Chapter Three

The cab finally came to a stop outside a house along a tree lined street. Callie sat nervously, not really sure what to expect. In a matter of hours her life had changed dramatically and a whole new world had become her reality. One she had never dreamed would. He climbed out of the cab and waited for her, his hand out stretched, palm up for her to take. She paused and brought her fingers to her lips still remembering the kiss. She was crazy. He wasn't her type, well what she knew about him. In a crowded bar, she wouldn't of given him a second look.

“Are you coming?” He ducked his head back into the cab with a grin.

She looked up snapping back into reality. “Ah, yes sorry...” She scooted across the seat and stepped out of the cab, taking his waiting hand.

“No I’m sorry, It’s time to face the fire I'm afraid.” Using his other hand he flicked his hair out of his face and tugged her up the path.

They hadn’t even made it to the door before it swung open and a guy in tight white jeans, cowboy boots and a black ripped shirt strode out. His hair, a wavy golden brown mullet hung to his shoulders.

“Hey there he is! Jesus Jonny, about time. Doc's broken out the whiskey...what's going on?” He slapped Jon on the back as they climbed up the porch.

“What, he didn't tell you?” Jon asked surprised.

“Nope. Just said we needed an urgent meeting and fast. Richie's here but Tico was unreachable, probably got himself buried in some tight pus-”

Jon held up his hand to stop him, Christ even he knew how to act in front of a woman. “David, this is Callie. Callie, this is David. My keyboardist.”

She just nodded, “Hi.”

“Callie...” David stood and folded his arms in, his brow creased. “Now, I do remember you from last night – you blew me off. For this...?”

Oh god, what did you do last night Callie? Seriously? Five years as a straight shooter in law school, and then one night you let your inhibitions loose and can't remember a damn thing. “I – I can't really remember too much about it.”

David chuckled. “No surprising with the amount of rum you were drinking...” He widened his stance. “So are we getting married then?”

Jon and Callie's eyes both widened. “What are you talking about Dave?” Jon asked cautiously.

“Callie and me – she told me she'd marry me if you wouldn't do the deed with her. I'm not really into being your sloppy seconds but how about it little lady?”

As David winked, she felt all the color drain from her face. She didn't. It was her idea to get married? Oh fuck, seriously? Where were your brains last night Callie. She glanced sideways at Jon, whose smirk had just grown wider.

Down his throat – that's where.

“She can't – she's already taken.” Jon said proudly flashing his hand in front of David.

“Ohhhh, man! This is so what Doc's all pissed about isn't it? You got hitched!”

Callie rolled her eyes, now they were proud? Good grief. She snatched Jon's hand away from David's. “This is not funny Jon.”

“Oh I think it is. YOU wanted to get married. YOU, not me.” He flipped her grip and braceleted her wrist leaning in closer.

“Was it funny when you kissed me back in the hotel?” he whispered, a quirk twitching at the side of his mouth.

She pulled from his grasp, her heart drumming loudly against her chest. “That, like this marriage. Was a mistake.” She hissed.

Jon let her go and just nodded, mistake my ass. Her flavour had stayed on his tongue the whole way over, he wanted more. He wanted to know if her skin tasted the way her kiss did.

“Whoa, watch out Jonny. She's a ball breaker.” David teased, as he stood back the jingle of necklaces swayed on his chest.

“So who is this Doc? The devil or something?” she asked mercilessly trying to change the subject.

Jon snorted, “You could say that. But nah, he's our manager he's mostly a good guy. He knows what he's doing. We're going to be world famous don’t ya know?” He held out of his hand to lean himself against the porch post.

Callie smiled, as much as she hated to admit it. These guys were nothing like the cliché she had built in her mind up about these sorts of boys. Cocky, yes. But there was something genuine under all those colors and chains.

As David opened the door, he paused. “Did you guys register? Do I need to get you a present?--Ow!” Jon's fist connected with his arm as he held out his hand for Callie and let her inside.

They walked in and Callie was presented with a short stocky man making inroads into the carpet as he paced. He looked up when they both came in and stopped.

“Nice of you to fit us in to your busy schedule. Are we not off on our honeymoon today?” He asked sarcastically.

It'd been just seconds but Callie had taken an instant dislike to this man.

“Look Doc, we'll sort this out. It was just one of those things. We were drunk and well decided somehow it would be fun to get married. It was stupid we know but it’s done now.” Jon sat down on the oversized leather couch and patted the space next to him for Callie.

She joined him and stayed silent to see what played out, trying hard to concentrate on the conversation at hand, while in the back of her mind she was wondering if her family and her firm had heard the news. She was going to have a lot to answer for that was for sure.

“One of those things? You have no idea Jonny. It was careless and stupid alright. We have to front up to the radio station in less than two hours with a plausible story around this. How could you do it? We just got Runaway out there on the waves, and you go and do this.”

“Doc, listen, Callie is a lawyer, and she’s going to talk to some of her people about this. See if we can resolve this quickly or something...” He wanted to shake Doc sometimes. He knew Doc knew the industry a lot better than he did right now, but man he swore one day...one day he wouldn't be jumping through god damned hoops for anyone.

Doc raised an eyebrow. “A lawyer huh? Well that could work in our favour. And you think you can clean mess up and quick?”

Callie nodded, “I can try – there are a few clauses around marriage and annulments but I can see what we can sort out.” She glanced at Jon, his playful cockiness had vanished. He was as serious as Doc was in this matter, maybe his career mattered more to him than she thought.

“Right ok – so are you able to go and sort that out right now? I need to know what's happening before this interview at noon. The airwaves are going crazy, about your so called marriage. Did you freakin’ broadcast it to the masses last night or something?”

Jon shrugged, “I guess we did. All I know is we woke up in bed. Married.” And damn it, I can't even remember sleeping with her.

“Alright, well you get out of here, go see who you have to see and do what you have to do, so we can sort this mess out once and for all?”

She nodded, “Ok. I'll catch a cab.” She said standing. Why she felt compelled to say it she will never know. “Don't be too hard on him sir, it wasn't his entire fault.”

Doc's lips curved into a grin. “I bet it wasn't. You saw who he was, and thought what a good meal ticket huh? I know what lawyers your age are paid and its shit. What better way to secure your future than marry an upcoming rock star, who if I can help is on the verge of making millions.” He pointed a short stubbly finger at her. “And if you think you're getting one cent of it, then you're wrong. So don't come to me with all your law bullshit about having what's owed to you. I'm no fool.”

She was taken aback, how the in the holy hell could he think she married him for that?

Jon shot up off the couch and put his arm around her shoulders, out of instinct but she didn't stop him. “Hey now, don't fuckin speak to her like that. She's not in it for the damn money – we have no money remember?” he spat at Doc. He had no fucking right to assume she'd do that. He knew her better than that already.

“Jonny, Jonny don't be so naive here. This is what I am here for. To help you think with your brain and not your cock. She's pretty, I'll give you that but I'm just protecting you.”

“You're the one that will need protecting shortly,” she huffed and gathered up her things. “Where can I call you when I have news?”

“I'm going with you.” Jon said.

Callie's eyes widened. “What? You don't have to do that Jon. I can handle it.”

He shook his head. “Nope, I'm coming. It's my mess too. Besides...” he leaned forward and whispered into her ear. “I wanna get out of here for a bit. See that vein in his neck – when it's like that - it’s a sign to get the hell out of here.”

She stifled a laugh and nodded. “Thanks.” She couldn’t believe that he really wanted to go with her? She wasn't sure how to react to that. He was a decent guy obviously. And she sure wasn't looking forward to the wrath she knew was about to come from her parents. She could do with the moral support.

“We'll go to my parent's law firm. Dad will know the best way to deal with it.” She swallowed hard. The disapproving stern look of her father flashed before her eyes, the same one that she had when she originally wanted to study medicine instead of law. The one that said, you should know better than that Callie.

“Ok, let’s go then.” He led her out, Richie was coming back into the room but he didn't have time to explain.

“Hey Jonny, who's the little lady?” He ushered her to the door and looked back. Doc stood with his arms folded.

“Two hours Jonny.”

He nodded and glanced at Richie as Callie walked out to the porch.

“My wife Richie. She’s my wife.” He closed the door behind him and took a deep breath, somehow he knew that Callie's parents would be even tougher than Doc. It was time to go and face it.