honest, Iâd much rather be back at the hotel, curled up on the bed in my nightie, watching old movies on TV.â
âI agree,â said Aidan. â
I
âd much rather be curled up in bed with you, too.â
Lark gasped, feeling an overwhelming urge to slap him. But Holly did something even better.
The country star took two slow steps toward Aidan, then leaned in close until her famously full and pouty lips were nearly touching his. âTell you what, darlinâ,â she said in a breathy voice. âYou can watch old movies with me any time you like . . . but if I were you, Iâd wait âtil I was old enough to be behind the wheel of a hot little sports car instead of on a liâl olâ bicycle.â Winking, she stepped away and added, âSo give me a call the minute you get your traininâ wheels off, ya hear?â
Aidanâs face turned scarlet as Max, Ollie, and Lark burst into hysterical laughter. Their mocking sounds followed him as he stormed across the patio and into the house.
CHAPTER
NINE
âGone?â Donnaâs coffee cup stopped midway to her lips. She blinked at Mrs. Fitzpatrick, who had just come in to deliver the news. âWhat do you mean, âgoneâ?â
âI went to wake the boys, like you asked,â Mrs. Fitzpatrick explained, her voice disapproving. âOnly two of them were in their beds. Aidan is nowhere to be seen. His bed hadnât even been slept in.â
âDid you check the music room?â Lark asked. âMaybe he went up there to work on some songs last night and just fell asleep.â
âI checked the music room, the pool house, even the garage,â Mrs. Fitzpatrick insisted. âThe little devil is gone.â
It was at this moment that the other two band members came shuffling sleepily into the kitchen.
âDo I smell bangers, Fitzy?â asked Ollie, grinning. âI do love a nice sausage.â
âWhere is Aidan?â Donna demanded, slamming her coffee mug down.
âDunno,â said Max, yawning. âIn the loo, maybe?â
âHeâs not here,â Lark explained. âHeâs . . . missing.â
The boys looked only mildly surprised.
âDo you two know where he is?â cried Donna, her voice growing shrill. âIf you do, start talking!â
âWe havenât got a clue,â Ollie assured her. âHonest.â
âDonât you dare cover for him, Oliver,â Donna scolded, dragging her hands anxiously through her hair. âThat young man is my responsibility. If heâs out in a strange city, all aloneââ She pulled her frantic eyes from Ollie to glare at Max. âIf you know where he went, youâd better tell me right this minute! If he told you what he was planning, or where he was going . . .â
âHe didnât tell me anything,â said Max. âIâd tell you if he did, I swear.â
âMom,â said Lark, struggling to keep calm. âThink about it. Max and Ollie arenât exactly on speaking terms with Aidan right now. What makes you think heâd tell them what he was up to?â
âSheâs right,â said Ollie, then hesitated. âBut . . . well, if I had to make an educated guess . . .â
Donna gave him a desperate look. âGo on.â
âAidanâs always fancied himself a player. If I had to guess, Iâd say he went off to see about catching up with Holly Rose at that club after all.â
Donna went pale. âHeâs fifteen! Thatâs dangerous. And . . .Â
illegal
!â
Lark picked up her motherâs cell phone and began scrolling through her contacts. âIâll call Holly and see if she ran into him.â Her finger hovered over the touchscreen. âOr . . . maybe I should call the police?â
âThereâs always the morgue,â said Ollie.
William Dietrich
Mercedes Lackey
Barbara Cartland
Mindy Wilde
Artis Henderson
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Brad Latham
George Wier, Billy Kring
Lara Swann
Paul Fraser Collard