Karina Bliss - Resurrection

RESURRECTION

A Rock Solid Romance

KARINA BLISS

No more rock stars. Ever.

Lily Hagen has done that scene to death. Her new career in early childhood education is way more rewarding and she deals with far fewer tantrums. Then a stolen sex tape is posted online and her future is in jeopardy. She needs to get away from the paparazzi and the only place that offers refuge is the world she swore never to return to: the music world. Fine.

A few monthstops. Thats all she needs to get her life back. And keeping her hands off gorgeous Moss McFadden? Should be easy since theyve always avoided each other.

Being an outsider suits him just fine

Moss McFadden may be a rising rock star, but hes quite happy to keep everyone at arms length. Until Lily needs help, that is. They strike a deal that puts them in closer proximity than is good for his equilibrium. Still, he can keep his growing fascination with her in check.

Or can he?

Because when she lends him a hand in a life-changing situation, all his defenses are shot. And as he goes down in a wave of longing, he wonders if she just might be his salvation.

Chapter One

Tonight marks the unofficial debut of T-Minus 6, a new band set up by the three former proteges of controversial rock legend Zander Freedman.

Moss McFadden (guitar), Seth Curran (drums) and Jared Walker (bass) came to fame two years ago when Rage frontman Zander Freedman used a reality-show format to repopulate his megaband.

Rages new lineup was wildly successful, with sellout concerts worldwide, but it all fell apart when a lip-syncing scandal and vocal issues ended the flamboyant frontmans singing career.

The trio is playing a mystery gig somewhere in LA to showcase tracks from their forthcoming debut album. Social media is buzzing as Rage fans try to guess the venue, but will their music be any good?

Bassist and songwriter Jared Walker has proven talent,Grammy-nominated for a song he wrote for his wife. Drummer Seth Curran and axeman Moss McFadden might be respected by their musical peers, but in accepting a lead singers role, McFadden is taking a massive gamble. Inevitably comparisons will be made to his mentor, whose voice was truly one in a generation.

Will McFadden, Curran, and Walker be able to write their own story or will their efforts end as a JarJar Binks-style fuckup footnote in Rages turbulent history?

LA Times

Chapter Two

Moss McFadden was resting his forehead against the cold mirror in the tiny backstage washroom when Dimity Graham, the bands manager, banged on the door. Ten minutes.

His stomach spasmed, but the only thing left in it was terror. And that wasnt going anywhere.

He reminded himself that there were a mere five hundred people to boo him off stage. Rage concerts had pulled sixty thousand. Yeah, and you threw up then, too. Hands shaking, he splashed water on his clammy face, and rinsed his mouth clean. In the mirror above the basin, his normally olive skin was so pale the stubble looked like dots of black ink. When he opened the door into the dressing room, Jared was still sitting on the couch, manically color-coding M&Ms and then chewing them by the handful. His bass guitar was propped beside him, and his palms were streaked red and blue. Not even M&Ms could withstand Jareds nervous sweat.

Seth was pacing the small room, scowling at the floor. One of his drumsticks fell out of his back pocket, and he picked it up on the next pass without breaking stride. They were all fighting nerves, and without their former lead singer bouncing in, radiating confidence to defuse the tension, they had to find another way to deal with them.

Alone is good. I need some air. He headed for the exit.

Dont go far, Dimity cautioned, handing him a bottle of chilled water and two breath mints. Five minutes until youre on.

What are you, the talking clock?

Her blue eyes narrowed. Only twenty-seven, she had the strategic vision of a general, and the patience of a drill sergeant, at least where Moss was concerned. I could try to be understanding, but it wont end well. She tossed her blonde ponytail. Suck it up.

His stomach rolled and he clutched the water bottle against it protectively. Watch your word choice.

Moss, she called after him. You will come back.

He didnt answer, shoving aside the bolt on the fire door and stepping into the service alley. One bulb was out, the other flickering. LAs concrete jungle was releasing its daytime heat, and he pressed his back against the brick wall, seeking warmth as he gulped the chilled water and popped the breath mints. Breathed in the mimosa of trash, gasoline and mortar and felt his stomach settle.

Darkness always soothed him.

When hed been a sixteen-year-old on the run from Child Protective Services it had been his only friend. Earnest citizens and officialdom were at their busiest in daylight hours. Night offered cover and opened up escape routes

Light flooded the alley as Dimity opened the fire door. Clearly, she didnt trust him not to run either.

The Times article triggered this, didnt it? I thought it would fire you up. That was the difference between them. Dimity loved adversity; Moss had been its bitch too many times.

Whats the worst that can happen? she persisted when he didnt answer.

Seriously? He turned his head to look at her, all blonde ambition and Ivy League education. I kill my music career, the one damn thing saving me from working a dead-end job. When Im pumping gas or tending bar in a year, people will say, Hey, didnt you used to be?

Moss. Tentatively, she touched his shoulder. Dimity was as guarded as he was, openly showing affection solely to Seth and her dog. You have us now.

He shrugged free. Ill be sure to note that on my job application. He was being an ass but he couldnt help himself. Every fear he normally suppressed was riding him hard. Talking me into lead vocals. What were you all thinking? He pushed away from the wall. What was I thinking? As a lead guitarist he was used to attention, but not as the bands anchor. Hed never been an anchor in his life.

The alleys shadows called to him, tempting him to disappear. If darkness was his friend, hope was his bitterest foe. He fucking hated hope. And yet he was relying on that tiny wiggling squirming thing that wouldnt die to explode into a performance that would kick-start not just his career, but the careers of his friends. I dont know if I can want something this badly again, he admitted hoarsely.

Its been hard for all of us.

Im not disputing that. She couldnt understand what it had cost him, as a self-protective loner, to give Rage everything and still not have it work out. It was a lot safer to revert to factory settings. Convince yourself that you never really wanted it anywaya home, a band, a dream.

Hang in there. The savagery in Seths voice made them both jump. He appeared in the doorway, auburn hair ablaze with the light behind him, his expression hard. Just fucking hold on for the next hour, if not for me and Dimity and Jared, then for Jared and Kaylas kids.

When did I start collecting people I cant let down? If you want me inside, Mosss tone was equally savage as he accepted the inevitable, then quit blocking my way.

Unsmiling, Seth stepped aside. Well kiss and make up later.

Thered better be tongue. Shoving past him, Moss returned to the backstage dressing room, ducking as Jared fired something at him. A balled-up candy packet.

I just ate my fucking body weight in M&Ms, thanks to you. Disgusted, he wiped his palms on his jeans, leaving rainbow streaks on the faded denim. A blue smear marred his glossy black hair.