DAY 1

The next night Cynthia was dressed a little more provocatively than she usually did, as there was only one thing she had in mind for herself tonight. She checked herself in the hotel bathroom and nodded in approval at her reflection. She wore a short denim skirt, probably too short for a woman in her late 30’s, and a red sleeveless top with a low v-neck to complete the look. Her breasts were small by most standards, but the risqué neckline hid the flaw given the amount of cleavage she was showing. Red stiletto sandals completed her look, as she tried to give her short mahogany locks some volume before she headed for the bar. Satisfied enough with her appearance she strutted out of the bathroom and into the bar. She saw her attire caught many eyes as she walked with deliberate steps to the counter to order herself a drink.

“Your usual,” the bartender asked, and she nodded.

She scanned the bar looking for someone intriguing as she waited for her drink. Next to her was a man in his late forties with a receding hairline, nearly drooling at her. On the other side of the bar was good-looking man in his early thirties, but Cynthia quickly noticed a ring on his hand. Not tonight, no drama. There was a group of young women at one of the booths who were a little too loud for her liking. A few more women were scattered throughout the bar but other than that it was looking like a quiet night.

Cynthia thought of canceling her drink and heading to the bar down the street when a man in the corner caught her eye. He was sitting alone trying to hide his face from being seen as he scouted out the table of young women. His dark eyes were captivating, though the rest of his features were hidden beneath a day old beard. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn’t put her finger on it, an actor maybe. She watched him discretely, determined to figure out who he was. As if a light went off in her head she recognized the mysterious man. No it can’t be, she thought, Richie Sambora? She wasn’t a fan, but wasn’t a stupid woman. She had casually listened to his music and wasn’t oblivious to his naturally good looks and charm.

Cynthia took her drink as the bartender handed it to her, and she replied with a distracted, “Put it on my tab.” She gathered her purse, her drink, and every ounce of confidence and sauntered over to his table. She sat down in the booth next to him, startling him a bit. She lowered her voice a little as she spoke. “I’ve been watching you,” she said.

“Oh yeah,” Richie answered curiously, but attracted to her confidence.

“Oh yes,” she began. “I see you watching that table over there. You’ve been something slightly short of drooling over them. But they’re not what you need.”

“And you know what I need,” Richie teased back.

“You don’t need a girl. They wouldn’t know what to do with you. What you need is a woman and you’re damn lucky that I saved you from that terrible mistake.”

“Is that right,” Richie asked as she took a drink from her glass.

“Hey it would’ve been your disappointment not mine. If you’d like I can head back to the bar and let you continue your drooling,” she started moving her hand to his knee.

His eyes darkened with her touch, “Or?”

“Or you could forget about them, and just take me back to your place where you can thank me for preventing you from making a serious mistake,” she said moving her hand up his leg with each word stopping just below his hip.

He swore lowly as he felt himself respond to her wondering hand. He signaled the waitress for his check and looked back at the woman. “You win. My place or yours?”

“Yours of course. You do owe me after all,” Cynthia said smiling at him.

“I guess I do,” Richie said as he signed the bill and stowed his credit card back into his wallet.

Cynthia finished her drink in one big gulp and stood from the table. “Come on Richie let’s get outta here.” He looked at her surprised and she laughed at him. “It was on your credit card, what am I supposed to know who you are or something,” she lied.

“Nope, but this means I’m at a disadvantage here,” he said standing next to her.

“Cynthia,” she whispered walking out of the bar a step ahead of him, letting him take in her whole figure.

Richie admired her body, her lean tanned legs, her womanly curves, and her short sassy hair. He caught up with her in a few steps and put his arm around her shoulder. “This way,” he said leading her through the front doors and gave the valet his ticket.

They waited against a wall by the main driveway and Cynthia took the opportunity to let her hands explore his body. She started in his hair, feeling the softness between her fingers then moved over the course scruff on his face. Moving down to his strong chest, she was sure to trace the outline of his muscular arms before he stopped her.

“You know you’re killing me here,” Richie said in a near growl.

“I never said that you couldn’t touch,” Cynthia said with a glimmer in her eye as she felt his hands move down her back to cup her ass as she leaned into him. She leaned up and kissed him, letting her tongue explore his mouth and allowed his to do the same.

A timid valet tried to get their attention as he returned with Richie’s car, but was only successful after the fourth, “Excuse me, sir.” Richie pulled away from Cynthia’s kiss and acknowledged the valet’s message. Before Cynthia stepped away, she let her hand wander down to top of his jeans and cupped him in her hands. She gave a gentle, taunting squeeze and felt him respond to her immediately. She smiled at her work and walked to the car leaving him stunned.

Quickly regaining part of his bearings he followed her to the car and tipped the patient valet liberally. He could barley contain himself on the short ride back to his home as she continued her playful assault. She taunted him with her fingernails over the muscles in his arms and played with his hair. Red lights left her with an opportunity to continue her attack on his mouth. Richie found himself in his driveway in record time and quickly parked the car and led her up the walk to the house.

They were barely in the door when he could take no more waiting. He felt around for the light switch illuminating the entry way and living room. He dropped his keys on the nearby table and leaned Cynthia back against the nearest wall. His animal like instincts overtaking his judgment.

He leaned over her and began kissing her letting his tongue taste the martini she was drinking earlier. He hands lowered to her breasts as he cupped them and felt her nipple harden at his touch. A soft moan invited him to continue his exploration and she could feel his hardness against her leg, as he pressed closer. She wrapped a leg around his waist and he lifted her so that she was straddling him completely. His mouth left hers and found its way down her neck to her collarbone where he began to nibble at it softly.

Her hands pulled at his hair as she bent her head close to his ear. “I want you to take me, right now. But I’m guessing there’s probably a more comfortable place in this house than the living room floor.”

That was all Richie needed to hear, to take her upstairs. He held onto her, not letting her off from around his hip and took the stairs nearly two at a time before arriving in his bedroom. He laid her on the bed as he took a second to enjoy the woman in front of him.

She looked at him, her eyes dark with passion. “What are you waiting for? Get your ass in this bed with me.”

Richie did as he was told and followed her path to the bed and was soon on top of her. She made quick work of his clothes and he did the same, scattering her clothes around the room. Their bodies didn’t leave each other throughout their night of heated passion. Over and over again he brought her to a climax and allowed her to enjoy her release before continuing to his own. He was a gentle and giving lover, even if it was only for one night. She eagerly returned each of his favors with one of her own and it wasn’t until hours later that they found themselves in a deep sleep, limbs tangled in each other.

Prologue

Richie Sambora woke and looked at his unfamiliar surroundings. He looked in the bed next to him and saw yet another unfamiliar woman, this was the fifth woman in as many days. At least I made it to the fucking bed this time, he thought as he got out of the bed as quietly as possible, not wanting to wake the woman. He gathered his clothes from the floor and went into the hallway to dress, not wanting to take any chances with this woman. An awkward encounter he had become too familiar over the past few months and it was one he tried to avoid whenever possible. He was thankful that he gathered all of his clothes in one shot and found his car keys and wallet still in his pants.

He quietly led himself to the front door where he found his shoes and exited the house in near silence. He made his way to his car and sped out of the driveway. This had become his shallow and familiar routine that he was beginning to resent more and more each night. He drove a few blocks before he fully gained his bearings and made his way back to his own home. He made his way into the house just in time to see the sun rising out the patio doors. Not yet being able to face the day he headed upstairs for some much needed sleep.

A few hours later he woke much more refreshed than he had felt earlier. He turned to look at the clock that read 1:25. How do I manage to do the same thing every damn day? It’s no wonder I’ve turned into a night owl since I don’t get up until the afternoon, Richie thought as he made his way into the bathroom. He looked at himself in the mirror and was surprised to see his reflection. Where there was once a happy rock star to look back at him, he now saw a tired man who was beginning to show each one of his 49 years. He quickly showered, but chose to leave the day old scruff to try to hide some of the evidence of the wear and tear he was taking.

Dressing in a pair of sweats and a tee shirt he moved downstairs to the kitchen. He set out making a much needed pot of coffee and retrieved a mug as the liquid gold brewed before him. He took a cup from the partially brewed pot and made his way outside on the porch hoping the sunlight would brighten his mood. He settled into a lounge chair and began to sip the strong coffee as he watched the happy beachgoers. After a minute his cell phone ring and read Jon’s number off of the caller id.

“Hey man, how’s Jersey,” Richie asked not really wanting a confrontation this afternoon.

“Jersey’s just fine, how are you doin’,” Jon asked.

“Just fine. I’m sitting here in this beautiful California weather enjoying a cup of coffee and watchin’ all the happy people go by,” Richie answered.

“Coffee at 2 o’clock in the afternoon? Shit man, I’ve been worried about you. What’s been going on?”

“Hey I’m fine no need to worry about me. I’m single in California what more could I want right,” Richie answered with an edge of sarcasm.

“It’s me you’re talking to here. You’re not gonna be able to bullshit me,” Jon challenged. “I know things have been rough. Since the breakup and the tour ending and everything else that goes with it. Dot and I have been worried about you since I talked to you on your birthday last week. I haven’t heard you that miserable in a long time man.”

Richie gave in rather than putting up a fight and answered as honestly as he could. If he couldn’t be honest with Jon, who could he be honest with? “I didn’t think it would bother me. I really didn’t but I’m all alone out here. Heather took Ava with her on some movie shoot somewhere. And my mom’s back in Jersey with all of you. Good friends are hard to come by these days. This I think is the first birthday since before I met Heather that I spent by myself.”

“Well at least it doesn’t sound like you’re missing Jen too much, just missing being with someone. Do I want to know how you’ve been spending your time,” Jon asked.

“The poster boy for marriage and stability? Probably not,” Richie said laughing. “I haven’t exactly been by myself if you know what I mean.”

”I think I know exactly what you mean, but that’s not you man. That may have been good enough for you back in the day but now you need someone to share your life with, right, not just a warm body,” Jon said.

“I know you’re right, but how the hell do you find someone like that, especially now?”

“I don’t think you’ve been trying very hard. Tell me, honestly, how many women have you been with since your birthday last week?”

Richie cringed as he counted his answer, “Since last Friday? Five.”

“Shit Rich that was what six days ago! You can’t keep going on like this, you’re gonna burn out,” Jon said with a firm scold.

“I know, but what am I supposed to do? Everyone wants to sleep with Richie Sambora, but no one wants to date Richie Sambora,” Richie said as Jon laughed.

“You’re shittin’ me right? Do you know how many thousands of women want to date you? And it wouldn’t hurt to find someone who is dating Richie, not Richie Sambora,” Jon said softening his tone.

“I know, you’re right. I just don’t know what the fuck I’m doing,” Richie said sighing.

“Look man, we’re all coming out in a couple of weeks to do some demos, remember. Think you can hang in till then? If not just get your ass back here to Jersey and we’ll fix you up,” Jon said.

“Yeah I’ll be fine. Any tips man, I’ve gotta do somethin’ or my head may explode if I keep this up,” Richie asked at a genuine loss.

“Well this whole ‘different girl every night’ thing is gonna get old quick, but I think you know that already. Do me a favor. The next girl you meet, I don’t care if you sleep with her, but give it two weeks. Don’t sleep with anyone else, and give her a chance and get to know her. You can start with her last name, or her first name if you need. You hear me, 14 days. Get to know a person not just a body. It gets lonely real quick if you keep that up. I should know,” Jon advised.

“Two weeks,” Richie asked skeptically.

“Two weeks isn’t gonna kill you in the big scheme of things. And if she’s crazy or something it’ll give you some time for yourself, right,” Jon answered.

“I guess, thanks man,” Richie said. “You know if this whole singing thing doesn’t work out for you, you may have a second career as a therapist or somthin’.”

“Just give it a chance, and let me know how it goes ok? And call if you need me,” Jon said.

“I will thanks again,” Richie said.

“You got it,” Jon said as Richie heard screaming in the background. “But hey I gotta go, Ro just stole Jesse’s water gun. Take care of yourself,” he said before Richie heard the definitive click in his ear.

Two weeks huh? What’s the worst that can happen, Richie thought as he headed back to the kitchen for another cup of coffee.

***

Cynthia looked into his inexpressive eyes unable to believe the words she was hearing. “How long,” she asked in a near whisper.

“Four, six weeks tops,” he answered.

Cynthia stood to go. “Thank you for your time, I think that’s all I need.”

His voice followed her, “Don’t you want to hear-“

She cut him off before he could finish his question. “No I have all the information I need. I’ll be in touch if I need anything else, but I don’t think that will be necessary. I appreciate what you’ve done.”

And with that Cynthia walked out of the room and to her car parked outside. She sat in her car examining her options. She could head to the airport and fly home, or she could continue to travel for a few weeks. Not wanting to make a decision then and there she pulled out onto the highway and headed back to her hotel in Malibu.

Though this had happened earlier in the week, the scene had replayed in her mind countless times. She still had not figured out where to go but for tonight she would stay at the hotel again. She was determined that tomorrow she would make a decision. All she knew now was that she needed a strong drink to clear her head, and the hotel bar was the perfect place to start.