by Taryn Quinn
He shrugged. “More for me.” He transferred the boat, a wad of napkins, his fork, and his phone all to one hand. Long fingers handled the entire bundle with ease. He held out his right hand. “I’m Deacon by the way.”
Oh, hell no. He had tingles written all over him. There was no way she could shake his hand and keep up the cool, calm, and collected deal. Especially when his hand looked like it could swallow hers and have room for two more. He was ridiculously big. Like wow-you-must-play-basketball tall. God, why did she have to be so tactile? She couldn’t walk through a store without touching everything. And Deacon had plenty of real estate to touch.
Harper Lee, catch a clue.
She smiled up at him and then wiggled her black latex clad fingers. Dodged that one.
He gave her that lopsided smile again, and the dimple deepened. Instead of being put out, he simply shuffled his food back to his empty hand, tucked his phone into his pocket, and resumed eating. “This really is great.”
The burst of pleasure that hummed through her middle made her swallow a groan.
Simmer down. He’s just flirting.
“Thanks. Glad someone likes it.”
Deacon glanced down at the tray. “Obviously people don’t know a good thing.”
Resisting the call of a warm glow, she stacked the now empty veggie trays.
“What’s your name? I can tell you right now you’re going to see a lot of me. I’m pretty much a black hole when it comes to food.”
Sidestepping the question, she picked up another tray. “I’ve been on the tour for almost a week now, and this is the first time we’ve seen each other.”
“That’s because my band just met up with the tour last night. We’re opening for Rebel Rage.”
Ding, ding. Musician confirmed.
She’d known it, but man, it really was too bad. She didn’t date musicians. Heck, she didn’t even interact with them. They were way too into themselves and this first job really needed to be drama free so she could concentrate on establishing herself.
“That’s great.” She flashed him her professional smile. “Welcome to the tour.”
“You’re really not going to give me your name?”
It really was too bad. Because that voice would sound delicious all low and close in her ear. “I’m just the help. You don’t need to know my name.”
“Maybe some musicians are like that, but not me. Six months ago I was waiting tables and hustling pool for gas money.”
Don’t be endearing. Seriously. That just wasn’t fair. Not to mention the quick flash of him stretched out over a pool table was way too easy to picture. She did not need that lodged in her brain. Those long fingers making a cage for the cue stick?
Stop it!
“Boss’s orders. We’re to be seen and not heard.” She scooped one last serving of the chicken salad, slid it onto his rapidly disappearing pile, and then loaded the tray on her cart. “Have a good show, sir.”
“Deacon,” he reminded her.
Harper hunched up her shoulders and nearly ran across the lunch room and out into the brutal humidity. The wheels of her cart rumbled and popped over the uneven pavement. She careened around the crew trucks to the huge, silver and white Food Riot trailer.
“Hey, where’s the fire, honey girl?” Mitch Hale slapped one meaty hand on her runaway cart.
Harper tripped a few more steps before she halted the forward momentum on the cart that weighed about the same as she did. She swiped her forearm over her sweaty forehead and then tugged her purple checked bandanna back down. “Sorry.”
“It’s too hot to be running around.”
She stepped away from the cart to smooth her hand down Mitch’s huge arm and then leaned into his solid chest for a moment. He was three hundred plus pounds of Hawaiian teddy bear, and he had gotten her this job. He also happened to be her father’s oldest friend and her uncle for all intents and purposes.
He tugged on her ponytail. “What’s doin?”
She nuzzled her nose into his t-shirt, taking in his ever-present coconut scent before stepping back again. “Just cleaning up from the road crew.”
Mitch swayed lightly from side to side. You could take the man out of the ocean, but you couldn’t take the ocean out of the man. “My team’s heading in for the second wave. Johnny’s got a wild hair for barbecue chicken before the show.”
She was beginning to get the feeling Johnny Cage got a wild hair every other day. The singer for Rebel Rage liked to keep the food staff on their toes. Most musicians liked a light meal before going on stage, especially on the summer tours, but the guys of Rebel Rage had cast iron stomachs.
She wondered what kind of food Deacon liked.
What the hell, Pruitt? One little compliment and you forget all the rules? Weak.
She cracked her neck and returned to her cart. “I don’t remember that being on the prep sheet today.”
“Nope, we got the news at noon.”
Harper cringed. Getting barbecue together in a few hours wasn’t easy. And she was pretty sure the guys from Rebel Rage expected the real deal and not barbecue sauce slathered on grilled chicken.
She muscled the cart up the ramp and into Food Riot’s truck. Meg and Danny had transformed the inside of a big rig into a kitchen on the road. The smoker was set on the pavement at the opening of the back of the truck. Pineapple and cedar clouded the air, dragging another memory of Deacon into her subconscious.
Wow.
Seriously. She needed to get a head check. Obviously her self-imposed drought had been too long. Harper had wanted to concentrate on her final projects without the distraction of the opposite sex. Of course, interning at a restaurant as well as a full roster of classes made that easy.
Now she had way too much time on her hands. Maybe once she got to work with the lead chefs she’d have more to do.
“Pruitt!”
“Yeah!” she called back as she tucked her cart into its locking slot. Dishwashers started unloading the trays, dishes, and plastic into the super washer they’d dubbed Kong.
“I need you on deck,” Meg called. “I’m doing a super quick chili and need you dicing onions.”
It was a little late to be putting chili together. The main tent ate in less than two hours.
Meg must have noticed her quizzical look. “You’ve been bitching that you want to help out with main dishes, so fucking help. I’ll need you in the dining room too.”
“Right. Of course.” Harper snagged a chef’s knife from the magnetic strip. About damn time.
Want more? You know you do…GO HERE.
Taryn Quinn is the redheaded stepchild of USA Today bestselling authors Cari Quinn & Taryn Elliott. We have been writing together for a lifetime–wait, no it's really been only a handful of years, but we have a lot of fun. Sometimes we write stories that don’t quite fit into our regular catalog.
Do you like shorter and dirtier reads?
Anything goes with this penname.
• Sexy—check.
• Erotic—check.
• Sweet—usually mixed in with the sexy…so, yeah—check.
• RomCom—check.
• Dark—oh, yeah…check.
• Paranormal—check.
Did we mention that we like all the genres?
So, c’mon in. Light some candles, pour a glass of wine…maybe even put on some sexy music.
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aka Taryn Quinn
Lost in Oblivion Series
USA Today Bestselling Rockstar Series
SEDUCED
Music
kept them going. Now it might tear them apart… Guitarist Nick Crandall has one focus in his life—Oblivion, the band he started with his closest friends, lead singer Simon Kagan and bassist Deacon McCoy. After losing their drummer to rehab, they take on two members, one of them female. A YouTube video gone viral later, Oblivion is heading to the top faster than they ever dreamed. If the band doesn’t break up—and hearts don’t get broken—before they manage to sign their first recording contract. (more)
ROCKED
Music saved him, but now it's keeping him from the only woman he craves... Hot nights with a naughty, inventive rockstar are one thing, but more isn't on the playlist. Until Deacon's dream with his best friends starts turning into a nightmare, and Harper begins to see the real man behind the façade. Except Harper has her own dreams to chase, even if what she’s started with Deacon might be the most important one of all. (more)
ROCK, RATTLE & ROLL
Loving in fast forward... A beachfront cottage, hours of alone time, and plenty of skin on skin action is just what the rockstar ordered. Until the future once again comes much quicker than Deacon and Harper expected, threatening to crumble not only their perfect honeymoon but also their brand new marriage. (more)
TWISTED
Sometimes the knight in shining armor needs to be saved himself... Being the rhythm guitarist in one of the country's hottest bands with his best friend Jazz is Gray Duffy's dream come true. Now that they’re making music together, the time is right for Jazz to make a move toward the man she loves. If the secret he's keeping doesn't destroy them—and their band. (more)
UNTWISTED
Falling in love was easy…figuring out the rhythm of being a couple, not so much. Now that they’ve pressed play, life is going way too fast for Gray Duffy and Jazz Edwards. A super hot video has boosted their band Oblivion’s popularity even higher, and suddenly Gray and Jazz are the reigning prince and princess of rock. But as their private wedding ceremony in their treasured place approaches, they realize they can’t go forward without facing their roots. (more)
DESTROYED
Only one woman has ever refused him…and she’s the only one he wants. Now that he’s beyond successful with Oblivion, lead singer Simon Kagan is enjoying his all-access pass to the groupie train. But from the moment he met Margo Reece, he knew the classy, buttoned-up violinist was different. After an amazing night in the studio, he’s finally connected with someone on a deeper level—only to have her walk away without a backward glance. Except maybe Margo is ready to take a walk on the wild side…or even fall in love with the one man she was never supposed to. If it’s not already too late. (more)
CONSUMED
Is it better to burn out or fade away… Oblivion lead singer Simon Kagan is used to being in the spotlight, but not because of the epic ending to Oblivion’s last show. That unforgettable night rocked the band in more ways than one, and now the journey back seems almost impossible. The only bright spot is Margo. As long as she never realizes the man she fell for no longer exists, maybe he won’t lose everything that matters due to just one all-consuming night. (more)
SHATTERED
He’s shattered…and she’s the only woman who can help him pick up the pieces. Nick Crandall has everything he ever thought he wanted, but it doesn’t stop his dream from shattering, right before his eyes.Until the person he least expects pulls him back from the brink. Ripper Records exec Lila Shawcross isn’t about to let a hot-headed, hard-bodied lead guitarist wreck her orderly existence or dilute her focus from managing the band. Except Nick is determined to possess her…and what Nick wants, Nick gets.(more)
FUSED
They’re shattered…and he’s the only one who can fuse them back together. From the pinnacle of success to the depths of despair, Oblivion has been through it all. Nick Crandall is the only one who can begin to put the pieces back together after the most catastrophic night of his life. And that includes making a stand to win back the woman he needs. His only choice is to fight hard and dirty for what—and who—he loves. (more)
OWNED
Music kept them going. Now it's torn them apart… Guitarist Nick Crandall lost the most important thing in his life—his band—just as he was falling in love. A year after going on hiatus, Oblivion is returning to the studio and he’s about to ask the woman he loves to marry him. Simon has spent the past year trying to find his way back to the thing that sustained him in his darkest hours, then grew to be his biggest demon. With Margo’s help, he’s ready to admit it’s showtime. It’s do or die, one more time. (more)
Lost In Oblivion
the Series
SEDUCED (intro)
ROCKED (book #1)
ROCK, RATTLE & ROLL (book #1.5)
TWISTED (book #2)
UNTWISTED (book #2.5)
DESTROYED (book #3)
CONSUMED (book #3.5)
SHATTERED (book #4)
FUSED (book #4.5)
OWNED (book #5)
OUTTAKES
extras for people that just can’t get enough of the Oblivion peeps
COMMITTED (book #3.7)
GIFTED (book #4.2)
MERRY OBLIVION (book #5.2)
If you’d like more information about the series & extras, please visit Rocker Reads.