Free Only The Beginning (Rockin' Country) by Laramie Briscoe Page A

something. With a phone call, they know you at least got the voicemail.”
    She smacked him on the shoulder. “Do you really do that to your mom?”
    He shrugged. “Sometimes. She’s nosey.”
    “She’s your mom, she’s supposed to be.”
    “What about you? Are you nosey?” he teased.
    “Not really. I mean I guess I kinda used to be back when I started in the business. I still read the gossip magazines and the blogs and all that stuff. None of them ever had anything about me in them, so it was okay for me to read it. Then it was like things changed, and overnight people cared about me, about what I was doing, and it wasn’t so much fun anymore. I’m private and I don’t care much for paparazzi,” she admitted.
    “But you do all the social media stuff.”
    “Yeah, because I can control it. I don’t mind giving the fans a glimpse into my personal life, but I want to be able to show them on my own terms.” She shifted in her seat. “Anyway, we got off topic. What are we doing?”
    “We’re going to the aquarium that they have in town. They also have a zoo, but I’m not sure how cold it’ll be. I didn’t have time to check all that out.”
    She grinned over at him. “Do you know that I’ve never been to an aquarium but I’ve always wanted to go. I’m excited now.”
    “Good, I’m glad. I was worried you would think it was lame or something, but I had limited time and resources to work with.”
    “No, you did good, I’m surprised you did so well actually.”
    “Grab my phone and thank my mom.”
    She laughed. Immediately, she thought that she would probably like his mom. As they passed a sign that told them they had 100 miles left to go, she watched their surroundings. “This is nice, driving in a car where you can see your surroundings.”
    “I know—you can see what’s coming at you. Really though, I like to drive,” he told her as he switched lanes and passed a slow moving car.
    “That works out well, because I’m a rider. I usually text or check my phone while Shell drives.”
    “Speaking of her, what is she doing while you spend tonight and tomorrow with me?”
    Again she felt the sadness about leaving her friend behind. “She told me she was going to rent a movie and get some room service. Ya know, enjoy her time alone,” she bit her lip and looked over at his profile.
    “I should have told you to invite her, but I never even thought about it,” he admitted.
    “She told me she’s a big girl; she can take care of herself, so I’m going to do my absolute best just to have fun while we’re together.”
    He wagged his eyebrows at her. “I’ll be sure to help you however I can. I’ll be whatever you need me to be.”
    A blush covered her cheeks. “Why do I get the feeling that you mean that in a completely different way than how I’m taking it?”
    “Because I’m a guy, and you’re not trustful of guys. It’s okay though, I’ll worm my way under your skin, and then you’ll wonder how you ever lived without me. It’s kinda what I do with people.”
    He was so confident that she had to laugh. “Is that right?”
    “That’s right. Ask anybody. The first time I asked any of the guys to be in the band, they all told me no. Yet here we are a decade later with millions of records sold, millions of fans, and sold-out tours wherever we go. I think they’ve learned not to doubt me and just trust that I can make the right decisions for everyone involved.”
    “So what decisions do you have for me? I’m curious.”
    He stuck his lip out, pretending to ponder her. “I think you should just learn to say ‘fuck you’ and have a good time.”
    “I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to do one of those things, but I think maybe you could show me how to cut loose and have a good time.”
    “I think I can too, if only you would let me.”
    She shifted in her seat, leaning her head against the window as they pulled off the main highway and went into downtown traffic. “I guess