Chapter One

"Another one sir?" the barman asked him. Jon looked down at his glass which had long been empty. He nodded and flicked his fingers out signaling for the same again. Jack-Straight up.

He propped his elbows on the cool wood counter and wished he could dig in and take out the pounding in his head. Man what a week it had been. Hours of rehearsals. Finally he had a lead role in a movie he could sink his teeth into. This was London, miles away from bitter arguments and shit slinging matches.

"Tough day?" Jon looked up watching the copper liquid inch up into his glass again as the barman refilled his glass.

He leaned back and scratched his head "Nah, it was alright. Have just started filming on a movie so it's been a bit of an adjustment for me. But good" he tipped the glass to his lips letting the whiskey slide down his throat and burn his belly.

The barman grinned "You're that Bon Jovi fella, aren't you?" his cheerful British accent not so quiet anymore.

"Yeah, that's me" he said cringing when a couple of people looked his way. Smiling he politely nodded and swung himself back around. Thankfully they soon all went back to their business. He let a deep breath out and sighed. The Leading man had started production with a small indie film company, it was new and he was excited to be trying to prove himself on a different stage. He knew the rock star stage inside out so it was time to give this a shot. He’d been looking for something more in his life, and that’s when the acting bug bit him a few years ago. When the London gig came up it couldn't have been at a better time. Three months away from home.

Three months away from her.

"Just started filming this week" he offered the barman tilting his glass towards him swirling the liquid at the bottom.

The plotline couldn't really be a better fit for him right now. Bitter off his separation, His character was a ruthless womanizer who got what he wanted. He fiddled with his ring finger rubbing absently where his wedding ring once was. He was getting used to the idea of being separated. He was a free man now."Great, how long you over here for?" the bartender easily towered over the bar, with a broad smiling face framed by short dark cropped hair. He stood leaning, polishing a glass using the dish towel that was slung over his shoulder.

Jon sat back and ran his thumb and forefinger around the rim of the glass."Three months. He had no idea what he was going to in the downtime. Always planning and always thinking in advance he hadn't thought about anything past the movie and the possibly starting to write his own solo record here.

"Well a lot of sightseeing to be done in the city if you've never been here before, nightlife is good too" he added clanging a glass in the rack of clean ones.

Jon shrugged "A few of the cast and crew mentioned some day trips on our days off..."

"Some nice girls around the place if that's what you're looking for" his gaze falling to Jon's wedding finger.

Jon chuckled and took a long sip of the whiskey. He waggled his brows as a knowing smirk curled at the corner of his mouth. No way was he ready to step into the complicated web of a relationship again. Could he find a woman that was interesting enough to find the energy to bed and have no strings attached with that? It was really all he’d be interested in at this moment.

Jon finished his drink and pulled out a couple of notes pushing them the bartender’s way.

"All done for the night, then?"

"Yeah” Jon looked around the bar, packed with a mix of blue and white collars “you’ll probably see me back. Nice place you’ve got here” Somewhere he could blend in unnoticed. He tugged the collar of his leather jacket up and was about to slide off his stool when a woman pulled up to the bar.

"Same as usual Dan." She slapped a note onto the bar, scraping her hair back into a complicated knot only women seemed to know how to do.

"Boddington's coming right up, Ms. Henderson." He winked, grabbing a half pint glass and pulling her a beer.

She laughed, crossing one leg over the other. "Ms Henderson? What is the Queen in here or something, Dan? Grow some manners since I saw you last?" she teased leaning forward.

Jon's eyes drifted down her body. The navy blue hoodie she had on clung to her body with jeans that he was sure would be ass complimentary if she hadn’t sat down so quickly. Boots on her feet made his brow arch, but they looked well worn. Her Northern American accent was rich with a British twist.

"We've got rock royalty in our midst." The man now known as Dan tipped his head towards Jon.

Jon winced and smiled graciously "I wouldn't go that far." When Dan went to take her money Jon put his bill down on top, "allow me."

She looked up, meeting his gaze. The startling blue of her eyes made him stare a little longer than he intended to. Shit, she was striking.

"Not necessary, but thank you." She smiled and he watched the realization hit. Ahh she knew who he was. She took a long draw from her glass before grinning again. "So tell me what a rock star is doing in the Ruptured Duck on a Sunday night?" her full lips curled into a smile. The bottom one looked way more supple that the top. Fuck.

"Just having a quiet drink. I was just telling Dan here I'm in town for a few months working on a movie." He sat back down and Dan, without being told, poured him another whiskey.

She lifted her brow. "Film star as well? Aren’t you just full of surprises."

Jon pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and swiftly lit it. "I do aim to please," he said, offering her the packet.

"Thanks but no thanks.” She held up her hand, “you can keep the cancer sticks to yourself." He blew a plume of blue smoke to the side. "You know my first name," he smirked, “it’s only fair.” She held herself with a confidence that was unsettling but intriguing at the same time.

"I tell you what; if you can guess it I'll buy you dinner, up for that?" Her lashes lowered as she brought the drink to her mouth, savoring the taste by licking her lips.

Jon chuckled "Ok, you're on." Dan rolled his eyes and turned around to serve some other customers. Jon leaned forward, close to her ear. "How about we take it one more. I guess within five tries and I get to take you home tonight." His cock twitched at the thought of those thighs wrapped around him. Would it be hard and hot? Or cool like here. Her body looked made for it, he'd bet his life under those sweats was a figure to kill for and the gleam in her eye suggested she was up for it.

"Ok, hot shot. You've got yourself a deal." She laughed taking another drink from her beer, before licking the foam left on her lips.

Jon groaned and shifted in his seat. The fire had been lit, he was taking her home one way or another tonight.

~

Colby shook her head. Who was this guy? Apart from being insanely attractive, of course. She wasn’t sure it was TV or a magazine where she'd last seen him, but it did not do him justice. And didn't he used to have longer hair?

His thick leather jacket, which was the genuine article, hung on his body over a tight white thermal molded to his flat belly and abs. Jesus. The blue jeans could have belonged to anyone, but the pointed boots were money, she’d bet a week’s worth of glass on that. The glint of a silver bracelet caught in the overhead light when he rubbed his chin with two fingers.

But it was the eyes that got her. Sweet Mercy, baby blue's that rivaled the deepest cobalt glass she had stored in her workshop. He was clean shaven, with prominent cheek bones and spiked honey brown hair that she itched to get a hold of. She deserved a break. Hell what was better than an out of Towner that was willingly to tale a sweaty tumble in the sheets for a few hours?

And so cocky, she loved it. She could match it word for word. "So, my maybe lover…What's your guess?" she asked swinging her body around to face him. The lights dimmed in the bar as they always did around eight, but the intensity of those eyes didn't.

He paused, scratched the underside of his chin with his index finger, “Tiffany."

Colby let a snort rip. "God no. One chance gone from getting lucky tonight." When Dan shook his head at her, she only smiled wider.

She watched Jon slowly drag from his cigarette again. "Isabella?" he asked.

"Noooo," she laughed. He'd never get it. Not in a hundred years. It was too bad, she'd already imagined tugging the leather jacket off and lifting up that tight thermal to see what was underneath. Furry or smooth? Hmm…

"Ok ok, three to go I can do this." He popped his knuckles and rubbed his hands together."Melissa?"

She shook her head, "Sorry cowboy." She leaned back and looked around the bar, it was pretty quiet tonight but Sunday's usually were. She had a crap load of work to do tomorrow so a quiet night was all good. Unless of course handsome here got lucky. Horizontal tango wasn’t out of the question here, the idea of him was appealing.

"Damn it," he brought thumb to his lips. "How about a hint?"

"I'm not sure that's in the rules." She flattened her palms on her thighs.

"Donna?" he asked before holding his hand up "No no, I withdraw that one" he rubbed his fingers across his lips. Her eyes dropped to his hands, again to his face. Good fuck, was he trying to kill her?

"Well while you contemplate I'm going to the ladies." She pointed at Dan. "And if you tell him, I'll kill you." Wandering off, she took care of business then washed up and straightened herself in the mirror. She blew back a cooper streak that was falling in her face before examining her face closer in the mirror. "God that heat is just drying you out isn't it?" she asked out loud looking at the llines that seemed deeper all of a sudden.

She went to pull out her bag but remembered she left it at the bar. "Damn,” she swiped at her face and dropped her hands in disgust. “Oh well, he's just going to have to get what he gets." She tucked her hair behind her ears before heading back into the bar. Dan had poured her a new beer.

"So, got anymore ideas then, Jon?" she asked.

"I'm thinking on it. So tell me at least what you do with yourself when you're not in bars, hitting on rock stars?" he asked, a sly smirk on his face.

She bit her lip. Had he just accused her of hitting on him? Right. He'll keep. "Well, if it's not rock stars I usually go for actors.” She leaned back and twirled a stray hair around her pinkie. But hey guess I'm lucky in your case since well…Two for the price of one?" she watched in amusement the creases at the corner of his eyes when he laughed. She curled her fingers her palm as her eyes rested on the opening of his shirt. She wanted to drag her nails down that, followed by her teeth."I'm a glass blower." Jon lifted his brow “I make glass jewelry and vases.” And naughty things. She was proud of her career and the best part was when she told people the obvious surprise in their faces. And this was no exception. His eyes widened.

"Wow, I did not expect that." He looked down at his glass before then back at her and snapped his fingers. "Colby...Colby Henderson, Liberty Glass."

Colby had to grab onto the side of the bar, the rush of surprise knocking her off balance. He knew her? "Uh, yeah." She shook her head, disbelief still rattling her. "You know me? My work?" He couldn't. Why would an American rock star know who she was?

He chuckled "Told you I'd guess. It just so happens I was looking around town yesterday and saw some of your work in a store. It just came to me." The knowing grin on his face had her suspicious. He’d seriously seen it?

Something wasn't quite right. "What shop?" she asked. There were only a few shops in the United Kingdom that stocked her work.

"God, I can't remember now. But it's you, right?"

"Son of a – yes it's me." Well shit. She didn't expect that at all. She wasn't sure if she was impressed or worried that she would have to carry out the bet.

"It's ok Colby, how about I buy you dinner then you can decide whether anything happens afterwards?" The delight in his eyes was almost insane. She could handle guys, hell she could wrangle them most of the time, but he was something else. Something beneath cobalt eyes was dark and mysterious. She couldn't pick if it was just arrogance or he was playing her. But one way or another she'd find out.

~