The Roadie: Radical Rock Stars Book 7

by Jenna Galicki

  “I will.” He gave her a big smile and shook her hand vigorously. “Thank you. It was wonderful to meet you.”

  The rest of the band all started thanking her at the same time, and she nodded at them. “I’m glad I was in town and had the opportunity to be here tonight.” She thanked them for their time, and then she and Brett left the bar.

  They ended up at a diner a few blocks away having coffee and burgers. Brett was still wound up at watching the band receive news of a possible offer for a record deal, and he rambled with excitement. “That was incredible. Could you imagine if a few years from now those guys become superstars? You’d be responsible for that. I would have witnessed it happen. History in the making! I could actually sit back and say, I knew them when they were nobodies. Your job is so exciting.”

  “It really is. I absolutely love it. I wouldn’t do anything else. I knew right away that A&R is where I wanted to be within Falcon Records. Not only do I get to discover new talent, I get to hear new material before anyone else.”

  He was impressed that she had such experience in the business at her age. She probably had a million stories under her belt of discovering raw talent, and he wanted to hear them all. “Tell me about some of the bands you’ve discovered. Did you know right away they would be hits? Any standouts?”

  She sat up straighter and beamed at him with new life. “I can tell you all about the one that means the most to me. My shining star. My proudest achievement. The one that made my career.”

  He couldn’t wait to hear what had her so riled up, and it made him impatient to find out more. “Tell me.”

  “Immortal Angel. Audra and I were, and still are, their biggest fans. We first saw them when we were about 16. This was before Tommy joined the band. That’s how long I’ve known them. We went to every single show. Every club and every dive bar in Brooklyn and the City. We cheered for them louder than anyone. It was an amazing time in our lives. Our teenage years were incredible. I’ll never forget the first time I heard Angel sing.” She looked off to the side, placed her hand on her chest and smiled while slowly shaking her head from side to side. “I never heard anything like it. He pulled me into a different world. His showmanship and sex appeal consumed me.” She covered her mouth to hide her smile and raised her shoulders for a moment. “I have a little confession to make. Audra and I had a huge crush on Angel for the longest time. He was so good looking. He still is. Jessi makes all his stage clothes now, so they weren’t even half of what they are today, but he used to wear these tight leather pants. And there was no filter back then. The shows were raunchy, especially after Tommy started playing with Immortal Angel. That’s when the band went from being amazing to being phenomenal. He brought out the best in everyone, especially Angel. The sexual energy on stage was palpable. Both Audra and I knew that Immortal Angel belonged in an arena touring the world. We knew that the band was destined for a decades-long career, and we were right. We begged our father to go see them. We even tried to hand him a homemade recording that we made ourselves, but he always just dismissed us as teenage groupies, which, I guess, we were.”

  He loved the energy behind her words as she told the story and imagined Kira and her sister, two rich girls, attending shows at local bars in Brooklyn. “I can just imagine the two of you hopping out of a limo or Town Car and going into a local dive bar.”

  “No one knew our father was Ron Abelman. Not even Angel. We wanted to be like everyone else growing up. The band was shocked that my father owned Falcon Records. I wish I could have been there when my father told them.”

  He wasn’t sure why that surprised him so much, since he knew she wasn’t pretentious, but it did. It was hard to imagine teenage girls, growing up with enormous wealth, taking a taxi or the subway and hiding their prestigious background. “How did you get your father to finally see Immortal Angel?”

  “It was sheer luck. His meeting was cancelled so he had a free afternoon on the day of the America Rocks Festival in Williamsburg Park, and he just showed up. We didn’t even know he was there.” She spread her arms to the side. “The rest is history. The best part of my job is working with Immortal Angel. You have no idea how much that means to me. Both me and Audra shared all of their successes. It’s very personal to us. Best of all, is that she married Jimmy and became their tour manager, and I get to hear Immortal Angel’s songs before anyone else. Do you have any idea how much that means to me? How exciting that is?”

  He loved the excitement behind her voice and the way she glowed as she recanted the story of Immortal Angel’s early days. She was carefree and animated. Watching her conduct business was an even bigger turn on. This breathtakingly beautiful and cool chick was also a professional who held the power to change people’s lives and catapult them to stardom. She was astounding on all levels. And she was really into him. He couldn’t believe it, because he was falling for her – hard. He only hoped that she cared as much about him as he cared about her.

  Kira stood at the side of the stage in Fort Lauderdale watching Brett wheel an amp on a dolly just like she had at every show. She momentarily closed her eyes and smiled, still comprehending that he was here with her and on tour with Immortal Angel. Up until two weeks ago, she had honestly thought she’d never see him again.

  Brett positioned the amp on the floor and then stood to his full height of six feet three inches tall, which gave him ample reach to adjust an overhead light so he could see better. He bent down and connected a few wires, encased in a cone of light, while the soft glow highlighted the way his tight tank top stretched across the muscles in his back. When he was done, he stood up and inspected the amp with his hands on his hips. This time, his broad chest shadowed his torso below. The light showcased his muscular frame and the ample tattoos that covered every inch of visible skin. As he stared at the wire connections, he pulled at his long beard. The man was exquisite. All beefcake and brawn. Pure masculinity. And Kira loved watching him work.

  Audra, who had been running around on stage making sure everything was in order and checking off items on her clipboard, hurried over to where Kira was standing. She let out an exasperated breath, which blew her light blonde hair out of her face. “For once, we’re ahead of schedule.” Audra was a stickler for making sure Immortal Angel adhered to their designated timeline, because if there were any delays, it caused a ripple effect which meant the show would run into overtime and incur hefty fees for Falcon Records.

  “Look at Brett,” Kira told her sister. “He’s meticulous in making sure everything is in the right position.” They both watched Brett as he adjusted another amp, plugged in a few more wires and then taped the wires to the floor of the stage. One of the other roadies asked him a question, and the two men walked to the apron. They had a short discussion, staring at the amp at the edge of the stage, and then Brett adjusted a few knobs. He suddenly glanced up at Kira, aware that she was watching him, and he gave her a small smile. She smiled back, her breath quickening at the eye contact and connection they shared.

  The other roadie thanked Brett and shook his hand. The crew respected Brett and regarded him as part of their team, seeking his advice when needed which he readily gave.

  “He gets along so well with everyone,” Audra commented.

  “He does,” Kira agreed. “It’s his California charm. He’s so friendly and helpful. He knows so much about the set up. He’s practically taking charge.” Now Brett was assisting the drum tech who was having trouble tightening the stand on one of Jimmy’s cymbals. The tech had been fiddling with it for the last few minutes, but Brett fixed it right away. He looked up at her, maybe to see if she was still watching him. Of course she was. She couldn’t take her eyes off him. He winked at her, and it took her breath away.

  He grabbed a drumstick and tapped on the cymbal to demonstrate its stability. Then he took another drumstick from the stick bag, slipped onto the stool, and proceeded to play a beat. After a few moments, Kira realized he was playing AK-47, one of Bulletproof’s bigge
st hits. “I didn’t know he could play the drums. He’s good!”

  Audra clutched her clipboard to her chest with one hand and grabbed onto Kira’s arm with the other. “We both have drummers!”

  The excitement behind Audra’s words made Kira laugh. “He’s not mine, Audra. We barely know one another.”

  “Are you kidding? There so much chemistry between the two of you! I can feel the energy you share. People don’t react to each other the way you two do when they barely know each other. You may not have known him very long, but you two have a huge connection. Everyone sees it.”

  Kira continued to watch Brett as he sat behind Jimmy’s drum kit, and her heart swelled. He turned and looked at her, and they shared a smile. He suddenly stopped, dropped the sticks in the stick bag and ran over to her.

  “I saw you watching me.”

  “It’s hard not to. You’re quite the he-man, carrying all that equipment and then playing those drums.”

  “I’m just working. Or trying to. You’re very distracting.”

  “Me?”

  “Yeah.” His eyes washed over her, hungrily. “You’re standing here in those body-hugging jeans and those high-heel studded boots with a tank top that’s teasing me with all that God damn cleavage.” He extended his arm toward the stage. “It’s a wonder any of these guys are able to concentrate.” He hugged her and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

  There was a mild sheet of perspiration covering his forehead and shoulders. It was the scent of a man, and it was intoxicating. “I like the way you smell.”

  He laughed a little. “You’re crazy.”

  “Are you done setting up?”

  “Pretty much. Are we going to watch from the side of the stage again?”

  “Of course. Unless you want to watch from the pit.”

  He was about to laugh, assuming she was joking, but stopped. “In the pit?”

  She nodded.

  “You mean, in the pit, not in the space between the railing and the stage?”

  “Yes. Front and center in the crowd is the best place to watch the show.”

  He glanced at the unruly punk rockers already pressed against the railing and chanting for Immortal Angel. “In there?”

  She took his hand, which was extended toward the crowd, and brought it back to his chest. “Maybe next time. We’ll just watch from the side stage again tonight.” Her gaze kept drifting to those at the railing. A guy with a spiked Mohawk had his mouth open into a wide oval as he screamed toward the stage. The girl next to him had both fists in the air, punching them up to the ceiling as she screamed for Tommy Blade.

  The corner of Kira’s mouth pulled back in a smile as memories filled her head. One day, she’d be back in the pit. Hopefully, with Brett.

  When Kira woke the next morning, the bus was still in motion. The scent of strong coffee assaulted her nostrils before the kids’ boisterous laughter made her peek at the time. It was six thirty in the morning. What the hell were they doing up so early? She rolled over and found Brett’s side of the bed empty. Confused, she sat up, threw her legs over the side of the bed, and cocked her ear toward the sounds coming from the front of the bus. She heard Brett’s voice among the kids’ chatter.

  She wondered what was going on as she pulled on a pair of lounge pants and a tank top and slipped her feet into fuzzy slippers. Sliding open the door, the voices grew louder, and the scent of pancakes floated into the room. She followed the noise and delicious aroma down the corridor and stopped when she saw Brett at the stove. She had expected Angel to be in the kitchen making breakfast, although she had no idea why anyone would be up at this insane hour. But it was Brett flipping pancakes, entertaining the kids with his dramatic spatula technique.

  Mason and Lucas sat on one side of the booth while Tessa sat on her knees across from them, stirring a bowl of pancake batter bigger than she was. She wore an oversize apron, which obviously belonged to her father. There was a picture of a spatula on the front and the words next to it read, “I’m Flipping Awesome”. Flour was everywhere, including on Tessa’s cheeks and in her dark hair. She was rattling on about blueberries, and Kira stopped to listen without any of them knowing she was in the adjacent area of the bus watching them.

  “Make sure there are 14 blueberries in every pancake,” Tessa told Brett. “Make sure you count them. Don’t make a mistake.”

  Mason wore a dimpled smile as he watched her. “But what if there’s only 10 blueberries in one of the pancakes, Tess?”

  “Noooo! Fourteen!” Tessa insisted. “It has to be 14. That’s the right amount of blueberries for each pancake. Lucas said so.”

  Kira loved the way Tessa idolized Lucas and took everything her big brother said as written law. And the playful banter the three-year-old shared with Mason, who was seven years her senior, was adorable. He was practically an older brother to the two younger kids. Mason doted on Tessa, and, with their shared aptitude for musical instruments, he and Lucas were best friends.

  Brett placed a plate with a stack of pancakes on the table and waited for the kids to sample them. “Here you go. Fourteen blueberries per pancake, just like the lady instructed.”

  Tessa stopped stirring the contents of the big bowl in front of her and inspected the plate. It appeared as if she was actually counting the blueberries, and Kira wondered if the little girl could even count that high.

  Mason reached for a pancake with his fork, but Tessa pulled the plate away. “No. Lucas first. He’s my brother.”

  “But I’m hungry,” Mason replied, with a soft-hearted giggle.

  “Lucas first,” she insisted, as she pushed the plate toward her brother.

  Lucas smiled at his little sister, then grabbed a pancake with his chubby fist and ate it like a cookie. His eyes grew wide, and he nodded his approval. “You make good pancakes, Tessa.”

  Mason speared a pancake with his fork and took a bite. “Mmm. The best. You should be a chef, Tess.”

  “What about me?” Brett asked. “I’m the one cooking over here. Don’t I get any of the credit?”

  Lucas shook his head, vigilantly defending his sister. “Tessa made them. She put all the stuff in the bowl and mixed it together.”

  “And let’s not forget the 14 blueberries per pancake,” Mason added, sweetly. “That’s Tessa’s recipe. That’s what makes these pancakes so fantastic.”

  Tessa’s cheeks turn hot pink at the compliment, and she stopped stirring the batter. She tucked her chin into her chest and peeked up at Mason, suddenly shy.

  Brett let out a lighthearted laugh and tickled the top of Tessa’s shoulder by her neck. “You little flirt. I think you’re sweet on Mason.”

  Her cheeks flamed red as she kept her eyes on the bowl in her hands and began to stir its contents vigorously.

  Mason smiled bashfully. “She is not.”

  The bathroom door next to where Kira was standing opened, and Jessi stepped out. “Why are you up so early?” Kira asked.

  Jessi leaned against the wall, covered her mouth as she yawned, and watched Brett with the kids. “I couldn’t leave Brett alone with all three of them. I was afraid they’d send him diving out the nearest window, even at 60 miles an hour.” She jutted her chin toward the kitchen. “But he’s great with them. Tessa wanted to flip the pancakes. The way she does when she helps Angel cook, and he holds her steady while she stands on a chair so she can reach. But Brett told her no.” A laugh bubbled from Jessi’s mouth. “You had to see her face. But he explained to her that she needed to mix the batter, because she was the only one he trusted to make it right. I didn’t expect her to fall for it, but she did. And you know how hard it is to change my daughter’s mind once she has something in her head. Does Brett have any little brothers or sisters?”

  Kira shook her head. She really didn’t know that much about his personal life or extended family. “No. Only one brother who’s 19.”

  “He’s so good with them,” Jessi commented. “And they love him.” She nudged Kira in the
arm. “And he’s cooking! Hang onto this one, Kira. I can tell you, firsthand, how nice it is to have a man who cooks.”

  They had a free day in Miami, and the sunshine brought out the California boy in Brett. Somehow, he talked Kira into learning how to surf. She stood at the shoreline, dressed in a navy-blue wetsuit and holding a surfboard twice her size, wondering if she finally lost her mind. She was a city girl. She didn’t go to the beach. Even when she visited Angel, Tommy and Jessi’s beachfront home in Long Island, she didn’t go in the water. But Brett knew how to bring out her adventurous side. “How do you get me to agree to these things? What if there are sharks out there?”

  “There are.” Brett grinned. “And fish. And a bunch of other things lurking beneath the ocean we don’t know about.”

  She shoved his mammoth chest playfully, but it was like hitting a brick wall. The guy stood rock solid, and the strength under her hand made her momentarily forget that she was about to enter an ocean full of potential maneaters. Her gaze settled on his chest and the way his wetsuit hugged every muscle. The clingy dark material showed off the curved arc of his pecs and rounded shoulders. His biceps pulled at the skintight neoprene and flexed with each movement of his arms.

  He turned toward the ocean, and her gaze traveled over his broad upper back, down to his tapered waist and stopped at his butt. She bit her lower lip and sucked in a breath. This man had the body of a god, chiseled to perfection, and it sent her hormones spiraling. She noticed a group of girls also admiring him as they walked by. Sorry, ladies. He’s mine. For now, anyway. The last thought made her heart sink a little, but she pushed it from her mind. The plan was to enjoy their time together and not think about what would happen when the tour was over. And that’s exactly what she was doing – living in the moment and reveling in the here and now.