Free All Access (Brothers of Rock #1) (rockstar contemporary romance) by Karolyn James Page A

tracks.  Eventually, it became a stripped down version of itself, three guitar tracks and Johnnie’s voice in its purest form.  Peter called right after he finished the final track and had it playing in the background.  That’s when it all began.  Peter had an ear that Johnnie could only be in awe of.  The man couldn’t play a note on an instrument and couldn’t sing if someone held a gun to his head.  But he could pick out a song that could make someone famous.
    And that’s what he told Johnnie, right on the spot.
    He could release the song as a side solo project.  A way to supplement income, guarantee self security, along with a dozen other excuses that sounded nice but came with potentially heavy consequences. 
    Johnnie didn’t need the money, even though Peter pushed it over and over.  He got the label to agree to a large advance and even more of an advance if Johnnie would write an album. 
    Big deal.
    Johnnie could do nothing for the rest of his life and have enough money to spend over five or six lifetimes. 
    The smooth ride of the car felt amazing, not to mention the beautiful woman against his body.  He opened his eyes and looked down at Jess again.  Something about her just worked. She made everything feel calm and collected.
    Johnnie shut his eyes, this time smiling. 
    He was going to the top of the world, to face the mountains and find peace.  He already felt on top of the world with Jess and as she moaned in her sleep, he found peace.

(15)
     
    Jess opened her eyes and took a deep breath.  She blinked, her eyes adjusting to being awake.  She turned her head to the right and rolled her neck.  As she sat up, she realized she was already sitting.  She saw Johnnie with his head back, sleeping, and everything came back to her.  Part of her expected to wake up in bed, coming out of the best dream of her life.
    That wasn’t the case, at all.
    She looked forward and caught sight of the new backdrop for their time away. 
    When he said mountains, he literally meant it. 
    Without a single building or house in sight, the car pointed towards the bright blue sky, Jess could feel it as they climbed higher.  Ascending away from the city, everything shaking off her shoulders and body.
    Everything but Johnnie.
    “Five minutes.”
    Jess looked and saw Johnnie was awake too. 
    “What?” she asked.
    “Five minutes.  Right up this road.  Looks scarier than it is.”
    “It’s not scary at all.  It’s... beautiful.”
    “Not when it rains or snows.”
    “You get snow up here?”
    “Sure,” Johnnie said.  “If the weather is right.  It doesn’t happen too often, but when the ground gets too wet and muddy, you can’t really move.”
    Jess scanned the perfect scenery.  She smiled.
    “What are you thinking about?” Johnnie asked.
    “Rain,” Jess replied.
    “Rain?  Why rain?”
    Jess looked at Johnnie. “I hope it pours for days.”
    “Really?”
    “Yeah.  So much rain, they close the roads.  Nobody can get to us.”
    “Oh, Jess, nobody will bother us here.  I promise you.  I haven’t even told anyone that I’m up here.”
    Jess sat up straighter.  “What about your band?  Your manager?  Won’t they worry?”
    “For a minute or two,” Johnnie said.  “They’ll figure it out.  They know what happens when I have to leave.”
    “When you have to?  Do you come up here a lot?”
    “I’ll be honest,” Johnnie said, “I usually come up here when my heart is heavy.  When things aren’t feeling so good.”
    “How does your heart feel right now?”
    Johnnie took Jess’s hand and put it to his chest.  “I feel good.  I feel like I’m doing exactly what I should be doing.”
    “Are you sure your band won’t care?”
    “They understand,” Johnnie said.  “They’re probably just getting up anyway...”
    Johnnie looked away and swallowed.  She closed her hand as much as she could, feeling the definition of his chest.  More than ever she wanted this ride to