Serial Novel: Falling in Public, Ch. 2

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Ch.1

Falling in Public


Chapter 2

Eddie took the mystery woman's hand and tugged her toward The AfterGlow as the crowd cheered behind the velvet ropes. The look on her face when she'd recognized him had done wonders for his ego, which had taken a beating this afternoon at the news of slow sales for his latest album. Briefly he wondered if he'd just rescued a stalker, but there was something unassuming about this woman's demeanor that seemed genuine.

As they entered the club, he watched her look around, taking it all in. The place was packed, and bodies writhed on the dance floor as the music pumped a steady bass beat through the dark room. Side-stepping a waitress on a mission, she moved farther into the room and he followed, not quite ready to let her go just yet. He closed the distance and slid an arm around her waist, leaning down to speak in her ear when she flinched at his touch.

"Relax, it's just me. What's your name?"

She looked sheepish, a faint blush tinging her cheeks pink. "Holly," she said, pitching her voice over the music. "Thank you for bringing me in."

He nodded, fascinated by her pixy face and the keen expression in her eyes. He knew he was staring, but he couldn't seem to help it, and when she was jostled closer by people mulling behind, he welcomed the feel of her body pressed against his. Her blush deepened as she pulled back, and looked around, clearly uncomfortable in the crowd.

"I have a table upstairs - why don't you join us? You can watch without getting run over." He breathed in her sweet, fruity scent, and barely resisted the urge to taste her neck before he straightened to look at her.

"I don't want to impose," she yelled, just before another group of people pushed her against him, hard this time. He pulled her close, more to protect her from the throng than anything else, but knew there was no way she could miss the bulge in his jeans. He put a few inches between them, but didn't release her.

"You're not imposing. Besides, having a beautiful woman beside me will keep the vampires away. Or most of them, anyways." She rolled her eyes, but a smile played at the corner of her lips, and he grinned, knowing he had her. "Come on." He took her hand again and pulled her behind him to a staircase off to the side. Joey and Mark were already sprawled on one side of the curved booth and Eddie motioned for Holly to slide in the other side so she'd be able to look over the railing. He slid in beside her, finally able to hear himself think.
"Holly, this is Joey, my drummer, and Mark, my bass man. Guys, meet Holly."

She held out her hand to each in turn. "It's nice to meet you both. I'm...well, not to go all fangirl, but I love your music."

"The girl with good taste," Joey said, smiling. "Winston's a sleezy kid. Good call brushing him off like that."

Mark nodded his agreement, and Eddie looked over to see Holly looking sheepish.

"I didn't mean to make a scene," she said lightly. "He's just so young..."

Mark nodded knowingly. "Hear that Eddie? You won because you're old, man." Eddie chuckled. He and Mark had been at this a long time, and they both were feeling the years creep up as all the new talent came on the scene. 

"No - that's not what I meant at all!" Holly looked from one to the other, her eyes wide. "I just....I mean, I'm not exactly young myself..."

Eddie laughed. "Relax, Holly. They're just messing with you. And you don't look a day over twenty, so you can't blame poor Winston for trying." He winked, resisting the urge to trace her tiny nose with his finger.

"Heads up, gang," Joey said, his eyes locked on something over Eddie's shoulder. "Incoming."

Eddie groaned, then draped an arm around Holly's shoulders and pulled her close. "I need a huge favor," he said, keeping his voice low. "I need you to sit on my lap, put your arms around my neck and kiss me."   
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Published on May 27, 2011 10:59
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