No Place to Hide (Rocking Racers Book 2) Read online

  “It’s because I know you, Knley, who you really are. You can’t hide that from your other half.” I always melt when he says stuff like that to me. He’s so open with his feelings. It’s one of the many things I love about him. “So tell me what’s really eating you.”

  “It’s just....” I sigh. “It’s not fun anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I still love performing and I’m grateful so many people have spent their hard-earned cash to come and see us, but I feel like I’ve outgrown this particular place in my life, you know? We’re still playing songs from when we first broke, and I’m not that girl anymore. I look back and I can hardly tell the difference between songs from our first album and songs off our last. There’s no growth.”

  “What happened to the songs you wrote while we were away?”

  “They’re still sitting on my laptop.”

  “So why don’t you start working on them again?”

  “And do what with them? There’s no way my mother will let the band record them.”

  “So do it just for you, record them yourself. I’m sure there’d be plenty of interest in a McKnley Rhodes solo album.”

  “Hmm, maybe.” Just then Shell timidly knocks on the door.

  “McKnley?” I pull the phone away from my mouth. She enters the room brandishing a pair of leather shorts in front of her, like they’ll protect her from my wrath. “Are these okay?”

  “They’re great, thanks,” I reply.

  “So you’re satisfied with this wardrobe choice?” my mother sneers as she sweeps into the room.

  Putting the phone back to my ear I hear Cole humming to himself. “Handsome, I’ve got to go.”

  “All right, are you okay though?”

  I smile at his concern. “I’ll be fine.”

  “I’ll see you in a week, right?” The NRS season starts then and I promised I’d be at the first race. I bypassed my mother and went directly to the head of marketing at Bolt and told her I’d be in attendance, thus forcing my mother to make room for it during the tour.

  “Yeah, handsome, I’ll be there.”

  “I can’t wait.”

  I smile despite my mother glaring at me. “Me either.”

  “Be good, love.”

  “Never,” I say, laughing, before I hang up. I turn to face my mother and raise an eyebrow, waiting for the lecture I know is about to be thrown my way.

  “Yes?” I ask when it’s not forthcoming.

  “Oh, you’re ready now, are you?”

  “If you bothered to take any notice, I was on the phone before you came barging in.”

  “My sincerest apologies.”

  “Whatever,” I say dismissively. I really can’t be bothered to deal with my mother’s shit right now. Realising she’s not going to start anytime soon, I turn back to the mirror and start on my hair and make-up. My mother watches me for a minute before she speaks.

  “What happened to you, McKnley?”

  “Huh? Nothing happened.”

  “Yes it did, around the time that piece of scum came back into your life.”

  I sigh. Not this again. “Cole has nothing to do with any of this.”

  “If you truly believe that, you’re a bigger fool than I was when I first got involved with his good-for-nothing father.”

  I turn to face her. “Okay, I’ll bite. What is it you think Cole has done to me?”

  “He’s turned you against us.”

  “What?” I ask, shocked. “No he hasn’t.”

  “Yes, he has,” she says, and perches on the bench next to me, taking my hand. “I can feel you growing apart from us.”

  “I’m not growing apart from anyone. I’m growing up, something we all should be doing. I love Cole and he loves me. It’s time you see that and accept it. I’m twenty-seven now, Mum, a grown woman, so are the others. We can’t be stuck doing the same thing day after day, year after year, album after album. I’ve got some songs I was working on while I was away and I think they’re just the thing to progress our sound.”

  “See! This is what I’m talking about. You never used to talk of ‘progressing our sound’ before.”

  What the fuck? Is she high? “I used to talk about it all the time. It’s just that you’re actually paying attention now.”

  She waves her hand dismissively. “Regardless, there are other things as well.”

  “Like what?”

  “Such as your adolescent outburst at the Bolt party. I had a hell of a time trying to contain that in the press.”

  “You didn’t contain it. It was splashed all over the nation.”

  “But the fact it was forgotten about almost as quickly as it happened wasn’t luck.”

  “Right, whatever.” I cross my arms. If my mother wants to claim she controls the nation’s tabloids, I’m not going to fight her.

  “And just tonight there was the tantrum over your outfit. You’ve never had a problem with what you wear on stage.”

  “Because up until tonight I’ve always worn pants on stage. Never have I ever worn a skirt, and I never will.”

  “It’s just a skirt, McKnley.”

  “A short skirt, and I really don’t want to be flashing the front row.”

  “It’s never bothered your sisters.”

  “Well good for them. They can show the world their vags, but excuse me for trying to keep some of my life private.”

  “See!”

  “What?”

  “You never cared about privacy before. You knew as well as we all do the importance of being accessible.”

  “There’s a difference between being accessible and being exposed. I don’t want to be a media whore.”

  “And you’re above being stuck with your mother and sisters all day, every day too.”

  “Of course I’m not. I’m just saying we could go about things differently. We don’t need to be so aggressive in our pursuit of fame. We’ve got it, so why not enjoy it? Be ourselves for a change? There’s no need to be the Aussie Kardashians.”

  “The Kardashians are onto something.”

  “And so are we, our music. We have something they don’t, and that’s talent. We don’t need stunts to keep our names out there. Our music does it for us.”

  “Oh, McKnley,” my mother says, her voice dripping derision. “That boy has made you even more naïve than I thought.” She gets up and heads to the door. “You go on in twenty, so you best hurry.”

  After the show I call a band meeting. Naturally that includes my mother as well. I hadn’t wanted things to get to this stage, but I see now that this was inevitable. In fact, I probably let things go too far without saying anything, but I’m putting my foot down now.

  “What’s this all about, Knley?” Blake huffs as she flops onto one of the couches in the green room.

  “I wanted to talk to you all about something.”

  “Of course you did,” Ashton says, “because it’s all about you, right?”

  “Yes, Ashton,” I snipe. “The world revolves around me and it’s time you all got on board with that.”

  “Seriously,” Quinn says, “what’s up, Kn?”

  I sigh then take a deep breath. “I wanted to talk to you all about my relationship with Cole.” I hear my mother huff, but I ignore it. “I know that you don’t like him, that you think he’s distracting me, but I think you’re smart enough to realise that isn’t the case.”

  “No, we don’t,” my mother says. “It’s clear that Cole is definitely a distraction to you, McKnley, and it’s not good for the band.”

  I look to my sisters. “Do you think that?”

  “Of course not,” Quinn says. “Cole is good for you. We can all see it even if some of us don’t like it.”

  “It’s not a matter of not liking it,” Ashton says. “Mum has a point with what she’s saying. Your attention is split right now between the band and him.”

  “They’re two totally different things,” I argue.

  “It doesn’t matter. While you’re with Cole you’re not t
otally focused on the band. I see you when you talk to him, Knley, and I see you when you’re thinking about being with him. You want to be with him, not us, and that’s a problem.”

  “I still want to be in the band,” I tell them. “I love being in a band with you guys.”

  “But you also want to be with him,” Ashton says, “but you can’t have both.”

  “I don’t have both!” I tell her. “I’m here with you guys because this is what I do, who I am.”

  “But it’s not who you want to be, is it?” she asks.

  “I think I can be both,” I say, avoiding her question. She scoffs at my answer.

  “What do you guys think?” I ask Blake and Sloane.

  “I think that the attention we’re getting from your relationship with Cole is doing wonders for us,” Sloane says.

  “And personally?” I ask.

  She shrugs. “Whatever. It’s your life. As long as you’re still with us, then I don’t care.”

  “Blake?” I ask.

  “I think your focus has shifted,” she says.

  “See, I told you,” my mother says. “That loser is no good for you.”

  I shake my head. “You’re wrong. You’re all wrong. Cole is the best thing to ever happen to me, and he’s going to be around for a while to come.”

  My mother laughs. “If you think this little dalliance is going to last, you’re worse than I thought.”

  “Just because you couldn’t make a relationship work.”

  “My darling, McKnley, how naïve you are.”

  “I’m not naïve. I’m in love.”

  “To-may-to, to-mah-to,” she says.

  “I want you to stop your attacks on him. It was bad enough when I was away, but I’m back now. I realise it was stupid of me to leave without telling you where I was going, but you more than got revenge for that, don’t you think?”

  She shakes her head. “No, I don’t think. He is out to destroy our family, just like his no-good father, and I won’t rest until he’s gone from our lives.”

  “Why can’t you just let me be happy?” I ask, tears welling in my eyes.

  “Because happiness can’t come from being with a man, and especially won’t come from being with him.”

  I shake my head. “You’re wrong.”

  “We’ll see,” she says. “Men like him, they always want more than you can give.”

  “Cole’s not like that.”

  She smiles. “Like I said, we’ll see.”

  I want to tell her she can see all she likes, that Cole and I will go the distance, but in the back of my mind, I can’t help but wonder if she might have a point.

  Coley Pulling a Swifty?

  Busy or broken up? That’s the question on everyone’s lips about Coley. Since arriving back home after five weeks in Europe, we’ve barely had any sightings of the Rocking Racers couple. In fact, it seems to us that sightings of the couple have come at strangely convenient times: after Cole’s signing for Ryan Racing, at a sponsor’s party, a new restaurant opening, the opening night of Places’ national tour. It’s all a little too coincidental for our liking. So are we being played? Could this be Australia’s answer to HiddleSwift? Call us cynical, but we can’t help but wonder. What are your thoughts, Mongers?

  Chapter Eighteen

  Cole

  After Knley’s call I decided to make a trip to surprise her. I had a promo appearance for a sunglasses company, but I spoke to Bria and she said Liam would cover it. If it wasn’t enough, she’d add Mav and Jax to the mix. I felt bad for bailing, but I had a feeling my girl needed me more.

  Places’ next show was in Margaret River, so I flew into Perth and hired a car. I text Quinn on the way and tell her my plans. She’s been a great ally for Knley and me since we first got together. I like to think that’s because she’s the one who’s closest to Knley and can see what a good influence I’ve been on her and that’s why she’s helping me. Deep down I hope all the Rhodes girls can see what Helen is doing, and that they’re humouring her, but I’m not entirely sure. What I am sure of though, is that we can count on Quinn. A spare key to Knley’s room is waiting for me at reception. It’s about 10:00 a.m. by the time I get to Places’ hotel, but I know when they’re on tour, a normal schedule isn’t kept. The band goes on late, which is something that irks sections of their audience, especially those that have kids or have to work the next day.

  I pick up the card Quinn left for me and make my way to Knley’s room. Thankfully the key works, and I slip inside the darkened room. I’m able to locate the bed, Knley’s dark hair standing out against the white sheets. Quietly I strip down to my boxers before sliding in bed behind her. She wakes with a start when I slip an arm around her waist.

  “Hi, love,” I whisper in her ear before kissing her neck.

  “Cole?” she asks sleepily.

  “Surprise.”

  She turns to face me. “What are you doing here? How did you get in?”

  “You sounded so down on the phone, I thought my girl might need me, so here I am.”

  “How did you get in?”

  “I texted Quinn and she left a key for me at reception.”

  “Oh.”

  I fly three and a half thousand kilometres to see her, and all I get is “oh”?

  “Are you not glad to see me?”

  A smile crosses her face and she wraps her arms around my neck, bringing our faces close. “Of course I am, I’m just surprised is all. I thought you had a promo to do.”

  “I did, but I asked Bria to get me out of it and she did.”

  “Thank God for Bria,” Knley says as she hikes her leg up on my hip. I run my hand up it, under the Ryan Racing shirt she wore to bed. I slide my hand along her body to between her legs.

  “It seems you’re ready for me,” I say as I slip a finger inside her. She throws her head back and moans.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Did you miss me, love?” I ask as I kiss along her throat, my finger still gliding in and out of her leisurely.

  “Uh-huh.” I add another finger and she moans again.

  “Cole.” My name from her lips turns my already aching dick to steel.

  “That’s it, love, come on my fingers.” Her hips are moving in time with me and it’s not long before she tightens, her orgasm washing over her.

  “Good girl,” I say, and take her lips in a bruising kiss.

  “Hi,” she says when we break apart.

  I brush a stray strand of her hair away from her face. “Hi yourself.”

  “I can’t believe you’re here.”

  “It’s all real,” I say, and push my erection into her. She reaches down and squeezes it, causing me to groan.

  “Looks like you missed me just as much as I missed you,” she says, her hand slipping inside my boxers. I jerk at her touch.

  “Love,” I warn. If she keeps this up I’ll never last. She pushes the offending material down then rolls me to my back and straddles my hips, my dick perfectly positioned under her opening. She rubs herself against me, coating me in her wetness.

  “Fuck, love,” I hiss, and grab my wallet from the bedside table where I left it and dig out a condom. I roll it on as she giggles and bends down to kiss me, taking my bottom lip between her teeth. I grab her hips and try to slide her down on me, but the little minx refuses, instead sitting up to strip off her shirt, her nipples pointing straight at me. I take one in my mouth and the other between my fingers, and she moans loudly into the near darkness. She’s squirming above me and I can feel exactly how much she likes this.

  “Cole,” she breathes when I switch nipples.

  “Yes, love?”

  “Stop teasing.”

  “What do you want, love? Tell me.”

  “You.”

  “You’ve got me. What else?”

  “I want you inside me.”

  “I was inside you before, is that what you want?”

  “I want you to fuck me,” she begs, her nails digging into my sh
oulder. I love it when she begs me to take her.

  “Done.” I impale her on my cock. “Fuck, love,” I manage to grit out.

  “You feel so good,” she moans as I begin to pound into her.

  A few more thrusts and we’re both coming hard. She collapses on me and I wrap my arms around her, our damp skin sticking us together. I take the condom off, wrap it in a tissue, and throw it in a nearby bin. That’s the only movement while we sit there, wrapped in each other’s embrace before she breaks the comfortable silence.

  “How long have I got you?” she asks finally.

  “Just for today. Bria could only get me out of so much, but it’s better than nothing, right?”

  She nods and curls close to my chest.

  “So what’s been going on? How are you really?”

  She leans back from me. “Can we not talk about this? You’re here for basically no time, and I don’t want to waste it on boring shit.” Ah, there she is, McKnley fucking Rhodes. Sometimes it’s easy to forget this side of Knley exists, especially when it’s just the two of us, but she’s always lurking.

  I take a deep breath. “If that’s what you want. So what do you say to a shower and breakfast before hitting a winery? What time is your sound check?”

  “Five thirty.”

  “So maybe two wineries?” I ask, arching an eyebrow. She nods and I carry her to the shower.

  McKnley on stage is like nothing on earth. She’s powerful, passionate, and has the crowd in the palm of her hand. Sloane may be the lead singer, but Knley is the heart of the band. I know she says she’s not enjoying playing songs from five years ago, but looking at her you’d never know it. She struts from one side of the stage to the other, commanding the audience’s attention, and they give it willingly. When she’s up there, you can’t tear your eyes away from her.

  “She’s amazing, isn’t she?” Helen Rhodes asks me as we stand and watch her middle daughter.

  “Incredible.”

  “You’d never guess just by looking at her that she’s been swept under a spell.”

  I cross my arms. “And I suppose I’m the evil sorcerer, am I?”

  “You deny it?”