Page 12 of Hard Rock Desires

What had she thought of me, up there on that stage? What would I see reflected in those pretty, ocean eyes of hers?

I felt something odd in my chest. A kind of tightness. I almost didn’t recognize the feeling, but…

I clenched my fist.

Shit. Was this…nerves?

No. No fucking way.

I lifted my chin and put on my best cocky smirk. I’d blown the roof off this place with my performance. I knew that for sure, one hundred percent. Of course she’d be awed.

I stepped in front of her and leaned casually against the door.

“Enjoy the show?” I asked.

She looked up. Her mouth didn’t pop open this time. Instead, she set her jaw firmly.

“You could have said something, you know,” were the first words out of her mouth. “You pretended you were just a normal guy. Why didn’t you tell me you were in the band?”

I blinked at her. That wasn’t the reaction I’d been expecting.

“If I’d realized you weren’t just a fan,” she continued, “if I’d known you were the musician, I would have…”

I raised an eyebrow as she trailed off.

“Yes, love?” I coaxed. “You would have what?”

She twisted her lips and looked down at her phone again.

“I don’t know,” she murmured. “I probably wouldn’t have babbled at you the way I did.” The flush on her face told me she was embarrassed. “I guess that explains it, though,” she added.

“Explains what?” I asked.

She lifted her head. There was a small smile on her lips.

“Why you’re so full of yourself,” she said.

I pretended to wince and grabbed at my chest. “Ouch, shots fired.” I leaned forward until her face was close to mine. Her eyes went wide. “Now that you’ve seen what I can do, do you still think I’ve got an overblown ego?”

“You’re talented,” she agreed. She met my eyes head on, despite the flush that had returned to her cheeks. “But no one likes an egomaniac.”

“Hm. Really?” I nodded toward a trio of girls who were looking at the two of us with envy on their faces. “I’d say they like my ego just fine.”

“Then why aren’t you over there talking to them instead of bothering me?” she replied.

Huh.

Why was I over here, anyway? This girl didn’t fall at my feet like all the others. Hell, she didn’t even know who I was at first, not to mention her faint praise once she did.

I should have left her with her face buried in her phone. She hadn’t even wanted to be at this concert, wasn’t that what she had said? She was only here for a friend.

“What’s your name?” I asked her.

She looked hesitant, but answered. “Grace. And you’re Zain,” she added before I could. “I heard that name being screamed in my ear the whole night.”

A staff member from the venue spoke up loudly.

“All right, thanks for coming everyone, but the band’s got a busy schedule.”