Biker with Benefits
Page 19
As I stand in front of the mic, listening to thousands of people cheer and chant my name, I remember what he said on that very first night.
“Why on earth are you only playing in front of seven people?”
A smile eases onto my face as I thank the crowd, and then I take a quick glance down at my dad, stepmom, and sister, who are also in the VIP section. Even some of our friends from Blackwell--Cole, Rose, Mason and Clarissa--have made the trip to watch us. And it seems like Cole and Mason have made up with Jax. Thinking back to the night they tried to stop Jax and I from being together, that seems like years ago, now. I’m glad they’ve come to their senses.
The ironic part is that among the tens of thousands in the audience tonight, all I’m thinking about is those few people in the crowd. It’s them I’m singing for. And that’s all the fodder I need to play my heart out.
Although my stepmom has her arms crossed and is refusing to enjoy herself.
The smile on my dad’s face all but makes up for it.
After I thank the crowd, I head inside to the greenroom.
Jim McConnell sits there with his guitar. Tall, blond, and dashingly handsome, he turns to me with his soft Irish accent.
“Well that was one hell of a show, my darling.”
I bite my lower lip. “Sorry for stealing your thunder.”
He chuckles, and even that sounds Irish.
“Oh, come now, dearie. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. But you sound like an angel out there, truthfully.”
Getting up off his chair, he starts to head to the exit, but then he turns to me.
“Is it true what that song ‘The Watcher’ is about?”
I tilt my head. “What do people say it’s about?”
“Oh come now, you haven’t googled yourself lately? It’s supposed to be about watching two people fuck.”
I nearly spit out the water when I hear his explanation.
“So I got it right,” he says.
I pop my hip and wiggle my eyebrows. “Why are you so curious? Do you want to watch Jax and I later?”
“Now that’s what I’m talking about, Harmony! That’s the fucking spirit!”
Just then, Jax, his grandparents, sister, and mom come in, and my family follows.
Jim winks as he disappears out the greenroom door.
“Holy fuck, you rocked,” Jax says, squeezing me so tight I think I might burst. “You killed it, Vanderbilt.”
“Yeah? Looked good from the outside?”
My dad and sister reel me in for a big hug, too, but my stepmom stands with her arms crossed.
“Great job, hon,” my dad whispers in my ear. “So damn proud of you. I feel awful about all that stuff that happened last summer.”
“It’s in the past,” I whisper to him.
Jax’s grandparents, mom, and sister all join in to give me a congratulations, and I feel my heart warm.
I hold back the tears, because I want to be strong and not taint this moment. But the truth is, I’ve never felt like I had a whole family unit that was one hundred percent behind me until this night.
The feeling is indescribable.
Glancing at my stepmom, I see the smallest of smiles tugging at her lips. Even she has to try hard not to have a good night.
Mission freaking accomplished.
Jax pops a bottle of champagne and pours some for just about everyone.
“You know,” Jax’s mom speaks up, “I was going to wait until later to say this, but what the hell. It’s off the record, right? The verdict came down today. After you showed me that time-stamped video of you playing ‘Tomorrow Never Comes’ well before Roddy copyrighted it, I forwarded it to my—well, your—lawyer. Roddy owes you half of all of the engagements where he’s used that song over the last several years.”
My jaw drops. “Half?”
Jax’s mom shrugs. “My lawyer’s a real shark. I wouldn’t want to be on her bad side.”
A commotion erupts outside the room.
Jax waves everyone away from the door and steps toward it.
I blink several times in disbelief when I see Roddy appear.
“I’ll fucking kill you!” he yells as he steps through the doorframe, and my heart drops at the sight of the gun in his hand.
I’ve never seen such fire in Jax’s eyes as he tackles Roddy and slams his hand against the ground so hard that the gun falls away.
Roddy is on his stomach, and Jax has him in a headlock.
Roddy attempts to move, but Jax flexes his bicep and holds him down with his massive body.
“How could you?” Roddy manages to pipe out to the bewildered crowd.
I feel so astonished, I don’t even know how to respond.
Jax pulls Roddy to his feet, keeping him in a headlock. Roddy is powerless, his arms pointing toward the sky.
“You happy now?” Roddy whimpers. “I’m broke because of you! My tour is over. My life is ruined!”
“And you’re going to prison for attempted assault with a weapon, buddy,” Mrs. Reid reminds him.
“Fuck you,” Roddy says, and then he hurls a loogie toward her.
Jax’s expression turns cold.
Jax uses his feet to spread Roddy’s legs apart. “Free shot, Harm. On the house.”
Putting my champagne down, I feel my smile warm my whole body.
I take a few steps toward him, wind up, and kick him straight in the balls.
Roddy lets out a yelp so pathetic, I almost feel bad for him.
And then I remember, it’s Roddy.
Jax lets him tumble to the ground. Roddy curls up in a little ball as security arrives at the door.
“Is the subject disarmed?” the security guard asks.
“He won’t be giving you any trouble,” I say.
As they haul him off, he screams in pain.
I’m not a masochist, but I have to say, that’s the first time the sound of pain has been like music to my ears.
“So where were we?” I say, picking up my glass of champagne.
Jax takes me by the hip and kisses me in front of everyone in the room.
“We were just celebrating the new song you were going to write,” he jokes.
“Oh right,” I say. “More of an instructional song, really. ‘How to Kick Your Ex in the Balls.’”
Jax’s mom pipes in, shrugging. “I’d listen to that.”
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Mickey Miller is an author of steamy contemporary romance. This is Mickey’s eleventh romance novel.
His next book, a steamy enemies-to-lovers story, is coming soon.
For updates and a free book, sign up for Mickey’s mailing list here:
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Also by Mickey Miller
The rest of the Blackwell After Dark Series:
Ballers Romance Series:
Standalones:
Mickey Miller books cowritten with Holly Dodd:
Dirty CEO
Fantasy Island
For a free book, sign up for Mickey’s Mailing list here:
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Thank you for reading! <3