Free Buried Notes (Brothers of Rock #4) by Karolyn James, K James Page B

he woke, they were in Las Vegas.
The strip in the morning was nothing like at night. The bright lights didn’t
shine. The flaws and age of everything seemed to show. The hard nights and long
days. But people were everywhere, hoping to soak up everything Vegas had to
offer. It wasn’t the first time Chasing Cross had been to Vegas so the appeal
wasn’t as big as that first time. Not to mention they were at the end this tour
and all Chris really wanted to do was get a week or two off to relax. Clear his
mind. Get ready for the next tour. Have the album launch. Get everything - and
everyone - out of his mind for good.
    The band had a quick breakfast and
then went to the radio station for another interview. The same questions, the
same answers, but the same passion. They all loved it. If it were at all
possible, the day in Vegas went by faster than the day in Reno. Night finally
fell and the neon lights of Vegas lit up, blinked, and called for a good time.
Rick kicked off the good time with a fresh bottle of vodka.
    “This is it,” Johnnie said after
two shots. He was feeling good. “This is it. After this, we go home. To LA,
man. To LA.”
    “Where are we going for our two
weeks off?” Danny asked. “Let’s find an island.”
    “And some women,” Rick added.
    “Clear water,” Davey said.
    “Good rum,” Chris added.
    They were thirty minutes from their
set when a knock came at the door. Chris stood from a leather couch and opened
the dressing room door. One of the security guards stood there with a mean look
on his face. They were paid to look mean, not to mention be the size of a
goddamn eighteen wheel truck.
    “What’s up?” Chris asked.
    “I was told to find you,” the guard
said. “You have a visitor.”
    “A visitor? Chris asked. “Who would
vis...”
    The guard moved to the side and
Chris felt all feeling leave his body. Looking calm, cool, and beautiful, hands
at her sides was...
    “Becky?” he asked.

(10)
     
    As Chris rushed from the room, he
hurried to put on the brakes. What he wanted to do and what he should do were
two different things. What he wanted to do was grab Becky, take her off her
feet, and kiss her. Tell her that he hadn’t stopped thinking about her from the
second she drove away. What he did was stand before her, smiling like a damn
fool, eyeing her, wondering if she was real or if he had just taken too many
shots and passed out in the dressing room.
    “You’re here,” he said.
    “Yeah. Had some time off work and
as luck would have it, a friend is getting married here in two days. I flew in a
day earlier than I needed to. Thought I’d catch a Chasing Cross show.”
    “Just a show, huh?” Chris asked.
    “Maybe,” Becky said. She pushed
from the wall and bumped into Chris. “Maybe more.”
    “You want to see the tour bus,
don’t you?”
    “If you think I flew from Houston
to Las Vegas to see a tour bus, you’re pretty pathetic.”
    “Did you bring my guitar back?”
    “No. I sold it.”
    “You sold it?”
    “I had to buy a plane ticket. Duh.”
    Chris’s jaw dropped. A few seconds
later Becky started to laugh.
    “My gosh, you’re so easy,” she
whispered. She moved to her toes and kissed Chris on the cheek.
    Chris touched his cheek and shook
his head.
    How was she that good?
    How was she that smooth?
    How was she that beautiful?
    “I didn’t sell the guitar,” Becky
said. “I was close to it... I haven’t been able to get you out of my mind,
Chris. I even put the guitar in my closet and that didn’t help at all.”
    “I know,” Chris said. “Becky...
I...”
    “Gentlemen, quick meeting,” Peter’s
voice bellowed as he opened the dressing room door.
    Chris looked over his shoulder.
    Shit.
    He had to be there. Just in case
something happened with the new album and new tour.
    “Stand near the stage,” Chris said.
“Okay? Don’t leave there. Don’t let anyone bother you.” Chris looked around and
saw one of the roadies. He called for him and