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CHAPTER ONE
SYDNEY: sun, surf and shopping All that waswas the sex
Sienna s on the hot sand Beautiful bodies decorated the shore and she cruised through the her way back up to the footpath Oh, yeah If she ever went to a doctor again this would be the only prescription she’d pay attention to One week of pure holiday—preparation ti adventure Her first here no one knew about her health or her history—the fresh beginning she’d been hanging out half her life for
She paused to let a couple stroll by in front of her Tried not to envy the way the woles ofstraps, it revealed more than it concealed and she had both the body and boldness to wear it Sienna didn’t have either She didn’t want the looks, the ill-concealed curiosity or pity She didn’t want the speculation full stop Hence her throat-high top—even though it did cling and her miniskirt was more on the mini than the skirt side And sure she’d spotted the odd sideways glance her way from a couple of men As usual she’d shied away froe the way that woman did Irritation increased her pace and she lectured her wavering confidence— to tick her way through her list of ‘er’s gaze forin the moment’—her new motto?
Suddenly touched byaway from the beach and into the pub, club and café scene She needed to buck up—wasn’t it her New Year’s resolution to live life to the irls she’d ht Full of adventure and fun, they’d be able to teach her a few tricks At least she could hang on for the ride and watch But that hat she was sick of—being the one on the sidelines, unable to participate because she wasn’t allowed Well, now she was allowed And there was no one here to tell her she couldn’t, wouldn’t or shouldn’t But nor was there anyone to tell her she could, would or should either She wished Lucy were here, her crazy friend who had all the gumption and the heart as well The person who’d shown her some fun in spite of the restrictions all those years But she’d had to co to prove to herself that she could do it Because then she’d truly believe it and could insist others recognise it too
She glanced at her watch A bit after three pm, the lunch crowd had moved on and everyone was back at work—except the tourists, travellers and holiday-makers like her The restaurant and club a couple of blocks down fro air on the steah and the thunderstor She hoped it would happen soon; she wasn’t used to the hard-to-breathe air
Then she heard it Boom, boom, hiss, boom, boom, hiss—the unmistakable strike of stick on druain Then she heard the twang of a rough chord on an electric guitar followed by a disembodied male voice ‘One, one Two, t-t-t-two’
Sound check
Suddenly she felt right at hoht into the open bar that was closed for business To where the band was onstage and the rehearsal was happening Four guys were up there, dressed in shorts and tees and the lead singer had the skinny boy star look andthe breeze fro
‘I’m sorry, you can’t stay here The bar’s not open yet’
Reluctantly she dragged her gaze from the drum kit to the ain Then rapidly a couple more times to try to make her silly eyes focus My God So men like that really did exist? The kind that would have every wo their pelvic floor exercises because they knew, absolutely knew, that keeping up with him in the bedroom would require some spectacular performance
Sienna’s whole body tensed—especially her pelvic floor
Steely grey eyes with a sarded her They were surrounded by dark lashes and topped with strongly curved dark brows Great co—the fullest, most sensual lips she’d ever seen on a man
She blinked again and broke the contact Looked down and in that speck of ti appearance once ner board shorts with artless ease and a close-fitting c
otton tee shirt His dark hair was clipped short and his sandals were of soft-looking leather Details burnt into her brain in rapid-fire succession But it was his hands she lingered on as they rested on his arers—he’d have no trouble reaching a couple of octaves on the piano Nails so neat you’d think they’d been professionally manicured
He ay
She saw his glance slip over her as he paused too Saw the hint of censure cloud into sonal Attraction
Not gay
She snuck in a breath and re to ask ‘You mind if I watch a while?’ Her voice seemed to have lost all power It was some pathetic trickle of its usual ti at her, she’d lose all ability to speak or think at all Man, he was hot
He kept staring at her and she stared back, intrigued to see the green in his eyes intensify His stance, with his arms banded across his chest, showed off the breadth of his shoulders and eular shape His shirt pulled at the sea to contain the breadth of the bone and muscle beneath Finally he opened his ot in first
‘It’s OK, Rhys She can stay Can you bring in the other aotten about the microphone and shouted—the result so loud Sienna juer
Rhys He jerked his head to the stage, looking as if he’d just relance flicker between all theit That was OK She’d been in and around bands long enough to knohat they thought Groupie? Not today Well, certainly not for any of the musicians But Rhys their roadie? My God She’d never seen a roadie like that before
She watched as he walked behind the bar to wherever to get theequipment
The singer smiled at her ‘Come sit and watch for a while if you want’