Finding Her Rhythm (Backstage Pass Series) by Dani Wade

poised on the edge of the high dive, too afraid to take the plunge.
    “ How did you become Solar Uprising’s publicist?” Taylor asked. “I hope I’m not rude in saying you look a little young. In a good way.” Great, the one person who was friendly and Taylor had to insult her. Which just led to more babbling. “Not that I’m criticizing. You’ve obviously done a great job, considering their success.”
    Becca waved away her concerns. “I’m not insulted at all. Actually I am young for the job, but Michael had a lot of faith in me and convinced the band to give me a chance. He knew my parents, knew I had a lot of contacts—both in the music and entertainment industries—and thought a lot of those contacts would go out of their way to help me build a name for myself and them.” She grinned. “Much as I resented the implication, he was right. I just don’t tell him that.”
    “ Did your parents mind that you went into the publicity business?”
    “ My mother was thrilled, and she got to go with me to see Solar Uprising win a Grammy before she died.”
    “ Oh, I’m sorry for your loss.”
    “ Me too.” Becca smiled with a mixture of sadness and light. “But she lived a full life that she was very proud of. I only hope I can accomplish half as much in my lifetime.”
    “ And your dad?”
    “ Well, I can’t say he’s thrilled with me hanging out with this crew all the time—” Becca gestured toward Roxie and another cohort rubbing against their dates in the pool. “But we agree to disagree and he supports me in my efforts—and secretly brags about me to his friends.”
    Taylor chuckled. “Secretly?”
    “ Yeah, they tell me all about it, but he pretends it doesn’t happen. The principle of the thing.”
    Becca sounded like she enjoyed the little game. Taylor remembered her own “traditions” with her father, but for once the sting of her loss was muted by memories of the good times. “Sounds like a great relationship,” she said.
    “ It is. I’m very lucky.” Becca turned a solemn gaze toward Taylor and lowered her voice so it wouldn’t carry. “You know, I’ve been friends with Daniel and Michael for years now, and I’ve seen a lot of women come through their lives.”
    Taylor swallowed, not sure if she liked where this conversation might be going. “Yes?”
    “ Don’t worry,” Becca said with a grin. “I’m not going to bite. As a matter of fact, I think you just might be the one to keep Michael down-to-earth.”
    “ I’m not sure if he needs that,” Taylor said, remembering a dark night and the lonely sound of his guitar. My arms wouldn’t be empty, My heart would be full…
    “ Michael’s a little different than the others. Having the kids, and being the only reliable parent they have, gives him a more serious outlook on life. I like to think, secretly, he’s been searching for someone to settle down with.”
    Taylor clamped a lid on her excitement before it could even make a peep. She wasn’t betting on a forever after with Michael Korvello. He might enjoy the home she was building with the kids, she might provide an option for safe sexual encounters close to home, but one day he was going to walk back out that door to be the rock star he was born to be. And a girl like her would be left in the dust.
    So why was she thinking about starting something she knew would come to such a hard end?
    Becca’s next words echoed her thoughts.
    “Don’t let them fool ya,” Becca said. “Michael’s a great guy, but he doesn’t exactly have a ‘white-picket-fence’ lifestyle. Take care of yourself.”
    She turned at the rebel yells that erupted from the vicinity of the doors to the house. Daniel and Michael ran across the decorative concrete to cannonball into the pool.
    They surfaced with whoops and hollers until one of the band members yelled, “Chicken fight!”
    Becca wasted no time getting to her feet. “That would be my cue to exit. The annual chicken fight is