by Skye Turner
We have a large table and everyone is kind of doing their own thing for a minute. Bradi is sitting on Micah’s lap with her arms around his neck. Blue and Jessie are leaning into each other, having an animated conversation, and every now and again, one of them will just lean in and kiss the other. Who would have thought Jessie, the manwhore, would ever be tamed?! Alec and I are making our own plans since he’ll officially be moving into my house with me now that Lexi and Jude are married and she’s settled at his mansion.
The past few months have been insane, but they’ve proven to all of us at this table that things happen for a reason.
Alec touches my face and breaks me out of my inner musings. “Hey there. Where were you?”
Smiling at him with all of the love I have clearly visible in my eyes, I answer him. “Nowhere. I’m right here. Right where I was meant to be. Just reflecting on how crazy life can be.”
Alec smiles back and takes my hand. They’re resting on the table top for the world to see, but I don’t care. I want everyone to know the love I have for this man. He’s my world. He’s my present and he’s my future. He winks at me. “Ain’t life grand?!”
We look over and Bradi and Micah are both looking at us with huge smiles. Our drinks arrive and we all pick them up. Jessie slaps his hands on the table and everyone jumps. We laugh. Then he looks around the table and says, “A toast. To friends. To lovers. To being in love. To living life. We are the blessed ones. Especially all of you fuckers, since I’m in your life. Now cheers!”
We laugh and clink glasses and I say, “I’ll drink to that!”
Special Note
Devil’s Lair made a guest appearance in Alluring Ties with the permission and cooperation of author, A.M. Madden.
You can read the first two chapters of A.M. Madden’s debut rocker novel, Back-Up in the back of this novella.
Playlist
The Rembrandts – I’ll Be There For You [Theme From FRIENDS]
Blake Shelton – God Gave Me You
The Meters – Mardi Gras Mambo
Fall Out Boy – The Mighty Fall
Luke Bryan – I Don’t Want This Night to End
Lady Antebellum – When You Got A Good Thing
Daughtry – Feels Like The First Time
Miley Cyrus – Party In The U.S.A.
Bobby Bare – Marie Laveau
Jason Aldean – Why
Cassadee Pope – Wasting All These Tears
Flo Rida – Wild Ones – feat. Sia
Gavin DeGraw – In Love With A Girl
Rascal Flatts – Easy
Maroon 5 – Harder To Breathe
Avril Lavigne – Complicated
Florida Georgia Line – Stay
The Charlie Daniels Band – The Devil Went Down To Georgia
Luke Bryan – Goodbye Girl
OneRepublic – What You Wanted
Daughtry – Breakdown
Flo Rida – Low – feat T-Pain
Lady Antebellum – Need You Now
Kelly Clarkson – Catch My Breath
The Fray – Trust Me
P!nk – Just Give Me a Reason
Otis Redding – Stand By Me
Taylor Swift – I Knew You Were Trouble
Trapt – Made Of Glass
Jay Sean – Down
Puddle Of Mudd – Blurry
Christina Aguilera – Your Body
Rihanna – S&M
Third Eye Blind – How’s It Going To Be
Playlist can be found on Spotify by clicking HERE.
Letter from the Author
First of all I want to thank everyone who had joined me on this amazing journey. It’s been an amazing ride thus far and I pray that things only get better.
I hope you enjoy this novella as you learn a little more about Erik and Bradi. I completely fell in love with these characters writing Alluring Turmoil, but I had no idea that so many others would feel the same.
This book was by far, my hardest to write to date. I basically took two secondary characters, that I’d never intended to expand on, and created seven years of their life in just thirteen chapters.
Some things were not easy to write and I stepped out of my comfort zone. Situations that are very emotional and that many people feel very passionate about are covered in this novella and I hope you are pleased with the book.
With that being said, if you take nothing else from this novella, take this: People are human. We all make mistakes and sometimes we made choices that we “think” are correct, but are in fact not. We all want to protect ourselves. But the most important thing in life is to be true to YOU. Live your life for you, not for anyone else. If you find someone you love who loves you back and treats you right, hold onto that. It’s a gift.
If you read the book and love it, please remember to leave reviews. We Indie authors count on them.
Thank you and happy reading,
Skye Turner
About the Author
Skye Turner
Skye Turner is an avid reader and an editor turned Amazon Bestselling Author of Sexy Adult Romance.
She attended Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University where she majored in Mass Communications, centering her studies in Journalism. Unfortunately, life intervened and she never finished her studies.
She lives in small town Louisiana with her husband, two children, and five fur babies.
When she’s not chained to her laptop pounding out sexy stories she can usually be found playing ‘Supermom’, reading, gardening (playing in the dirt), listening to music and dancing like a fool, cooking, baking, crafting, or catching up on her family oriented blog.
She loves to incorporate pieces of Louisiana into her writing.
You can find her here:
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/SkyeTurnerAuthor
Twitter:
@SkyeTurner_Auth
Blog:
www.skyeturnerauthor.com
Goodreads:
www.goodreads.com/author/show/7164331.Skye_Turner
E-mail:
[email protected]
BACK-UP
(Book 1 of the Back-up Series)
By
A.M. Madden
Chapter 1 & 2 Preview
Back-Up
A.M. Madden
Published by A.M. Madden
Copyright © 2013 A.M. Madden
First Edition, ebook-published 2013
www.ammadden.com
Chapter 1
Leila
Calm down, Leila…
Nervously tapping my foot, I keep repeating the same words over and over in my head. I have never been this anxious or nervous in my entire life. I can’t believe that I am here, sitting in a recording studio and waiting to audition for a real live rock band. Devil’s Lair, a band I love and have been following for years!
Every child is asked the rhetorical question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Since I was a little girl, I’ve wanted nothing more than to be a rock singer.
Most answer and change their minds hundreds of times before they become adults. Not me. My answer has always been the same…singing rock and roll. That’s always been my dream, mission, and goal. Two key factors played a huge role in my career choice. First off, I can sing. Secondly, I grew up in a household that loved to listen to classic rock. I think I knew the words to Born to Run before I knew The Itsy, Bitsy Spider. Singing rock makes up as much of my DNA as being Italian does.
This audition is huge for me. It seems so surreal that I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I want this so badly that I’m not sure how I’ll survive the disappointment if I don’t get this job. The optimist in me tries to reason with the pessimist. Obviously getting this job would be my first choice. But if I don’t get the job, this is a great experience for me that can easily open other doors and opportunities. I believe in fate and I believe things happen for a reason. There’s a reason that I’m here.
It was a lucky tip that got me here. It’s very hard to get your foot in the door. I don’t have a rich famous record producer as an uncle. American Idol isn’t my thing. Hoboken, New Jersey isn’t exactly the birthplace of rock singers either. I constantly scour the papers for opportunities to get my voice heard. I’ve entered competitions and won many of them. Besides what I’ve been doing, I’m at a loss for other ways to put my dreams into motion. These last few years have come up empty and I’ve been increasingly becoming more frustrated.
Last weekend, I was singing at our regular gig at a bar called The Zone in Hoboken. I sing with four guys I’ve known for most of my life. During our break, a petite girl with long blonde hair and big blue eyes strolled over to me and held her hand out.
“Hi, I’m Patti.” The way she measured me up immediately put me on the defensive. I was a pro at declining propositions from men, but getting hit on by a woman would be a first for me.
Cautiously I introduced myself while I shook her hand. “Leila.”
She smirked and answered, “Of course you are…that’s just perfect.”
Thinking…what the hell does that mean? I smiled politely, while I slowly extracted my hand from her grip. The wacko alarm was ringing loud and clear in my head.
“Excuse me…I have to use the lady’s room.”
She grabbed my wrist and said, “I’m dating Scott Malone. He’s the guitar player in the band Devil’s Lair. Do you know them?”
The mention of Devil’s Lair snapped my focus from her hand up to her pretty face and captured my attention.
“Yes, I saw them perform in the city last year. They are fantastic.” I chose not to divulge how obsessed I actually was with this band, especially with the lead singer.
“Well, they’re looking for a female back-up singer. I’m here with friends tonight, and I saw your show. I think you’d be perfect. In fact, they are holding auditions next week. Would you be interested?”
OH MY GOD!
I was trying very hard not to bend over and start hyperventilating in front of this total stranger. I secretly said a silent prayer thanking the bar gods for sending Patti to The Zone this night. Maybe a guardian angel was responsible…or perhaps it was fate? Either way, a higher power was involved.
Patti gave me her phone number and asked for me to call her on Monday. So, here I am three days later and about to audition as back-up singer for Devil’s Lair.
Hopefully it will open some doors for me and give me the kick in the ass I need to make my dreams come true.
My dad wishes that my dreams weren’t so ambitious. He feels that as long as I’m choosing singing as my profession, my voice is perfect for Broadway and is constantly trying to push me in that direction. Dad tries hard to be supportive. Being his only daughter, he is naturally over protective. Inexcusably, he still uses every opportunity he has to sway me. To quote him verbatim, “Living a quiet life in New Jersey, while commuting to Manhattan to star in a successful Broadway show would be a very honorable way to make a living, Leila.”
Ugh!
A tiny, tiny part of me can’t blame him for trying. Having done the school glee club thing, the church choir thing, and having really good range, my voice can easily acclimate to any musical genre…whether it’s rock and roll or Broadway.
Dad finally conceded that he lost the battle. All things considered, he is taking it fairly well. Other than my decision to skip college and my career choice, I’ve rarely disappointed him. Dad wanted me to go to college to get a degree and have a back-up plan. I simply couldn’t justify having him spend all his money on exorbitant college bills. I wouldn’t have learned anything that I didn’t already know. I know I can sing, and I don’t want or need a back-up plan. Cocky as that may sound, I’m good at what I do. Whether it’s as a famous rock singer or its continuing on the path I’m on now as a back-up singer in a bar band, it’s what I want to do.
P.S. – for the record, the famous rock singer would be my preferred choice.
Unsurprisingly, Dad wasn’t very happy hearing about Patti’s fateful visit to The Zone. I dropped it on him during our weekly Sunday brunch. I know he loves me, and that he’s happy for me, but his eyes couldn’t conceal his trepidation. I’m a master at interpreting my dad’s looks. After spending way too much time explaining who Devil’s Lair was, I decided to show him a video clip that I took of them a few years earlier, and a few songs I have on my iTunes account. He reluctantly admitted that they had talent.
Coincidentally, my friend Evan and I saw Devil’s Lair perform in a dive bar in lower Manhattan. We were as far back from the stage as you could get and it was dark. Even from a distance, the lead singer Jack Lair looked edible. Looks aside, his voice had me swooning. His voice oozed sensuality. At the time, if you would have told me that I’d one day be auditioning for them, I would have said, “Shut the eff up.”
I’ve seen a lot of bands perform, but none have impressed me as Devil’s Lair had that night. I became a touch obsessed at the time. It wasn’t the kind of obsession that had me searching where he lived or stalking him. It was the kind where all I wanted was to listen to his voice while imagining all sorts of other stuff. What can I say? My sex life has been somewhat stagnant.
Jack finally strolls into the lobby and walks over to where I’m sitting.
Holy hell…he is gorgeous!
I am really nervous, and my nerves are already wreaking havoc on my insides. Unfortunately, as I stand here and stare at this breathtaking specimen, I can now also throw my raging libido into the fray. The combination has my stomach roiling and my lady parts throbbing…definitely not a good mix.
Seeing him on stage was nothing compared to seeing his beauty just a few feet away. In the flesh, he is simply stunning.
“Are you Leila?”
“Um, yes… I’m Leila.” My response sounds completely winded.
Sweet Jesus… he is so pretty.
I’ve never been hypnotized before, but I’m guessing this is as close as it gets. I literally fall into a trance, staring at Jack while he pins me with his penetrating gaze. A few seconds later (or maybe even minutes?), my stupefied state causes him to call my name for the second time.
“Sorry…yes, I’m Leila. Um…my dad loves Eric Clapton, but mine is spelled differently, my mom didn’t like Clapton’s spelling…” I pause uncomfortably. “Um…sorry. Yes, I am here for the audition.”
Oh crap! Shut up Leila! A stinging blush rises from my toes and creeps up my entire body.
Smirking he says, “So do I.”
“Excuse me?”
“Love Clapton.”
“Um…oh.”
Um…oh? Really?
I sound like a complete moron.
He’s got me all flustered. Using the word handsome to describe Jack Lair seems inadequate. Dark brown hair that is shorter on the sides, and is floppy, sexy, and screams touch me on top. I have to hold my hands behind my back to avoid the impulse of doing just that. His eyes are just WOW. They are a smoky grey and completely mesmerizing. The light stubble on his face subtly defines the cleft in his chin, which is square and masculine. He’s absolutely gorgeous.
I continue to devour him with my eyes and commence a mini sex dream that plays in Technicolor glory in my mind.
His body is long and muscular. I’m guessing he’s six-two or three? His long legs seem to go on forever in his dark denim jeans. Levi’s…God, I love Levi’s on a man.
Bulging biceps are straining the sleeves of his t-shirt, which is charcoal grey and a shade darker than his eyes. It also happens to be tight enough to show a spectacular upper torso. There is a tattoo that is barely visible under his left sleeve and I’m dying of curiosity to know what it is.
Jack smiles kindly and asks, “You ready to get started?” Not trusting my voice to respond in a calm and normal manner, I simply nod.
Somehow remembering how to walk, I follow Jack out of the lobby and down a long hallway with posters of famous bands covering the walls. The band I a
m auditioning for today is on the precipice of fame. They just signed on for a three album record contract. They have a tour starting this fall in North America only. The shows are at small to medium sized venues. With Jack as their lead singer and the way they sound, they are going to be huge. It’s definitely a great time for me to get on their bandwagon, so to speak? That’s if I get this job. Which I now sincerely doubt since I just basically eye-fucked the lead singer in the lobby.
At the end of the hall is a small recording studio where three guys are patiently waiting for our arrival. Behind the drum set is a really cute guy with spiky light brown hair. His one ear is heavily pierced. He has a lip piercing and he has a really nice smile, too. I think his name is Hunter.
To the front, left side of Hunter is a tall, very rocker looking dude. He has lots of tattoos and is dressed entirely in black, even sporting black sunglasses, black hair pulled back into a short ponytail, and a black bass guitar. I don’t remember his name, and maybe that’s because when I saw them perform, he scared the hell out of me? I doubt this is Patti’s boyfriend. They are the yin and yang to each other in looks.
To the right is a guy of average height who looks more suited to be Patti’s boyfriend. Clean cut, strawberry blond hair, nice smile, and he is holding a guitar. It’s probably Scott. It’s funny though, he does not look the rocker type at all.
Jack strolls right over to a microphone that is facing a plate glass window that separates us from the control booth. A few guys are sitting at a huge panel with all sorts of buttons and lights. Unfortunately they all look bored and it makes me nervous. I have no idea what number I am in the revolving door of auditions and I hope they haven’t been doing this for days.