Not Second Best

Cover Copy

No more solos for this heart . . .

As a lawyer at Touchstone management, Tessa’s position brings her up close and personal to some of the world’s biggest heartthrobs. Sometimes that intimacy crosses professional lines, which is understandable considering Tessa’s impressive contact list. But when rock star Brian Ellis set her aside for the girl of his dreams, Tessa can’t help wonder if spinster aunt is her true vocation. Which explains her hook-up with rising star Brett Cherney at Brian’s celebrity wedding . . .

As the lead singer of BroRide, Brett has lived the rock-n-roll bad-boy lifestyle to the very hilt. But when the girl of his dreams marries fellow rocker Brian Ellis, he buries his disappointment in the arms of an older woman. The following morning, Brett realizes what he experienced was only the beginning of a song he’s been trying to write all his life. It’s a seductive theme, which Tessa falls for again and again, but getting her to believe they have a hit is turning out to be far from a sure thing . . .

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Books by Christa Maurice

Drawn to the Rhythm Series

Satellite of Love

Heaven Beside You

Waiting For A Girl Like You

Let Me Be the One

Not Second Best

Arden FD Series

Three Alarm Tenant

Struck By Lightning

Spark of Desire

Weaver’s Circle Series

Secrets Everybody Knows

Long Memory

One Ring to Rule

Melody Unchained

Published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Not Second Best

A Drawn to the Rhythm Novel

Christa Maurice

LYRICAL PRESS

Kensington Publishing Corp.

www.kensingtonbooks.com

Copyright

Lyrical Press books are published by

Kensington Publishing Corp. 119 West 40th Street New York, NY 10018

Copyright © 2015 by Christa Maurice

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First Electronic Edition: June 2016

eISBN-13: 978-1-61650-557-8

eISBN-10: 1-61650-557-5

Printed in the United States of America

Chapter 1

Tessa walked outside, maintaining her happy expression past the knot of smokers by the door. This wedding shouldn’t bug her so much. Brian had gotten over his crush on her years ago. Shit, he’d been married before. She’d fallen off his pedestal a long time ago. So why did this marriage seem like the end of the world?

Suzi made a beautiful bride. One of her friends had designed the simple white gown for her. Ribbons of rainbow colors started as faint pastels across the bust and gained intensity as they wrapped around her body and down the back of her dress until they formed a brilliant train. Daisies wound through her upswept hair and complemented her pretty, sweet face. Brian looked rather sharp, too, in his white tux, open at the throat. His best accessory, though, had to be the expression of utter joy in his eyes.

It made Tessa want to puke. Not because they were happy. No, never that. Brian deserved to be happy. Suzi did, too. Apparently, everyone deserved to be happy.

Except her.

Nice show, huh?

Tessa glanced at Brett who’d wandered up beside her at the overlook. Or maybe she’d wandered up beside him. The ocean smashed into the cliffs below as if it held a grudge against her. Yeah. They look really happy.

She’s the Holy Grail, Brett said. He leaned on the guardrail, fiddling a cigarette between his fingers. She was a total mess when she left Logan last year. I took her out to this place I go to. Never laid a hand on her.

Tessa nodded. Why did he think she should care? Everybody knew he’d pulled Suzi out of the party where she’d broken up with her last boyfriend, Logan, nearly a year ago. Tessa had been one of many people trying to figure out where the hell they’d gone for weeks before Suzi had reappeared at Jason’s West Virginia place. You’re a big damn hero.

Something like that. He flicked the cigarette off the cliff, unlit. Brian’s a good guy, right? He’ll be good to her, won’t he?

I’ve known him since he was a kid. He’d walk through hell for her. Brian was the best guy. Absolute heart of gold. If she’d been half awake ten years ago, she could have had that.

Good. That’s good. Cause next time I have to haul her away from some asshole, I’m not going to be so easygoing about letting her leave.

What the fuck are you talking about? She glared at Brett, but he looked like he’d been dragged backward through the desert by a tour bus, and she faltered. What’s wrong with you?

Brett turned, stared at the ocean. Probably the same thing that’s wrong with you.

What’s that supposed to mean?

Oh, come on. How dumb do you think everybody is? You’ve known Brian since he was in elementary school. His daughter is named after you. The only person at this wedding who looks sicker about it is Logan. Brett bobbed his head. And maybe me. You and Brian had a thing, or you wish you had a thing, or something. I’d say I could write a great song about it, but there’s already been a bunch. Etta James did three or four.

So, are you telling me that party-hearty Brett Cherney lost his poor little heart to the bride? Tessa meant to smirk, but it came out twisted because of the sob she was trying to cover.

Only as much as tough lawyer Tessa Callisto lost her heart to the groom.

Tessa stared back in the direction of the pavilion. Over six hundred guests. This wedding was almost as well attended as the Grammys. No point hiring a band because no local band could hold a candle to this audience, so music had been supplied by a running jam. Everyone was having a blast. They wouldn’t notice a couple of people missing. You know what the best cure for a broken heart is, don’t you?

What? He glanced over his shoulder as if the answer to her question was back at the wedding reception.

She stared into Brett’s eyes. Brett, who slept with every female who caught his fancy. And there were lots of those. What with his lean build and washboard abs, he was such a very good-looking specimen. Wanna? She arched an eyebrow at him.

His lips curled into a smile. Sounds good to me.

Your place or mine?

I’m thinking of some place more neutral.

* * * *

Brett slammed her against the door as soon as it was closed. All the way here, she’d been teasing him. Running her hand up the inside of his thigh, dragging her fingers through his hair, toying with his earlobe. And every time he’d reached for her, she’d smacked his hand away and told him to watch the road.

Your ass is mine now, he growled, pressing his face into the curve of her neck.

I was hoping you wanted more than that.

Believe me. I plan to have every inch of you before I’m done.

Laughing, she ripped his shirt open and shoved it down his arms. Let’s see if you can deliver on that promise.

I can. He hiked up her skirt. Pantyhose? Really? These fucking things are like a force field around your sweet spot.

I was going to the wedding of an old and dear friend, not headed out for a sleazy tryst.

Damn. Brett dropped to his knees and pulled at the pantyhose. Her heavy, lusty scent crawled through his brain and straight into his dick. I didn’t think women wore these things anymore.

I’m not the kind of woman you usually undress.

No kidding. He smoothed his hands down her soft thighs, down to— Your fucking shoes have buckles on the ankles. Is there a lock on your pussy, too?

She laughed again. He glanced up in time to see her toss her blouse across the room. Underneath, she’d worn a lacy bra. Hopefully, it had a normal clasp and not some exotic thing like her goddamn shoes. He fumbled with the buckle, but his fingers couldn’t grasp it.

Let me help you. She crouched, pinned between the door and him, trying to reach her shoes through the tangle of pantyhose. Her dark hair brushed his