Rockstar Romeo - Abbie Zanders Page 0,46

asked me at one point.

I had, and it wasn’t one of my fondest memories. “Yes. Dirt path, long walk, hot as hell.”

She grinned. “Not the way I do it.”

That was how we found ourselves on a private horseback tour. Our guide was an older guy, very knowledgeable about the area and filled with incredible stories. I enjoyed that trip a lot more than I had the first time, though I hadn’t been on a horse in many years. The hot-tub therapy and gentle, tender lovemaking that night made the minor discomfort completely worth it.

~ * ~

We were at the halfway point, three weeks down and three weeks to go until my sister’s wedding, and Eva still hadn’t given me a definite yes. I understood that, in the grand scheme of things, three weeks wasn’t a lot when it came to establishing the kind of trust I wanted Eva to have in me, but it was frustrating just the same.

My thoughts must have shown on my face because Lydia and Jen sought me out when I returned to the hotel that Sunday. Most nights, I spent with Eva, but I also knew the importance of giving her space.

“No answer yet?” Lydia asked.

“No.”

“Things aren’t going well?”

“They’re going great,” I answered honestly. “Maybe I should arrange a romantic weekend trip to San Francisco. It’s only a forty-minute flight. I could make reservations at a cozy bed-and-breakfast. We could do a private vineyard tour. What do you think?”

“I think it sounds awesome,” Jen answered. “But you two have been spending a lot of quality romantic time together. Maybe it’s time to change things up a little.”

“How so?”

“Call in reinforcements.”

I shook my head. “You lost me.”

“You’ve been making a good case for yourself, but maybe it would help if Eva heard corroborating testimony.”

I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my lips. Jen had spent several years in the Philadelphia DA’s office before she decided to finally accept Chaz’s proposal and become an independent consultant. When she was serious about something, she tended to slip into lawyer-speak.

“We’ve been on the road with you for a long time,” Lydia added. “We know what you’re like. We can reassure Eva that you’re the good guy she wants to believe you are.”

“Not a bad idea, but I don’t see how you’re going to pull it off without it seeming contrived. Eva will think I put you up to it.”

“No, she won’t. That’s the beauty of our plan, you see,” Jen said, her eyes both amused and calculating. It was kind of scary.

“What plan?”

The women exchanged a look.

“We’re flying out to Vegas for some girl time and want Eva to join us,” Jen confessed.

“Nice idea, but you’re wasting your time. Eva won’t go for it. She’s too busy.”

Lydia grinned. “We’ll see about that.”

~ * ~

Eva

Sundays had become outdoor cookout time with the full crew at my place, and I loved it. With Tommy and Brian gone, I was suffering “host mom” withdrawals. They often had friends over for pool parties and jam sessions, and I missed that energy. The guys in Dark Wing were overgrown boys at heart, their wives were friendly and likable, and their kids were a hoot. Yes, I enjoyed all the private, one-on-one attention Jace had been giving me, but I liked sharing the sense of friendship and camaraderie they had also.

Oh, I knew I wasn’t really a part of their close-knit inner circle, but for those few hours each week, they made me feel as if I were, and I appreciated that.

We were sitting around the pool, talking about things to see and do in the area. Jace had apparently been sharing some of our adventures with them, and that had sparked their interest. They’d already done the obvious touristy stuff that most people did when they came out to SoCal.

Most of our current discussion had been centered around lesser known things they could do with the kids or quick romantic getaways for two, so I was surprised when Lydia said, “What about Vegas? That’s not too far from here, right?”

“About four hours by car, an hour by plane,” I answered automatically. It was a popular destination for many Backstage Pass clients. And for Ross. “But it’s not exactly family friendly.”

Jen and Lydia exchanged a conspiratorial glance.

“We were thinking more along the lines of a girls-only trip. We haven’t had one of those in ages,” Lydia said.

“Oh. Well then, Vegas is perfect for that.”

“You’ve been there?” Jen asked.

“Me? No. But I’ve arranged plenty of