Only You, Butterfly Read online

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  About the Author

  www.lazydaypub.com

  Only You Butterfly

  ISBN-13- 978-1-61258-042-5

  ISBN-10- 1-61258-042-4

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Copyright © 2012 Rae Spencer

  Cover art by Bret Poinier

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, any events or locales is purely coincidental. The names, characters, places and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination and are not to be construed as real.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission from the publisher LazyDay, with the exception of quotes used in reviews and critical articles.

  Dedication

  To my family and friends for supporting me. Lorraine and Merrill for being my friends. My Puakea for being there to cuddle no matter my mood and to Lazyday Publishing for putting up with me.

  A special thank you to my boys, Michael and Tyler, for accepting with an open mind what their mom loves to do and for supporting me as I search out my dreams. To my brother-in-law Aaron and my sister Kara for always lending an ear and being willing to help me out.

  To all those who have bought my books, supported me, and to the musicians who continue to fuel my fantasies, I thank you!

  Love you all!

  Chapter 1

  Arianna sat in the corner of the dingy bar on a lopsided chair hiding beneath the dim light watching him. She knew who he was. What he did for a living. He was dressed in tight jeans accentuating his muscular thighs with a polo style shirt fitting him like a second skin. His blond hair glinted in the lights capturing and holding her attention.

  His square chin, straight nose and concave cheeks enhanced his rakish appearance. He was handsome. She wondered what brought him to this dive of a bar in her little town. Alone.

  Arianna finished her soda then stood. Time to go to work.

  “Thanks Steve,” she said, walking pass the gouged wood bar.

  “Have a good night.” Steve waved.

  Arianna stole another glance at the gorgeous musician leaning against the bar. Sighing, she opened the door and left.

  She stopped on the steps, taking a deep breath of the crisp night air trying to control the swarm of butterflies fluttering madly in her stomach.

  Her steps slow and steady, she walked across the pavement toward the old shiny diner. Her job. She scowled. Graveyards sucked. The men were obnoxious. They grabbed at her ass and pinched her breasts. But she had to eat and she knew the diner was the best job she would be able to get. She had to deal and opened the door.

  “Hey John,” Arianna said. The door slammed closed behind her, making her jump.

  “Hey, Ari, easy night,” John said, glancing around at the almost empty diner.

  “Sounds good,” Arianna said, smiling.

  “How’s Caro?” John asked, pushing open the kitchen door.

  She walked behind the counter, the shiny silver of the coolers shimmering with her reflection. “She's doing well. The bar was busy.”

  John laughed, holding the dual swinging door to the kitchen open. “Heard some rockstar stopped by.”

  She giggled while tying on her apron. “He did. Wonder what brought him here.”

  “They played last night at the arena in town. It’s not too far away,” John said.

  “Caro took me to see them last night. I’m sure there are better places than Steve’s,” she said.

  “Yes, an unusual choice…” John choked on his words and his mouth dropped open.

  The rockstar in question strolled into the diner. The door slammed closed behind him with a loud whoosh. He glanced over his shoulder at the door then looked at the occupants before walking toward the counter.

  She turned to see what captured John’s attention. Her breath hitched and she stared at the rockstar. He sat down on one of the round blue stools at the counter.

  The counter was her domain. John preferred it for her safety. She gulped and approached the rockstar. Her stomach fluttered madly. She tightened her muscles in a desperate bid to calm them.

  “Hello. Can I get you something?” she asked.

  “Coffee,” the rockstar replied with a lopsided smile.

  “Sure thing.” She turned picking up the coffee pot.

  “Cream or milk?” she asked.

  “Cream.” His eyes scanned her face.

  She picked up a bunch of creamers and put them in a tiny bowl. She placed them next to his cup. Her hand trembled slightly. She scolded herself. She had no reason to be nervous serving the rockstar. She knew how to do her job. Ridiculous! He’s just a man. Like all the others.

  “Thank you,” he said, adding two creamers to his coffee. He stirred it then picked up the cup and took a sip.

  “You’re welcome.” She smiled.

  She moved down the counter stopping in front of one of her other customers. She checked on each customer until she reached the end of the counter.

  Her eyes drifted to the rockstar drinking his coffee. She couldn’t help it. She was curious. First the bar and now the diner.

  His band Distracted was awesome. It had been her first concert and Caroline got them right up next to the stage. With no one in front of them, she had been able to stare at him almost through the whole show.

  Arianna shook her head, pushing loose strands of auburn hair behind her ear. She had been fascinated with him. She couldn’t deny it. Not only could the man sing, but he was amazing to look at. Caroline had teased her after the show, actually all the way home. Just some good fun between girls.

  She would wait a few more minutes then check on him. The best thing for her to do was stay away. The man made her nerves vibrate.

  Tom peeked at the woman from the corner of his eye. He had seen her on the rail at his show last night. He hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her. He had known where she was every moment and had loved the smile on her face.

  His plane didn’t leave until early in the morning, back to L.A. for a few weeks off before the next leg of his tour began. He felt compelled to try to find her. He wanted to find out if he experienced the same reaction. Had she felt the same?

  He did have the same reaction. Only it was stronger this time. He reacted the moment he saw her sitting at the table. His palms had itched to touch her alabaster skin. His fingers burned at the thought of running through her auburn locks. His mouth watered over what her lush lips would taste like.

  She wore a pair of black slacks. They fit snugly, showing off her cute rounded butt. Her white button down shirt was loose but unable to hide the slight curve of her breast covered by her apron.

  He went to the bar to find her friend, to get information on her. Instead, she was there. She left. He followed.

  His eyes wandered to her hands. His body tensed. He wanted those hands on him. He glanced at her face sparkling with freckles. The physical response he had to her amazed him. This wasn’t the first time he had a physical response to a woman, but never like this.

  Arianna walked beside the blue-chipped counter checking on her customers. She refilled their coffee with a smile. She stopped in front of the rockstar. She clasped her free hand into a fist by her hip. “Would you like anythi
ng else?”

  He saw her fisted hand and looked up at her face. Her smile was small and he sensed her nervousness. “How is your chicken fried steak?”

  “The best. John is a great cook.” She always bragged about his cooking, but it was the truth.

  “Okay, I’ll try it.” He watched her smile ease into a real one.

  She wrote on her pad. “You got it. More coffee?”

  “Please,” he said.

  She refilled his coffee and gave John the order. She meandered back down to where the TV was watching him out of the corner of her eye. She arched her neck and rubbed the tendons to ease her tension.

  After a few minutes, the bell went off. Arianna picked up the plate and carried it over to the rockstar.

  “Here you go.” She placed the plate in front of him.

  “Thank you.” He was surprised the food smelled so good. His eyes followed her hands.

  “Anything else?” Her hands rested by her waist.

  “More coffee.” He wanted to kick himself. He had no idea what to say to her. He never had this problem before.

  She poured him more coffee then gave him a quick smile. She checked on her other customers.

  The door opened, the bells ringing before it slammed closed. Her face flooded with a frown. Her breath escaped in a rush, quickly replaced by a tight smile. Three men walked into the diner. They liked to harass her. She hoped they behaved themselves and sat at a booth.

  No! Of course not! Too much to ask! They all clamored to the counter. She stiffened. Here goes another challenging encounter.

  “What can I get for you?” Her fingers gripped her order pad and pencil.

  “Coffee for starters and perhaps you can be our desert,” the first said.

  She grabbed the pot of coffee, her lips drawn tight. She poured their cups and quickly moved down the counter.

  Arianna stopped by the rockstar’s plate on her way. “Coffee.”

  “Yes.” He saw the nervous flutter of her fingers against her hip, the frown marring her beautiful face and the hesitation in her step.

  She glanced at his plate to see how much he had eaten. “Everything okay? Do you like the steak?”

  “Yes, it’s very good.” He could clearly see the strain on her face.

  She nodded before walking back down the counter to wait on her harassers. “Are you ready to order?”

  “How about you?” One reached over the counter past the glass display case holding Danishes and slapped her on the ass.

  She jumped backwards, glaring. “Are you going to order or not?”

  “What you offering?” The second laughed.

  “Nothing,” she snapped.

  Why wouldn’t they just leave her alone? She wasn’t interested. The door to the kitchen swung back and forth.

  “Either order or leave,” John snapped stopping behind Arianna.

  “I hear you, old man,” the third snarled. The second reached over the counter again grabbing for her breast.

  “Hey! Knock it off.” She slapped the hand away

  “Oh… sweetheart, I don’t think so,” the first said.

  “Get out now!” John pointed toward the door.

  “We’re not done yet.” The second sneered not looking at John.

  John snarled taking a step closer. “Yes, you are. You aren’t coming in here to harass the girls.”

  “Just having a little fun.” The first’s eyes devoured Arianna.

  “You were asked to leave,” a new voice said, the tone low rolling like thunder across the diner.

  “What you going to do about it?” The third glanced over at the voice.

  Arianna’s head whipped around in surprise sending strands of her auburn hair tumbling out of her bun. She stared at the rockstar. She couldn’t believe that he, of all people, intervened and helped her.

  “Do I need to do something?” The man stood, his voice cracking across the air. He towered over all three of them.

  “Stay out of this.” The first reached over smacking Arianna’s ass again.

  John pulled her away from them.

  “I said to leave. Go now or I'll call the cops.” John pushed Arianna behind him.

  “You heard him.” The man’s eyes darkened, hands balling into fists. His lips pulled tight and a cheek muscle ticked. He didn’t like them touching her, not at all.

  “Alright, alright.” The three looked at John then the man and walked toward the door.

  She stood paralyzed. They walked out, the rockstar following to make sure they left before sitting back down.

  “Thank you.” She glanced at him, her voice trembling.

  “You’re welcome.” He wrapped his hands around his coffee cup. How dare they touch her?

  John smiled at the rockstar. “Yes, thank you. They don’t listen. I'll have the sheriff come down in the morning, Ari, to walk you home.”

  “Thanks John.” She cleaned up the coffee cups where the three had sat, ignoring her trembling hands. She refilled the rockstar's cup as John went back into the kitchen.

  Her dimple peeked out in her right check with her smile. “Thank you again. I appreciate it. Those three won’t give up.”

  He smiled and nodded. His fingers eased on the cup. Ari.

  “Those guys give you a hard time a lot?” His eyes roved over her face.

  Her brow furrowed. “Every night. Wish they would give up already.”

  “He mentioned having the sheriff walk you home.” He nodded toward the kitchen.

  She fidgeted with the edge of her shirt. “John worries the guys will come back in the morning. If the sheriff comes in for breakfast he takes me home.”

  “How long has this been going on?” he asked.

  “A few weeks. The sheriff has warned them, but they keep coming. Not much I can do,” she said.

  “Perhaps.” His fingers flexed against his cup. He didn’t like the thought of those three pestering her every day.

  She shrugged before walking down the counter to her other customers. She smiled sweetly at an older gentleman drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. She knew he would be kind and leave her a generous tip.

  The diner wasn’t busy tonight. She sighed. It was going to be a long night with the rockstar distracting her with his presence.

  The older gentleman left, waving goodbye. Arianna waved back cleaning up his spot.

  She noticed the rockstar’s cup was empty and walked down. “Would you like more?”

  He nodded looking right into her eyes. They reminded him of moss, so green, shiny, and beautiful.

  She poured him more coffee then motioned to his empty plate. “You done?”

  He nodded again. She removed his plate. He wanted to grab her and put his hands all over her.

  “Desert?” she asked.

  “What do you have?” he asked, letting out a breath, happy to have an excuse to stay longer.

  “Lemon meringue, coconut cream, chocolate, pecan…” She ran through the list of pies they had.

  “Chocolate,” he cut in.

  She opened the glass door to the pie case and took out the chocolate pie.

  He was worried those three might come back to bother his little lady. His little lady. Wow! Where did that thought come from? “What’s your name? He said Ari earlier, or is that a nickname?”

  She cut the piece of chocolate pie and placed the yellow plate in front of him. “Nickname. My name is Arianna.”

  “Arianna.” He looked up taking in her oval face, rounded cheeks, perky nose covered with freckles and lush lips.

  “And you are?” she asked.

  “Tom Calloway,” he said.

  She took a deep breath and tightened her stomach muscles. “You’re the singer from Distracted?”

  He nodded.

  “I was at your show last night in town,” she said.

  “Were you?” he said, staring at the yellow plate with the chocolate pie. He shifted on the stool feeling a little foolish. He was eating in this diner in a litt
le town he would normally never go to all because he wanted to meet her, find out her name and he had no idea what to say to her.

  She giggled. “It was great. So what brings you here?”

  He shifted on the stool again. How does he explain to her when he could barely explain to himself? “Just looking for some free time.”

  Her voice rushed out and her smile faded as she took a step back. “I won’t bother you.”

  He smothered a groan at the hurt look on her face. “No, I didn’t mean anything towards you, just wanted some time away from the guys.”

  She gazed at him catching her lip between her teeth. She titled her head. Was he just being kind?

  He gripped the cup. His eyes glittered like sapphires. “Really, I wouldn’t mind the company or the conversation.”

  She watched his fingers ease on the cup. “It must be hard traveling so much.”

  He relaxed. “Sometimes. The other guys have their wives with them so I feel like a third wheel.”

  “I feel that way with my friend Caro since she got married.” She frowned.

  “It makes a difference when your friends are married,” he said.

  “Yes, it does. Don’t see her much anymore, but such is life, you know,” she said.

  “Yeah, I know,” he said, watching her freckles sparkle under the bright lights as she moved.

  “The cook is a friend.” He motioned toward John.

  She laughed. “More like a protector.”

  “A protector?” His eyebrows shot up.

  “John considers all the ladies here under his protection so he keeps an eye on us.” She glanced over at John, smiling.

  “That is nice,” he said, hearing her affection for the old man in her voice.

  “I don’t know what I would have done without him. Graveyards can be rough,” she said.

  “Why do you work them?” he asked.

  “The pay is better and the early breakfast crowd tips better,” she said. Her face heated and she frowned over her faux pas.

  “Don’t be embarrassed.” His eyes moved over her face caressing the color. He loved the way the blush ran up her cheeks.