Beat of the Heart

by Katie Ashley

  “You called it back in the hospital, remember?” Rhys countered.

  “I was joking and caught up in the moment of some ballsy chick standing up to me,” I replied.

  Jake shook his head. “I was with Abby thirty-six hours when I knew she was the one. You might as well come to grips that you’re in deep, man.”

  A foreign feeling rippled through my chest at their words. I knew I was in deep with Mia—emotionally and physically, but I didn’t know if I loved her yet. Yeah, I’d teased about Mia being marriage material when she’d given me a verbal tongue lashing like no woman had before, but marriage to me was an epically sacred thing. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those commitment phobic douchebags who doesn’t believe in monogamy—I’d had my fair share of long-term relationships before and after the band hit big. I just didn’t know if I was truly ready at the moment, and at the same time, the level of what I was already feeling for Mia told me that I was already on a train running full steam ahead with her. That fact alone both excited and slightly scared the hell out of me.

  Jake snickered, bringing me out of my thoughts. “Look at him. He knows he’s utterly fucked, and the wheels are desperately turning in his head to try and find a way out of it.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “You’re one to talk, bro. You were so fucking scared of your feelings for Abby you almost drove her away. Me, on the other hand, I know how much I like Mia, and I want to see where it goes.”

  “Straight to the chapel, dude,” Bray replied, with a wink.

  “Maybe we can have a double wedding,” Jake suggested, trying not to laugh.

  I raised both my hands up and flipped them off. “Fuck you, you, you and you!”

  As the guys roared with laughter, Jeff poked his head in the door. He shot me an amused glance before saying, “Okay boys, it’s time.”

  Jake grinned. “All right assholes, let’s go show them how it’s done.”

  As I trailed behind the hulking roadie down the hallway, I couldn’t help the nervous jitters that clenched my stomach. It was one thing meeting AJ’s band mates. Growing up surrounded by male cousins, I always seemed to do better around guys. Women, on the other hand, were another thing, especially after my own girlfriend had run off with my fiancé. Now I was meeting the two most important Runaway Train women—Jake’s fiancée and Brayden’s wife, and even though I hated myself for it, I was scared shitless.

  When we got to the table, they both glanced up at me. With their blonde hair and crystal blue eyes, they could have almost passed for sisters. Their questioning gazes went from me to Jeff. “Jake suggested I bring her to sit with you two. She’s with AJ.”

  “Really?” the youngest blonde squealed, her expression lightening up instantly.

  I nodded. “I’m Mia Martinelli,” I said, extending my hand.

  Instead of shaking my hand, she popped out of her seat like a jack-in-the-box before throwing her arms around me. “It’s so nice to meet you.” She pulled away to give me a beaming smile. “I’m Abby—Jake’s fiancée.”

  Suddenly it hit me. “Oh, my God! You’re in Jacob’s Ladder, aren’t you?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “I seriously love you guys—I’ve been a fan of your brothers for several years. I love the new album.”

  “Aw, thank you. That’s so sweet.” She motioned to the chair beside her. “Please sit down.”

  “Thanks.”

  Once I was settled, the other blonde extended her hand. “I’m Brayden’s wife, Lily.”

  “It’s very nice meeting you, too.”

  Abby cut her eyes over at Lily before gazing back at me. “Now I know why AJ was acting so weird earlier tonight.”

  “Oh he was?” I asked, trying not to let my heart do a crazy flip-flop in my chest.

  With a grin, Abby replied, “Oh yeah. Very mysterious, very withdrawn…very lovesick, now that I think about it.”

  A warm rush filled my body. “I don’t know about lovesick—we just started seeing each other.”

  “How did you guys meet?” Lily asked.

  “Um, it’s kinda an interesting story.” By the time I finished filling them in on the escapade in Frank’s room, they were laughing hysterically.

  “Now that’s two of us who have met our guys unconventionally,” Abby said.

  “Oh really?”

  Abby grinned and then proceeded to tell me about literally falling into Jake’s bed. “Hmm, I think you may have my crotch drying story beat.”

  “I think it’s a toss-up,” she replied.

  Lily laughed. “Regardless of who wins best story, I’m just so very thankful to see AJ is with someone like you, Mia.”

  My brows lifted in surprise. “Like me?”

  Her cheeks tinged pink a little. “I didn’t mean anything bad by it, honestly. You’re absolutely gorgeous and so AJ’s type. But at the same time, I can already tell that you’re so…real.”

  Abby nodded and motioned her finger between Lily and herself. “You know, like us.”

  Lily using AJ’s word, ‘real’, wasn’t lost on me. All my nerves about meeting them had evaporated, and now I was just enjoying being accepted by them. I couldn’t help wondering if girls who didn’t get along with them probably didn’t make it long with AJ or Rhys. I felt a little giddy that I seemed to be passing the test with flying colors.

  We were interrupted by the house manager taking the microphone. “Good evening. I’m so glad you’ve all come out on this special night to welcome back our most famous house band, Runaway Train.” Applause and cheering rang around the bar. “I can’t thank the guys enough for being willing to come back here and play again.” Glancing over his shoulder, he nodded. “So let’s get this party started, huh?” Once again the applause and cheering were deafening. “So ladies and gentlemen, Runaway Train!”

  Abby, Lily, and I screamed along with the other fans as the guys made their way to the stage. Once AJ settled behind the drum kit, he locked eyes with me. He grinned and winked before twirling one of his drumsticks between his fingers. Damn, I knew all about those masterful fingers. Just seeing him work his fingers like that, caused goose bumps to rise on my arms. Trying to forget my inappropriate thoughts, I smiled back. Then he launched into the opening beat of the first song while the guys’ guitars followed in with him. While Jake’s smooth voice, echoed through the room, I couldn’t take my eyes off of AJ as he pounded out the rhythm. With his jaw set and a determined expression on his face, he was totally in the zone.

  The guys played through several of their famous tracks—or at least I assumed they were their famous tracks by the audience’s reaction—when Jake switched gears. “As much as we love our old stuff, we want to do some of the acoustic tracks from our new album,” Jake said into the microphone. I watched as AJ left the drum set to come and sit on a stool beside Jake. Brayden and Rhys eased down on stools as well but kept their guitars.

  “And here’s our latest Top Forty—Marrow and Bone.” Jake nodded his head to the guys. After he began the first line of the song, AJ joined in with Jake to harmonize. At the sound of his sultry voice, every molecule in my body shuddered to a stop. It took a moment or two for me to catch my breath. It wasn’t just that he could sing—it was the way he delivered the lyrics. The song itself was one of immense love, passion, and devotion, and AJ’s voice hummed with all those emotions. It touched me to the core…as well as other places.

  “Damn,” I murmured under my breath.

  “Haven’t you heard AJ sing before?” Abby asked.

  My heart did a funny little skipping beat. “No,” I murmured. I turned to look at her. “He’s really amazing—like panty-melting amazing.”

  She laughed. “Yeah, I would have to agree, especially when he sings in Spanish.” At my incredulous expression, she held up her hands. “Trust me, there’s never been anything but friendship between AJ and me, but that still doesn’t mean I don’t find his singing sexy. But there’s no one who truly does it for me like Jake.”
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  After two more songs with both Brayden and AJ accompanying Jake, the guys put their guitars down and rose up from the stools. “We’re going to take a quick ten minute break, and we’ll be back to give you guys some more.” Jake’s gaze flicked over to our table. “I might even convince my fiancée to join me on stage for some of our new stuff.”

  “I’m going to kill him,” Abby muttered, as Jake winked. She shook her head at him. “Tonight was supposed to be all about Runaway Train.”

  Lily shook her head. “You know how much he loves having you on stage with him.” She patted Abby’s back. “Besides, tonight may be about the past, but you’re his future—both personally and with his music.”

  “I guess you’re right,” Abby replied. But the moment Jake appeared at her side, she smacked his arm playfully. “Okay, you get this through your thick skull right now. I’m not singing with you tonight. You’re such a—” He silenced her with a kiss.

  My attention was drawn away from them when AJ appeared at my side. I quickly popped out of my chair. “Oh my God, that was amazing—you were amazing!” I cried, throwing my arms around him. He pulled back to plant a long, lingering kiss on my lips.

  “Thank you.”

  “I didn’t know you could sing.”

  He shrugged modestly. “Yeah, I can carry a tune okay.”

  “I do declare, for once is AJ Resendiz not being an egomaniac?”

  He laughed. “Fine then. I can sing the pants off anyone. Better?”

  “I’d say pants and panties.” I leaned in to whisper in his ear. “Seriously, I think you got me wet.”

  AJ groaned. “Don’t say shit to me like that now.”

  “I can’t help but tell you the truth.” Gazing into his eyes, I said, “Will you sing me something in Spanish?”

  His brows lined in confusion. “Why Spanish?”

  “Abby said you sounded even sexier then, so I wanted to hear it.”

  “That’s because she speaks Spanish and knows what I’m saying.”

  I shrugged. “I don’t care. I still want to hear you.” I lowered my voice. “I wanna see if it gets me even wetter.”

  He grinned at me. “Fine, amorcito mio. Tonight when I have time to spread you out beneath me, I’ll sing to you in English, Spanish, or whatever the hell language it is that makes you want me to fuck your brains out. But for now, I gotta grab some water and take a piss, okay?”

  I rolled my eyes. “You’re so romantic.”

  “Hey, I stopped here first, didn’t I?”

  “That’s true.” When he started to walk away, I jerked him back to me. At his surprised expression, I kissed him. He warmed to me instantly, thrusting his tongue into my mouth. His hands came to cup my face, his thumbs rubbing along my jawline. My arms snaked around his waist, drawing him in even closer. When I rubbed myself against his crotch, he groaned into my mouth. Jerking away, he gazed down at me with lust-filled eyes. Both of our chests heaved as we fought to catch our breath. With his signature smirk, AJ asked, “Wanna join me in the bathroom for a quickie?”

  “Oh so tempting, but I think I’ll pass.”

  “But I know how public places get you hot.”

  I rolled my eyes. “A stinky, public bathroom screams skeevy, not sexy to me, babe.”

  AJ laughed. “Fine then.”

  “Besides, you’ve got way too much stamina for a bathroom quickie.”

  “Hmm, stroking my ego pretty hard tonight, aren’t you?”

  “Just stating facts.” I smacked his ass playfully. “Now go take your pee break.”

  He gave me a mock salute and replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Once AJ disappeared down the hallway, I realized I needed to freshen up after our make-out session. “I’ll be right back,” I said to Abby and Lily. After I entered the restroom, I headed straight for the counter. Standing in front of the mirror, I dug in my purse for my lipstick. Two leggy blondes stumbled in the door before heading over to the stalls. Once they were shut inside, one of them moaned. “God, Jenny, did you see how fucking hot AJ looked tonight?”

  My body instantly tensed at the mention of his name. “Yeah, he’s absolutely edible as always,” Jenny replied. “Too bad he’s here tonight with some chick.”

  “With AJ, I’ll doubt she’ll be with him long.”

  A snort came from a stall. “Sounds like someone is jealous after he didn’t call you back that time after you blew him in the bathroom.”

  “If I want him tonight, I could have him again.” One of the blondes exited the stall. When she met my gaze, her eyes momentarily widened at the sight of me. Then she threw her shoulders back. “What are you looking at?” she snapped.

  Even though the strong Sicilian in me wanted to grab the twiggy bitch by the shoulders and ram her head into the mirror until it cracked, I shook my head. “Nothing.”

  The blonde smirked at me before heading to the sink. I quickly shoved my lipstick back into my purse and blew out of the bathroom door. When I staggered back to the table, I downed my margarita in two long gulps. “Um, are you okay?” Abby asked.

  “Peachy.” After Abby gave me a ‘who are you shitting?’ look, I groaned and ran my hand through my hair. “The truth is I’m a neurotic mess.”

  “What happened?”

  I then noticed the two blonde bitches were out of the bathroom and now were edging closer to the stage. Trying to be covert, I pointed at them. “Do you know them?”

  A noise like a growl came from the back of Abby’s throat, while Lily gazed at them with disgust. “They’re Sugar Magnolia sluts,” Lily replied.

  “Excuse me?”

  “They work at Sugar Magnolia—a strip club a few blocks from here. Unfortunately, they like to spend their off nights strumming up business for the club. Then I guess you could call them bar groupies for whatever house band is performing.” Lily downed the rest of her Mojito. “They also have a history with Runaway Train when the band first started here three years ago.”

  “Yeah, it seems the tallest one has a specific history with AJ.” I twirled my finger over the salted rim of my glass. “Look, I know I just met you two, but I have to ask. How do you guys deal with it—the women?”

  Abby let out a long, exaggerated sigh. “It isn’t easy,” she admitted. “I mean, I don’t have a past, so I can’t help but focus too much on Jake’s and if he’s going to repeat any former mistakes. At the end of the day, I just have to believe that he truly loves me enough to be faithful because he sure as hell knows it’s a deal breaker between us.”

  When I turned to Lily, she shrugged. “You want to believe your man is committed, and he wouldn’t stray. But then when you’ve been up all night with a teething baby, you’re carrying around ten extra pounds of baby weight, and you have absolutely no desire to screw him senseless like he wants, you can’t help but wonder why he doesn’t just take up some slut’s offer to bang him. But like Abby, Bray knows that cheating is a deal breaker, regardless of Jude and Melody. And no matter what, I know that he loves me and our kids.”

  “I’ve been through a cheating fiancé not to mention…” I quickly pinched my lips shut before I went any further. Finally, I added, “I don’t know if I have it in me to deal with all this.”

  “That’s totally understandable. But if anyone is worth trying to wade through all the bullshit for, it’s AJ. He’s a total sweetheart. I don’t know what Jake would have done without him after his mother died,” Abby said.

  Lily nodded. “After knowing him for five years, I can vouch for that. He’s got a heart of gold.”

  Deep down, I knew what they were saying was true. “Somewhere deep down beneath that cocky exterior?”

  Abby laughed. “Yep, once you chip that all away, he’s a keeper for sure.”

  I tore my gaze from them to look at AJ pounding his heart out on the drums. He glanced over at me and winked. Maybe the girls were right…maybe he really was worth fighting for.

  After I did a sizzling finale on the cymbals, Jake eas
ed his guitar down and took up the mic. “Thanks again for coming out. We love y’all. Keep it rockin’ always!” I hauled ass out of the drum kit to join him and the others to take our usual band bow. I was more ready than ever to get off the stage and get over to Mia. More importantly I was ready to get her the hell out of Eastman’s and back to my place.

  But Jake busted my balls when he leaned over to yell into my ear over the roar of the crowd. “Let’s make a lap or two around the bar, speak to the fans, and sign some shit.”

  “Whatever,” I grumbled.

  He laughed. “Easy man, sorry for the cock block, but your dick is just gonna have to wait.”

  When I caught Mia’s gaze, I held up a finger and mouthed, “Just a minute.”

  She nodded and continued talking with Abby and Lily. Outfitted with two of our jacked up body guards, Jake and Rhys started making their way on one side of the room while Brayden and I took the other. I signed napkins, CD’s, boobs—you name it while posing for pictures with fans. It took a good hour to work both sides of the room, and by the time we were finished, I was sporting some serious blue balls for Mia’s amazing pussy.

  Once I was free, I waved at Mia and then started making my way across the crowd to our table. Just before I reached it, Kylie bounded out and wrapped her arms in a death-like vise around my waist, molding herself against me like a second skin. “Hey stranger!” she exclaimed over the roar of the house music.

  Fuuuuuuuck!!! This was so not happening. “Hey,” I replied tersely, as I met Mia’s questioning gaze over Kylie’s shoulder. When I tried extricating myself from her, Kylie held on tight.

  “You left me high and dry the other night.” She gave me a seductive grin. “Wanna finish what we started?”

  “I don’t—” Before I could finish, Kylie’s lips were on mine. I jerked away. My chest constricted in agony at the sight of Mia’s face. She stared at me with wide-eyes and a quivering lower lip. Her usual tough and in-control exterior appeared crumpled, and I felt like the biggest asshole in the world.

  Kylie’s blonde brows rose in surprise at my reaction. “What’s the matter, baby? I didn’t think you were one for playing hard to get.”