Love Resolution (Black Cat Records series)

by Michelle Mankin

  “It’s ok,” she said, glancing away. “I was so focused on getting away from Marcus, I didn’t think about how my being here might make things awkward for you.”

  “It’s not.” He turned her face back toward his. “I like having you here. We were having a good time until a couple of minutes ago, right?” he whispered, sifting his fingers through her hair.

  “Yes.” She sighed.

  “Can we just agree to drop it then?”

  “Ok, but…” She trailed off, distracted by her cell lighting up with an incoming message. She went to the couch and picked it up. It was a text message from Sam.

  Sam: FYI. Marcus is PISSED about the bus.

  Avery: 2 bad.

  Sam: Right…You ok with them?

  Avery: Yes. Why?

  Sam: Just checking. CU soon.

  “Everything ok?” Bryan asked, watching her face.

  She lifted her chin. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  They both glanced up as the pneumatic pocket door to the back slid open and a rumpled Dizzy stumbled in, flopping down on the couch beside them. His white blond hair was all smashed down on one side.

  Sager wandered in after him, pulling a brush through his thick dark hair. “Dude,” he said addressing Dizzy, “fix your hair. We’re gonna stop at Hooters. Looking like that you’re gonna scare all the chicks away.”

  “Don’t sweat it. I’m chick nip. They don’t give a fuck what my hair looks like, bro. It’s what’s down here,” he grabbed his crotch, “that draws ‘em in.”

  Bryan rolled his eyes.

  When they pulled into the parking lot at Hooters, there was a crowd of people lined up in front of the restaurant. As they exited the Tempest emblazoned bus, several people held out cells and took pictures.

  “Shit. I forgot it’s a Friday night,” Bryan said to Avery.

  “Avery Jones,” a guy in a Brutal Strength t-shirt yelled out, walking toward them.

  Avery stiffened.

  “Fuck,” War mumbled as they watched everyone in the crowd turn to stare. “Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”

  Avery signed the piece of paper the guy handed her and posed for a picture with him. Then she turned to Bryan. “I should have stayed on the bus. Can you give me the key? I’m not really hungry anyway.”

  “No way.” Bryan reached for her hand and squeezed. “We’ll just find another place. Come on guys. This place is too crowded.”

  Grumbling, they filed back onto the bus. After driving down the road a little further, they found a bar called Nate’s in an industrial section of town. At least, she thought it said Nate’s. With half the lettering missing from the neon sign, it was difficult to be sure.

  “This is more like it,” War said to Bryan.

  “Yeah,” Dizzy agreed. “Reminds me of Footit’s back home. Our kind of place.”

  The adobe building had a sagging porch precariously held up with rustic wood beams and a tin roof. “Yelp says this place has the best burgers in Phoenix,” War declared.

  As soon as they stepped inside the hostess informed them it was still happy hour. The guys high fived each other, immediately sold.

  She led them to a corner booth. The smoky interior seemed especially dark through the mirrored sunglasses Avery had borrowed from War. She scooted to the middle of the booth after him. Bryan sat on her other side with Dizzy next to him. Across the table, King’s lips quirked up. It was the first time the cut drummer had ever made eye contact with her. At least she thought he did. The glasses made it difficult to be sure.

  “She looks better in that scarf than you do, Warren,” King commented.

  Avery smiled.

  “Definitely,” Bryan agreed, running a finger over the wide swath that lay over her forehead and following the material down to the tail end where the gauzy black material lay over her chest. His knuckle skimmed lightly over the top of her breast.

  She sucked in a breath and shifted closer to War, who gave her a puzzled look.

  A young waitress in a low cut top and tight jeans came over and took their order. Her gaze moved repeatedly over the group, her eyes eventually widening in recognition. “Hey aren’t you the opening band for Brutal Strength?” she asked.

  “Yeah, baby,” Dizzy bragged. “We’re playing tomorrow night at the US Airways Center. Why don’t I help you enter the order, and we’ll talk about getting you some good seats for the show.”

  “How long did it take him this time?” Sager asked King when Dizzy left with the server.

  “Four minutes, thirty-nine seconds.” King smiled, flashing a dimple Avery hadn’t noticed until that point. He was actually kinda cute, she realized belatedly. “Broke Bullet’s record. Pay up,” he told Sager.

  “Alright. Alright.” Sager pulled a rumpled five out of his pocket and placed it in King’s outstretched hand. “Shit. Now my per diem’s all shot. Anyone else got some extra cash they can float me for dinner?”

  “I’m buying dinner,” Avery insisted, straightening in her seat. “It’s the least I can do as a stowaway. And anyway, I’ve got a tour credit card. Black Cat’s paying.”

  “A tour credit card. Fuck me,” War said in an awed tone. “I want one of those.”

  “No way, dude,” Bryan told him. “You’d overspend the limit way before the tour was even through.”

  Another waitress, less attractive than the first, brought the first round of beers to the table. The boys of Tempest started getting looser and louder by the minute.

  Bryan shifted closer to her. Avery felt his hand come to rest on her thigh. Feeling uncomfortable, she sipped on her water, trying to decide what to do about it when Dizzy sauntered back to the table.

  “How was she, Diz?” Sager asked.

  Bryan made a zip it gesture.

  “I mean when’s dinner coming?”

  Dizzy laughed, taking a seat beside Bryan again. “The food should be here any minute.”

  “You’re a man whore,” Sager told Dizzy, rolling his eyes.

  “I prefer to think of it as,” Dizzy smiled lasciviously, “a public service.”

  The server soon returned with a tray filled with burger baskets. Her shirt was on inside out. After she passed out the order, she whispered something in Dizzy’s ear. Dizzy leaned his elbows on the table and turned his head to the right. “Hey War. Cheryl wants you to know she’s got a friend who likes lead singers. They both get off in five minutes.”

  “I’ll get them off alright.” War grinned, looking up from his food. “Where’s the friend?”

  “She’s the bartender.” Cheryl pointed to a curvaceous brunette slinging drinks at the crowded bar.

  “Fucking fabulous,” War said lifting his beer in her direction.

  “See ya in five, baby,” Dizzy told Cheryl, swatting her on the rear. He turned dismissively from her and offered Bryan a cigarette from a pack he produced.

  As they lit up, Avery reflected on the dichotomy between the men of the Tempest and Brutal Strength. She wondered if BS had ever been as wild as these guys. She and Marcus had never really talked about it. Had he just been bored with her?

  She frowned.

  “How’s your burger?” Bryan asked through a smoky exhalation, moving his cigarette to his left hand and throwing his right arm casually around her shoulder.

  “Good,” she replied offhandedly, distracted as a band set up on a small stage across the room. Soon they began playing a barely recognizable cover of “Panama.” The bass was way too loud and muddy. The Eddie Van Halen wannabe was just sad.

  “Looks like your appetite is back,” Bryan said loudly near her ear.

  Taking a look at her basket, Avery was surprised to find that she had eaten most of her burger along with half of the thick cut fries.

  War thumped her on the shoulder. “Can you scoot over?” he asked, motioning toward where Dizzy now stood at the head of the booth. “I need to get out.”

  “Sure.” She followed Bryan out of the booth, making a way for War to exit.
/>   He and Dizzy threw arms around the bartender when they reached her and the three departed together.

  Avery and Bryan returned to their seats. He covered her hand where it rested on the scarred wood table top. “You want dessert?”

  “I should ask you.” She laughed. “Remember I’m the one buying.”

  “I never pass up on anything sweet,” he teased, wiggling his dark brows.

  A completely different waitress brought a slice of cheesecake that Avery and Bryan shared while Sager and King downed more beer.

  After a couple of cloying bites, Avery pushed the plate over in front of Bryan. “I’m stuffed. You finish.”

  “As you wish.”

  She bumped his shoulder, pocketed her card, and signed for the bill. With all the smoke and the pounding bass, her head had started to throb. She rubbed her temples. “Bryan?”

  “Huh?” he asked absently.

  “I’m going back to the bus. I’m getting a headache.”

  “Sure, Red.” He placed his fork down. “I’m finished. I’ll go with you.”

  “Thanks,” she sighed.

  His hand on the small of her back, they made their way out through the working class jeans and t-shirt crowd. On the porch, Avery shivered, wishing she had brought her coat. She took deep breaths of the smoke free night air as Bryan led her to the bus. Removing her sunglasses, Avery ascended the bus stairs in front of him. She turned the corner and froze in total shock.

  War had his jeans down around his ankles, his naked ass exposed, hips pistoning. The totally nude brunette bartender was sandwiched between him and Dizzy.

  Cheeks flaming, Avery spun around and ran into Bryan’s chest.

  “Shit guys!” he fussed, hauling her behind him. “Did you have to do that out here in the lounge?” He quickly took Avery’s hand and led her back the way they had come.

  Outside the bus, Avery let go of his him, covering her mouth with her hand, eyes wide.

  “I’m sorry, Red,” Bryan apologized with a grimace. “The guys, well…they’re not used to having a woman on the bus.”

  She raised both brows.

  “You know what I mean.”

  “Yeah I do.” She rubbed her fingers against her pounding temples.

  “There’s a convenience store across the street.” Bryan gestured. “Why don’t we go over there and get you some Tylenol?”

  She was washing two caplets down with an Evian when War entered the store. She glanced down at her feet, wondering if she’d ever be able to look him in the eye again without that particular mental picture.

  “Hey, Avery, did you drop something?” War asked, giving her a wicked grin when she looked up. Apparently he wasn’t embarrassed at all. “James brought the bus around front. I’m on a mission to restock the liquor.” He glanced over her shoulder. “You need anything, Bullet?”

  “No. I’m all set.” Bryan held up a carton of Marlboros.

  As soon as they re-boarded the bus, Avery sat and leaned her head back against the couch cushion. “How far is it to the hotel?” she asked, closing her eyes.

  “Ninety minutes probably,” Bryan answered. “Our driver says there’s nighttime construction that’s gonna hold us up.”

  She sighed.

  “Who’s ready for shots?” Someone flopped down on the coach next to her. She opened her eyes to see War uncapping a bottle of tequila.

  “I’m in,” Dizzy answered, pulling some shot glasses out of the cabinet above the sink.

  “Sure,” Bryan said, turning to her. “What about you, Red? It might help with your headache.”

  Avery looked at Bryan for a moment, blinking a couple of times before replying. “Sure.” She took a deep breath. “Why the hell not?”

  Marcus’ heart slammed against his ribs. Grimacing when he noted the time, he grabbed his ringing cell off the hotel nightstand.

  Two fucking a.m.

  His muscles tensed. Nothing good ever happens after two a.m.

  “Yeah,” he answered, sitting up in bed.

  “You better get down here quick, Boss,” Ray said ominously.

  “Where? Why? What’s going on?”

  “The hotel bar. It’s Avery.”

  “I’ll be right there.”

  He pulled on a pair of jeans over his boxers and swiped his room key off the dresser. Once in the elevator, he ran his fingers impatiently through his tangled hair and tapped his cell and the plastic room key together. The ride down from the twentieth floor seemed to take forever. The lobby was quiet, except for the piped in piano music. He skirted through it without seeing another soul.

  Alongside Ray, two hotel security guards manned the entrance of the hotel bar. Both men were about Ray’s height, not near as intimidating though, but they more than made up for that in bulk.

  “Is that Avery I hear singing?” Marcus asked, cringing at the off key rendition of ‘Maneater’ emanating from inside.

  Ray paused before answering. “Unfortunately.”

  “What the hell’s going on in there?” Marcus raised a quizzical brow.

  “You’ll see.” Ray patted one of the men on the shoulder. “It’s ok Charlie. He’s with me.” He moved into the small dark red and gold themed club, gesturing over his shoulder for Marcus to follow. As soon as they turned the corner, Marcus immediately came to a halt.

  Avery was totally hammered. From the way she swayed, it appeared that the microphone stand she was leaning on was the only thing keeping her upright.

  Not only that, she was practically naked from the waist up, her black shirt open to the waist revealing a lacy black bra and an enticing amount of cleavage. The lights were low, the chairs turned over on top of all the tables. The bar was completely empty except for Sam, his brother, and the Tempest guitarist, who was slumped down in a club chair, his long legs splayed out within inches of where Avery was performing on the club’s small stage.

  “Red,” the Tempest guitarist coaxed as she paused to throw back a shot of clear liquid. “No more tequila. You’ve had enough. You need to let me take you to bed.”

  “No,” she said with her full lips forming a cute little pout. “I don’t want to. I can’t sleep anyway. I told you that.” Turning her attention away from Jackson, her unblinking green gaze roamed Marcus’ body as if she was taking inventory.

  “Ray, I told you not to call him,” Sam admonished turning to Marcus and tightening the sash on her teal robe. “We’ve got the situation under control.”

  “Doesn’t look that way to me,” Marcus commented dryly.

  “Ok, Mr. Judgmental. We’ve been trying to rein her in for the past hour. Sober, you know she has a stubborn streak. Wasted, well…” She motioned to Avery. “Go on ahead. You give it a try.”

  “Whatcha doing Avery?” Marcus asked her voice deceptively even. Inside he was seething, furious to find her in this condition. He lobbed a glower at Jackson as he approached his chair.

  “Now wait a minute.” Bryan stood and held up his hands. He listed to the right, not looking much better off than she did.

  “No, you wait a minute, Junior Mint,” Marcus snapped, gesturing at Avery. “She been with you all night?”

  “Yeah,” he replied, eyes narrowing.

  “You mean to tell me she got fucked up like this on your watch?”

  “You don’t know anything about it,” Bryan bit out.

  “Looks to me like you both need a keeper.”

  “Oh that’s priceless.” Jaw rigid, Bryan hiked a thumb over his shoulder. “See the scar on her forehead, asshole? Wasn’t me that put it there.”

  In a surge of anger Marcus threw out his hands and shoved. Jackson staggered back and then rounded on him, giving him back equal measure. Nostrils flared and fists clenched as they squared off against each other.

  “Whoa. Why don’t we all just calm down?” Dwight wedged himself into the space between them. “Marcus, come on, he’s as drunk as she is.”

  Avery giggled.

  Everyone turned back to her.<
br />
  Seeming oblivious to the growing tension in the room, she pointed at Marcus. “You don’t have a shirt on,” she said slurring the words together. “We almost match.” She tugged her shirt off one shoulder but after she managed to pull it down her arm, the cuff got stuck on her wrist. She giggled again, holding up one finger. “Just give me one second.”

  Dwight snickered, and Sam covered up a smile with her hand.

  Avery’s eyes swerved to her. “You could help me, girlfriend.” She puffed, bangs lifting off her forehead.

  “I don’t think getting you more undressed will help the situation, Avery,” Sam scolded. “But if you’d let me take you…”

  “No,” Avery interrupted, plopping down on the floor emphatically. “I told you. I’m not tired.”

  Marcus crossed his arms over his chest, angling his head to one side. She was so disinhibited, it was almost cute. The shock value lured him in, making him want to stay and watch things unfold like a bad reality show. But he realized they needed to get her out of there before things got any more out of control.

  Maneuvering around Dwight and Bryan, he extended his hand down to her.

  She stared at it, before craning her neck back and peering up at him through her long lashes. “Marcus?” she inquired softly, licking her lips and looking into his eyes.

  “Yes.” His body jolted with heat. He wanted her so bad.

  “You’re here.”

  “Yes I am,” he replied voice low.

  “You look yummy.”

  He smirked.

  “I always liked you with your shirt off.”

  “Really?”

  “Uh-huh.” She covered her eyes. “You make me hot.” She paused. He thought she was through. No such luck. “You have such lickable labs.”

  Marcus heard Dwight sniggering. “I think you mean abs.”

  “That’s what I said.” She moved her hands to her lap, twisted them together, and frowned. “But you don’t want me anymore. What did that woman have that I don’t?” she asked sadly, tears glistening in her eyes.

  Marcus grimaced.

  Dwight let out an expletive and flopped down in the nearest chair, scrubbing his face with his hands. “Someone please make it stop before I’m scarred for life.”

  “Enough!” Marcus bellowed. He bent over and curled his fingers around her upper arms, hauling her up to her feet. The feel of her intoxicated him. He fought against the temptation to throw her over his shoulder and take her back to his room. Maybe she did still have feelings for him but taking advantage of her while she was drunk was not going to help him get her back. “You’re going to your room, Ace.”