, because the pod thing may be beyond my skill set.
Gingerbread? Does everything in Snowflake Falls have a cute name?
” I manage to locate the cups and put them under the machine.
I’m not one hundred per cent clear what happens next, but I’m trying to style it out by looking busy.
I can’t remember when someone had me so much on the back foot.
It’s weird, I want to impress this girl who I hardly know.
Part of it is that she’s gorgeous, but most of it is that she sang like an angel.
I’ve heard a lot of good singers in my time but she’s special.
“Everything in Snowflake Falls has a cute name. Our other two coffee shops are called Dasher’s and Peppermint. It’s kinda overwhelming sometimes and I’ve lived here all my life. You get used to it. And it’s like the love capital of the US or something.” She stops talking and her cheeks flush again.
“The love capital?” I can’t let that one go. The coffee starts spurting from the machine into the cups.
“Um, yeah. There’s a guy who’s doing a study for the app he’s writing. This town has, like, the highest number of tourists who fall in love and move here. Plus the lowest divorce rate. There’s a complicated algorithm that proves it, Len talks about it when he gets his coffee.” She shrugs again.
I feel a weird, irrational sense of anger at some smart guy monopolizing her time while she makes him a coffee. I bet he hangs out there all the time to gawp at her. Fucking tech bros.
The coffee is still dripping into the cups but Madison gestures at me to turn it off. I press the button I hope is the off switch and it stops. I manage to pour the milk into it and present her with a decent-looking cup of joe.
“So, what are you doing here at your cousin’s place?” She takes a sip. “This is pretty good. I can get you a shift at Gingerbread if you like.”
“I’m taking a break and Lucas convinced me to come visit.” I’m trying not to stare at her, but she’s so beautiful that it’s difficult.
“Oh, what do you do?” Her cheeks flush again and she looks down at her coffee.
“I’m in the music business. It can get pretty intense…
I needed a break. I live in L.A. but I’m looking for a hideout up in the mountains.
Lucas is going to show me some places here and in Newhope.
” A car pulls up outside. Jael is here early.
I really don’t want to talk about work in front of Madison. It’s like it would break the spell.
Madison finishes her coffee. “Looks like you have a visitor. I’ll finish upstairs.” She puts her cup down, picks up the vacuum cleaner and walks out of the room.
Jael arrives talking on his cell, chewing gum and waving at me all at once. Once he’s finished his call he gives me a hug, which always makes me laugh since he’s so little but squeezes so hard, and then sits down at the breakfast bar.
“You got company, bro?” He’s noticed the extra cup. Jael misses nothing, it’s part of what makes him such an exceptional manager.
“I made the cleaning lady a cup of coffee. She, uh, walked in on me in the shower. Seems the message didn’t get passed on that I was here.” I finish my coffee and put both cups in the sink.
“Shall I fire that PA? And her?” As well as being a great manager, Jael has a heart of stone.
“No, dude. Chill. It’s fine. She’s really nice. We don’t have to instantly go to def con one.” I pat his shoulder and sit down next to him.
“You’ve changed, bro.” Jael shakes his head.
“I was on drugs, bro.” I tilt my head and smile at him.
“Don’t do that Tyler charisma routine on me, Wolfie.
It doesn’t work. Ok, it works a little. So, I’m here with your schedule for next week.
You just have to lay low in this backwoods town until the heat is off and we find you someone wholesome to hook up with.
That crazy ex of yours is determined to release those photos and we need an even bigger story.
” Jael runs his hands over his shaved head, which he does when he’s stressed.
“Got it.” The sounds of vacuuming upstairs continue as Jael walks me through his plan. It involves faking a relationship to counteract the spicy nude pictures of me which my ex-girlfriend Roxy has squirreled away.
I trust Jael so I nod. I’m here to get away from the spotlight and when I step back into it, I don’t want to be tied to all of Roxy’s bullshit drama.
She had no intention of stopping her wild lifestyle when I went into rehab, and I think she holds it against me.
So she’s out for revenge and to make as much money as she can.
Me being engaged would be a huge media circus, proof that my wild days were behind me, and would eclipse whatever Roxy comes up with.
The sound of the vacuuming finishes upstairs. Jael takes a call as Madison walks down the stairs and put the vacuum cleaner in the cupboard. She goes into the kitchen and puts the cups in the dishwasher, then puts on her puffy red coat. I’m aware of Jael’s eyes on her as I walk over.
“You all done? I’m sorry about earlier, but I hope the coffee made up for it.” There’s a piece of fluff sticking to her coat, so I pick it off and smile. Hell, if the smile works on Jael maybe it will make up for flashing her in the shower.
“It did. All finished. Enjoy your day.” She nods at Jael, waggles her fingers at me in a wave and leaves through the side door.
I stare after her. I have an idea for a song. Who knew I’d find a muse in Snowflake Falls?
Jael finishes his call. “Who was that beauty?”
“That, my friend, is the cleaning lady.” I raise my eyebrows. There’s a little red knitted hat lying on the counter. I pick it up and Madison’s vanilla scent fills my nostrils. She must have forgotten it.
“She’s perfect. Do you think she might be convinced of a little fake fiancée side hustle? As long as she’s clean as the new-driven snow, that is. We want you with a cute, small-town chick, not a model slash actress type with a history.” Jael waves his arms around, which shows he’s really excited.
I stare at the door. Fake? Every thought I’ve had about this girl has been intensely real. Pretending might taint that. On the other hand, I’d get to spend more time with her.
“Maybe.”