Lost in the Beat

by Gracen Miller

  “Oh, my Gawd!” she exclaimed in the most exaggerated southern drawl Fallon had ever heard. Sam ran her finger over Faith’s cheek. “Are you sure you donated DNA, Jase? She’s too perfect to be a product of you.”

  Fallon grinned. She and Sam would get along just fine if insults laced with compliments were how she dished out criticism.

  “Pretty fucking sure, sis.” Jase rolled his eyes.

  “Had to ask.” Without requesting permission, Sam unbuckled Faith and scooped her out of the carrier. “Hey, beautiful.”

  Faith cooed at Sam.

  “I’m Aunt Sam, and I plan to spoil you until your momma and daddy beg me to quit.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, “But I’ll never stop. Promise. And they can’t make me.”

  “Great,” Jase said dryly. “They’ll be creating mayhem together in no time.”

  Having read about Sam’s numerous exploits, that thought frightened Fallon.

  “I’ll keep them on the straight and narrow,” a newcomer said. His jet-black hair was shaggy, and Fallon thought he was the singer for Hot Wired. Fanger or Fang or something like that. After about a billion breakups—if the tabloids could be believed—he and Sam were hot and heavy again.

  “Isn’t she perfect, Heath?” Sam said as she slid across the backseat toward the open door.

  Fallon remembered now. His real name was Heath and his stage name was Fang.

  “Of course she is, she’s our family.” Fang palmed the top of Faith’s head and peered at her. “Welcome to the family, sweetness. We’re all a little bit whacky, but you’ll get used to us after a while.”

  Faith fisted Fang’s finger and chatted with them like she interacted with them daily.

  Fallon had a feeling her daughter wouldn’t meet too many strangers. She guessed she got that trait from her daddy because Fallon hated public events, and it took her time to warm up to people.

  Jase opened his door, but before he could exit the vehicle, she stopped him by placing her hand on his arm. He looked at her and waited. “Can I borrow your phone when we get inside?”

  He dug his cell out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Don’t have a house phone.”

  “I need a phone book too.”

  “Who are you calling?”

  “Taxi.” She peered at the cell in her hand. It was so high-tech she wasn’t sure how to operate it. “Since you wouldn’t stop, I’ve got to run to my apartment to pack some bags and get Faith’s stuff.”

  “Consider it yours.” Jase dropped the car keys into her lap.

  “No.” She wanted nothing from him and wouldn’t be bought. Favors from him today would have him expecting favors from her in return. Even if it was nothing more important than her compliance to his general demands.

  “It’s still mine. You’re just driving it. Besides I’ve already got someone at your apartment packing up your belongings. I was serious about the dangers of that dump.”

  Oh! His high-handedness boiled her blood! “I told you I didn’t want a stranger going through my lingerie drawer.”

  “I’m pretty confident they won’t be scandalized by your panties.”

  “You’re a bastard.”

  “Tell me something I don’t already know.”

  She looked away and counted to ten. “When did you do this?”

  “Texted while stopped at a traffic light. Are we finished?”

  Hardly. “I’m not one of your groupies. You don’t tell me how to conduct myself or make choices for me. Don’t do it again!” She took a deep breath and put a lot of effort into regulating her breathing. Peering at him did nothing to alleviate her temper. Crinkles fanned outward from his eyes as he gave her a manipulative stare. Hadn’t she made choices for him when she kept Faith from him? Regardless of her poor judgment, she wanted to smack him something terrible.

  “Request considered.”

  Her nails bit into her palms. “It wasn’t a request.”

  “Sounded like one to me, darlin’.”

  “Text them back and tell them to avoid my lingerie drawer.” God! Talking about this with him was awkward in the best-case scenario!

  “I approve, it’s very sexy when I discover my woman isn’t wearing any panties.”

  What? How’d they go from lingerie to commando? Oh…wait, she’d be commando starting tomorrow if her lingerie wasn’t packed and delivered to her. “I’m not one of your sluts.”

  “Faith proves otherwise.”

  She gasped and felt the heat rush to her cheeks.

  “That came out wrong.” He winced as he threaded his fingers through his hair. “I’m not going to try to fix it. Anything I say will come out worse and only offend you more.” She looked away and he kept talking. “Take the car whenever you want. No need to ask first. Everything in your dump will be here in the next couple of hours. That’ll include all furniture and Faith’s clothes, along with your goddamn panties and bras. Deal with it. Anything else that’s required can be purchased tomorrow.”

  Unable to respond for fear he’d realize how much his words stung her, she just shrugged. For the second time today, she battled the urge to cry. I will not break down in front of him.

  “Good,” he said, and she was glad he didn’t push for a verbal reply. “Let’s go inside.”

  He departed the car and, once his door shut, she coughed to clear her throat.

  What have I gotten myself into?

  She glanced in the direction where Fang and Sam had been, only to realize they’d vacated the garage at some point. Fallon hoped they hadn’t heard their altercation.

  At the front of the vehicle, Jase paused to meet her gaze through the windshield. The man was attractive even when clothed in a suit, which obviously wasn’t his style.

  “You coming?” He nodded toward the house door.

  She didn’t want to. God, she didn’t want to join him. This was harder than she’d thought it’d be. Unsure what she’d expected, his snippy attitude hadn’t been it. She’d hidden Faith from him, so she couldn’t really blame him for his attitude either. If someone had concealed Faith from her…she didn’t know what she’d do, but it wouldn’t be pretty.

  Get your shit together, Fallon. I’d be pissed off at you too.

  The daydreaming he’d be happy to see her was just that, a damn daydream. Just because she’d been unable to get him out of her head, didn’t mean he’d ever felt the same. She wasn’t looking for a relationship with him anyway. There’d never been a chance of that happening. He was a rock star, and she was a nerd. Hookups like that weren’t the norm.

  Heaving a sigh, she retrieved the plastic grocery bag from the floorboard that held Faith’s necessities. Time to face her future with a stiff upper lip.

  Could he be a bigger son-of-a-bitch? Calling her his slut not only sounded crude, but came out as an insult too. He meant no slur against her character. He liked groupies, enjoyed dallying with them, so why would he think less of her for being one? At this point, nothing he said would rectify his blunder.

  His anger wasn’t helping the situation either. He tried to let it go. What was done was done, and no amount of resentment or remorse would get back the months he’d lost with his daughter.

  With her arms folded across her chest, Fallon followed him into the house. He located Sam and Fang in the game room, where they spent the majority of their time when home. Faith was nestled in Sam’s arms, and his daughter held Fang’s finger. His family gawked at his child, chatting with her, while she babbled back at them.

  One big happy family.

  He’d lost his goddamn mind bringing Faith home when he had no idea how to be a father. He’d made one fuck-up after another raising his sister.

  He glanced at Fallon who stood near the door, distancing herself from the group. Her discomfort was starkly obvious in her stance and the way she chewed on her bottom lip. And he’d never wanted to strip her out of that piece of shit dress and worship her as much as he did in that moment. Would her figure have changed after birthi
ng their daughter?

  I can’t wait to find out.

  Jase yanked off his tie and jacket and threw them across the pool table. Striding straight to the bar, he poured a shot of whiskey and downed it.

  That hit the spot. Until he glanced at his child, before sliding his gaze on to Fallon, his emotions were a complicated mess and roiling with the liquor in his gut.

  He couldn’t have Fallon without complicating their relationship. But how’d he go about kicking that desire out of his head? He was pissed at her. That should be enough to deter his attraction.

  “As I’m sure you’ve guessed, this is my sister, Sam, and my band mate, Fang.” He nodded toward his sibling and his best buddy. “Guys this is Fallon, the mother of my child, Faith.”

  “Hi,” Fang executed a two-finger wave at Fallon. “You might have to set some boundaries between her and Sam.”

  “He’s teasing,” Jase felt compelled to clarify.

  “She’s just so beautiful. I’m in awe that she’s my niece.” Sam blinked, her eyes suspiciously wet. “I also can’t tell you how happy I am to have another woman in the house. These assholes can be so difficult at times. Oops!” She gaped wide-eyed at Faith, and her voice dropped to a sugary-kid voice. “Aunt Sam has to work on her potty mouth.”

  Jase shook his head. At four months, he didn’t think Faith was in danger of repeating their horrid language any time soon. “Want a drink?”

  He lifted up his glass and Fallon shook her head. “Don’t drink, and I’m kind of still nursing when I can.”

  Despite his confusion over how someone ‘kind of’ nursed, her comment compelled his gaze to lower. What he wouldn’t give to have them in his hands, and those amazing nipples beneath his tongue. As he fantasized about tonguing them, her nipples tightened beneath her ill-concealing bra.

  A satisfied grin tugged at his mouth, and he elevated his contemplation to hers.

  She sucked her plump bottom lip between her teeth and crossed her arms over her breasts.

  His grin widened. She wasn’t as aloof toward him as she wanted him to think. That reality delighted him. Maybe burying his cock inside her wasn’t as far-fetched of an idea as he’d predicted.

  Jase licked the rim of his glass, showing her how he planned to use his tongue on her. Fang cleared his throat. “Jase….” After a long moment, he gave his front man his attention. “Might want to show Fallon her bedroom.”

  Not so subtle, Fang.

  “Or the house,” Sam said, enunciating the final word and shooting Fang a glare.

  Getting her discreet hint, Jase winked at his sister as she turned her warning frown on him. So she didn’t want him making a play for Fallon. At least not today. Even he must admit, to hit on her this premature, while angry, could probably be classified as extremely tacky, but when had he ever done anything in a tasteful manner? The day someone deemed him a gentleman would probably be the same day they tossed his very dead ass in a coffin.

  “Okay.” He placed the glass on the counter. “Listen for the door. Lots of shit should be delivered soon. Oh, and Tab is calling a firm to find us a nanny. Interviews should begi—”

  “I don’t need a nanny!” As if Faith agreed with her mother, she fussed and knocked her arms about while in Sam’s grasp.

  “Who do you think is going to take care of her while you’re at work? I can’t be the babysitter every day. Contrary to popular belief, I don’t live an idle life, but have obligations and work.”

  “Why are you working?” Sam settled his daughter on her shoulder and commenced a steady pat-pat-pat on her back with her palm. Where’d she learned these talents? Was it an innate ability in women?

  “Not because I want her to,” he said dryly.

  Fallon gave him a perplexed ogle. “I need to work.” Since she looked at him she didn’t catch Sam’s puzzled expression. “And, Jase, I never expected you to ever babysit Faith.”

  If she thought he didn’t plan on learning how to take care of his daughter, then she would soon have a reality check. He would be a father very much in Faith’s life.

  “Her daycare is just fine.”

  He heard the hitch in Fang and Sam’s breath. “Her ‘just fine’ daycare will get her kidnapped or worse…killed. You aren’t living in the real world any longer, darlin’. A fan made a hit on Fang’s life, and he now has a full-time bodyguard—shit, now that I mentioned it, you and Faith need one of those too. Fang, you think Tex knows anyone?”

  “I’ll ask. Take him until you find someone. I know he won’t mind protecting baby Collins here instead of my ugly mug.” Despite Fang’s best efforts to help Sam soothe Faith, she grew even more agitated.

  “She’s hungry.” Fallon’s tone was stony, as she strode to his sister and reached for their daughter.

  “Can you feed her while I show you the house and your bedrooms?”

  Faith grunted as she did her very best to latch onto Fallon’s nipple through her clothing. Goddamn that shouldn’t be hot, but so very much was. His baby-momma shot him a mutinous scowl as she walked out of the room.

  He tossed his family a grin. “This should be fun.”

  “Be nice!” Sam yelled after him.

  He caught up with Fallon in the hall. He could tell by the expression on her face she was at a loss how to navigate his residence. “Feed her, and I’ll show you around.”

  “Since you wouldn’t stop by my apartment, I’m out of bottles. I have to nurse her, and I’m not nursing her in front of you.”

  He stepped into her personal space, and she backed away to avoid him. He followed her step-for-step until her spine came up against the wall.

  Without asking permission, he popped the top few buttons on her dress. She slapped at his hands with her free one, but having to balance the baby with one arm and not jostle her too much, Fallon’s hits held no effect.

  A sharp gasp struck the air when he slid his palm into her bra. Upon contact with her flesh, she jerked against the wall, going so straight she elevated onto her tiptoes.

  Holding her green gaze, he thumbed her nipple before releasing her breast from its cottony constraint.

  A blush hit her cheeks and chest.

  Delightful. Reminded him how rosy her flesh became when she was aroused. And when she came…

  God have mercy. The memory nearly had his dick popping through his slacks.

  The moment her breast was free he looked down and in awe, watched his daughter latch onto the swollen nipple like she competed in a professional eating contest. His palm continued to cup the underside so he could feel Faith’s pulls and tugs on Fallon’s nipple.

  He’d traveled the world, seen the depths of poverty and riches. Eaten with dignitaries, and rubbed elbows with the president once. Even fucked a real life princess that had him hightailing it out of the country under the cover of a moonless night for fear of a shotgun wedding or worse…his very public hanging. He’d held the privilege of rocking millions of people, hoped he’d have the privilege of rocking millions more, and even had his world rocked once by a transvestite. Fang had been sworn to secrecy on that wild-as-fuck evening. Amsterdam’s Red Light District had offered eye-opening depravity he reveled in, but this…he trashed his hair with his fingers. This was the most amazing goddamn thing he’d ever seen. The sexiest too. And he’d never felt so common or unnecessary in his life.

  Jase swirled the pad of his thumb against Fallon’s breast, next to where their daughter had latched on. Somehow this amazing woman had managed to give birth to his child, and see to her needs with limited resources. Faith was loved and healthy. Admiration and respect for Fallon sucker-punched him. She really wanted nothing to do with him. Made all the more obvious by her silence of Faith’s birth. She could’ve taken the easy route and told him. He didn’t know what to make of that. What to do with the reality of that? Women wanted him…but not the one I want. The irony was not lost on him.

  “Y-you can’t j-just do th-that.”

  He lifted his gaze, but she stared
somewhere in the vicinity of his throat. After releasing his hold on her breast, he caught her chin with his hand and forced her to meet his eyes. He hadn’t meant to disrespect her, but he suspected she felt violated, and he regretted that outcome.

  “I have trouble with boundaries.” Especially when it comes to what I want. “I’ll try to work on it. I might need reminding on occasion.”

  Rattled by Jase’s forwardness, she followed him through the house as he showed her where everything was. Her life was so far removed from where she’d thought it’d be at this time. Jase’s family seemed nice enough, but they had to resent she was busting into their home uninvited. People like them didn’t just invite common individuals like her into their domain without expecting something more than time with Faith.

  “Your room.” Jase pushed open a door and led her inside. “This door”—he walked to it and thrust it open—“leads to an adjoining room for Faith. Tab is working on getting a bassinette delivered. Tomorrow we can purchase everything we need for her nursery.”

  On the tip of her tongue was the reminder that she already owned all the necessary stuff, but he’d made it clear he thought her items were inferior quality. And they were. She couldn’t deny that. Everything she owned was a hand-me-down from her cousin or thrift shop castoffs. She’d been grateful, thankful beyond belief, to have the secondhand items. Beggars couldn’t be picky, and she had practically been homeless.

  In silence she scoped out the two rooms. The walls were painted a beige color, and the floors were…cherry wood, maybe? A cream coverlet covered the humungous sleigh-style bed. It looked so comfortable, and she anticipated curling up in it to see if it was as comfy as it appeared.

  “My room is across the hall.” That got her attention, but he was staring at his feet with his hands stuffed in his slack pockets. “Don’t hesitate to knock on my door if you need anything.”

  That sounded more like an invitation to use his body than an offer of support. While the idea appealed to her…she shook the thought away. She wouldn’t think of him like that. One time in his bed would have to suffice.