“I hate that shit, Ed.”
Ed sighed. “What shit, Aubrey? Am I using too much industry speak for you?”
“God, yes. Please stop.”
“Aubrey, I’ve managed your rock singing career for, what, twenty years? I’ve been there from the first hit that Falling in Stereo ever had, through the gruesome break-up then all the way to your glorious comeback.”
Aubrey snorted. “I’m reserving comment as to how glorious this comeback actually ends up being.”
Frowning, Ed continued. “Regardless, I’ve used industry speak that entire time. It’s as silly to criticise me for its use as it is for me to question whether you should do something when you’ve so obviously already decided.”
Ed arched his eyebrows at him and Aubrey let out a bellow of laughter.
“This is why we’re so perfect together.” He chanced a sly peek at Ed and winked. “As manager and client, that is.” He ran his fingers through his shaggy brown hair. “And you also know how much I despise labels. Categories. Boxes that people are forced into. It’s what killed the band.”
After the music became dulled and artificial by the endless demands of touring, recording and the pressure to crank out the hits—Aubrey had needed to take a break, re-evaluate everything. All he’d ever wanted was to make music that mattered, the music his fans yearned for. The other band members strongly disagreed since only he and Chad—the lead guitar player—wrote any of the songs. The tours were how their bandmates made the real bucks.
Aubrey had tried to convince them to give the band a breather, that it would become revitalised and would be best for everyone in the long term. However, the party rock star life they’d been living had made it impossible for them to take any breaks—their money had already been pissed away. His band mates had all decided they could do just as well by going off on their own and forming solo projects. Their plan hadn’t worked out so good.
In Aubrey’s case, he’d taken the time off for himself that he’d proposed the rest of them do all along. His disillusionment with the industry had been so all-encompassing that he’d stayed off the music radar almost completely for close to ten years. It remained to be seen if he could ever recover from his self-imposed absence.
He looked up to see Ed gazing at him thoughtfully.
“I know, I get it. You take care of your music, I’ll take care of the business. If Bryan Gallagher is the one you want, I’ll make sure you have him.”
Aubrey lifted the corners of his mouth in a satisfied smile. It wasn’t about him being a prima donna. It was about knowing what the best thing was for him. Bryan Gallagher’s writing style, his taste in music, his understanding of the emotion behind rock‘n’roll—all of that made the young writer the only one who should tell his story. At least the parts Aubrey was willing to reveal.
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About the Author
An avid reader for years, one day Carol Lynne decided to write her own brand of erotic romance. Carol juggles between being a full-time mother and a full-time writer. These days, you can usually find Carol either cleaning jelly out of the carpet or nestled in her favourite chair writing steamy love scenes.
Email: carol@carol-lynne.net
Also by Carol Lynne
Campus Cravings: Coach
Campus Cravings: Side-Lined
Campus Cravings: Sacking the Quarterback
Campus Cravings: Off-Season
Campus Cravings: Forbidden Freshman
Campus Cravings: Broken Pottery
Campus Cravings: In Bear’s Bed
Campus Cravings: Office Advances
Campus Cravings: Hershie’s Kiss
Campus Cravings: Theron’s Return
Campus Cravings: Live for Today
Campus Cravings: Incoming Freshman
Campus Cravings: A Lesson Learned
Campus Cravings: Locky in Love
Campus Cravings: The Injustice of Being
Campus Cravings: Watch Me
Campus Cravings: Coming Clean
Good Time Boys: Sonny’s Salvation
Good-time Boys: Garron’s Gift
Good-time Boys: Rawley’s Redemption
Good-time Boys: Twin Temptations
Good-time Boys: It’s a Good Life
Cattle Valley: All Play & No Work
Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Mistletoe
Cattle Valley: Sweet Topping
Cattle Valley: Rough Ride
Cattle Valley: Physical Therapy
Cattle Valley: Out of the Shadow
Cattle Valley: Bad Boy Cowboy
Cattle Valley: The Sound of White
Cattle Valley: Gone Surfin’
Cattle Valley: The Last Bouquet
Cattle Valley: Eye of the Beholder
Cattle Valley: Cattle Valley Days
Cattle Valley: Arm Candy
Cattle Valley: Recipe for Love
Cattle Valley: Firehouse Heat
Cattle Valley: Neil’s Guardian Angel
Cattle Valley: Scarred
Cattle Valley: Making the Grade
Cattle Valley: To Service and Protect
Cattle Valley: The O’Brien Way
Cattle Valley: Ghost from the Past
Cattle Valley: Hawk’s Landing
Cattle Valley: Shooting Star
Cattle Valley: Confessions
Cattle Valley: Shadow Soldier
Cattle Valley: Alone in a Crowd
Cattle Valley: Second Chances
Cattle Valley: Finding Absolution
Cattle Valley: Fingerprints and Muddy Feet
Cattle Valley: Snake Charmer
Poker Night: Texas Hold Em
Poker Night: Slow-Play
Poker Night: Pocket Pair
Poker Night: Different Suits
Poker Night: Full House
Men in Love: Reunion
Bodyguards in Love: Brier’s Bargain
Bodyguards in Love: Taming Black Dog Four
Bodyguards in Love: I Love Rock N Roll
Bodyguards in Love: Seducing the Sheik
Bodyguards in Love: To Bed a King
Neo’s Realm: Liquid Crimson
Neo’s Realm: Blood Trinity
Neo’s Realm: Crimson Moon
Neo’s Realm: Royal Blood
Seasons of Love: Spring
Seasons of Love: Summer
Seasons of Love: Fall
Seasons of Love: Winter
C-7 Shifters: Alrik
C-7 Shifters: Seger
Buck Wild: Cowboy Pride
Buck Wild: Cowboy Rules
Fabulous Brits: Moor Love
Naughty Nooners: Dalton’s Awakening
Gaymes: Highland Gaymes
Unconventional at Best: A New Normal
Unconventional in Atlanta: Seeing Him
Carol loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.totallybound.com.
Totally Bound Publishing