Page 2 of Hard Rock Sin

I'd always thought Cameron was cute, in the way that fourteen year old girls thought older boys were cute. He was my brother's friend. He played bass guitar in a rock band. He was tall and cool and didn't seem to mind Noah's annoying little sister hanging around.

He turned my insides upside down whenever he flashed one of those familiar, cheeky grins. One nice word from him sent butterflies flapping madly through my stomach.

Of course, he'd always been too busy chasing girls with big boobs and long legs to pay anything more than vague attention to me.

I had wondered if I still looked too young, if everyone I'd known from before would take one look at me and treat me like the baby sister again. I could now rest assured. Cameron Thorne clearly thought I was old enough to hit on.

He must not have recognized me. If he did, he would never have talked to me like that.

Or would he?

That question caused long-forgotten butterflies to take wing again. I fought to push them down, pressing my palms into my eyes, careful not to smudge my makeup.

After several minutes I'd calmed somewhat, my breathing evening out.

Cameron hadn't minded me walking in. If he could play it cool, I could play it cool. The next time I saw him, I'd pretend nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Hopefully he would do the same.

And hopefully my insides would stay where they belonged and not spew out of my mouth like they had threatened to do.

Resolved, I continued down the hallway, looking for an entrance to backstage. Most of the doors led to offices or storerooms. I saw a small flight of stairs winding upward and began climbing.

Finally. I found myself backstage, with event staff rushing around in headsets.

I'd taken no less than two steps before I was confronted by a tall, beefy bodyguard with a short buzz cut and a dour expression.

I knew it had been too easy.

"Where's your staff pass?" he grunted.

I blinked. "Staff pass?"

"If you don't have a staff pass, you're not allowed backstage."

He moved to take my arm. I jerked back. I hadn't thought about this part. I thought once I'd made it backstage I'd be safe.

"I'm not staff, but I'm allowed back here. I'm Noah Hart's sister, Lily."

"Sure you are. No pass, no access." He did take my arm then, gently at least, and tried to guide me back down the stage.

"I really am Noah's sister." I tried to make myself sound as sincere as possible. "Just ask him. I came here to surprise him, but he'll tell you it's really me."

"You think you're the first to use that story?"

"I'll call Noah. I have his number. He can tell you himself."

"You got your boyfriend on the other end ready to lie for you?"

I really should have thought this through.

"She's with me," a voice said from the top of the stairs.

I turned.

My mouth gaped open.

I was confronted with the full force of Cameron Thorne, rock star god. He must have taken the time to get ready for the stage. Leather pants molded to his hips and thighs. His thin, white cotton t-shirt was tight enough to cling to every deliciously toned ab. His hair was still messy, still falling over one eye, but it sparkled somehow, shining in the dim lighting as if he sprinkled silver glitter over the strands. Black kohl rimmed the one visible deep blue eye, an almost gothic style.

I let out a shaky breath. My heart pumped wildly in my chest. This Cameron Thorne wasn't anything like the cute boy I'd known. This Cameron Thorne went beyond rock star cool and into another stratosphere altogether.