Moonlighting with the British Rock Star: A Georgia Moon Romance Read online

  Josie rubbed her lips together. “I mean, I can’t even look at you without blushing. No one, especially not my stepsister, is going to believe we’re engaged.”

  Colin’s hardened and cynical heart softened at her stark honesty. She wasn’t rejecting him because of his past. She didn’t appear to want to use him either. This whole plan of Mrs. Dalton’s hadn’t even been on Josie’s radar. It was kind of cute how flustered she was around him. Her innocence was refreshing. Colin didn’t want to taint her.

  “I’m not that special,” he said, thinking about how many times he’d screwed up and his gran had bailed him out. “As the saying goes, I put my shoes on one foot at a time and all that.”

  Her lips curved up into the first real smile. “It’s actually, I put my pants on one leg at a time.”

  “There you go,” he said with a smile. “I’m just a regular bloke who puts my trousers on one leg at a time.”

  “Uh, yeah, but you’re also famous.”

  “Maybe I was.” He shrugged. “So, I’m a regular bloke who used to be in a band.”

  She studied him, a small smile playing at her mouth. “I’m having a hard time buying that. Hypothetically, I may have a poster of you hanging in my closet.”

  His heart melted a little more. No one, other than his gran, was this honest with him. “Which one?” he asked. “Hypothetically speaking, of course.”

  Her cheeks turned pink as she glanced away. “You’re wearing a black Beatles tee and ripped jeans.”

  He knew exactly which one she was talking about. It was from his first live performance. Back before Harvey spread all the lies. Back before the lies had turned to truth. It was stupid to feel relieved that she had idolized him when he was still Colin Wilde, the kid from Sussex who got high marks in secondary school and dreamed of going to university. Colin’s gut twisted with regret as he considered how far he’d fallen from that boy in the Beatles tee and ripped jeans.

  “See, look at y’all,” Shelby said, waving her hand in front of her. “Talkin’ like you’ve known each other forever.”

  A knock sounded on the door before an older woman came into the room. “Pardon me,” she said. “I just got here a few moments ago and saw the ambulance leaving. Is everyone okay?”

  “Yes,” Shelby said. “Josie had a little accident and hit her head.”

  “Oh my,” the woman said, looking at Josie with genuine concern. “Do you need anything, honey?”

  “No, no,” Josie said, standing up. “I’m quite all right.”

  As if realizing Colin was in the room for the first time, the older woman took a step backward. “I’m so sorry for barging in.” She retreated another step. “I didn’t realize y’all have company.”

  Shelby popped up from her seat and stopped her from leaving. “It’s quite all right, Cora.” She motioned for Colin to come over and stand next to her. “Cora Bliss, I’d like to introduce you to Mr. Colin Wilde.”

  Colin quickly got to his feet. “It’s lovely to meet you,” he said, holding out his hand.

  “My goodness,” Cora said as she shook his hand. “You’re a long way from home.”

  “Yes.” Colin released her hand and smiled. “I’m here…” He rubbed a hand across his jaw, wishing he’d come up with a backstory before now. “On a holiday of sorts,” he finished lamely.

  “Oh?” Cora said. “Are you a friend of Miss Josie’s?”

  Again, Colin wasn’t sure how to answer. His eyes darted over to Josie. She stood in front of the loveseat, her face no longer a pretty shade of pink. All the color had drained as if she’d just seen London’s famous ghost haunting the Theatre Royale on Drury Lane.

  “He’s more than a friend,” Shelby said with a bubbling laugh. “Colin is Josie’s fiancé.”

  Cora’s eyebrows shot up. “Fiancé?” Then she shook a finger at Josie as if scolding a naughty child. “Girl, why didn’t you tell me? I had no idea you were even dating.”

  “Surprise,” Josie said, holding up her hands and wiggling her fingers.

  Grinning, Cora held out her arms. “Well, I need to give you a hug.” She pulled Josie into her ample bosom and squeezed her. “Now let me see your ring,” she said as she picked up Josie’s left hand.

  A ring? No one had said anything about a ring. Colin shot a panicked look at Shelby.

  “Oh,” Josie said. “I…uh…don’t have a ring,”

  “Not yet,” Shelby said. “Colin is taking Josie ring shopping tomorrow.”

  I am? Colin thought at the same time Josie said, “He is?”

  Now Colin was the one who felt like he might faint. Surely, they didn’t expect him to provide a diamond ring. He had absolutely no way to pay for one. He should’ve insisted on drawing up some kind of contract before agreeing to this crazy scheme.

  “Of course.” Shelby wound her arm through Colin’s. “I know y’all are anxious to make the engagement official. I’ll put in a call to my jeweler on Broughton to be expectin’ y’all in the morning.”

  Cora raised a questioning eyebrow. “Exactly when did you two get engaged?” she asked. “Y’all are actin’ like you’ve never met before.”

  The woman was spot on. Clearly, neither Colin nor his fake fiancée had any acting abilities. He swallowed, wishing he’d made a run for it when he’d had the chance.

  “Aren’t they just adorable?” Shelby wrinkled her nose when she said this like she was looking at two kittens. “They’ve been secretly engaged and haven’t seen each other in so long that they’re a little on the shy side.”

  “Mmm-hmm,” Cora said. “I can see that.”

  Shelby squeezed Colin’s arm before letting go. “Come on, Cora, let’s give these two love birds some privacy.” She gave Colin and Josie a conspiratorial wink. “Take your time, and we’ll plan a nice romantic dinner for y’all.”

  Mrs. Dalton waved at them before taking Cora by the arm and leading the older woman toward the door. Just before leaving the room, Shelby looked over her shoulder. “Oh, Josie, I had Victor put Colin’s luggage in the guest room next to yours. Be a dear and show him where it is once y’all are done talking?”

  “Sure,” Josie said, twisting her hands together.

  The two women left, closing the door behind them. An awkward tension filled the room, making the silence feel as deafening as one of the Wild Card concerts. Every muscle in Colin’s body tensed as he considered Josie. He could really use a drink about now. She looked as shell-shocked as he felt.

  Knowing alcohol was a bad choice, Colin thought about all of the tools he’d learned to manage stress. Going for a run or lifting weights was his go-to whenever the urge to drink hit him. As much as he’d love to find a gym, he didn’t have any transportation, so he moved on to the cognitive therapy part of his recovery. Shoving a hand in his pocket, Colin fingered his sobriety chip, reminding him to focus on his goals. Not everyone believed in the laws of attraction theory, but he’d learned how powerful positive thoughts were.

  Negative thoughts were just as powerful. Colin pushed them out and pictured his dream board. While he focused on relaxing the muscles in his shoulders, he visualized his career in country music, concentrating on how amazing winning his first Grammy as best new artist will feel. This was why he was here. He was closer to his life goal than ever before. He couldn’t quit now.

  Feeling better, he looked at Josie and found her watching him closely. “I’m sorry you got dragged into my hot mess of a life,” she said. “Me and my stupid pride. I never intended to actually bring a real fiancé home.” She massaged the side of her head with her fingers. “I swear, I should just go ahead with my original plan and kill off my fiancé.”

  “That was your plan?” Colin asked with amusement. “And how is the poor bloke going to die?”

  “I don’t know. I didn’t get that far yet.” She worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “Look, I know Shelby means well, but I can’t make you do this.”

  Panic seized Colin’s lungs, making it difficult t
o draw in a breath. He couldn’t miss out on this chance. “You’re not making me do anything…I want to help.”

  “I don’t get it.” A slight frown wrinkled her brow. “Why are you doin’ this?” She lifted one shoulder up in a shrug. “Not to be cynical, but what’s in it for you?”

  It was a fair question, and even though he didn’t want her knowing how low he’d fallen or how desperate he was to meet Chase Nichols, Colin knew he owed Josie the truth. Keeping most of the past in the past, he told her about his falling out with the other band members and how Harvey, his manager, had embezzled all of his earnings. He purposely left out that his manager was actually his father.

  “I’m sorry,” Josie said. “That must have been really hard.”

  “Yeah.” Colin’s throat felt thick. He knew she’d probably read about his addiction and his stint in rehab. While the stories about him online and in the tabloids were greatly exaggerated, there was also an element of truth. “I didn’t handle it very well and hit rock bottom,” he said, unable to look her in the eyes. “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my Gran.” His voice cracked. “She’s always been there for me and raised me after my mum passed away.”

  “My mother passed away too,” Josie said in a soft voice. Colin looked at her, searching her face. It was clear she understood the pain of losing a mother. “But I didn’t have a Gran, so you’re very lucky.” She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.

  “I am lucky.” He watched her closely, wishing he could comfort her somehow. Maybe go to her and give her a hug. His gran was very affectionate, and so was Colin. “After getting help, I moved back near my Gran, got a job, and started writing music again.”

  “Are you thinking about getting your band back together?”

  Colin swore. “No,” he added sharply. Josie flinched, making him feel like a heel. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to shout.”

  “It’s okay.” She rubbed her lips together and tucked a strand of her dark hair behind her ear. “So, are you going solo?”

  “That’s my goal, only this time I’m writing the kind of music I want, not what my former manager wanted.”

  “And what is it you want?” she asked.

  That was a loaded question. Still, he kept his answer relevant to the topic. This part was always a little tricky. Nobody believed that Colin Wilde was trading his rock music in for country music. “My Gran loves Garth Brooks and raised me to love country music.” Josie looked surprised, and Colin could feel heat flooding his neck. “My style is more like Keith Urban or Phillip Jacobs, so I hope to crossover into pop music like they’ve done.”

  “Wow, that’s amazing.” A slight frown wrinkled her brow. “But I still don’t get what pretending to date me has to do with any of this?”

  Swallowing, Colin rubbed his palm across his jeans. “I scored an invite to the party in Nashville from a mate of mine. His older sister helped organize the charity. I knew Phillip Jacobs was attending, and I wanted to meet him face to face. It seems like anyone Phillip touches turns to gold.” He looked away from her, focusing on the scenery outside. “My reputation doesn’t fit in with Phillip’s expectations. He and his partner Chase Nichols are both married men with families. The musicians they’ve signed don’t have a sordid past. I just want a chance to show them that I’ve changed. That I’m no longer the wild child. I overheard Mrs. Dalton talking to Phillip and his wife about your sister’s wedding airing live and that she’s a finalist to be a contestant on The New Voice of Country Music.” His gaze flickered back to her. “I also heard that Chase Nichols is attending the wedding, so I approached her, and we started talking.”

  “And Shelby told you about me telling my family I’m engaged when I don’t even have a boyfriend,” Josie said, dropping her chin to her chest. “I hope you don’t think I’m too pathetic. In my defense, once you meet my stepsister and her mother, then you’ll understand why I did it.”

  “I’m not judging you, Josie.” Colin gave her a derisive laugh. “I’m the last person to pass judgment on anyone.” He waited until she looked at him again before he said, “So you see, I need you just as much as you need me.”

  She considered him with her pretty blue eyes for a long moment. “I don’t know how much I can help you. I’ve never met Chase Nichols before. Scarlet, my stepsister, is the one who associates with him.”

  “I only want a chance to meet him.”

  His words hung on the air for several heartbeats. Finally, Josie nodded her head. “All right.”

  “Thank you.” His voice was rough, so he gently cleared his throat. “I appreciate your help.”

  Their eyes met and held. A spark of awareness lit a fire in Colin’s abdomen. Playing the role of her fiancé wasn’t going to be hard. The hard part was not falling for her. He wasn’t looking for a relationship. Besides, no matter how attractive he found Josie, Colin knew he wasn’t good enough for her. Like if he were to touch her, he’d leave sooty handprints all over her white shirt.

  “There’s still one very big problem,” Josie said as color infused her creamy complexion. “You’re still Colin Wilde. How am I going to act like a normal human being around you?”

  Tenderness welled inside him. Should he admit that she made him feel things too? “How many days do we have before we meet your family?”

  Her face fell. “Monica demanded that I come home on Monday and that I bring my fiancé with me. The interview with Nashville Informed is Tuesday morning.”

  Colin considered her words. “How long is the drive?” he asked, already thinking about how he could slip in a word about the new songs he’d written.

  “Around three hours.”

  “All right,” he said. “We have a little time to get used to each other.” He stretched out his hand to her, palm facing up. “What do you say? Want to give it a go?”

  Her eyes lowered to his open hand. Slowly, she nodded her head before tentatively placing her palm against his. Heat and a current of attraction sent an electrical pulse through him, making his heartrate do triple time. He liked the rush touching her gave him. It made him feel alive.

  Josie let out a small gasp and started to pull away, but Colin held on, curling his fingers around her hand. Her body stilled, and she looked up at him through her dark lashes. “Remember, I’m just a regular bloke,” he said with a wink.

  She laughed and fanned herself with her other hand. “Just because you keep saying that doesn’t make it true.”

  Smiling, Colin watched her, surprised by the intense longing inside him. He wanted her. Not necessarily in a physical way. It was deeper like she was sunshine, spreading warmth to his soul the way the sun warmed the earth after a long, cold winter.

  His thumb made slow circles across the top of her hand. She was so beautiful, and Colin wished he’d met her under different circumstances. Josie Sinclair was so unlike any girl he’d ever met. She was the kind of girl his grandmother would approve of.

  That alone was warning enough to remember this temporary relationship was mutually beneficial to both of them and there could be nothing more. But as he looked into her blue eyes and felt her hand tremble beneath his touch, Colin knew his heart wasn’t listening to reason. It wanted more.

  Chapter 5

  Josie

  Josie tried telling herself that Colin was a regular guy or bloke as he put it, but her body wasn’t listening. Tingling sensations of heat stole along her nerves as she stared at their hands, fully expecting to see sparks shooting out. For goodness sake, he was just holding her hand. She couldn’t imagine ever kissing him without hyperventilating or passing out.

  A phone chimed an incoming text. “Pardon me,” he said, letting go of her hand to fish his phone from his pant pocket. His expression brightened when he glanced at the screen.

  Curiosity and a tiny bit of jealousy pricked at her conscience as she imagined who had texted him. She bet it was a beautiful girl who didn’t act like a complete idiot every time he looked at her or touched h
er.

  Colin chuckled as he typed in a reply. Josie couldn’t sit still anymore. She got up and went to the French doors, giving him some privacy. Just because he was willing to play the role of her boyfriend and fiancé didn’t mean that he wasn’t already in a relationship. His girlfriend could be behind him, secure in their relationship, and knowing the end result would benefit both of them.

  His phone pinged again, making him snort-laugh. Was he laughing at her? She could just imagine the things he could say about her. She was embarrassed by her reaction to him and desperately wished she could control it better. She seriously doubted the weekend would be long enough to get used to him touching her. He’d have plenty to laugh about.

  Feeling silly for even caring, she twisted the doorknob and stepped out onto the covered patio. A soft breeze riffled through her hair, bringing the scent of the Wilmington River with it. She shivered, the February air chillier than usual. Winter in the South wasn’t bad. A few days earlier, the temps had been mid-seventies. Even so, Josie longed for the warm, sunny days of summer. She loved the ocean. Loved spending time on the beach.

  The door opened behind her, and she knew without turning around it was him. Tingling awareness made goosebumps pebble her skin. Telling herself he was just a guy, she turned and looked into his hazel colored eyes. “Hey,” she said, hating the way her entire body trembled. “I just came out here to give you some privacy.” Did her voice sound needy?

  “Ah, I see,” he said, taking a few steps closer to her. “That was my grandmother. She’s not very happy with me right now.”

  An absurd sense of relief washed over her. “Why, what did you do?”

  “I didn’t tell her I was coming to America.”

  “Where does she think you are?” Josie asked.

  “London looking for a better job.” He shrugged. “I was in London…to catch a plane.”

  “She doesn’t like America?”

  “No, she likes America just fine.” A small smile played at his lips. “She’s upset because she and my Auntie Jane planned a grand birthday party for me, and I won’t be home to attend it.”