Manipulated: a Rockstar Romantic Comedy (Hammered Book 3) Read online

  On the way, my phone went off. I would’ve swiped away the call if it hadn’t been my sister. She’d never replied to my hasty text earlier in the day, and I wanted to apologize.

  Being a dick didn’t require having one. Another lesson I’d learned recently.

  I moved into an alcove. Relatively speaking anyway. “Av, I’m sorry.” I plugged my other ear in the hopes of hearing her. “I shouldn’t have texted you like that. It deserved a phone call.”

  “Yeah, like I’m doing this very second? You’re right, but whatever. All good. Where are you? The Metrodome?”

  “Close enough. Listen, I have to go, but I want you to know that—”

  “I’m joining the tour,” Ava interrupted. “I’m going to write the damn coffee table book, because I miss my sister and you know what? We make a damn good team, and Templetons belong together. And just in case you’re thinking you’re anything but amazing, you scrub that thought right out of your head. You’ll always be first. You were born before me, and you’ll probably die before me, and you’ll shine all the years in between.”

  I laughed. “Thank you. I think.”

  Looking up, my gaze slammed into Owen’s. And all the thoughts that didn’t circle around being in his arms—finally—just drained out of my head.

  “Let me call you back later.”

  “You better, hussy. Just because you hooked yourself a dreamy bassist is no reason to ignore your cute baby sister. Even though you pretended you weren’t with him. I tell you, I’m scandalized.”

  I had to laugh. “He is dreamy, isn’t he?” I sounded more than a little dreamy myself. Possibly daffy too, but I didn’t care. “I’m so glad you’re going to be here with me. I can’t wait to see you. Talk later. Love you. Bye.” I clicked off and tucked away my phone.

  I was glad. Ecstatic really. But what I was most right now was eager. Eager to hold Owen and kiss him and remember that I was the one in his arms.

  He’d chosen me, just like I’d chosen him.

  Without speaking, he wrapped me in his arms. Sort of. I still had two camera bags at my hip and another around my neck. But one way or another, we managed to mash ourselves together, and then his mouth came crashing down on mine. His lips were like a fever, stoking every fiber inside me into vibrant, shuddering life. If I’d had any doubts left, that kiss sent them packing.

  Not that I had. I was slow on the uptake, but I wasn’t stupid. At least I wouldn’t be anymore.

  “I love you,” I whispered between kisses. “It’s not too soon if it’s right. I made mistakes. I let my feelings of inferiority and jealousy take over.” I glanced around and decided with the amount of people surrounding us, I’d save saying fuck for when we were alone. In very inventive ways. “By the way, Lila doesn’t care if we fork, temporarily or permanently.” I grabbed one of his hands and kissed his fingertips.

  His calluses rubbed over my flesh, reminding me of everything we were together. Rough and smooth, soft and jagged. All our lovely parts knitted with the unsightly ones and became something more than the sum of our parts.

  Together, we were so much more. And would be so much more yet. This was just our beginning.

  So how come he wasn’t speaking?

  I cleared my suddenly aching throat. “You can jump in anytime here, Blackbeard.”

  “Sorry, I was taking a moment to enjoy your apology. Rare, they are. Rare and beautiful.” He cupped my face in his hands. “Your job is as important to me as it is to you. I’ll never forget that again and do something so impulsive.”

  “It’s okay. I understand. You were just happy. Like I said, Lila is fine with it. You were right. I worried for nothing. I just love doing this so much, taking photos on the tour and being with all of you. I was so scared of losing the best situation I’ve ever found.”

  “Losing it? I’d like to see someone try to pry you away from us.” Owen barreled on. “More importantly, you have never been in second place. Never in any place but first. The only.”

  Somehow he knew exactly what to say. Every damn time.

  I covered his hands with my own as my eyes started to smart yet again. I’d have to tell him about the Ava connection to my getting the job as tour photographer later, but it wasn’t important. I hadn’t been kidding about using this opportunity to the fullest. No matter how I’d come into the Ripper Records spotlight, I’d stay there because I’d earned my spot.

  “When you didn’t reply to my texts and didn’t come back to the house, I was so scared you’d rabbited and gone back home.”

  “Tell the truth,” I said shakily. “You were just scared I’d stolen your Jag.”

  Without replying to my ill-timed quip, he dipped his forehead to mine. “You can’t ever do that again. Can’t just disappear on me without giving me a chance to talk to you. We can fight, we can go to bed and not touch, but we can’t be angry and not share it. That was one thing my da taught me that stuck.”

  I nodded and tried to swallow over the boulder in my throat. “No. I’ll never run from you again. Though I’ll always be your bunny.”

  He lifted his head and that feral gleam that I adored was back in his wild blue eyes. “Aye, that you will. And someday soon—once you wrap your pretty little brain around it—we’ll be making that Mrs. Bunny, thank you very much.” Then he tugged me into the heart of our family backstage.

  Hand in hand, the way we were meant to be.

  Manster

  Hudson Wyatt’s story…

  COMING SOON!

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  Also by Cari & Taryn

  Hammered

  a Rock Star Romantic Comedy Series

  Manaconda #1

  Manhandled #2

  Manipulated #3

  COMING SOON

  Manster #4

  Found in Oblivion

  a Rock Star Series

  Bedded Bliss #1

  COMING NOV 18th

  Triple Trouble #2

  If you’d like more information about the series & extras, please visit www.rockerreads.com.

  Lost in Oblivion Series

  USA Today Bestselling Rockstar Series

  SEDUCED

  Music kept them going. Now it might tear them apart… Guitarist Nick Crandall has one focus in his life—Oblivion, the band he started with his closest friends, lead singer Simon Kagan and bassist Deacon McCoy. After losing their drummer to rehab, they take on two members, one of them female. A YouTube video gone viral later, Oblivion is heading to the top faster than they ever dreamed. If the band doesn’t break up—and hearts don’t get broken—before they manage to sign their first recording contract. (more)

  ROCKED

  Music saved him, but now it's keeping him from the only woman he craves... Hot nights with a naughty, inventive rockstar are one thing, but more isn't on the playlist. Until Deacon's dream with his best friends starts turning into a nightmare, and Harper begins to see the real man behind the façade. Except Harper has her own dreams to chase, even if what she’s started with Deacon might be the most important one of all. (more)

  ROCK, RATTLE & ROLL

  Loving in fast forward... A beachfront cottage, hours of alone time, and plenty of skin on skin action is just what the rockstar ordered. Until the future once again comes much quicker than Deacon and Harper expected, threatening to crumble not only their perfect honeymoon but also their brand new marriage. (more)

  TWISTED

  Sometimes the knight in shining armor needs to be saved himself... Being the rhythm guitarist in one of the country's hottest bands with his best friend Jazz is Gray Duffy's dream come true. Now that they’re making music together, the time is right for Jazz to make a move toward the man she loves. If the secret he's keeping doesn't destroy them—and their band. (more)

  UNTWISTED

  Falling in love was easy…figuring out the rhythm of being a couple, not so much. Now that they’ve pressed play, life is going way too fast for Gray Duffy and Jazz Edwards. A super hot
video has boosted their band Oblivion’s popularity even higher, and suddenly Gray and Jazz are the reigning prince and princess of rock. But as their private wedding ceremony in their treasured place approaches, they realize they can’t go forward without facing their roots. (more)

  DESTROYED

  Only one woman has ever refused him…and she’s the only one he wants. Now that he’s beyond successful with Oblivion, lead singer Simon Kagan is enjoying his all-access pass to the groupie train. But from the moment he met Margo Reece, he knew the classy, buttoned-up violinist was different. After an amazing night in the studio, he’s finally connected with someone on a deeper level—only to have her walk away without a backward glance. Except maybe Margo is ready to take a walk on the wild side…or even fall in love with the one man she was never supposed to. If it’s not already too late. (more)

  CONSUMED

  Is it better to burn out or fade away… Oblivion lead singer Simon Kagan is used to being in the spotlight, but not because of the epic ending to Oblivion’s last show. That unforgettable night rocked the band in more ways than one, and now the journey back seems almost impossible. The only bright spot is Margo. As long as she never realizes the man she fell for no longer exists, maybe he won’t lose everything that matters due to just one all-consuming night. (more)

  SHATTERED

  He’s shattered…and she’s the only woman who can help him pick up the pieces. Nick Crandall has everything he ever thought he wanted, but it doesn’t stop his dream from shattering, right before his eyes.Until the person he least expects pulls him back from the brink. Ripper Records exec Lila Shawcross isn’t about to let a hot-headed, hard-bodied lead guitarist wreck her orderly existence or dilute her focus from managing the band. Except Nick is determined to possess her…and what Nick wants, Nick gets.(more)

  FUSED

  They’re shattered…and he’s the only one who can fuse them back together. From the pinnacle of success to the depths of despair, Oblivion has been through it all. Nick Crandall is the only one who can begin to put the pieces back together after the most catastrophic night of his life. And that includes making a stand to win back the woman he needs. His only choice is to fight hard and dirty for what—and who—he loves. (more)

  OWNED

  Music kept them going. Now it's torn them apart… Guitarist Nick Crandall lost the most important thing in his life—his band—just as he was falling in love. A year after going on hiatus, Oblivion is returning to the studio and he’s about to ask the woman he loves to marry him. Simon has spent the past year trying to find his way back to the thing that sustained him in his darkest hours, then grew to be his biggest demon. With Margo’s help, he’s ready to admit it’s showtime. It’s do or die, one more time. (more)

  Lost In Oblivion

  the Series

  SEDUCED (intro)

  ROCKED (book #1)

  ROCK, RATTLE & ROLL (book #1.5)

  TWISTED (book #2)

  UNTWISTED (book #2.5)

  DESTROYED (book #3)

  CONSUMED (book #3.5)

  SHATTERED (book #4)

  FUSED (book #4.5)

  OWNED (book #5)

  OUTTAKES

  extras for people that just can’t get enough of the Oblivion peeps

  COMMITTED (book #3.7)

  GIFTED (book #4.2)

  If you’d like more information about the series & extras, please visit

  http://www.rockerreads.com

  About the Authors

  USA Today bestselling author Cari Quinn likes music and men, so she figured why not write about both? When she’s not writing, she's screaming at men’s college basketball games on TV, playing her music too loud or causing trouble. Sometimes simultaneously.

  USA Today bestselling author Taryn Elliott is obsessed with rock stars, men, and her unending playlists—maximizing these things seemed like a very good idea. When she’s not writing, she’s losing hours to hot men on TV, and/or a graphic design project. Multitasking is her middle name.

  They decided to combine forces and found that hey...this writing deal is even more awesome when you collaborate with your best friend.

  And so Lost in Oblivion was born.

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