“I’m already late, Nick. I texted Val and told her I was on my way. She was cool about it, but if it takes me a few hours, I’ll lose my damn job. I can’t afford that.”
“Yeah, all right. Just give me a minute.” Shirt and shoes and Tylenol. He could swing by Starbucks and grab a coffee on the way back home.
Except when he got to Val’s house and let Gracie hop out of his car, Brad waved him inside…and he couldn’t pretend like he didn’t see it. Nope, he’d been a big enough dick today.
Gracie was already inside and playing with the kids on the living room floor while Val rushed out the door. Nick followed Brad into the kitchen. “What’s she in such a hurry for?”
“Hair appointment. She’s got this new stylist that books weeks in advance and she really likes him, so she doesn’t want to miss the appointment.” Nick nodded, leaning against the counter. Brad frowned. “Like I couldn’t watch the kids without a woman around.” He shook his head. “Coffee?”
“Thought you’d never ask.”
Brad laughed and grabbed a mug out of the white cabinet. “You look like you’ve seen better days.”
“You got that right.”
“Gracie must have really fucked you up.” Got that right, too. “Drink you under the table again?”
Brad handed Nick a mug of hot black coffee while he picked his own up off the counter. Nick laughed and immediately regretted it when his forehead protested in anger. “Hey. I’ll have you know I drink twice as much as she does so she can save face.” It was meant to be a joke—that was what he was known for—but he realized it was half true. He always drank more than Gracie when they partied together. “We were gonna drink tequila till the sunrise, but my liver couldn’t take it anymore.” He took a sip of the coffee—ah—and, as realization hit him, he hoped he didn’t have that just laid look, the one he often got that his bandmates loved calling him on.
Nah…how could he? He could barely even remember getting laid, so how could he have that look?
Well, his body—and his face and mind—had let him down many times before. It could happen again.
“So,” Brad said, walking around the island to sit at the kitchen table, and Nick followed suit. “Val really likes Brina. If she’s happy, I’m happy, but that’s not really true. I dunno. Yeah, she seems competent—good, even…but…” His voice trailed off and he took another gulp of his coffee. “What do you think?”
Nick was afraid of saying what he thought, because he knew his dick was going to do the talking. Really, though, aside from the lust burning in his loins, she seemed like she’d be a good fit. “I think she’s exactly what Val’s looking for.”
Brad gave him a look—the look—that told Nick he was skeptical about his friend’s judgment, but he said, “Eh. Maybe I’m just so used to Zane that no one else can fill his shoes.”
Nick nodded. “That must be it.”
Brad set his cup down. “Maybe. Zane seems to blend into the music like he belongs. It’s smooth and integrated. This chick, though—her stuff somehow seems to clash. I don’t know how to explain it.”
“You think you can work with her anyway?”
“I don’t have a choice, man. You know Val already gave her the job.”
“Yeah, but you know as well as I do that it doesn’t mean shit. If we play together for a while and it doesn’t work, she doesn’t stay. I’m asking if you think you can make it work.”
“I will. I’ll do anything for Val. You know that. There’s just something…”
Nick raised his eyebrows and took a sip of his coffee. He trusted Brad’s judgment, because—as far as their band—Brad had never, not once, steered them wrong. They were a bestselling band today because of his friend’s instincts and drive. To not listen to him now could be disaster. Unless there was something Brad wasn’t saying. “Have you talked to Val about this?”
He shrugged. “I did some. She thinks I have a problem with her because she’s a woman.” Nick laughed and immediately regretted it, because his temples started throbbing again. “Yeah, that was my response.” The pain reliever he’d taken before leaving his house wasn’t doing the trick.
Nick wasn’t even going to say it, and not just because he’d be in for a hell of a ribbing, something he was used to, but he wanted to keep Brina around. Yeah, he thought she was hot and he was beginning to ache for her, but he liked the way she played. He thought maybe Brad was right—maybe he was so used to Zane that no one else would ever do. Brad said he thought Brina’s playing clashed with the rest of them…but maybe Brad felt threatened. Brina came on strong. Val was a strong woman, but Brina was more than that. She was over the top, so much so that Nick wouldn’t ever want to get in a bar fight with the woman.
Then again, that might be kind of fun.
He refrained from smiling at the image and said, “Well, for now, she’s with us. Let’s see if we can make it work.”
“I’m already there. I was just wondering if you were getting the same vibes I was getting.”
“Vibes?”
Brad shook his head. “Probably nothing. Don’t worry about it.”
“No. What, man?”
Brad sighed, draining his coffee cup before speaking. “I get the feeling she doesn’t care about us.”
Nick thought about it for a few seconds and said, “Could be. And why should she? She doesn’t even know us yet.”
“Well, yeah, but wouldn’t you have been excited to play in a band with already famous members if you were a nobody?”
Truth was, Nick sensed an abundance of confidence in Sabrina. She was cocksure of herself, and she came across as cool, calm, and in control…and his cock almost grew stiff thinking about it. Maybe Brad thought the woman hadn’t been humble enough or grateful enough when they’d offered her the job. Brad had not once in all their years, in first their gradual and then explosive rise to fame ever acted arrogant or cocky. He had pride in his work, but he didn’t let it get to his head.
Nick had, and he knew it, but it was something he’d since let go of. Today, he was just happy to be laying down the beats for the music he loved. The fame? It was overrated. Once he’d finally felt grounded again, he realized that it made a lot of people treat him like an object. He was no longer a person, a human being, in their eyes, but someone to be worshipped, adored, lusted over, or used for their own unknown purposes. The listeners, the fans—they were what made it all worthwhile. They were the ones they played for, and sometimes he had to remind himself of that.
No, today, Nick knew that the best part of fame was simple—he could often get a table at a restaurant when he wanted without waiting (as long as the people working there knew who Fully Automatic was—he usually had a sixty- to eighty-percent chance of that and, at least when he didn’t, he had a little privacy and anonymity). He almost always had nice accommodations whenever he traveled. When he was recognized, he could use it to his advantage. That was the positive side of being well-known.
And maybe Sabrina had had a tiny taste of fame from the indie band she was in. He wondered if she was going to quit that band and dedicate herself completely to Val Hella or if she planned to stay in her original one as well. It wasn’t unheard of. Corey Taylor had started out with Stone Sour and then left them for Slipknot, only to return to his original band and introduce them to the world as well. Brina could do that for Scar Tissue, too, if she wanted, because Nick knew Val Hella was going to be well-received. There weren’t many women in metal, but listeners—guys and chicks alike—loved female rockers, and Brina was not only a great bass player but she looked amazing. The audiences were gonna eat her up.
He was sure, just from what little he’d picked up from her, that fame wouldn’t mess her up one bit.
He only hoped that she’d settle in and become a perfect fit so Brad could see what he saw.
Chapter Four
WHEN NICK ARRIVED for the band’s first real practice the following week, he was delighted that Brina had arrived there before he
had. Her promptness told him that she was serious about being a part of the band and maybe even eager, although her chronic coolness belied the possibility, and, Nick was certain, didn’t argue her case with Brad. Brad hadn’t said another word since he and Nick had chatted last week, but Nick knew his friend well enough to know that he was unsure, maybe even wary, and keeping his eye on her.
Brina had set two cans of Red Bull on the table in the studio, even though Valerie always kept the mini fridge in there full of bottled water. Sometimes she’d make hot tea with lemon for Brad if his throat was bothering him. Since having throat surgery years ago—the need for said surgery the reason why she had to stop singing lead for Fully Automatic—she’d learned tricks to keep her vocal organs in tiptop shape as well as had vocal training so that the strain on her throat and vocal chords wouldn’t end in further damage. She was dedicated to keeping her voice this time, and she hoped it would serve her well for years to come. Nick knew how utterly devastated Val had been when her voice betrayed her in the early days. They’d finally snagged a contract with a label but Val’s voice let her down. She’d tried to record several songs and wasn’t able to deliver, so Brad stepped in and took over at her request. The band members felt bad that she wasn’t able to continue, especially since many of her lyrics helped propel them to stardom. But Brad loved her and knew returning to music was something she not only wanted but needed to feel fulfilled, so he knew the next best thing was to give his wife her own band. Nick could honestly say he hadn’t seen her this happy in a long time. Sure, he knew Val loved her husband and children and they brought her happiness, but she really was at home when standing in front of the mike. That she’d learned to play guitar and had started writing music as well was just a bonus. Nick thought Val was a hell of a writer, so he was honored to be part of her new band.
Sabrina “Sinna” Moreno, who preferred to be called Brina, was turning out to be the icing on the cake…albeit cool icing. Nick wasn’t going to complain. This woman was reawakening a boyish lustfulness inside him, and he knew the upcoming weeks of writing and rehearsing were going to be fun in a way he hadn’t experienced in quite some time.
Brad was hooking up this, that, and the other thing, and Val was kissing the kids on the tops of their heads out in the yard. Gracie was wearing shorts and a tank top, looking cute as usual, while playing with them, too. Chris and Hayley seemed to adore the woman, and from what she’d told Nick, she enjoyed the job. It was demanding at times—because kids will be that way—but she enjoyed Val’s children and found the job rewarding. Gracie was another bonus for Nick, because, strangely enough, the woman was slowly becoming the best friend he’d ever had…in spite of the awkward situation they’d found themselves in earlier that week. But, because they were good friends, Nick knew they’d get past that rough patch.
He’d have to find a way to return that bra, but maybe she could tuck it in her purse the next time they partied together. Giving her back her missing underwear would close the awkward door and help their relationship return to some sort of normalcy.
His friendship with Gracie was also strange because he’d never been close friends with a woman. He considered Val a good friend, but he’d never gotten close enough that they shared personal information. That wasn’t a bad thing, because he and Val respected the hell out of one another, and that made for a solid business relationship.
Val walked into the studio, all smiles. Yep, being immersed in music suited the woman. She hadn’t glowed like this since her pregnancy with Hayley. She was born to rock, and Nick thought it was about time she was back at the helm. He could tell from the look on Brad’s face that he felt the same way.
Brina, though…it was hard to read from her facial expressions exactly what it was the woman was thinking. If he’d ever known anyone to wear a poker face, she had them topped. Her expression was perennially cool and much like a statue, in that it rarely changed, and she sometimes looked hard.
It just added to her mysterious aura and certainly didn’t ease Nick’s need for her one bit. Nope, there was only one way to get a woman like this out of his system, and it involved playing rough. Fortunately, she seemed like the kind of woman who could keep her heart out of it and just enjoy it for what it was.
Either that…or she was a Fatal Attraction kind of gal.
Val walked over to the mini fridge and pulled out a bottle of water. She said, “Anything I put in the fridge is up for grabs, Brina, so help yourself anytime.”
Brina winked—actually winked at Val—and said, “Thanks. I brought my own poison today.” She nodded toward the cans she’d placed on the table, but her fingers were busy tuning her bass.
“That’s cool. Just wanted you to know.” Val walked over and kissed her husband on the cheek and then smiled at Nick. “We’re glad you’re here, Brina. Now, I’ve tried to figure out how we gel and move forward as a unit, and what I thought might work best is if we play the first four songs we’ve put together, letting you write your part. We can do it live or we can play it for you and either give it to you recorded or on paper and come back to it. Let me know how you want to go about it.”
Brina’s smile was cocky. Nick liked that. “Nah. I got it. I like to work through it as I go. That’s how my brain works.”
“Sounds good.” Brad, Val, and Nick played through the first song several times, music only, until Brina felt ready to contribute. When she did, she blew them away. Yeah, she played a solid bassline that often paralleled the guitars but sometimes it sounded discordant—in a very cool way. That was the part that, if he wasn’t mistaken, had been rubbing Brad the wrong way. It felt like she was trying to stand out rather than blend in. If she’d been doing it throughout the whole song, he could see why Brad would get irritated, but she didn’t even do it over any guitar solo parts. She chose to play her unusual stuff during the final verse’s last two lines—and Nick felt like it was a huge contribution and would make their sound unusual in a good way…just like Val had wanted. She’d said at the beginning of her venture that she didn’t want to sound like everybody else. Brina’s bass would be just one part of that.
Val seemed pleased, and they played the song through a few times until Val said, “I think it’s great. What do you guys think?”
There was general assent around the room, and so Val announced that it was time for lunch. Gracie had called for pizza and it should be there anytime. Brina declared that she “didn’t do pizza” and said she’d leave for a bite and be back.
“Do you like salad? I had Gracie order a couple of salads to go with, too.”
Brina seemed to consider it, looking down toward the floor for a moment and blinking twice. Then she asked, “What kind of lettuce?”
Nick almost started laughing but didn’t want to insult this woman of intrigue. Val said, “I have no idea. We’ve gotten their salads before, but I can’t remember. I know they throw a lot of chopped veggies in it usually—things like diced tomatoes and green peppers, black olives, a few red onions.”
Brina shrugged. “Okay. I’ll stay.”
“Great.” Val tilted her head, indicating to everyone that the food awaited them in the house. When they stepped out of the studio, Gracie and the kids were already indoors. When the rest of them walked in the kitchen, they saw that Gracie had the kids at the table eating. Hayley had a small bowl of pasta in red sauce on her high chair tray, and Nick envisioned the toddler covered in it by the end of the meal. He knew, because he’d seen it before. Chris had taken two bites of his pizza, and, much as the child loved it, Nick knew he likely wouldn’t eat the whole slice either.
Uncle Nick planned to eat half a pie if they’d let him. He had a hell of an appetite today, and he had other desires that had to be sublimated. Food always helped. Yeah, he could get laid elsewhere, but Brina was beginning to make all the competition look quite pale.
They sat down and Brina seemed pleased. As she scooped the salad on her plate, she said, “Romaine. Very good,” and smiled. Actuall
y smiled. That was a first. Seeing that look on her face made Nick grin too, because she had gleaming white teeth and an engaging smile. It put Nick in the mind of a model…only what was different about Brina was what was intriguing him. She had a nose piercing, and she had worn a hoop all but one of the times he’d seen her, as well as multiple ear piercings and a hoop on her bottom lip. Damn. She was incredibly hot without even trying. Add to it the tattoos, jewelry, and the shit she wore—usually something tight, black, and there was often some kind of chain or metal somewhere in the mix. All that, and Nick could barely contain himself.
The meal was enjoyable, filled with a lot of laughter and joking. Brina smiled off and on but mostly stayed quiet, and Nick was sure it was because she felt a little out of place. He knew that often people needed time to settle in. Nick wasn’t that way. His philosophy was that no one was a stranger for long, and he always had the volume turned up. Either people accepted him at his most obnoxious, with his weird sense of humor and unstoppable mouth…or they didn’t. And he was okay either way. People were going to make their judgments anyway, so why not give them a full dose early on and help them make up their mind more quickly?
And that was also the problem with Brina. Nick had taken that approach with her too, but she was so damned hard to read. He couldn’t tell if she found his humor endearing or irritating. The woman held her cards close to her chest. She was an enigma. Ordinarily, that would have prompted Nick to come on stronger to try to get the woman to open up and feel confident, but those were not the vibes Nick was getting from Brina, nor did he think that pushing harder would help. She wasn’t some timid rabbit who needed sweet talking and stroking. No. Nick was under the impression that she had a shell around her, yes, but it was there on purpose. She wasn’t shy; she was guarded and maybe even jaded, and who knew why. Maybe she’d had a taste of fame in her indie band as well and so she didn’t trust people. Or maybe it was something from her childhood.
Bullet Series Box Set Books 1-8 Page 144