Love Resolution (Black Cat Records series)

by Michelle Mankin

  “I dunno. Don’t have a watch,” Skull Cap Guy replied, turning to his slightly pudgy companion. “How long we been out here, Joseph?”

  “Two hours,” Joseph muttered, glancing up from a game of Fruit Ninja on his cell. “It’s bullshit.” His eyes widened when he saw Avery. “Say, aren’t you, Av…”

  “Yeah, asshole,” Skull Cap said in a loud whisper, knocking Joseph on the side of the head. “Keep it quiet. Can’t you see she wants to remain incognito?”

  “Sorry, Matt.” Joseph ducked his head.

  “No worries, guys,” Avery said shuffling forward with the rest of the line as it moved forward. Under the street lamp she noticed the misting drizzle changing over to intermittent snowflakes. She tilted back her head and stuck out her tongue.

  “Avery Jones?” asked a man in a Venue jacket with a security band around his arm.

  She nodded.

  “Why the hell are you standing in line out here in the cold?” He threw up his hands. “Come on. I’ll escort you on in.”

  “Sweet.” Justin stepped out of line to follow him, but Avery hesitated. He gave her a questioning look.

  “I can’t leave my friends. Matt, Joseph,” she called. “You coming?”

  Two sets of eyebrows rose with surprise. “Hell yeah!” Matt exclaimed, jogging up to her. “Later, popsicles,” he said to the people in line as they passed by.

  Inside the club the temperature was as balmy as the tropics. Avery immediately shed the hoodie and handed it back to Justin. He raised a brow but tied it around his waist. Glancing around the interior, Avery felt like she had stepped back in time. The set up was very similar to Club Indigo in New York. A huge mirrored bar took up a lot of space near the entrance. Drum chandeliers with bronze accents dangled down from the black ceiling, casting muted light onto high backed crescent booths which lined each side of the interior. The stage at the back was definitely the centerpiece along with the forty foot light display board that hung above it.

  Cold Snake was well into their set, playing their number one hit, “Party at the Gate.” The heavy beat of the bass saturated the air and pulsated through Avery’s bones. Ty, the platinum headed lead singer, took a sip of bottled water and then poured it over his head during the guitar solo before returning to the center mic. Joel, the guitarist, joined him there belting out the closing lyrics.

  Avery grinned at Justin and started cheering along with everyone else when they ended the number. He smiled back and took her hand, threading his way through the press of people out onto the crowded dance floor.

  “You guys want some more?” Ty shouted into the mic.

  The crowd in front of the elevated stage went nuts.

  “Alright then, let’s go.” Ty gestured to Joel. The guitarist opened with a wicked fast guitar riff that held Avery enthralled until it finished, but the frenetic tune that followed inexorably drew her into motion.

  The flame haired, emerald eyed twins began to bounce up and down with the rest of the crowd. The noise level made hearing each other totally impossible, but irrelevant. They communicated their shared enjoyment with smiles instead.

  Avery’s hair soon became drenched with sweat and her skin was so damp that her sweater stuck to it. Eyes closing, she swayed back and forth.

  “Sis,” Justin warned leaning in. “Everyone’s taking your picture.”

  Avery opened her eyes only to be momentarily blinded by the spot light that suddenly focused on them.

  “Avery Jones.” Her head snapped up as Ty spoke her name into the microphone. “Hey guys,” he said to the audience while looking right at her. “We have Avery Jones in the house.” The people all around her turned to stare. “Come up here. Play something with us,” Ty demanded and the crowd began to push her toward the stage.

  At the base of the platform, she found herself swept off her feet and lifted up on stage mosh pit style. She stumbled toward Ty smiling weakly back at the audience. Ty came over and draped his arm around her. He stretched his arm out to hold the mic away and whispered in her ear, “Heard you like oldies. Wanna do ‘Shoot to Thrill’?”

  Before she could refuse, Joel walked over with a black Gibson SG that he placed in her hands. The drummer started playing some filler while she located an amp to plug into and strummed a couple of notes to check the tuning. Satisfied, she gave Ty a thumbs up.

  “Ok guys. Give a big Cold Snake welcome to Avery Jones of Brutal Strength.”

  Avery strutted out to the front of the stage immediately playing the highly recognizable opening riff to the infamous AC/DC song. She then shook the whammy bar to draw out the effect before replaying the opening riff again. The drummer and Joel joined in. Her body rocked back and forth to the beat, her right knee slightly bent and her right foot tapping in time in front of her. By the time Ty came growling in on the lyrics every head in the Venue was bopping.

  Avery and Joel played off each other throughout the four and a half minute song. He did the mini guitar solo toward the end and she improvised with a complementary descending riff to close the song. The subsequent roaring of the crowd was almost as earsplitting as their combined guitar work had been.

  Avery slapped Joel on the back and started to unstrap the guitar. The crowd began shouting, “One more. One more.”

  Ty smiled sidelong at Avery and spoke to her through the mic. “What do you say, Miss Jones? Would you play one more song for us? A Brutal Strength number maybe?”

  She shook her head.

  “Ah come on,” he cajoled with a raised platinum brow.

  Avery took a deep breath. She didn’t think Marcus would like her doing a BS song, but he probably wouldn’t mind if she did one of her own. She caught Justin’s eye before crossing the stage and whispering in Ty’s ear.

  He nodded. “Ok guys. We’re gonna take a fifteen minute break and when we come back out Avery and her brother, Justin Jones are gonna do their stuff.”

  The crowd thinned out a bit as a third of the people headed to the bar, outside to smoke, or to the restrooms. Justin came forward and extended an arm and Ty pulled him up on stage. They all gathered together offstage behind the speakers and assorted electrical equipment.

  “So cool to meet you guys. Justin and I are huge fans,” Avery gushed with a smile.

  “No, it’s an honor to play with you,” Joel threw back while giving her a visual once over.

  Justin frowned.

  “We didn’t put you too much on the spot, did we?” Ty asked.

  “Nah, it was great,” Avery said. “You sure you’re ok with us taking up more of your set time?”

  “Of course.” Ty grinned. “Besides, I think the fans would tear down the place if you backed out now.”

  “Ok.” Avery made eye contact with Justin. “Let’s do ‘Broken.’ After that,” she turned to Ty, “we’ll get out of your way and go watch the rest of your show.”

  “I don’t think you’ll be able to do that,” Joel spoke up, running a hand through his black spiky hair. “They’ll never leave you alone out there now that they know who you are.”

  Avery hadn’t thought of that. She shrugged. “Guess we’ll call it a night, then.”

  “No. Don’t do that,” Ty protested. “Why don’t you guys hang out back here and when we’re done tonight we can all go back to the hotel, stack up some amps and jam for a while.”

  “I don’t know.” Avery twisted her black armband around on her wrist.

  “We’d love to do that,” Justin said decisively. He turned to Joel. “Can you lend me an acoustic?”

  “Sure, man,” Joel replied, crooking his finger. Justin took a couple of steps to follow him and then glanced back over his shoulder. “Come on, sis.”

  Avery walked out on stage and pulled up a stool next to the center mic and Justin. He clipped on Joel’s acoustic, strummed it and nodded. She tapped the mic as the crowd drifted back toward the dance floor. “I’m Avery Jones. And this is my brother, Justin. We’re gonna go unplugged for this number. We wrote it to
gether. It’s called ‘Broken.’ We hope you like it.”

  After the opening applause died down, Justin strummed the opening chords of the slow melancholy melody. They leaned in together to harmonize on the first verses.

  Remember all those lies you told

  When you set me on your knee?

  Found out the truth as I grew old

  I guess that’s how it had to be.

  It hurts me worse than it hurts you

  A kiss won’t make it go away

  This deals to awful to be true

  It’s just the price I’ve had to pay.

  The place became expectantly silent. The twins’ voices mingled together seamlessly in a way only family members seem able to do. Avery’s eyes sparkled. She’d forgotten what a joy it was to sing with her brother. They leaned in their foreheads almost touching as they sang the chorus.

  When you’re finally broken

  There’s no last minute reprieve

  No harsh words remain spoken

  All that’s left to do is grieve

  Cell phones in the audience came out. Displays all around the club lit up with virtual candlelight apps as the bar patrons all swayed back and forth to the rhythm of the tune.

  Sure tomorrow’s another day

  Problem is they’re all the same

  Every cloud is lined in grey

  Picture’s torn inside the frame.

  When you’re finally broken

  There’s no last minute reprieve

  No harsh words remain unspoken

  All that’s left to do is grieve.

  Oh yeah it’s worse than it appears

  Time cannot heal so many wounds

  No peace of mind, mine’s all in pieces

  No more time to change the tune.

  When you’re finally broken

  There’s no last minute reprieve

  No harsh words remain unspoken

  All that’s left to do is grieve.

  After the last notes on the guitar faded, for a couple of heartbeats there was complete silence. Even the bartenders stopped slinging drinks. Then their line buddy, Matt let out a long appreciative whistle which his pal Joseph echoed. The spell broken, the place erupted with thundering foot stomping applause.

  In black sweats and a grey sweat stained t-shirt, hair still damp from his workout, Marcus stood over her. She lay sprawled out across the middle of the bed on her stomach, one arm over her head, both bare shoulders peeking out above the line of the grey silk sheets. He clenched his teeth so tight together that a muscle spasm twitched in his jaw. A web of her flame colored hair covered all of her face except for her full lips which were parted. Even as furious as he was, she tempted him. He took a couple of deep breaths before sinking down on the mattress beside her.

  She stirred.

  Avery,” he said but she didn’t move. “Avery,” he tried again, a little more forcefully.

  She moaned and covered up her face with the feather pillow.

  “Wake up.” He placed a hand on the creamy soft skin of her shoulder and swallowed before gently shaking her.

  “Ugh. What time is it?” she asked voice muffled underneath the pillow.

  “Ten.” He sighed. “Get up. I need to talk to you.”

  She tossed the pillow aside, flipped over, and leaned back on her elbows, squinting over at the clock. Marcus’ gaze automatically drifting down to her bare breasts and tapered waist. His mouth went dry. Maybe talking her into sleeping in the nude hadn’t been such a brilliant idea. He forced himself to look away.

  “Come back to bed,” she said, moving over to the edge on her knees and wrapping her arms around his middle.

  “I’m all sweaty from working out,” he grumbled, untangling from her arms. “And anyway, that’s not why I woke you.”

  The ominous tone of his voice must have gotten through to her. She sat up straight and clutched the sheet to her chest. A worried frown thinned her full rose tinted lips. “What’s going on?”

  “You tell me.” Marcus tossed his cell on the bed next to her and stood. She picked it up. “What,” she started and then stopped as she saw the picture on the display. She flipped through the rest. She glanced up at him with her auburn brows drawn down into a v. “Who sent you these?”

  “Beth. Apparently we have a bit of a PR issue on our hands.” He looked at her, blue eyes narrowed. “You wanna tell me what that’s all about, Avery? His voice rose. “What exactly were you doing in Ty’s hotel room?”

  She swung her legs off the bed and stood wrapping the sheet around her like a sarong. “It was nothing, Marcus. I can’t believe you’d buy into that crap. Especially considering we made love after I got home last night.”

  “Those pictures certainly lend a different impression.” He stood, spine stiff, arms crossed over his chest. “Looks like you were flirting with Ty at the Venue. You had your lips less than an inch away from his neck.” His expression turned dark.

  She shook her head vehemently.

  “Avery. You were photographed going into a hotel room with that man whore. Are you saying you didn’t?” he asked, his voice rough with emotion.

  “I did!” she shouted, hands fisted tight. “But I was with Justin and the rest of the band the whole time. We just wanted to jam out with them.” She gave him a steady level stare. “You should know better than anyone how the media likes to misconstrue things.” She closed her eyes briefly and then opened them, her voice no longer defensive. “I guess I should have thought about that before I agreed to go.” She took a hesitant step closer to him. “I’m sorry. I’m still not used to being followed around by the press.”

  He studied her beautiful face for a moment. Her emerald eyes were wide and shining with emotion. He snaked out an arm and crushed her hard against his chest.

  Her breath blew out in a rush.

  “I believe you. I’m sorry I got so mad. It was just a real sucker punch in the gut to get those pictures from Beth first thing this morning. And,” he swallowed, “just the thought of you with another guy makes me crazy.”

  She snorted and leaned back to run her fingers down the defined line of his jaw. “Like another guy could compete.” She took a step back, arched an auburn brow, and unfastened the sheet from around her breasts.

  Marcus watched it billow to the floor before his eyes returned to her body, taking in each and every sensual curve and contour of her naked form. His lips tilted into a slow smile. He reached for her but was surprised when she took another step backward further out of his reach.

  She gave him a mischievous grin just before she darted past him. “Meet you in the shower.”

  Avery felt the heat of Marcus’ hand on the small of her back as they descended the short row of stairs into the private entrance of Blue Water Grill. Word had gotten out where the private dinner for the sponsors of the tour would take place. The front entrance of the upscale restaurant in Yaletown was swamped with paparazzi and fans. It seemed as though everything she or Marcus did somehow became public knowledge.

  He held the door open for her. The warmth flooding from inside the basement was a welcome contrast to the nip of the late night air. He helped her shrug out of the car length coat she wore, handing it over to the hat check girl.

  “Thanks,” she returned, turning around to face him.

  “Hell no, Avery!” Marcus exclaimed as he took in her outfit.

  “What’s wrong?” She feigned an innocent expression, understanding full well his objections.

  He raised a dark brow and leaned in close, trailing his index finger underneath the braided silver chain and following its path over her bare skin down to where it ended just below her breasts. “You’re a little exposed here.” He began to fasten the buttons of the silk blouse she was wearing underneath the black mohair vest.

  “Marcus Anthony,” Samantha Daniels admonished walking up with her hand on her hips. “Leave her alone. She looks fantastic.”

  “I take it you’re the one responsible for talkin
g her into wearing this.” Marcus turned to glare at Black Cat’s PR intern.

  The petite woman shook her head. “Avery picked it out. You know just as well as I do. She makes her own decisions. I just helped her accessorize.”

  “If she turns the wrong way, someone’s gonna get an eyeful, Sam.” Marcus resumed fastening buttons. Avery put her hand over his when he got to the one between her breasts. “I think that’s good enough, Marcus.”

  “Mary’s in the Ocean room at the end of the hall,” Sam told him. “She wants you to see you.”

  Marcus closed his eyes briefly. “Ok.” He kissed the side of Avery’s mouth and then pulled his thumb across her bottom lip, parting it. “No leaning over,” he warned.

  Watching him walk away, Avery’s frown transformed into a distracted smile. He looked really good in those low pocketed jeans.

  “Avery,” Sam called pulling on her arm.

  “Huh?”

  “The necklace looks much better when it actually lies against your skin.” She pointed at Avery’s chest.

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “He’s a little controlling, huh?”

  “You could say that,” Avery admitted. “He went ballistic this morning about some innocent pictures of me and Ty from Cold Snake.” She shook her head, the large hoop earrings she wore brushing against her jaw. “And all we did was jam together.”

  “I saw those pics.” She raised a shaped brow. “I can see how he might have thought otherwise.”

  “The media is becoming like a third person in our relationship.” Avery blew out a breath. “I guess I better get used to it.”

  Sam nodded and took a step back looking Avery over, hand under her chin. “The brown leather pants look great with the green silk. And those suede ankle boots! Are they Michael Kors?”

  “Yeah. I got ‘em yesterday.”

  “Love, love them,” Sam drew out.

  “You’re a bad influence,” Avery said with a half-smile. “Marcus says I’m going to need my own closet soon.”