LIMITLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance: Book 2: Jace & Alex Read online

  LIMITLESS

  A LESS THAN ZERO ROCK STAR ROMANCE

  JACE & ALEX BOOK 2

  By

  Kaylene Winter

  Copyright © 2020 by Kaylene Winter

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED WORLDWIDE

  Limitless: A Less Than Zero Rock Star Romance

  No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, locales or actual events is purely coincidental. The use and references to real people, businesses, locations, and organizations are done so for storytelling purposes and should in no way be seen as an advertisement or an endorsement. Trademarked names are used in an editorial fashion with no intention of infringing any owner’s trademark.

  This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment and may not be resold or given away to other people. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author!

  About the Author

  Amazon Author Page

  When she was only fifteen, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends, and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rock star life as a band manager, music promoter, and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television, and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

  Kaylene would love to connect with you and there are lots of ways!:

  Visit Kaylene’s Rocker Romance website to get your All-Access Pass, Backstage Pass, join the Production Crew

  Email: [email protected]

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  About this Book

  Get ready for the gorgeous, sexy rockers of Less than Zero and the strong, feisty women who bring them to their knees!

  LIMITLESS

  She can’t give up her dreams. He won’t compromise his goals. When life on the road tears them apart, can they find their way back to love?

  Free-spirited travel blogger Alex LeRoux is ready for the European trip of a lifetime. When her send-off party puts her backstage with the drummer of her favorite group, she locks the striking, blond-haired musician in her sights. But after she finally persuades her longtime crush to spend one seductive night together, what should have been just a steamy hookup leaves her heart aching for more.

  Percussionist Jace Deveraux is used to women throwing themselves at his feet. And when a gorgeous fan tempts him with a tryst he can’t refuse, he treats it as another fun one-night stand. But as his social media marketing smarts propels the band to far-flung reaches of the globe, he can’t get their red-hot attraction out of his mind.

  When their jet-set lifestyles bring their fling to the worldwide stage, she’s torn between sacrificing her ambitions and succumbing to their undeniable spark. And though Jace longs to give the lovely influencer his all, a past mistake could ruin any chance of a passion-filled future.

  Will fate knock love’s beat off-rhythm, or will their destined desires result in a spectacular encore?

  Limitless is the second spicy standalone novel in the Less Than Zero rockstar romance series. If you like searing desire, glamorous locations, and connections that linger through time, then you’ll adore Kaylene Winter’s emotional story.

  Buy Limitless to take a tour of the soul today!

  Other Titles by Kaylene Winter

  ENDLESS – LESS THAN ZERO Book 1 (Ty & Zoey)

  Coming Soon:

  FEARLESS – LESS THAN ZERO Book 3 (Connor & Ronni)

  TIMELESS – LESS THAN ZERO Book 4 (Zane & Fiona)

  Table of Contents

  About the Author

  About this Book

  Chapter 1: JACE

  Chapter 2: ALEX

  Chapter 3: JACE

  Chapter 4: ALEX

  Chapter 5: JACE

  Chapter 6: ALEX

  Chapter 7: JACE

  Chapter 8: ALEX

  Chapter 9: JACE

  Chapter 10: ALEX

  Chapter 11: JACE

  Chapter 12: ALEX

  Chapter 13: JACE

  Chapter 14: ALEX

  Chapter 15: JACE

  Chapter 16: ALEX

  Chapter 17: JACE

  Chapter 18: ALEX

  Chapter 19: JACE

  Chapter 20: ALEX

  Chapter 21: JACE

  Chapter 22: ALEX

  Chapter 23: JACE

  Chapter 24: ALEX

  Chapter 25: JACE

  Chapter 26: ALEX

  Chapter 27: JACE

  Chapter 28: ALEX

  Chapter 29: JACE

  Chapter 30: ALEX

  Chapter 31: JACE

  Epilogue: ALEX

  Liner Notes

  Acknowledgements

  EXCERPT: ENDLESS: A Less Than Zero Rockstar Romance

  Dedication

  To my BFF Sheila, my inspiration for Alex. We’ve been friends since I was three and you were four. When we met you punched me, and we’ve never been apart since. It doesn’t matter where we are, what we’re doing, or how our lives are shaping up—you are always my person.

  G—you’re taking this ride with me, and it’s a blast! I love you, thank you for all of your support.

  Chapter 1

  JACE

  Present Day

  Under any other circumstances, spending Christmas in my hometown with my band, Less than Zero, would have been something to look forward to. Over the past few years, we’d been on the road. In the early years, dinner would have been take-out food in a shared hotel room from whatever restaurant was open. After our success, the past few years had been spectacularly catered events.

  Today, I had planned to immerse myself in the chaos at my Deveraux family home with the woman whom I hoped would represent my future. That’s not how it panned out. Instead, I was at our lead singer Tyson Rainier’s house watching him propose to Zoey Pearson, the girl who had stolen his heart almost a decade ago.

  Ty and Zoey’s romance had permeated the fabric of LTZ since the day they met at our epic Mission show all those years ago, and I’d played a big role over the years in facilitating their star-crossed lovers myth. Gossip sites and social media couldn’t get enough of them. Fan fiction about their love story had taken on a life of its own, ranging from bubble-gum, heart-eyed, teeny-bopper swooning to the dirtiest erotica. Which translated to tremendous profits in both record and merch sales for all of us.

  Our crazy rock star success story meant that we were all now rich enough to retire. We were too young for that, but every single one of us was looking forward to having at least a year off to chill, reconnect with family, and have some personal time to relax for the first time in a decade. Personally, I had been looking forward to settling down as well.

  So, my feelings about being here tonight were bittersweet. After so many years apart and the ups and downs of reuniting, they were finally together and getting married. I loved them both, and should only have positive, happy thought
s today.

  Except, my world had crashed down around me, and no one in my band knew it.

  Happiness for my friends was far from what I was feeling. More like tired. Terrified. Pissed. Confused. Heartbroken. Petrified. Scared. Panicked. Alone.

  But, also loyal. Always loyal.

  So yeah, I needed to be here today. Ty and Zoey were also my family. Despite my own problems, I loved them both.

  I couldn’t focus, though, with all that was on my mind. Sure, I kept a slight smile fixed in place and my gaze deliberately aimed at the happy couple to appear normal. Inside, my stomach churned, and my brain was all over the place. My entire future was up in the air, a fact that I’d kept secret from everyone but my dad and one other person.

  Like a beacon, my eyes were drawn to her.

  Alexandria LeRoux, Zoey’s best friend, was the ethereally beautiful woman of my dreams. Her honey-blonde hair bounced like sunbeams off her tanned, defined shoulders. She clapped her hands gleefully when Zoey kissed Ty and accepted his proposal. Tall, lithe, with legs for days and the most perfect, perky breasts, Alex wore a fitted, white, off-the-shoulder sweater, skintight Levi’s, and red jingle-bell earrings.

  And, her ever-present black Frye boots. Boots that had traveled the world. Sometimes, even with me.

  God, she was marvelous. I watched intently as her perfect pink lips pressed against Zoey’s cheek and her long, slender fingers caressed Ty’s shoulder. Alex’s smile always lit up the entire room. Her deep-blue eyes crinkled up with joy for her best friend.

  Goddammit. I’d fucked things up so royally.

  This time, there was no going back.

  After so many years of cat and mouse, Alex and I had finally, finally been on the same page. We were actually together. Planning a future. Tonight we should be announcing our own engagement, except for the fact that a few weeks ago I’d received news that destroyed any chance we’d ever have to be a real couple.

  There was no way I could ask her to compromise the phenomenal life she had created for herself. Not when I couldn’t wrap my own head around what had happened.

  So, like an asshole, I’d avoided her. Evaded her calls. Ignored her texts. In effect, ghosted the most perfect girl in the world. Maybe not to the extent Zoey had ghosted Ty all those years ago, but still.

  Tonight, because of Ty and Zoey’s big announcement, our interaction was unavoidable. And, God, sheer torture. Covering my eyes with my hands, I breathed deeply into my palms to control the anxiety threatening to take over. I could not lose my shit. No one would understand. I was always the rock of this band. The steady hand. The voice of reason. The cool head. The Fonzie.

  “Finally,” Connor McLoughlin, our big, ginger bass player interrupted my thoughts, thankfully unaware of my inner turmoil.

  “Word.” I glanced over at him and we shared a smile.

  “It’s about fucking time.” Zane, our virtuoso lead guitarist bounced over, his dark curls wild around his face. “Although, Ty’s going to have to find new inspiration to write killer songs now that he’s got the girl.”

  “He’ll be fine.” Connor rolled his eyes, crossing his bulging biceps across his chest.

  “God, I’m hungry. It smells amazing in here. Ty has cooked up a feast!” Zane, not known for his attention span, raised his nose in the air and sniffed.

  “Yeah, well, I can’t stay for dinner, my dudes.” I shrugged. “I’ve gotta go to my folks’ house. I’ve missed too many Christmases, and everyone is home this year.”

  “But it’s the last time we’ll all be together for a long time.” Zane looked stricken.

  “I’m heading home too, my dad’s not doing so great right now.” Connor had seemed very distracted lately, it was the first I’d heard about his father’s health issues coming back. “I want to be with my family.”

  “You’re leaving too?” Zane crossed his wiry, muscular arms.

  “Relax, Zane. Your dad is here. If you come over tomorrow, my dad would love to see you,” Connor placated our high-energy guitarist.

  “Okay. Yeah. I’ll text you.” Zane’s attention was already redirected across the room where his father, the famous Limelight guitar player Carter Pope, was motioning him over.

  “Jen told me she’ll stop by later tonight.” My sister Jennifer had dated Connor for years before she realized her true love was her friend Becca.

  “Cool.” Connor was a man of few words. I respected the hell out of him. Already strong, our friendship had been sealed forever when, despite his heartbreak and confusion at their breakup, he’d treated my sister with compassion and honor after she came out.

  With the big engagement event witnessed, though, I had to get out of this house. I couldn’t fake any more happiness today. “I’ll go congratulate Ty and Zoey and then I’ll catch you later.”

  As I made my way over to the happy couple, my phone pinged, causing my heartbeat to go into overdrive once again. Pulling my reading glasses out of my back pocket, I sighed at the incoming text.

  Jessica: Ru coming by?

  Jace: no

  Jessica: Ur going to miss Xmas with her then?

  Jessica: I promised.

  Jessica: Jace!

  Jace: Stop contacting me there is a court order.

  Jessica: Fine, but it won’t change anything Jace.

  Yeah, whatever. The insanity was real.

  “Are you okay?” Alex’s long, slender fingers gently touched my elbow, her intoxicating ocean-breeze, tropical scent tantalized my senses. She was like a ninja. I hadn’t seen or heard her approach.

  “Yep,” I moved my arm away abruptly.

  She winced but pasted on her usual sunny smile in record time before attempting to slip away from me. “All-righty then.”

  I guess we were both faking it today.

  “Wait, Poppy. I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be a dick.” I gave her a half-smile, and I lightly grasped her slim wrist, stroking the top of her bronzed hand with my thumb. “It’s supposed to be a happy day for Ty and Zoey.”

  Alex sighed and looked down at my thumb rubbing her, undoubtedly feeling the electricity pulsing between us. It had always been this way, even when we fought it. Her eyebrows knit together, and she sighed again, turning her baby blues up to gaze at me questioningly. She was breathtaking, and I couldn’t believe how stupid I’d been for so long. If I’d been less stupid, I wouldn’t be in this mess.

  “It’s going to work out, Jace.” Alex tucked a strand of hair that had escaped from my LTZ skull cap back in place. “It will.”

  “Well, I already know how it’s going to work out.” I tightened my grip on her wrist. “I just have to go through with all of the steps.”

  Alex didn’t speak at first, almost as if she was choosing her words carefully. “So you’ve told me. And as I told you, this should be an opportunity for us to be closer as a couple. I know you’re scared, and I’ve tried to be understanding. But you keep pushing me away.”

  “Alex—” I pleaded.

  “No, Jace.” She focused her eyes on mine. “You’re playing games with my heart. It hurts. It’s not acceptable to treat me this way.”

  “I’m protecting you.” I fixed my gaze on hers, daring her to argue with me.

  “Nope, try again,” Alex yelled in a whisper voice. “You’re the one who finally convinced me to be all in. You’re a hypocrite if you’re not all in too. Gahd! There’s no point to this.”

  “I understand.” I swallowed the lump in my throat and glanced around to see if anyone was paying attention to us.

  They weren’t.

  Everyone was gathered around the happy couple across the room patting Ty on the back and trying to get a glimpse of Zoey’s ring. I couldn’t speak for fear of breaking down, and I couldn’t look at my beautiful nymph for fear of giving in.

  “And there you have it.” Alex pulled her wrist from my grasp and folded her arms across her perfect, perky breasts.

  “Not everyone has a love story like Ty and Zoey.” I folded m
y arms across my chest too, keeping my eyes directed at the happy couple.

  “Everyone has their own path, Jace. I’m truly happy for them.” Alex’s expression softened when Ty planted a scorching kiss on Zoey’s lips. “They belong together.”

  “They have been a pain in my ass for nearly a decade. They have been their own worst enemies,” I grumbled bitterly before stealing a glance back at her.

  Alex’s eyes narrowed at my crass comment, but she tried to hide it by looking down. Kicking the toe of her worn black Frye boot into the ground, she muttered, “Pot calling kettle—”

  “Shit. I’m on fire today. Alex, I’m sorry.”

  “Quit apologizing.” Alex stopped me, breathing in deeply to tamp her emotions down. “We are supposed to have the same happy ending.”

  “Dammit, Alex. I won’t force you into a life you don’t want.” Secrecy be damned, I gripped her shoulders and drew her to me, breathing her in. “I can’t do that to you. You deserve someone who can give you—”

  “Excuses.” Alex cut me off. “Just. Stop. Enough with the martyr bullshit. I’ve got the message loud and clear. After all we’ve overcome, it sucks to realize how little you really know me. How little you know what I want.”

  Her words pierced my soul. I wanted to protest and to reassure her that I did know her, that she was everything to me. I couldn’t form the words. Clasping her close to me, my dream of having what Ty found with Zoey slipped out of my grasp with each passing second of silence. My heart ached. Alex was not only my best friend but the funniest, goofiest, sexiest, and most beautiful, dedicated, loving woman I knew.

  And now, because of a shit hand that I’d been dealt, instead of revealing our long-time secret relationship to our friends and family, Alex and I were over. For real this time.

  “This isn’t cool, Jace. I’ve really gotta go.” Alex broke free from our embrace to find the entire room looking at us strangely. After composing herself, she abruptly turned away from me and walked out toward the powder room.

  “Jace, what did you say to her?” Zoey flew at me from across the room and grabbed my arm, her wild, blonde hair flowing around her. Ty followed close behind, his eyes constricted and curious.