Love Desired

by Kelli McCracken

  When she said my name, I lowered myself into the seat beside Ayden. He wasn’t looking directly at me but in my general direction. When our eyes met, he smiled.

  “Hey.”

  “Hey, Ayden. Sorry to keep you waiting.”

  “No worries. I know you’re a busy woman.”

  “At least the phone call that kept me so long was about your band.”

  The news gained Bentley’s attention as well. Both perked up as they glanced at each other and then back to me. I could tell they had questions, but Bentley was quicker than Ayden to ask first.

  “Can we ask what the call was about?”

  “Of course. Any information you want to know that I haven’t shared, feel free to ask. This particular call was from an agent. I’ve been in touch with some of my contacts and word is getting out about your band. People are interested in hearing what you have to offer.”

  Bentley and Ayden scrunched their faces like they couldn’t believe what I was saying. Once it sank in, Bentley chuckled. “’Bout damn time we got some recognition.”

  “This is why it’s important to finish your demo as soon as possible. These people want to hear your sound and see if they can market it. I’ve convinced many of them they can. Now we just have to prove it.”

  “Don’t worry,” Bentley said with his cocky little smile. “We got this. I have no doubts we’ll get their interest. We got yours, so that’s saying something.”

  I felt my cheeks grow hot. People always said that I had an eye for talent, just like my grandfather. I contributed it to the fact that he groomed me to run Music Haven like he did. So far, I hadn’t let him down. I hope I never did.

  Perhaps that was another reason why I was worried about pursuing Ayden. I wanted him to know his own worth, that he had talent, that their music grabbed my attention long before I saw his face.

  I didn’t want him to think the only reason his band succeeded was because of his connection to me. A professional relationship was okay, but what we were doing now bordered personal.

  “So are you guys still enjoying it here?” The question was meant for both of them, but my eyes drifted to Ayden. As soon as they did, he shifted his attention to the drink in his hand. He nodded his head just like Bentley did.

  The longer I talked, the more awkward I felt. When it came to discussing business, I never had an issue interacting with people. My personal life was different. Chitchat didn’t work for me. I enjoyed meaningful conversations, but I didn’t know how to get to that point with Ayden. Something was blocking us . . .

  This was too much to process right now. I needed to clear my mind, which meant one thing. It was time for a drink.

  As if he’d read my mind, I spotted Max walking toward our table with two drinks in his hand. He smiled as he set one in front of Andi and the other in front of me.

  “Thought you two might enjoy these.”

  “You’re always taking care of us, Max.” Andi winked. “That’s why you’re the best bartender. You care about your patrons.”

  “I aim to serve.” He glanced at Ayden and Bentley. “You guys ready for another beer?”

  Both nodded at him before Bentley went back to his conversation with Andi. It left Ayden and me to our own discussion. Instead, we sat in silence. Awkward silence. Sexually fueled tension-filled silence that made every part of my body pulse. God, he was beautiful.

  There was definitely a physical attraction between us. I wasn’t sure if we’d form anything emotional. Part of my heart wanted to resist the idea.

  I’d only been in love once in my life. Four years later, I wasn’t sure I was ready to feel that type of emotion again. The way our relationship ended . . . the reason it ended . . . It’s what made me second-guess every decision I was making with Ayden.

  Aside from being a musician, there were few characteristics that he shared with my first love. They had more physical characteristics in common than personality traits. Both had dark hair, but Ayden’s had a hint of auburn. His eyes weren’t as dark as my ex’s, but they were a rich chocolate color that made me melt.

  And those lips . . . I wanted to know the way they would feel against mine. That want became so intense I had to readjust myself in my chair just to break the tension.

  “Tell me something about yourself, Ayden. I don’t know much about you.”

  His eyes widened for a moment then he leaned his elbows on the table and looked at me. “There isn’t much to know. I’ve lived in Tennessee all of my life. I’ve never been outside the US. Hell, this is the furthest west I’ve ever been. Aside from music, I’ve lived a boring life.”

  “I find that hard to believe. There are parts of yourself you keep locked away. I’m not prying into your life, but those parts of you have me curious.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I think it’s a part of you that you need to unlock before you can follow your dreams.”

  He gazed down at his beer, placed the bottle to his lips, then chugged the last half of it. Once he returned the container to the table, he looked at me.

  “You’re pretty good at reading people.”

  “In my line of work, I have to be able to read people. I know more about musicians than they know about themselves most of the time. You, on the other hand, baffle me.”

  His brow rose. “How so?”

  “Most musicians I deal with are so full of themselves. I have to break down their egos before I can get through to them. It’s not always a pretty sight. When it comes to you . . . there’s no ego, just humbleness. With your talent, I don’t understand why.”

  Shrugging at my question, he played with his empty beer bottle as I took a sip from my glass. The liquor inside my drink warmed my throat as it slid down, but it didn’t compare to the level of heat I felt when Ayden’s attention returned to me.

  “I’ve never been a cocky person. It’s not how I was raised. But you’re kind of on to something. I don’t have the ego most musicians have because I don’t have the confidence I once had.”

  I tilted my head to the side, studying his face. “Why not?”

  He didn’t say anything at first. I was worried he wouldn’t answer me. A moment later, he released a long sigh and spoke again. “It’s been multiple things. I guess putting our band out there and not getting anywhere with our music caused me to doubt myself.”

  Without giving it any thought, I placed my hand over his. I almost pulled it away when he glanced at it. Part of me feared that he would beat me to it, but when he didn’t move, I kept my hand still.

  “Ayden, I don’t know all the hardships you’ve faced along your music career, but I can assure you that the bad stuff ends here. You’re going places, and not because of what I’m offering. You’re going to be a star because your band is amazing. Don’t doubt yourself anymore.”

  “Okay.”

  It was a short response but one filled with sincerity. I hoped I’d gotten through to him. The fact that he turned his hand over and clasped mine increased that hope. It also increased my desire for him. Touching him felt right. Knowing he was touching me was even better.

  When he finally pulled away, I hid my disappointment. After our first meeting, I didn’t think he’d ever feel comfortable around me. Knowing we’d gotten to this point gave me hope that he’d allow me to work with them and bring them the success I promised.

  And if Fate were a real thing, maybe we’d find that our paths crossed for more reasons than one. I believed it to be so. I wasn’t sure why, but every bone inside my body said it was true.

  The only other time I was this sure about anything was when—

  “Mia.”

  The sound of Wesley’s voice grated my nerves. I craned my neck enough so that I could see him, but I didn’t answer him. I didn’t trust my voice to hide how much his presence annoyed me. He would get too much pleasure out of it.

  “I need to speak with you.”

  “What do you want, Wesley?”

  He glared in Ayden’s directi
on then acknowledged Andi and Bentley. “Can we speak privately?”

  Maybe this had something to do with the sound techs that approached Andi earlier. Knowing Wesley, he’d caught wind that they were going to complain about him. If he thought bitching about it to me would change things, he was wrong.

  “Is this something that can wait until morning?”

  “Absolutely not. I need to speak to you. Now.” He gritted the words as he grabbed my arm and tugged it.

  I didn’t miss the way Ayden’s back straightened.

  While I may not know everything about him, his actions said he was a stand-up guy, one with morals and beliefs. I doubted he would be one to stand by while a man mistreated a woman.

  Though it hadn’t gotten to that point, Wesley’s irritability was detectable. I wasn’t the only one who noticed. The frown on Andi’s face said she was a few seconds away from demanding Wesley take his hand off me.

  Saving them both the trouble, I jerked my arm out of his grasp. “You’d be wise to keep your hands to yourself. As far as talking to you, I will when I’m ready.”

  “Sorry babe, but this can’t wait.”

  My stomach rolled at the sentiment. Then another thought had me almost laughing. Wesley was jealous. I knew the only reason he was here was to interfere with my conversation with Ayden.

  “I’m not your babe.”

  When he raised his hands defensively, I knew the only way I’d get rid of him was by talking to him. Fine. I’d give him what he wanted, or what he thought he wanted. By the time I was done with him, he’d regret approaching me at all.

  “Ayden, I apologize, but will you excuse me for a moment? Some people forget their manners. I need to deal with this real quick.”

  I couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction when Wesley looked shocked at my response. Ayden’s amusement made it better, especially when he replied, “No worries. I’m not going anywhere.”

  His response made me happy. That feeling increased when I noticed Wesley’s nostrils flare as he stormed off toward the left side of the bar. He stopped a few feet away from the end, checking his watch as I took my time to join him.

  I dreaded this. Anything to do with Wesley never ended well. I hated dealing with him, not just because he was my ex. I hated him for all the lies he told, all the issues he caused, and the way he duped my grandfather into believing he was a good guy.

  I had to take some of the blame for the latter. Wesley wouldn’t be at Music Haven if it weren’t for me. I brought him here. I believed his lies and the setup that caused . . .

  No. I couldn’t allow my mind to go there. It always tried to whenever I had to deal with Wesley, and he knew it. Not today. I’d give him one shot at telling me what was so important. If this ended up being a jealous streak like I suspected, I refused to deal with him.

  “Okay, Wesley. You have my undivided attention. What was so pressing that you had to interrupt my evening?”

  It didn’t take but two seconds for me to recognize the look in his eyes, the one that said this was just a ploy to get me alone. Damn him.

  “What are you doing, Mia?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You know what I mean.” Wesley gestured his thumb over his shoulder. “Why do you keep selling yourself short when you know that we’re meant to be together.”

  “Are you high?”

  It was meant to be sarcastic even if there was a bit of truth in my question. It wouldn’t be the first time he abused drugs. He had that same glassy-eyed look he had the night I busted him snorting coke. He swore he’d cleaned himself up, but deep down, I wondered if he’d just gotten better at hiding it.

  “You know I don’t use anymore so stop turning this around on me.”

  “Your being high is the only thing that makes sense because you have no right to tell me anything about my life. You lost your chance with me years ago. You’ll never get a second shot.”

  He raised his hands to his sides. “I’m trying to prevent you from making the same mistake you always seem to make.”

  “The only mistake I ever made was trusting you.”

  His mouth gaped. He stammered for a response, but nothing came out. When he glanced toward the table where my party sat, he narrowed his eyes. I assumed he was staring at Ayden.

  “You’ve made plenty of mistakes that don’t involve me.”

  “Listen, I’m not going to argue about this. Stay out of my life. If it doesn’t involve your job here, you have no say.”

  He snorted. “This cat and mouse game is getting old, Mia. When will you stop?”

  “Never, so get over yourself, Wesley. I did a long time ago.”

  I was finished with this conversation. Anger erupted inside me for allowing it go on as long as it had. It was terrible enough that I had to deal with my ex on a daily basis. To know he would never stop pursuing me made my stomach roll. I didn’t feel safe around him. He was growing more deranged.

  The second I stepped away from him and turned toward the table, his hand heated my shoulder. There was no time to jerk away. He dug his fingers into my skin and turned me halfway around.

  My head twisted to the side as heat exploded near my cheek. Throbbing formed beneath the skin, and everything around me spun. I was falling. I felt gravity pulling me toward the ground. By the time I hit it, the impact had knocked the wind from me.

  I lay there, stunned by the realization of what just occurred. Most of it was a blur. Yet, the tightness in my cheek was all the proof I needed to face the truth. Wesley had backhanded me.

  And the worst part of all, Ayden witnessed it.

  Chapter 7

  ~Ayden~

  It was hard to stay seated while I watched Mia walk away with Wesley for a private conversation. From the moment he walked up to our table, the tension between them was palpable. When he touched her, I wanted to break his face. He had no right to put his hands on her. It took every ounce of my strength to not get up and knock him flat on his ass.

  The longer I studied them, the easier it was to see Wesley’s hostility. He smirked a few times when he glanced toward Andi, Bentley, and me. Whatever their conversation entailed, it had something to do with us. Perhaps it was just me he had a problem with. Good. The feeling was mutual.

  Andi turned around in her seat after gawking at Mia and Wesley. Her leg shook as she stared into the distance. It wasn’t long before she stood from her chair. “Okay, guys. I’ve waited long enough. I’m walking over there.”

  “I’m right behind you.” I didn’t give her time to argue, not that she would have. At first, she appeared shocked by my comment. Then I noticed a smirk of approval.

  Bentley joined us before we made our way toward the end of the bar. I couldn’t hear what Mia and Wesley were saying at this point. The music coming over the speakers was loud enough to drown out the sound until we got closer.

  Mia’s voice penetrated my ears as I heard her tell her ex to get over himself. Everything after that left my thoughts. As she turned in our direction, her face was creased in anger. She didn’t make it a step away when Wesley grabbed her shoulder.

  The fucking idiot had his hands on her again. It was the second strike against him tonight. If he got the third one—

  The thought didn’t have time to form. A loud crack rang in my ears. The back of Wesley’s hand made contact with Mia’s face, causing her body to spin around. As she fell toward the ground, something inside me snapped. I took off in a sprint, rushing Wesley in the process. I was going to do it. Break his face. He’d crossed the line.

  By the time he saw me coming, it was too late. His body jerked as I slammed him against the wall and got in his face. I fisted his shirt, drawing him closer. “You like hitting women? Why don’t you try fighting a man? Let’s see where that gets you, other than the ER.”

  Wesley’s hands slapped against my shoulders. He gave his best effort to push me away, but I wasn’t letting go. If he didn’t stop, things would get worse for him.

  �
�Who the fuck died and made you her protector?”

  “You can’t be that fucking clueless, man.”

  He needed some sense knocked into him. I took a step back to throw the first punch when Bentley rushed between us. “Break it up, guys. Let’s not do this shit.”

  People were watching. I sensed their eyes on us, but I didn’t care. The idiot on the other side of my friend needed to learn a lesson, and my fists were ready and willing to educate him.

  It was when I glanced toward Mia that I took a deep breath. It didn’t do much for my nerves, especially when I noticed Andi helping her up. She shouldn’t have been on the ground in the first place.

  Brushing herself off, she tipped her chin upward and glared at Wesley. The inner strength she had amazed me. “You’re still the same asshole you’ve always been, aren’t you, Wesley?”

  “Spin this any way you like, sweetheart. It doesn’t change the truth. Once your new boy toy figures that out, he’ll be gone. Then you’ll come crawling back.”

  Mia advanced toward Wesley as Andi tugged on her arm. She got her to stop a few feet away from him, but it didn’t stop Mia from pointing in his direction. “You’ve lost your mind. I want nothing to do with you. I never will. As far as my relationship with other people, it’s none of your damn business. Don’t worry about who I see or anything else I do that doesn’t involve you.”

  “Anything else you do?” Wesley inched closer, but Bentley placed his hand on his chest, keeping him far enough from Mia and Andi. “Wow. You’re getting faster at this. Already fucking the new guy, are ya?”

  His cold gaze turned on me as he studied me from head to toe. It wasn’t until then that I realized what all of this was about. Wesley assumed Mia and I were screwing around. This outburst was over his jealousy.

  What a dick.

  Mia glanced at me, mouthing the words, I’m sorry. She had no reason to be. This asshole was on an ego trip from hell. It was time for a reality check. I was about to deliver him a blow he wasn’t expecting.

  “So what if she and I are fucking? What’s it to you?”