Free Love Rock'ollection: The Brutal Strength Rock Star Trilogy, books 1-3 by Michelle Mankin

afternoon. Another time though.”
    “They’re practically newlyweds,” Marcus confided. “Joined at the hip.”
    “My turn to pick a place,” Avery told him on the way out. “I’m buying this time.”
    “Sure, kid, but it can’t take too long. Stephen’s got me in a meeting with a promoter at two.”
    “I know the perfect spot. It’s real close by… you ok to walk, Mr. Rock Star?”
    In answer Marcus pulled his cap and glasses out of his jacket pocket and put them on. “Lead the way.” He followed Avery out of Black Cat’s building onto West Fourth Avenue.
    A cold breeze hit them as they walked down the street filled with funky shops and a scattering of occasional restaurants.
    Avery buttoned up her black wool jacket and pulled on her gloves. Passing under the awning of a trendy retail shop, she noticed Marcus’ shoulders were hunched and that he kept his head down while they were walking. He was definitely avoiding making eye contact with the people they passed. “Have you thought of what you’d like to do for our next song?” Avery asked, trying to get his mind off whatever was stressing him out.
    “No, not really,” he mumbled.
    “Well, I have actually.”
    Marcus looked over at her, chuckling. “I wish Dwight were around to hear you say that.”
    “Why’s that?”
    “He’s always haranguing me for being too single minded. He says I am too obsessed with work.”
    “Yeah, I’ve noticed that.” Avery paused. “But are there really other things in life besides music?”
    Marcus smiled at her, his blue eyes sparkling with humor.
    Avery felt warmth spread throughout her body. It pleased her that she’d been able to break through his sudden funk. “I wondered if you’d be interested in hearing a song I wrote about my mom.” Avery found herself holding her breath, waiting for his response.
    Marcus took her totally by surprise when he crooked one arm around her shoulder and scrubbed the top of her head with the knuckle of the other. The contact was brief but caused her pulse to quicken. “Absolutely! I wish I didn’t have this stupid meeting so I could listen to it now.”
    Avery tried regulating her breathing without being too obvious. She needed to slow down the crazy hammering her heart did whenever he touched her.
    “You ok?” Marcus gave her a perplexed look. “You sound like you’re out of breath.”
    Shit . Avery bit her lip to keep from laughing. If he only knew. “I’m fine,” she assured him.
    “If you say so. Why don’t I send Ray to come get you after my meeting?”
    “Sure. Sure. Hey, here we are. Japa Dog, cuisine of the common man,” she gestured with a flourish to a street cart belonging to one of Vancouver most famous vendors.
    As they waited to get their order, Marcus admitted that he’d always been a little reluctant to try one. “You mean to tell me, you grew up in Vancouver, you’re adventurous enough to eat raw fish, yet you’ve been afraid to eat a hot dog from a street vendor? There’s a technical term for that. It’s called…” she paused dramatically, making a circular motion with her fingers near her temple, “crazy.”
    Chuckling, Marcus reached for her arm, gripping the exact spot where Campanella had burned her. She winced and let out a gasp of pain.
    When she tugged her arm loose from his grasp, her eyes were filled with tears and her sleeve rolled back exposing the healing wound.
    “What the hell?” Marcus exclaimed, his voice mirroring his expression of concern. “Crap, Avery. What the hell happened to your arm? It looks like someone burned you with a cigarette or something.” He raised his eyes to hers.
    “What? Oh no,” she lied, rolling back down her sleeve. “I was just taking something hot out of the oven and burned myself.”
    Marcus’ eyes narrowed. He didn’t look like he was buying it. She knew the mark looked way too symmetrical to be an oven burn. Returning his gaze, she stiffened, preparing for an interrogation, but