by Petrova, Em
Finally. It was time to have some fun. Cassie clapped her hands quickly and danced in place like a little girl with a brand-new Barbie. She hadn’t acted this goofy in years.
Locking arms with her oldest friend, she escorted Ally down the street toward the nightclub. “You’re gonna love this place. It’s laid back, the cocktails are perfect, and the men are hot. You are still single, right?”
Ally nodded, hesitantly, which didn’t surprise Cassie. There was never a set time to get over an ugly breakup. Even if Ally didn’t love Douglas Kingsley enough to accept his marriage proposal, it didn’t mean he had the right to trash her apartment or send hateful texts. Cassie still believed he was the one who spray-painted the walls.
Asshole.
There was no love loss between them. Besides, he wasn’t right for Ally. Only one guy was, and if Cassie ever had the chance, she’d make sure the right one wouldn’t get away again.
Damn she wished the McCabe boys were still around…
Chapter Three
Theo felt a burst of adrenalin rushing through his veins. It wouldn’t be much longer now. The moment he always waited for. The one he craved. He’d be on stage, standing before his microphone, as well as a packed house by the looks of the dance floor. That didn’t include the people spread about the bar.
While it wasn’t a big stage before a crowd of thousands, performing at a blues joint on a Friday night meant a dynamic crowd that would want them to keep playing. People loved live music, especially if it was free. It wouldn’t be tonight, thanks to the cover charge. They did enough free shows when they were staying in New Orleans.
Those types of performances didn’t pay the bills, and the lack of money cost him Jonah. But losing his brother to a sound-producing job turned out to be a blessing. His departure ignited a fire in Theo, one that drove him to bust his ass and find more gigs. That same ambitious drive led him and Southern Scandal to their agent, Joel Decker, and his twin brother, Josh, who’d turned out to be one hell of a manager.
The one-year separation did him and Jonah some good. It taught him to appreciate his brother and to get motivated about his dreams. It was his determination that proved to Jonah how serious he was about the band. Then, just like old times, his big brother came back to aid him. Yet this time, he had the means to help.
Now Southern Scandal had a record deal. They would begin producing their first album next week. Tours were being mentioned, gigs were lining up, and the women…fuck, the women kept getting hotter.
Life was good.
“Damn,” Jonah grumbled beside him. He adjusted the guitar strap around his neck and blew his hair from his forehead. “I don’t know why I let you talk me into this shit. I could be on a plane, heading back to my beach house, sleeping in my bed with my pillows, and my things. Instead, I’m sweating my nuts off, my gut’s in knots, and when I leave here, it will be to some hotel suite where thousands of strangers have slept…and God only knows what else.”
Theo lowered his gaze to the guitar as he bit the inside of his cheek. When did his brother forget how to have a good time? Hell, when did he quit living for the music? He choked back a laugh and shook his head. They weren’t on stage yet. It would all come back to him once the ladies went crazy. Judging by the honeys already on the dance floor, Theo wouldn’t do much sleeping this evening. If Jonah didn’t want any company, that was his choice.
“You need a tampon, dude?”
“Excuse me?” Jonah snapped. He turned his ear toward Theo, as though he hadn’t heard him. Or maybe he was preparing to punch him.
Tossing his hands in the air, Theo forced himself to chuckle. “Just thought I’d ask. I figured you’d need one with all the bitchin’ you’re doing. You sound like a woman on her—”
“Say it and I’ll punch you.”
Laughter erupted from Theo’s chest. He slapped his brother on the arm, shaking him until Jonah caved and chuckled. “Relax, bro. I know you’d rather be in L.A., and I want you to know how much I appreciate you staying to help. But for Christ’s sake, at least have some fun while you’re here.”
Jonah ran his fingers over the guitar strings. “Always looking for a good time, aren’t you, Theo?”
“Hey, I’m fucking twenty-three years old. You’re twenty-four. We’re in our prime, man. I’m not ready to settle down. There are too many beautiful women for that nonsense.” The dance floor came into view. He spotted a set of bright eyes, perfect tits, and an ass he’d love to grab. “In fact, we’re getting some pretty serious eyes right now.”
He watched as Jonah scanned the bar, checking out the ladies lingering near the stage. After a brief moment, his brother shrugged. “She’s not bad.”
What the fuck?
“Not bad? Dude, what the hell is wrong with you? She’s pretty hot.” Had his brother taken a dose of saltpeter or what? Okay, so maybe that was a myth, but something had happen to Jonah’s libido. The chick staring at them was young, hot, and built to ride a stallion. He knew the perfect one she could mount.
Damn, he needed to get laid. Little blondie could serve the purpose. Or was her hair red? Under the light, it appeared to be a mixture of both. Bet she was a strawberry blonde. He’d know for sure this evening when he buried his face between her thighs. She would definitely be in his bed. The way she kept studying every inch of his body was clue enough. Unless she was a tease… Hmm. Come to think of it, something about her reminded him of—
“Forget it, man.” Jonah chuckled.
“What?”
His brother leaned his elbow against the handrail that led to the stage. “I know what you’re thinking. I had to do a double take, too. It’s the hair, little bro, but it’s good to know you still think about her.”
“Who?”
Jonah rubbed his face, trying to hide the smile forming on his lips. “Cut the innocent act. It doesn’t fit you. And I know what coming home does. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about a certain redhead that used to make your balls so blue that you had to sleep with an ice pack.”
So his brother wanted to trash talk on his way down memory lane. It’s the last place Theo wanted to go, but he’d be damned if he let his brother talk smack. “Please. I never had to sleep with an ice pack. You may have chased one skirt your whole life, but not me, dude. I had my hands up many.”
“Except the one you wanted most,” Jonah quipped. “So you haven’t thought of Cassie Clarke since we came home?”
“Nope.”
He hated lying to his brother. It was only a few hours ago that memories of Cassie rolled through his mind. Hearing her name was like a kick in the teeth with a steel-toed boot, but he’d be damned if he let Jonah know. Hell no. Then he’d catch hell the whole time they were in Savannah.
“I know you cared about Ally, and being here brings those feelings back, but Cassie and I weren’t a possibility. Ever. And I’m past her. Way past.”
Jonah scanned him from head to toe as he shook his head. “You’re full of shit. That’s what you are. I know I’m not the only one who hates coming back. You do too, and I know it’s because of Cassie. So you didn’t think you had a chance with her. Big deal. You still cared about her. Isn’t that why you beat Parker Pearson’s ass our senior year?”
“He had his hands on her. That’s why I kicked his ass. I would have done the same for any other girl. That guy was a prick.”
“Yeah, he was, but he’d been that way for a while. Cassie wasn’t the first girl he’d put his hands on. She’s just the one you didn’t want him to touch.”
Theo refrained from responding. Jonah was baiting him, and he refused to bite. Instead, he drew in a deep breath and glanced at his watch. Just a few more minutes and they’d be on stage. Too bad they weren’t already performing. Then he and Jonah wouldn’t be having this conversation. Seeing as how they had three more minutes, it was time to flip the spotlight back on Jonah.
“I know what you’re doing, bro. You’re bringing up this shit with Cassie so I won�
��t ask you about Ally. Personally, I don’t give a shit what you do as long as your choice makes you happy. But you won’t find that happiness until you do one of two things.”
“And what would that be?”
He ignored the sarcastic tone in Jonah’s voice and continued with his advice. “One, you find where Ally is and pay her a visit. See if there’s something between you or if she’s moved on.”
It didn’t take long for Jonah’s head to twist from side to side. “We’re talking about Ally Jacobs, Theo. Do you think a girl like that would be single? She’s moved on. I know she has, and letting myself think anything else won’t do me any favors.”
“Well, if you’re not going to attempt to find Ally, then it’s time you moved on too.”
Jonah pushed himself away from the handrail and turned toward the hallway leading to the backdoor. Allen and Jesse stood a few feet away, deep in their own conversation. It must have satisfied Jonah to know they weren’t listening because he looked at Theo once more.
“I have moved on from Ally, but that doesn’t mean I need someone else in my life. I’m busy, and I don’t want a girlfriend.”
“Who the fuck said anything about a girlfriend? Sample the flavors until you find one that becomes a craving. Tonight, I’m sampling a strawberry Popsicle.” He shifted his attention back to the little hottie who kept flirting, but a grunt echoed from Jonah’s direction.
“Okay, I get the strawberry part because she’s a strawberry blonde, but a Popsicle?”
Dear God. His brother really was out of practice.
He laughed at the thought, but the way his brother’s eyes narrowed said he didn’t share his amusement. “What do you do to a Popsicle, Jonah?”
“You eat it.”
“My point exactly.”
***
Cassie’s steps fell in rhythm with the funky beat coming from the stage. She moved through the sea of bodies spread around the club, not the least bit surprised to see a packed house. There was live music, and she wasn’t the only person who enjoyed such a treat.
Most of the local clubs used DJs, but Midnight Blues was one of the few that had live performances. It’s what brought her through the door on her first visit. The atmosphere, along with the toned and tatted sex machine who served her drinks, kept her coming back.
Mr. Sex-in-jeans was in his usual spot, behind the deep blue, marble-topped bar. The longer she gawked at him, the quicker her feet seemed to move. She peeked over her shoulder, making sure the crowd hadn’t swallowed Ally. Her friend remained close but was observing the packed dance floor.
Just wait ‘til I drag you out there, Ally Jacobs.
She laughed at the thought, but the guitar and drums competed in drowning out the sound. Just as well. If Ally heard her, she’d ask questions. The only sure way of getting her friend to loosen up was to supply her with alcohol. They’d come to the perfect place to accomplish that goal.
As two barstools opened, Cassie motioned for Ally to hurry. They reached the high-back, cushioned seats before anyone else could lay claim. Ally slid across hers, but Cassie remained on her feet, waving at Mike when he noticed them.
Damn, he looked hot tonight. From the taut t-shirt defining his toned muscles, to the jeans that hugged his ass, she couldn’t fight the heat building between her thighs. She wouldn’t ditch her friend no matter how much she wanted to fuck Mike, but once Ally went home…well, it wouldn’t be the first time she showed up at his door in the middle of the night.
Mike smiled and nodded in their direction. He continued speaking to the customer he was tending midway down the bar. She tried to hide the smile forming on her mouth, but seeing him brought too many dirty thoughts to mind.
“You friends with the bartender?”
Cassie lifted the corner of her mouth and teased, “Let’s just say I come here often…and not just for the music or liquor.”
Realization played on Ally’s face, but Cassie didn’t wait for an objection or approval. Movement across the bar gained her attention, as did Mike when he approached.
“My evening just got better,” he confessed, taking a moment to appreciate the view she’d provided him.
She knew he would like the top she’d worn, or rather, the way it hugged her breasts. His eyes lingered long enough to make her nipples harden. He knew the reaction he would incite. It’s why his lips crooked in a smile.
He reached his hand to the rack above them and gazed back at her. “The usual, darlin’?”
“You know it, Mike.”
His focus shifted toward Ally. “And what about you, sugar?”
They stared awkwardly before Ally glanced in her direction. She found her voice a second later. “I’ll have the same thing she’s drinking.”
“Manhattans it is.” Mike said nothing more. He winked at Cassie then left to make their drinks.
Admiring his ass as he walked away, she thought about the last time she used it as leverage to keep him buried inside her. She’d been so busy with work that they hadn’t hooked up for several weeks. She was in need of a good screwing, and he would be the perfect person to accept the challenge.
As if he’d read her thoughts, Mike turned around and offered her another smile. He held a glass in each hand while walking back to the bar. After placing them on coasters, he slid one toward Ally and the other in front of Cassie.
She examined the glass and then him. “What do I owe you, handsome?”
“Depends.” He crossed his arms on the bar and leaned closer. “What are you celebrating?”
“We’re celebrating my friend’s birthday.”
Cassie tipped her head in Ally’s direction, but Mike only spared her a quick glance. “Well, this round’s free. I’ll put the rest on your tab and you can settle it before you leave… Unless you want to settle it later tonight?”
His suggestion caused her body to warm in all the right places. She pressed her breasts against the bar and leaned even closer to him. “In that case…” Her eyes fell to his lips, lingered, and then met his once more. “I think I’d rather settle my tab later.”
Mike trailed his finger along the curve of her jaw as he whispered. “Then it’s a date. Don’t leave me hanging.”
“Never have, sugar. By the way, would you set my clutch behind the bar?”
“I always do, doll.”
Giving her another wink, he took her purse and tucked it in a cabinet underneath the liquor counter. Then he made his way back down the bar, taking orders from other thirsty patrons. She took a few more seconds to admire the view before turning toward Ally.
Except Ally wasn’t sitting on the stool. She was beside it, swaying her body to the music, and she wasn’t the only one. The beats and riffs filling the air had the entire club moving. Even the people sitting were bobbing their heads, rocking their shoulders, or tapping their feet.
She wanted to do the same. It had been too long since she enjoyed a night out, and having Ally there gave her more reason to cut loose. The naughty girl inside her wanted to come out and play. She wanted to have fun, flirt, and drive Mike crazy with want. Dancing would accomplish all three, especially the latter. Her favorite bartender loved to watch her dance. All she had to do was get Ally out on the floor.
“Want to go dance?”
She viewed Ally’s profile and waited for her friend to turn around. When she received no reply, she crept closer. Ally was either lost in the music or she hadn’t heard a word Cassie said. The noise in the club had definitely picked up.
“Well?”
Finally gaining her attention, Ally turned to her. “Sorry,” she laughed. “I thought you were talking to Mike.”
It was nice to see her childhood friend hadn’t lost her sense of humor. There was no malice in her tone, just good ‘ol sarcasm. She gave Ally a playful slap on the shoulder and chuckled.
“Mike won’t show off his moves on the dance floor.”
“Really? Then where?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?�
�
She stifled her laugh as she sipped her cocktail. Mike knew how to make her favorite drink sweet and smooth yet double the alcohol content. She didn’t know what his secret was, but no one else could make a Manhattan taste as good as his.
Ally joined her in tipping back her glass. The contents reduced a significant amount before her friend lowered it. If she kept taking such large drinks, she’d be drunk in no time.
As the current song came to an end, the crowd broke into applause. All the whistling and clapping didn’t die down until the drummer kicked into a new rhythm. The guitar and bass joined in a second later, and the crowd was moving once again.
It was time to join them.
Stepping in front of Ally, she grabbed her arm and tugged her toward the crowd. “Come on. Let’s move this party to the dance floor. I love the beat of this song.”
While she’d never heard it or the band before tonight, the rhythm filling the club was beckoning her forward. This band really knew how to play. She’d find out their name before the evening was over and see if they were signed with a label. If not, she’d tell Tom about them. He’d take it from there. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d scouted for bands.
Once they made it to the edge of the dance floor, she gave in to the music and shook her hips. Ally seemed more reluctant. Her rigid stance said as much, but Cassie knew how to get her to loosen up. When Ally met her gaze, Cassie wiggled her brows in the same rhythm as her body. It caused her friend to laugh, as well as relax. Now was the time to get her moving.
Cassie dipped her hips and shook them harder. She reached for Ally’s hands and pulled her close. Both began bouncing their bodies to the beats the drummer delivered. It wasn’t long before a slew of male bystanders were focused on them. The sudden influx of attention seemed to unsettle Ally with the way she looked at the men.
“Expect to get some attention while we’re here, especially when we get out there.” Cassie stretched her finger toward the center of the floor where a few other single ladies were dancing. “Guys love seeing two sexy chicks shaking their asses on the dance floor. And this song is hot…almost as hot as us.”