Free Joy Ride by Desiree Holt Page B

cops.”
    He was only comfortable discussing this with Rick. Their friendship went back so many years and they knew most of each other’s secrets. He’d never open up this way to the other guys but usually Rick was able to give him perspective.
    One corner of Rick’s mouth lifted in a smile. “I’m guessing she didn’t do either of those.”
    “She kissed me back.” Marc was still stunned by the whole thing. “Then she came home with me. And Rick? I had the best sex I’ve ever had in my life. Even better than sex.” He paused. “Am I making sense to you?”
    “In a strange sort of way. So what’s the problem? Call her. See her again. It’s not like you haven’t had the hots for someone before.” Rick chuckled. “Although this is the first time I’ve ever seen you with your shorts in such a twist about it.”
    “It’s not so simple.” Marc raked his fingers through his hair again. “I can’t call her because I don’t know her number. Or her name.”
    “What?” Rick stood up from the stool. “Are you shitting me? I might expect something like this from Garrett but not from you. How come you didn’t get her name?”
    “Believe it or not, she wouldn’t give it to me.” His voice was laced with simmering frustration. What could Music Lady possibly be hiding? She’d certainly hauled ass out of his house as if her tail were on fire. This was an experience he had no experience with.
    “That’s not good.” Rick frowned. “She has to be hiding something. Is she married? You never mess with married women, Marc. None of us do. You know that.”
    ”No.” He shook his head. “I’m sure she’s single. I think….”
    “Think what?”
    “I think Saturday night is the first time she’s ever done anything like this. Even been to a rock club. Any club. And I think she was scared.”
    “But obviously willing enough to go home with you and have wild monkey sex,” Rick pointed out.
    “Hey.” Marc tensed. “It was a hell of a lot more than bedroom acrobatics.”
    Rick got right up in front of him. “Then why didn’t she give you her name? Or her phone number?”
    Marc turned away. “It gets worse.” He explained about the episode in the grocery store.
    “Fuckin’ A.” Rick’s voice held a stunned tone. “And you still can’t get past her? What’s wrong with your head?”
    Marc spread his hands in a helpless gesture. He’d been struggling with his emotions from the moment Music Lady refused to acknowledge him in the grocery store. How could he explain to his friend how he was feeling when he couldn’t even explain it to himself? “What can I tell you?”
    He had different objectives for his future than many of his friends. Unlike a lot of musicians he knew, including a couple in his own band, he was pretty selective about the women he took home with him. Especially now that his goal was something permanent. He might start work at nine at night rather than nine in the morning, but he wanted the kind of solid situation for himself like his parents had. A relationship where the people were two halves of a whole and fit together perfectly, no matter what life threw at them.
    He’d always expected when he did find his special lady that it would be a slow and steady process to a permanent relationship. Could he build it with Music Lady, connect with her emotionally as well as physically? He sensed the beginning of something special, just after one night. The incident at the grocery store still hurt, but he hoped she’d come back to Aftershock. Explain why she acted the way she did. Let him know if he’d done something wrong. Then maybe they could start over.
    If she came back.
    Rick studied him for a moment. Silence stretched out uncomfortably.
    “Say something,” Marc said.
    “What can I say? You’re acting like a stupid schmuck. Forget her. Get your head out of your ass. You know something big might be happening for us any day now. It’s in the works. We have to be ready. We’ve got