Chapter 18

Claire had left with Ace, and Nova was waiting for Becket while working on a new song.

"Make my... world... start over again... humm. No. That's not right. Breakthrough my world... Ugh! This writer's block is killing me!" Nova slapped her guitar making the strings screech.

Knock. Knock. Knock

Nova laid her acoustic guitar on the bed and went to answer the door. "Hey, Beck... Oh no. What are you doing here?" Nova closed the door a little, leaving just a crack.

"I came to get my client back." Liam pushed open the door and walked past her, looking around. "Meager little room. What? No more penthouse suites? My client would never be in a basic room like some low life nobody."

"I don't need all that. I never did. You booked that overpriced shit for your own ego. You lived a life of luxury on my dime. Listen, I don't have time for this. I have plans. You need to leave." She stood in the entryway, holding the door open, in case she needed to scream for help.

"Calm your tits princess. Why don't you just drop your plans, and we can have some fun tonight." He smirked, patting the bed with a smug grin. "For old times’ sake."

"Get out! I said GET OUT!" she screamed.

Becket came up behind her, his massive chest swelling in anger from the panic in her tone. "What's going on here?"

Becket saw her old manager sitting on the bed and instantly his fist clenched when seeing the man anywhere near her. The man in her room didn't sit well with him from the star. Becket had seen him on TV and rock magazines and Liam always seemed to be a little too friendly with her. Even when she first started singing he felt something was wrong with the man. Becket hated the idea of this weasel of a man having so much access to her and it wasn't right.

"I think the lady said to leave."

Becket walked past her, getting in between the two. He protectively put his arm out in front of her. If he had to fight this guy, he would.

"I'm going. I just wanted to drop off some things." He threw an envelope on the bed with a evil grin. Passing by Nova he leaned in to whisper in her ear. "It looks like you did learn something from me. Nice move. How much did you get for letting him bang you?"

"Get. Out." Nova side-eyed him with a scowl.

Liam walked past Becket looking him over like he was trash.

Becket's eyes narrowed and a low growl escaped him. One more second and he was going to destroy this asshole.

Liam walked out whistling her first hit song making Nova's blood run cold. Liam knew. He figured out the song was about the other man in the room who had suddenly become her protector. She hoped Becket didn't catch the reference. It would be humiliating if he knew it was about him.

Becket slammed the door behind him and looked back to Nova with concern. Nova rushed into Becket's arms, burying her head in his chest and weeping hysterically. Wrapping his arms around her, he rested his head on hers, desperately wanting to ease her pain.

Feeling her body pressed against him made Becket relax into her embrace. Pulling her close he took in the sweet smell of her honey and coconut shampoo. His chest tightened as he closed his eyes. The vision of the young girl he once knew slowly faded as the woman before him came more into view.

Becket felt Nova's breathing shaky as she cried in his arms. He smoothed his hand over her long silky hair and kissed the top of her head.

Nova allowed herself to relax as she relished in the feeling of his strong arms around her. For years she wondered what it would feel like. Now here she was in his arms, and it was more of a nightmare than a fantasy. Her teenage dreams were brewing just at the surface as she relished in the safety in the arms of her hero.

"He's gone, Nova. It's okay now. Sweetheart, what's going on?"

"I hate him, Becket. I hate him! Please, don't leave me?" she cried.

"I'm here, Nova. What happened to you? Tell me what's going on. This person I've been seeing is not the girl I remember. You used to be so happy and full of life. Now you're so jaded and angry all the time. What happened to that sweet hyper girl that used to follow me around cracking jokes all the time?" Becket hugged her with calming reassurance.

"She died a long time ago because of that monster." She wiped a tear away and looked up at him with a deep sadness covering her like vial. She sniffled asking, "Wait? You remember that?"

Running his thumb under her jawline he lifted her chin. "How could I forget? You had such a crush on me," he teased playfully. "Your dad hated it. I used to hang out with you sometimes to piss him off. You had good taste in music, so it was worth the risk."

"You were so full of crap back then. Not sure if it's much better now." She wiped her eyes, smiling away the pain.

"See... there's that pretty smile. Forget that asshole. Let's go to eat and have some fun."

Nova nodded and backed away. "I'm sorry. I'm just a little stressed."

"No problem. You look pretty tonight by the way."

Becket stepped back to admire her, taking everything in him so not to want to pull her back in his arms. He didn't know what had gotten over him. In the last few weeks, all he could do was think about her. It was like having a song stuck in his head. She was an ear worm that he couldn't shake away, nor did he want to.

"Thanks, Beck. I'm all right now. I'm glad you got here when you did. Let's just go."

Nova stopped by a mirror to check her makeup and Becket walked up behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. "I'm here if there is something you need to talk about. You know that, right?"

Nova looked down at her makeup compact and sighed. "Ya. I know."