Page 2 of Hard Rock Love

It was weird to think of my sister as an engaged woman. Even odder still to imagine her as a wife. That was so adult. Mature. In my eyes, Everly was still that teenaged girl wailing away on her guitar in the garage with dreams of stardom.

But in all my memories, Julian was by her side. Maybe it wasn’t so farfetched the two of them would commit so soon. They’d certainly been through enough to prove their devotion to each other.

Julian turned his soft, loving smile from Everly to me.

“Thanks for coming out to support us, Abby,” he told me. “I know it’s not really your scene.”

“And miss a chance to schmooze withrealrock stars?” I threw a teasing look at my sister. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Brat,” she said affectionately.

Everly played in a band with Julian, but only casually, as a fun sort of side hobby. Julian had his own full-time career with Cherry Lips, the band whose album release we were celebrating.

“I’d love to introduce you to the rest of the band,” Julian said. “I’ll try to bring them over. Most of them are doing interviews right now.”

“Not you?” I asked.

He quirked a smile. “That’s not really my scene.”

“Point me in the direction of the hors d’oeuvres and I’m good,” I told him.

Julian’s eyes drifted over my shoulder. He waved to someone, calling them over.

“Hey, Ever,” came a booming laugh, using my sister’s stage name. “You here to keep this guy in line?”

“The only one who needs supervision is you,” Everly retorted.

A man bounced up and threw an arm around her shoulder, grinning in her face.

“Who, me?” he said innocently. “I’m the model of perfect behavior.”

I stared at him, mouth agape.

This guy was cute.

No, more than cute. Cute was for the boy next door.

This guy washot.

He was also Seth Powers, one of my sister’s best friends and bandmates.

My breathing went shallow as I tried not to make a choked sound.

Auburn hair styled away from his face, bright green eyes and a beaming smile. A smile that made my heart go into overdrive.

What had happened to that gangly teenager I remembered? He’d been replaced by one of the most gorgeous men I’d ever seen.

With that firm chest and those muscled forearms, he’d filled out quite nicely.

Seth turned away from Everly.

“And is this little Abby—?”

He cut himself off. His eyes met mine. My flush intensified.

Seth’s gaze swept up and down my body in a flash. It was almost too quick to notice. His green eyes widened, going dark. He blinked rapidly.

“She’s not so little anymore, is she?” My sister patted my shoulder.