Page 67 of Hard Rock Heat

The tall boy stayed in front of his keyboard, eyes wide and unfocused behind his glasses, all color bleeding out of hisface.

"Hey bud," Damon said, approaching him. "Youokay?"

The kid nodded shakily. "Yeah. This is just… Wow. Opening for you guys… I don't know if—" he shook hishead.

"Overwhelming, right?" Damon put a hand on the kid's shoulder. "What's yourname?"

"Micah," the kid saidquietly.

"Listen, Micah. I felt the same way when I got my first gig. You're thinking it's too soon and you're not ready.Right?"

Micah looked at Damon in surprise. "Yeah."

"Let me tell you a secret." Damon leaned down and pretended to whisper. "You're never going to feelready."

Micah looked at him,incredulous.

"Seriously," Damon continued. "Every time I go on stage I think to myself, what am I doing up here? I'm just some asshole screwing around with a guitar, you know?" Damon paused. "Shit, I shouldn't be swearing in front of you, shouldI?"

Micah laughed, color returning to hisface.

Damon clapped the kid on the back. "No matter how long you've been playing, no matter how many fans are screaming your name, you're always going to feel like the same dumb kid messing around in his garage with hisfriends."

"You think someday I'll have fans screaming my name?" Micah asked, almostshyly.

"You keep playing like that, and you'll have more fans than me oneday."

Damon ruffled the kid's hair, looking both amused and proud at the same time, almost fond. It was such a tenderheartedexpression.

The softness in Damon's eyes made something inside me crack and break open. My heart felt like it was expanding in my chest, pressing against my ribcage. The scene in front of me was so sweet. I knew Damon had a soft spot for kids, but the way he reassured Micah wasso—

"I've… got to go," I said. I slowly walked backwards toward thedoor.

Damon looked at me with concern. "Youokay?"

"Yeah. Fine. Great." I avoided his eyes. "I just have a lot of stuff to do, you know, the event and all," I said. "Gotta get back to the office, make sure things are goingsmoothly."

"Faith." Damon came to stand in front of me. He reached for one of my hands. I quickly pulled back. The hurt on his face made that crack inside meshatter.

But I couldn't stay. My heart was pounding and my mind wasracing.

Seeing Damon admit to his own weaknesses and insecurities, seeing him put aside that confident, cocky facade for a moment to help a young boy feelbetter…

That was the moment I fell in love with DamonDrake.

And it scared me the hell out ofme.

Chapter Twenty-One

Istood in the doorway,seconds away from fleeing. I didn't know why I hesitated. Maybe it was the distressed look on Damon's face, his mouth twisted with concern. Maybe it was my own pounding heart, torn between wanting to get the hell out and wanting to sooth that woundedlook.

I'd just had the revelation of a lifetime. I wanted to process my feelings in peace. I wanted to throw myself into Damon's arms and never letgo.

My fingers went cold. My breathing sped up, on the verge of a nervousbreakdown.

Damon's concerned look deepened into worry. He looked back to theothers.

"Jessie, can you take it from here?" heasked.