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

after watching her for a moment for some unknown reason, he let it go.
    Relieved, Avery sighed. The incident was an unwelcome reminder that she would have to deal with Campanella soon enough. Forcing that unpleasant thought away, she took a few bites of the Japa Dog she’d smothered with chili, mustard and onions. Pointing to Marcus’ Japa Dog selection, she made a face. “How’s yours?”
    “It’s ok,” he said, noncommittally.
    “You don’t like it, do you?”
    “No. You’re right. It’s gross.” He barked out a laugh.
    “Well, duh. I could have told you that. Toasted fish flakes on a hot dog. That is so disgusting.”
    “Hey, the guy said that’s the way locals eat it.”
    “Whatever. Next time you order a dog, ask a New Yorker. By the way, no one eats a hot dog with a fork, either,” she pointed out with her lip twitching and a teasing shove.
    Marcus pushed Avery back, grinning. “At least I won’t have onion breath from hell. How do you ever expect to get a girlfriend eating crap like that?”
    Like I would want that to happen , she thought. Maybe I should change my order and ask for extra onions .
    While they were eating, Avery noticed a young teenage girl wearing a Brutal Strength t-shirt coming towards them.
    The girl tapped Marcus on the shoulder. “Hey, aren’t you Marcus Anthony from Brutal Strength?” she asked, shyly.
    Marcus noticeably tensed but when he turned around his smile was warm and genuine. “Yes, can I help you?”
    “I really love your music. Could I have your autograph?”
    “Sure.” He nodded and signed her notebook with the pen she provided. Thanking him profusely, the girl turned and walked away. Marcus let out a shaky sounding sigh.
    “Why do you look so freaked out, Marcus?” Avery asked, puzzled by his response. “She seemed harmless.”
    “One fan, I don’t mind,” he explained. “But sometimes,” he looked around as if he was uneasy, “it can snowball and all of a sudden there are tons more. It can get out of hand real fast.”
    “Sounds like you say that from personal experience.”
    “Yeah, unfortunately, I got this,” he showed Avery the scar on the back of his hand, “in a mall last year in Dallas. I had to have stitches afterward.”
    “No way,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief.
    “That’s why my dad’s been pressuring me to get a full time security guard, a more formal permanent thing than what I have Ray doing now. But if I do that, I can just kiss away having any type of normal life, yeah?”
    Before she could respond, his Mercedes pulled up. “Oh, here’s Ray. I texted him earlier to let him know where we were.” Suddenly, he leaned in close, his face an inch away from hers, and sniffed.
    What the heck? Avery’s gaze dropped to his lips, her heart thumping wildly.
    “Whew! Dragon breath,” he pronounced with an exaggerated cough, waving his hand in front of his face. As if anticipating retaliation, Marcus jogged backward toward his ride. “Later, Stinkenstein!”
    By the time Avery snapped out of her Marcus induced stupor, he was already in the car and it was pulling away from the curb.

 

     
     
    EXITING MARCUS’ ELEVATOR that evening, Avery went straight to where he stood in all his handsome glory in the foyer and punched him in the shoulder.
    He staggered back, making a big production of pretending to be hurt. “Is that the best you’ve got?” He straightened up, smiling. “Don’t tell me you’re still sore about my joke earlier?”
    She shook her head, smirking. “No, I'm good now.” Twisting the hem of her shirt, she followed him into the living room. “I put some overdubs on ‘Brothers’ this afternoon. Did you get a chance to hear them?”
    “I did. I think they sound fantastic.”
    Avery scrunched her face up. “It’s so tedious to play the exact same part over and over again, but I really like the fuller sound it brings out.”
    Marcus nodded. “Come into the kitchen and I’ll make some tea. I